Chapter 231 HEALING TOUCH
Edeline
“Huh? I’ll be good as new tomorrow. I mean, I’m a wolf after all. Just need to sleep it off, and I’ll be back in action,” I tried to reassure him while he started preparing to tape up my ribs.
Conor remained silent as he worked. I did my best to stay composed, but I couldn’t help throwing my head back in discomfort. “Oh no! Conor!”
I could almost feel him laughing softly. With my eyes tightly shut, I waited patiently as he finished taping me up, nervously biting my lip. His touch lingered a little longer than necessary, a warm contrast against the coolness of my skin.
“Alright, I’m finished,” Conor said, clearing his throat and pulling his hands away. I casually put the tape away and rolled my shirt back down.
“You’re not going to make me do it again, are you?” I asked, catching the look in his eyes.
“Whenever you’re ready. It was only for today…” His eyes held a look of understanding. He could tell it had been a tough day, and his approach had kept me so occupied that I hadn’t had a chance to feel down.
“Thanks,” I said, a slight smile tugging at my lips as I took a seat next to him on the bed. My gaze wandered around the room, eventually landing on his nightstand. There, I spotted a photo of Tatiana.
And another one…
I leaned in closer to examine the frame, noticing how the person in the photo resembled me. “Is this the person?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.
The photo I held featured someone with similar facial features—jawline, cheekbones, and nose. Their eyes were a bit smaller and hazel, while their hair was a light brownish blonde, a shade lighter than mine.
“Yeah, that’s her,” Conor replied quietly.
As I glanced between the photo and Conor’s captivated face, a smile spread across my own. “She really does look a lot like me.”
“Eh, you kind of resemble her,” he mused.
He took the frame from my hand and placed it back on the nightstand. I frowned, not entirely satisfied with his casual dismissal.
“Yeah, maybe next time,” he said nonchalantly.
Just as I was about to leave the room, Conor suddenly grabbed my hand, pulling me back as if he wanted me to stay. I looked at him, puzzled. “What’s up?”
He got out of bed and walked over to his desk, picking up a box with a smartphone displayed on the front. He carried it back to me, his footsteps echoing on the hardwood floor.
“Here, this is for you. You’ll need one to communicate with the pack,” he said, handing me the box. My eyes widened in surprise as I shifted my gaze between him and the box, a wide grin spreading across my face.
“No way! Can you believe it?!” I felt like a kid who just got a candy bar. I’d always wanted a cool phone like Mirabelle’s, but my parents never saw the need.
He chuckled softly. “Yeah, I’m serious. It’s yours.”
Beaming, I carefully approached him and gave him a gentle hug, mindful of my ribs. He tensed a bit under my embrace, but I gave him another awkward pat on the back.
“Thanks a bunch!” I exclaimed, stepping back.
I noticed a smile breaking out on his face, his eyes sparkling with a mix of joy and something else. But as he looked at my bruised face, his smile faded a bit. He gently touched my jaw, his expression shifting to one of concern.
He nodded slightly. “You did a solid job out there today. Even without any formal training, you performed better than I expected. It was impressive.”
I felt a flush rise to my cheeks, and my wolf perked up, happily dancing through my thoughts, thrilled by his praise.
With a gentle touch, Conor guided me towards the door as I clutched the precious box tightly. “I’m heading down to dinner. Everyone’s getting impatient. If you don’t feel like coming, I can have someone bring you a plate,” he offered, raising an eyebrow as we stood in the hallway, waiting for my response.
I pondered for a moment, nibbling on my lower lip. If I didn’t make an appearance, people might think I wasn’t doing well. But if I did show up, they’d see just how bad I looked. My face was a real mess.
Well, I guess I’ll give it a shot.
“I’ll eat up here, actually. I’m really tired. Thanks, Conor,” I said with a smirk.
He shot me an intense look. “Hey, please don’t use that name for me anymore.”
I couldn’t help but burst into laughter as he dramatically feigned horror and quickly disappeared down the corridor. I hurried to my room, hoping to slip past anyone who might notice me.
Once inside, I sank onto my cozy bed, tucking my legs under the covers. Ouch. My ribs throbbed with every movement, making me wince as I carefully picked up the box Conor had given me. With a touch of excitement, I cracked it open and admired the sleek smartphone nestled inside.
So, I got myself a cool new Galaxy S6. I remembered Mirabelle mentioning that Galaxy phones were top-notch compared to iPhones, though I wasn’t sure I could tell the difference myself. Android definitely seemed to be the preferred system.
I decided I should call Mirabelle to update her with my new number. I wasn’t sure how long it had been since we last spoke. After plugging in the charger and turning on the phone, I dialed her number, feeling a bit anxious as it rang.
It had been a while since I’d heard from her, and I was curious about what was happening back at the Pack.
She answered after four rings, sounding a bit out of breath. “Hey there!”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Hey, it’s me, Mirabelle.”
Her excited squeal was so loud I had to pull the phone away from my ear. “Hey Edeline! Long time no see! I’ve really missed you!”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Same here. Just wanted to let you know that I have a new number now. Finally got myself a phone today.”