Chapter 55 Chapter 55
AILSA’S POV
Pain.
A burning, throbbing kind of pain pulsing through every part of my body. I tried to move but pain pins me down. My side ached sharply every time I tried to breathe, my arms felt heavy and my back felt like a ton of bricks was placed on it.
For a moment, I don’t even know where I am. The room is dim, a warm golden glow coming from lamp. The room smelled of herbs and something familiar. Something that makes my chest tighten.
Lucian.
I blinked slowly trying to remember what happened. I remembered my walk with Lina. I remembered Lucian’s teeth grazing my neck and my body leaning into his.
I squeezed my eyes shut. That was not what got me here, I tell my self. I swallowed but even that hurt. Then I remembered the rogues. The forest and blood. Their claw scratching me. Everything rushes back quickly and a soft sound escaped my mouth.
“Ailsa?” I heard his voice and my eyes flicked open.
He leaned over me, his jaw tight. His hair was messy like he’d run his hand through it over and over. Two buttons on his shirt were undone and his shirt wrinkled. His eyes were heavy and looked like someone who hadn’t slept in over a week.
“L-Lucian….” My voice cracked. I swallowed, wincing in pain. I could barely hear myself.
“You’re awake again” his voice is low and rough.
Again? Had I woken up before ? Why couldn’t I remember when?
“Let me send for the healer” he said moving across the room.
“No” I tried to sit up but a sharp pain shot through my ribs making me gasp. Lucian is beside me in a second.
“Don’t move, your sides are injured” his tone was commanding but it also had concern underneath.
No wonder breathing was hard and the pain too.
“I’m fine” I whispered almost breathless.
“No, you are not. The healer said you need plenty of rest” his gaze move to my shoulder and I look at it too, I was wrapped in bandages.
“The healer would be here soon. I’ve mind linked her” he said quietly.
“How long have you been here?”
“Two days”
Two days? I had been asleep for two days?
“You were coming out from unconsciousness for days. I thought…..I lost you” his voice was strained.
My throat tightened. I was speechless. My wolf slowly stir pushing me to him but I was too weak to respond.
‘Mate’ she said. ‘He came and saved us. He has been with us all this while”
The door opens and the healer rushed in, immediately she begins checking my pulse, my wounds and she touched my side by mistake. I winced.
“Sorry” she said gently. “Your body is still healing, you really fought hard for two days. Your fever broke just last night” Lucian stands behind her like a body guard as she continues doing her job. The healer step backs when she’s done checking me.
“The fever is gone, she’ll live but she needs lots of rest. Her wolf is doing most of the healing because she pushed herself beyond her limits. If she tries to shift, she could worsen her condition and also no training so her body heals properly. I’ll give her permission to do so when I’ve confirmed it’s right. I’ve given her some painkillers to help reduce the pain in her side”
“You don’t have to worry about her stressing. She won’t leave this room” he assured her
I opened my mouth to protest but I stopped when I saw the look on his face.
“She’ll need food and water” the healer continues. “Someone also has to be checking on her so they’ll know if anything goes wrong”
“I’ll stay with her” he said instantly. Both the healer and I were shocked.
“Alpha, you are very busy. A servant can look after her” he shook his head.
“I don’t need anyone to look after her when I’m here” he said with finality and my heart jolts. The healer goes and leaves the room.
There room was now silent, Lucian paced around the room for a while before coming to sit on the chair beside my bed.
“Why? Why did you fight those rogues yourself. How did you think it was possible to take on four men at once”
“They were five” I said quietly.
“Five? They were only four when I arrived at the scene”
“The other must have ran away, he was the one that clawed my back” Lucian clenched his fist.
“Did you see his face?” I shook my head.
“I saw a part of his face but not everything. The others did not cover their faces”
“He might have known who you are. I only wish I had gotten there sooner maybe you won’t have been injured” his eyes held so many emotions.
“It doesn’t matter when you came. All that matters was you came”
“I should have sensed your fear faster” his jaw tensed but I shook my head.
“Thank you for coming to find me. I don’t know how I’d repay your kindness” I said softly.
“You can repay me when you are better”
The painkillers the healer gave me kicked in and my eyelid grew heavy, the room blurred. Lucian must have sensed it.
“Rest” he said softly. “I’ll he right here watching over you”
“Lucian….” I drawled. He leaned closer brushing my hair away.
“Sleep Ailsa”
My body gives in, sleep dragging me but right before the darkness takes me, I feel something warm and gentle press against my knuckles. Lucian’s lips.
I woke up feeling stiff and sore but the pain wasn’t sharp as before. I guessed the painkillers did work. Sun streamed into the room through the curtain. The first thing I noticed was Lucian’s absence. I was expecting to see him when I woke up this morning.
I noticed a tray of food on the table beside me and a blanket hung over the chair. Lucian had been here all through the night. He had stayed with me, just like he promised.
I push myself up slowly and carefully and winced at the pain that shot up my arm. I managed to eat the food by my bedside although it was a hassle but I did well. After that I tried standing up to breathe fresh air but I couldn’t. There is a knock on the door. The door opened gently and Lina poked her head inside.
“Ailsa!!” She said in a small voice. I could see the tears almost leaving her eyes as she came to my bedside.
“I’m so happy to see you awake. How do you feel? I was so scared, I thought….”
“I’m fine, Lina. You don’t have to worry anymore” I hugged her gently. She pulls back sniffling.
“The alpha was so terrifying. His wolf went feral and the whole pack could feel it and we tried to avoid him. I’ve never seen him like that before” my stomach twists. She paused for a while before she continued.
“Thank you so much for saving me. I didn’t know what would have happened to me. I feel like it’s my fault that you are in this condition because I insisted on showing you another side of the territory. I should have….” I placed a finger on her lips.
“Don’t blame yourself. It’s not your fault. We just happened to be at the wrong place at that time. How would you have known that rogues would attack us”
“You need to go back to bed and I need to leave before the alpha sees me here. I had to bribe the guards to see you” I nodded. She left and I went back to bed.
The next time I awakened from the pain in my sides and Lucian was in the room. The healer was also here to apply herbs on my wound and check my temperature. The healer lets me try standing and Lucian is by my side in an instant. His hands firm on my waist, supporting me.
“I’m okay” I protest weakly but his glare makes me sit back down. The healer leaves and Lucian’s eyes roam over me.
“You don’t have to sit here” I whisper.
“I told you I’ll watch after you. I just took care of something that was why you didn’t see me when you woke up. I saw that you ate the food on your own too. I told you not to stress yourself. Why don’t you listen?” He scolded.
“I’m fine”
“No, you’re not” he said in a low tone. “You almost died Ailsa and it’s because you were out of the pack grounds. Why were you there?”
“Are you saying it’s my fault now?”
“That’s not what I meant. I just want to know why you left your room? I told you to be careful. I’ll have to change that servant girl, something is always happening to you when she’s around”
“No, no” I protested. “It’s not her fault. I was the one that asked her to take me to that part of the woods” I said and his brows furrowed. He stands quietly and I don’t know what he’s thinking with that look on his face.
“I’ll let you rest. If you need anything at all just let me know. I’ll be outside”
“Thank you” I whispered.
His eyes softened and he tucks the sheets in, he stares at me for a moment. That brief stare that passed between us made my toes curl. Then he turns and slips out.