Chapter 12
“Take these, and they’ll help with the pain. Try to stay off your
leg for a few days.”
“Thanks, Doc,” I say, standing and accepting the pain medication
from his outstretched hand.
“Bring her by next week, and I will remove the stitches provided
she doesn’t reopen it, no training, and she needs to try not to
tear them open again,” Doc tells my father. At the same time, I
take that as my excuse to head to the bathroom.
Climbing the stairs, I hiss with every step, feeling the stitches
tugging slightly. Once on the landing, I retrieve a towel from the
linen cupboard and move toward the bathroom.
Once in the bathroom, I strip off and hobble to the shower. As I
wash, the soap burns my skin, yet it feels good to get all the
gunk and grime off me. As soon as I am clean, I grab the pill box
Doc gave me and read the instructions. Popping two pills in my
mouth, I swallow some water before heading to my bedroom.
I gingerly crawl into bed, and my stitches tug at my skin as I
move about. I pull the blanket over myself and grimace as a
sharp pain shoots up my leg. The medication hasn’t kicked in
Chapter
yet, and the pain is almost unbearable. I remember the talk with
my father and his refusal to allow Alpha Zayn’s men near our
borders.
Despite the pain medication, I toss and turn. My mind revolves
around rogue attacks, specifically the day I found my mother
dead in the kitchen. It makes me wonder why my father would
risk us again like that, knowing the damage more attacks can
cause. Tossing and turning, I stare at the roof, which seems to be
oscillating, the drugs finally kicking. My eyelids droop and my
thoughts float away.
Maybe it’s time to take things into my own hands, I think as the
room fades. I have to speak with Alpha Zayn, I have to try to
convince him to keep his men along our borders somehow, but
what can I offer him in return? Before I can decide, the pain
meds take hold completely. Despite tonight’s events and the
worry that is plaguing me, I drift off into a deep sleep where
nothing can touch me, not even my father’s orders or Linda’s
plotting schemes. She may make out I’m hers but I remember
the way she treated my mother and sometimes I get a smug
satisfaction knowing that no matter how long my mother has
been gone, everyday she still has to see her face through me.
~The next day~
I wake early the following morning to find my leg throbbing in
pain. I am sweating, no doubt from a fever. Pulling the blankets
away, I hiss when the sheet sticks to my leg. The wound must
have leaked while I was asleep. With a groan, I rise from my bed
and take a few moments to gather myself, welcoming the cool
air.
My thoughts immediately turn to Alpha Zayn, and an idea
begins to form about how I can get to Alpha Zayn’s pack.
Hopefully, he’ll speak with me. Despite our bickering, it seemed
like he cared about me enough.
I look over to check the time on my alarm clock. The red
numbers on the alarm clock shine dimly into the dark room.
The barely rising sun through the blinds shows the room in an
eerie, bloodied–like glow. The digital numbers blink: 6:18 a.m. I
lay back down, trying to get back to sleep, knowing it is far too
early to catch a bus into the city. If only I had a car, I think to
myself. I should have my car. If only Lydia hadn’t backed into it
the other day.
Cursing at Lydia and my legs, I get up and grab the pain
medication and my robe hanging on the door. Wrapping it
around myself, I move toward the door and open it. The house is
dark, so I descend the stairs quietly, heading for the kitchen.
I grab a glass of water and take two of my pills when I spot my
father’s car keys sitting next to the fruit bowl. I chew my lip,
Chapter 12
debating whether I should. I am grounded, after all. Yet,
thinking that Deacon’s words flit through my mind. ‘Since
when has that stopped you?‘ I know that this is my chance. If I
can make it to Alpha Zayn’s pack before anyone notices I’m
gone, then maybe he will meet with me and listen to what I
have to say before more people get hurt.
Snatching the keys, I pull my robe off before looking down at
my pajamas. Great, I curse, I’m sure this will be a really
convincing outfit. Moving as quickly as possible, I move toward
the door, where I spot Lydia’s jacket. I pull it on. I know climbing
the stairs back to my room will risk waking my father when the
stairs creak. This is my only chance, so I take it, wearing my
fuzzy hot pink pants with bunnies on them. On the bright side, I
probably won’t have to get out of the car; I can just ask the
patrols to get Alpha Zayn.
The drive is long, my leg is throbbing painfully, and I’ve broken
out in another sweat. It takes 20 minutes to reach the city and
another 20 minutes before I eventually arrive at Alpha Zayn’s
Pack on the city’s outskirts, which is a massive gated
community. As soon as I pull up out front, the car is surrounded
by several wolves, their eyes sharp and suspicious. I wind the
window down when one of them taps on it.
“What are you doing here?” one of them demands.
Chapter 12
I take a deep breath before speaking up. “I’m Cleo, Alpha Joseph‘
s daughter from the Shadowcrest pack,” I explain firmly. “I need
to speak with Alpha Zayn.” He glances at one of the other men,
who shrugs, and I watch his eyes glaze over as he uses the
mindlink.
After waiting a few moments, he tells me Alpha Zayn is on his
way down. I nod, leaning back in the chair and resting. My skin
is hot, and I can feel sweat beading and rolling down the back of
my neck. My hands are clammy, and I groan, feeling the pain
meds kick in.
Shit, and I need to try to drive home like this. Now, this entire
thing doesn’t feel like a good idea. How could I be so stupid? I
don’t know how long I am waiting, but I jump when I hear my
name.
