Chapter 36 Chapter 36
ADRIANA'S POV
"I don't know what happened, he said he'll be back but I'm unable to reach him and a few people have also reported the same thing." Daciana said, her tone low and showing just how worried she was. Something squeezed in my chest though I stopped it, reminding myself how bad he had treated me. I didn't have to feel sorry for him.
"Oh," was all I managed to say. Dacaina didn't say anything, she just forced a smile and shook her head.
"Anyway, it's Xander. I'm sure he'll turn up when he is ready." She said, more to herself than me and smiled again, it looked a little
more real now.
"Are you ready to go? The car is parked right outside." She said, standing up. I bet she couldn't wait to leave this place, I felt the same too so I couldn't fault her. She'd even stayed longer than I expected and I appreciated it.
I wondered what was going on in her mind right now, and what she had to go through while looking after me all this while, not knowing where her brother was. I looked over at her and saw that haunted look still in her eyes. She might have waved it off as nothing, but it was more than clear she was worried about him. I felt bad for not having anything to say to make her feel better, for her and not for him.
"I don't think I can walk, Daciana. My legs feel so weak." I lied, even though my legs felt so light, it wasn't so bad that I couldn't move. But I had a plan I hadn't thought through yet and this was just the first phase. Sitting and thinking over what to do has never helped anyone, especially me. It was why I didn't leave my father's pack, I was always thinking of what could go wrong and other things like that. This time, I was going to move on pure instinct.
"Let me help," she said and came to my side and wrapped her arms around my waist after I sat up. She tried to help me stand on my feet but I pretended to be too weak to do so, releasing all the weight in my body so she felt like I couldn't hold myself up. It worked because she looked at me concerned and said, "Do you mind if I just pick you up or will getting you a wheelchair be better?" I heaved a long sigh, letting my eyes drop.
"Anyone." My voice was small when I said that and she nodded.
"I think the wheelchair will be the best. Just sit tight while I go get it, okay?"
"Okay." I said, a little above a whisper. She walked out of the room, probably to go and find a nurse. She must have forgotten the button in the room used for calling nurses and I sure as hell wasn't going to remind her of it. She was already out anyway. I looked around the room I'd been in, taking it in very much this time. It had a large window, though I doubted we were on the ground floor. Falling to my death wasn't part of my plans. If I had a wolf, I might have taken the risk and I wasn't about to test out the new theory of my body suddenly acting more like a wolf's. I didn't feel her and I wasn't going to test just how high I have to fall before I die.
Dacianareturned with the nurse who had one of those hospital aides beside her, it was a burly man who looked kind. A bit elderly. "How do you feel Adriana? Do I have to call the doctor?" I quickly shook my head. I hadn't thought of that.
"No," it came out sharp so I cleared my throat. "It's probably just because I haven't walked in a while." I said, hoping they would buy it. The nurse nodded to the man who had the wheelchair in front of him so he pushed it forward, Daciana followed him closely behind as he walked to the bed and she picked up from the bed in one move and placed me in the wheelchair. She didn't even break a sweat doing that, I mean I wasn't that big but I was still a person.
That made me think of just how strong she was and my escape suddenly had more loopholes. She might like me but I didn't think she would support me running away. So now she was my first obstacle. Getting away from her was the first course of action.
"There." She stood to her full height and nodded to the nurse. "Are you comfortable?" she asked me and I bobbed my head up and down.
"Yes, thank you so much" I swallowed down, the nameless bitter feeling in my throat. Well, it had a name but I didn't want to think of it. Guilt. It ate my insides, seeing how I was going to get her in trouble with my plans. It wasn't enough to make me want to back out though.
"You don't have to thank me. I'll always be here for you, no matter what." I nodded at her words, my eyes misting. The cold dagger of guilt twisted harder in my chest. "And you're going to be just fine, I promise. You're strong and you're going to recover quickly." She placed a hand on my shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
"All is good then. Have a quick recovery luna." The nurse smiled, gave Daciana a bow and walked out of the hospital room after that. The aide came closer to me and tried to take hold of the wheelchair so he could push me but Daciana stopped him.
"Don't worry, I got it. Thank you." He gave her a bow too and followed the nurse out of the room. "And now, we go home." She said with a relieved exhale. I only gave a single nod, fighting the need to tell her that it wasn't my home. It was the place that almost got me killed. I kept it to myself, she didn't deserve the rudeness.
Daciana gradually began to push me out of the room and into the hallway. The doctor was standing there, talking to a male nurse. She turned back, probably sensing Dacaina's aura and waved, a broad smile on her face. Daciana gave her a tight lipped smile, while I couldn't even muster that much.
I turned back around to look at her when she wasn't watching, catching her completely off guard. The smile on her face was completely gone and it was replaced with a sort of pitiful look, as if she was wheeling me to my doom. I tried to keep my breathing steady and my nerves under control as she wheeled me toward the exit of the hospital. We passed by the reception desk and the security guard, no one gave us a second glance as though scared something would happen if they looked too long. We continue on through the automatic doors and out into the cool morning air.
She opens the back door and helps me into the back seat. I lay down, pretending to be in pain. "Are you sure you'll be okay?" she asks, sounding concerned. "I'll be fine," I tell her, trying to sound as convincing as possible. She gives me a small smile and then closes the door. I watch as she walks around to the driver's side and gets in the car. She starts the engine and pulls out of the parking lot.
It was a ten minute ride to the pack house, considering that she was very slow, trying to make sure I felt comfortable.
"Is he mad at me?" I asked her, the question coming out of my mouth before my mind could filter it. She didn't seem to hear me the first time but she replied quickly when I repeated the question. I was wondering what I must have looked like while growling at Xander. My cheeks turned red as I thought about how awkward and stupid I must have looked.
"Of course not. He had to leave to attend to some rogue issues. Donovan reported sightings in the boundary, so he left." I nodded before looking out of the window, the familiar view of the Packhouse coming into view. I felt like I was returning to my prison cell.
Daciana exited the car, she parked in the driveway, probably so it would be easier for me to get in. I heard movements, her bringing the wheelchair out and then closing the boot of the car. She came back around and carried me out like I weighed just as little as a feather. I was as impressed as I was terrified by her strength, there was no way I could go through her.
I made a mental note to know her schedule, so that when I was finally ready to leave, she would be too busy to notice. I doubted she would hurt me, but if it came down to holding me down physically, she would do it successfully. I wasn't half as strong as she was.
"Welcome home." She said, her voice sounding cherry, this was the happiest she sounded since I woke up. I only smiled, dread making my stomach churn. I didn't know the things that waited for me here, all I knew was they couldn't be good.