Chapter 37

When we were in the forest, you said that you would help me get back to my beautiful self if I did something, and then you said death,” she explained.

Orion laughed. “Oh, that. That was a joke,” he said. “I was just teasing you.”

Skyler let out a relieved sigh. “Oh, thank goodness,” she said.

Orion leaned in closer to her. “You know I would never want anything bad to happen to you, right?” he said, his voice low and gentle.

Skyler felt her heart flutter as she looked into his deep brown eyes. “I know,” she whispered.

The rain continued to pour outside, but inside the shed, there was a warmth that Skyler had never felt before. She knew that her life would never be the same again.

Orion gently lifted Skyler up in his arms, cradling her close to his chest as he made his way back to their makeshift home. She squirmed a bit at first, still feeling embarrassed and angry about the situation, but soon settled into his arms as she realized just how much pain she was in. As he walked, the rain continued to pour down, soaking them both to the bone.

“I can walk,” she muttered, still feeling stubborn.

“I know you can,” Orion replied, “but I don’t want you to hurt yourself any more than you already have.”

Skyler grudgingly accepted his reasoning and allowed him to carry her all the way back to the shed. Once inside, he gently placed her on the bed, carefully removing her wet clothes and helping her to change into something warm and dry. She winced as he touched her injured leg, but he was gentle and tried to make the process as painless as possible.

Afterward, he ran a warm bath for her, filling the small tub with hot water and a few drops of lavender oil. Skyler sank into the water with a sigh of relief, feeling the tension and pain start to melt away. Orion sat beside the tub, keeping a watchful eye on her as she relaxed.

“Thank you,” Skyler said softly, “for taking care of me.”

“It’s no problem,” Orion replied, “I couldn’t just leave you out there in the rain and injured.”

Skyler nodded, feeling a sudden rush of gratitude toward him. She realized that despite their earlier disagreements, he truly did care about her well-being. As she soaked in the bath, she watched him move around the room, gathering fresh linens and preparing her bed for the night.

Once she was out of the bath, he helped her dry off and dressed her in a fresh set of clothes. He made sure she was comfortable and had everything she needed before he finally retreated to his own corner of the room.

As Skyler lay in bed, she couldn’t help but think about the man who had rescued her. She realized that there was more to Orion than she had previously thought. He was kind and caring, and he had risked his own safety to help her. Perhaps there was more to him than just his tough exterior.

The rain continued to pound against the roof of the shed as Skyler drifted off to sleep, feeling safe and cared for in a way she never had before.

Skyler finally succumbed to the exhaustion of the day and drifted off into a deep, peaceful sleep. Her mind and body were finally at rest, and she lay still, her breathing slow and even. The rain continued to fall outside, a soft pattering sound against the windowpane that seemed to lull her even further into slumber.

However, as the night wore on, Skyler began to stir in her sleep. She groaned softly, her leg throbbing with a dull pain that refused to let her rest. She shifted uneasily in her sleep, trying to find a more comfortable position, but it seemed that no matter how she moved, the pain only grew worse.

Eventually, she awoke with a start, her eyes flying open as she gasped for air. She was disoriented for a moment, not quite sure where she was or what had happened, but as her surroundings slowly came into focus, she remembered everything that had transpired earlier that day.

The pain In her leg was still there, a constant reminder of her fall into the hole. She winced as she tried to move it, but the discomfort only intensified. Despite this, she was able to find a somewhat comfortable position and closed her eyes again, hoping to get some more rest but that was when something stirred beside her. She looked up to see Orion.

“Hey, it’s okay. I’m here,” he whispered.

Skyler’s eyes slowly fluttered open, and she looked up at Orion. At first, she seemed confused, but then her eyes widened as she remembered what had happened. “Orion,” she said weakly.

“Shh, it’s okay,” he said, stroking her hair. “You’re safe now.”

Skyler looked down at her leg, wincing as she shifted slightly. “It hurts,” she said softly.

“I know,” Orion said sympathetically. “But you’re going to be okay. I promise.”

He reached down and gently shifted the bandages around her leg, trying to make her more comfortable. Skyler winced again, but then relaxed as the pain started to fade.

Orion noticed that she was starting to drift off to sleep again. “Just close your eyes,” he said softly. “I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

He carefully slid Into bed next to her, spooning her gently. Skyler tensed up at first, but then relaxed as she felt his warm breath on her neck. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“For what?” Orion asked, nuzzling her ear.

“For being so difficult,” Skyler said. “I know you’re just trying to help.”

Orion kissed her gently on the cheek. “I’m here for you, Skyler,” he said. “You don’t have to be strong all the time. It’s okay to let yourself be vulnerable.”

As she lay there, Skyler couldn’t help but think about Orion and the strange conversation they had earlier. She still wasn’t quite sure what he had meant by his comment about death, but it was clear that he had some sort of plan in mind for her. She wasn’t sure whether to trust him or not, but for the moment, she was too tired and in too much pain to really give it much thought.