Chapter 41 Chosen Long Ago

Chapter 41 Chosen Long Ago
Thankfully, Luka was willing to let me take the bath alone. My mind was still whirling from everything he had shared with me. How many people in my life were shifters, and I had no idea that they were. How was I a shifter? Was there a shifter among my parents? Was my dad one? Or my mom?

The only reason I’m willing to hear the Holloways out right now is that they might have some of the answers to these questions I had. Among the questions I had for them. Why did they never tell me? I thought I was important, and did my parents know they were shifters? Wait, was Jess one? Maybe once I was done with my bath, I could ask. 

I did wonder if my parents were not shifters, how did I become one? Did that mean one or both of them were not my biological parents? I don’t know if I could handle that being true. This is too much. I wanted to drown, but I let myself soak in the warm, hot bath with lavender bubbles, and just soak my aching body.

By some miracle, I wasn’t as banged up as I originally thought I was. Did Alex do something while I was sleeping, or was it something else, like my shifterness? How much did I know about myself anymore? Did I not know? I was grateful to Luka for explaining it to me. But I guess even he didn’t have all the answers, that’s why we need the Holloways. 

“Hey, beautiful, how’s it going?” I hear Lukas voice through the door. 

“I’m doing OK, just really enjoying this tub, it feels great,” I tell him honestly.

“That’s great to hear. I just wanna let you know they called and they will be up in about 30 minutes. Do you need help to get out or anything? Luka asks.

“Uh. I think I got it. How long have I been in here? I thought I had longer until they got here.” I asked.

“About 45 minutes,” Luka tells me. Man, it didn’t feel like I was in here that long. With utmost care, I get out to prevent worsening my injuries. I look at myself in the mirror, and I’m not nearly as bruised as I thought I would be. I dry myself off, and I put on some clothes that Luka left for me.

From what he told me, Alex had helped him pick these out. I cannot imagine him in a store picking these out for me. Slipping on the black leggings that felt like butter. I looked at the name, and it was some designer brand that I could barely pronounce. Next, I tossed on the comfy, loose, gray sweater made from the softest material that felt like a cloud, from the same brand I could not pronounce and probably could not afford if I even tried. 

I brushed out my long, messy hair and braided it to the side. With a towel, I did my best to dry it. I didn’t feel like messing with the hair dryer and hair straightener that were here. They all looked so expensive, so I just braided it while it was damp to the side.

I came out a few moments later, and Luka was sitting on the bed, scrolling on his phone. The moment I came out, his eyes went off his phone and straight to me. Just like my eye just knew exactly where he was sitting when I came out of the bathroom.

“You look perfect, beautiful,” Luka tells me with a grin. 

“Thank you. Are you sure I can wear these clothes from a really expensive designer?” I tell him this still felt so weird to be wearing something so expensive, I could probably feed all the homeless people in the surrounding area for a month with how much it cost.

“Beautiful, I don’t care about price, I care about your comfort, whatever it is. I want you to have it. I want you to be comfortable.” Luka tells me.

“But I—“ I began, but Luka cut me off.

“Don’t you dare say something like you are not worth it.” I don’t know how he knew, but that’s exactly what I was thinking. “You are the most amazing person I know. You're beautiful and kind. Having gone through so much and experiencing pain because of it, I hate that it happened, I want to do whatever I can to make things better for you, no matter what. So please don’t tell me you're not worth it. Because to me, you are.” The plea in his voice at the end got me. I was going to argue, but that stopped me in my tracks.

“Okay.” A small smile crept on my face. 

“You had more questions? I will answer what I can while we wait.” Luka tells me. 

“Yeah. Why am I not as beat up as I thought I would be? Just the tumble down the stairs should have left more marks.” I asked. Luka took a moment to respond. I saw his nose flare, and he took several deep breaths. I almost asked him if he was okay. 

“Just give me a minute.” Luka bites out. A cold rage in his tone. A minute or two goes by, I almost say never mind, and ask one of my other questions. 

“Remember dreaming of the white wolf?” Luka asked.

“Yes…?” I answered. I remember him telling me it wasn’t a dream. But what did that have to do with my injuries? 

“Well, she was laying with you, so she could help speed up the healing. Our wolves' familiars can lend abilities like strength and speed, along with healing, but normally after bonding.” Luka explains, as he di,d I could hear the tension leaving him. 

“That sounds like what happened to me wasn’t normal.” 

“Correct it is not normal. You are not bonded to the white wolf yet. And yet she has been able to heal you.” Luka explained. 

I know, I’m helping

Words from the night of the fire float in my head. My eyes widen at the realization.

“What is it?” Concern furrowed Luka’s brow.

“She’s helped me before,” I tell Luka, and his face looked at me, confused.