Chapter 16 Kael's POV
I showered like she asked me. The wounds had already stopped bleeding and were starting to heal.
It was only a matter of time before they fully healed.
I heard her come back into the apartment and smiled.
“Should I open the suitcase or would you prefer to open it yourself?” she asked from the living area.
“You can open it,” I responded, and she made struggling sounds trying to open it.
She cursed, and then finally I heard it open. I leaned against the wall of the bathroom and waited.
Two minutes later.
I counted.
This was my first real human encounter in a while.
She stretched her hands into the bathroom.
“Put these on. I need to bandage all your wounds, so you’ll have to be naked for the most part.”
I took the shorts and put them on.
I stood in front of the mirror and stared at myself.
I looked like crap.
I walked out, and she was standing there waiting for me right outside the door.
“God… it’s bad. Are you sure you don’t want to see a doctor?” she asked, and I shook my head.
I tried my best to avoid anything that would put me on anyone’s radar.
“Come on,” she sighed, pulling me to the living area.
“Sit,” she instructed me, and I obeyed.
I watched her as she carefully treated my wounds.
As she finished up, exhaustion hit me, and I found myself falling asleep.
………
I opened my eyes to find myself in a strange environment. I looked around, my guard up, as I registered where I was.
She had pulled out the extenders for the couch and turned it into a bed for me.
She even covered me with a blanket.
My heart tugged. I had never seen such kindness since…
Her scent hit me, and I followed it. She was sleeping in her bed. I knew I probably shouldn’t, but I walked into her room and stood beside her, watching her.
She was beautiful.
Perfect.
Way above my league.
I knew that the moment I saw her. It was as if I’d been in black and white, and she was the burst of color that came into my life for a short time.
The attraction was instant. It was something I hadn’t felt in years. I wanted her. I had to fight myself to be calm in the moment.
She hadn’t helped with the way her eyes lit up immediately when she saw me.
Then she’d asked for my phone, and I’d been too dazed and stupid to do anything other than what she asked.
Although even now, I still did exactly what she asked so I could tell if it was really just my attraction or if she somehow had control over me.
I gave her the phone and watched her type in her number and then hand it back to me, instructing me twice to call her.
I’d nodded because I couldn’t say a word to her. I didn’t say a word that whole interaction.
I watched her leave and immediately walked away from the crowd to hide and watch her.
She stopped and searched for me. I could see her search the crowd, and I fought myself so I wouldn’t walk back to her.
Then I watched her back in the crowd, and at first I thought she was searching for me, but then I realized she was rubbing herself against multiple people to mask my scent.
My senses went up, and I began to wonder what was going on, so I followed her to the bar and hid in the shadows watching her drink with a man.
I felt stupid then. I thought she had a boyfriend and was just trying to hook up with me.
I mocked my wolf and called him stupid for thinking she was perfect, but I was also hurt.
Then I saw her turn as if sensing me and search for me. She couldn’t see me from where she sat, but while she searched, I watched him slip something into her drink, and all the hair on my skin rose.
I could tell he wasn’t safe.
I could tell he was dangerous.
I stood up, but she drank the whole thing in one gulp.
I was trying to stay hidden, so I kept my wolf and presence all sealed in my mind, but watching that, I almost let it out.
But then I watched her, and she was fine.
It was shocking to see.
She had no reaction to it. He was the one who was more affected, even though he was obviously playing it too much, as he wasn’t that drunk.
I found her impressive and watched.
She was perfect, and that was not just me saying it.
Even my wolf knew it was true.
She gave me her number to call her so I’d save her from the awful date, and she didn’t need it in the end. She was able to figure it all out without my help.
She skillfully maneuvered him to leave, and then I watched her come back into the bar, and I froze.
Realization dawned on me as I watched her search for me.
I wanted to come out. I wanted to call her. I wanted to walk up to her, but I forced myself to stay in place.
I had to protect her, most especially from myself.
So I let her leave.
I deleted her number from my phone and regretted it immediately.
I decided to go back and escort her home. I told myself I just had to make sure she got home safe.
When I found her under attack from those rogues, my mind went red, and all I wanted to do was protect her, and now I was in her apartment watching her sleep.
I smiled and stepped out of the room to let her sleep.
Her apartment was a little scattered, and I had nothing to do. My wounds were healed enough, so I helped her clean as a thank you and as a way to do something for her.
I looked through her fridge, and she had nothing in it. Absolutely nothing.
So I placed an order for groceries and went on with cleaning.
I arranged everything and did my best to make as little noise as I could.
When I found anything broken or too bad to use, I placed an order for it.
I finally had use for all the money I had lying about with no use or importance.
I couldn’t do too much, or she would be pissed. She seemed like someone who wouldn’t like anyone coming over and upending her life, even if they were helping, so I kept it simple. Buying things that she wouldn’t get angry over.
I walked into her room and cleaned it up too.
I just packed up all her dirty clothes and kept them to the side.
I didn’t want to do them until she gave me permission.
I went to wash her bathroom, and as I stared at myself in the mirror for the first time in a long time, I felt happy.