Chapter 18: 18

I could feel blood dripping from my nose and into my mouth, saliva pooling under my tongue as I choked. The creature, although it was terrifying, had a sort of innocence in its gestures. It was smiling at me in wonder, unaware of the damage it was causing.

Just as the creature went to put me back down, it screamed, releasing me too quickly. Crumpling on the ground, I stared up at the chaos that ensued. A large grey wolf had the creature in his jaws, tearing into it as the sound of screams filled the quiet forest.

I rolled onto my side, knowing it was the best chance I had of recovering, but found my consciousness a battle to keep. The warmth of liquid trickled into the forest floor, the grass dampening beneath me from both sweat and blood. Breathing was difficult and my head rang with pain. It hurt every time I attempted a breath.

I watched the one-sided battle until the creature gave up its fight and succumbed to death with a whimper.

Dead. The grey wolf made sure of it.

Through teary, blurred eyes, I watched as the wolf transformed into Sean. Finally feeling safe, I let myself fall into the darkness of sleep as he rushed toward me.

***

I felt like crap.

My head was foggy as I woke, and I groaned at the feeling. The room I was in was dark, and I struggled to adjust my eyes.

I tried to sit up and was pleased to find I was not in a hospital room. But the fear didn't stray for long when I noticed the IV drip inside my skin and the sling over my shoulder. Doctors had been here, and someone had changed me as I slept.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and surveyed where I was. It was my room, so at least it wasn't foreign. There was a glass of water on my nightstand and nothing else to suggest that anything had happened. The scent in the sheets told me it was Lucie who was last here. There was a faint smell of bleach coming from the bathroom and my sheets were not the ones I slept in yesterday.

I tried to pull myself up into a sitting position, but cried out in pain when my right side couldn't support me. I breathed deeply, fighting against it until I sat myself up. My head swam, and I closed my eyes to fight the nausea.

Once clear, I grabbed the glass of lukewarm water and sipped it. Eyeing the bedside clock, I could see it was early morning. So the whole day had passed, I did not know what had happened, and I was alone. No family or friends. Not even my mate to comfort me.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed and slowly slid onto the balls of my feet. I grabbed the cool silver pole of my IV drip and slowly made my way towards my en-suite. Turning on the light, I blinked at my state of me. My hair was wild and untamed, spiraling out of the bun I tried to keep it in when working out. I even spotted a few leaves peeking through the mass of it. I was glad it was getting healthy though, finally getting some stronger colour.

My face looked fine other than the bags from lack of sleep, but the large bandage wrapped around my neck had me wrinkling my nose in disgust. I couldn't feel any pain, just aching and I don't doubt it was because of the drips in my hand.

Someone wrapped my arm up in a sling, hanging to just below my breast. I tried to move it but found only my forearm could slightly rotate without pain. So it had to be my shoulder. I don't know what painkillers these were, but they were amazing.

With my free hand, I attempted to seek the bobble hiding in my hair. Unraveling it was tricky since it was so messy, but eventually, I got there and shook it out. I wanted a shower so badly, but being hooked on an IV and in a sling was going to make it difficult.

"Nova?"

I jumped and knocked a sink pot onto the floor just as I went to brush my teeth.

"Y-y-yeah?"

Footsteps approached the door and, with wide eyes, I watched as Sean came running into the bathroom. His chest deflated in what appeared to be relief before he checked me over. I insisted I was fine, but he made sure he glanced over every part of me.

I rolled my eyes as he circled me. "Honestly, I'm o-okay. Just... groggy."

He sat down on my toilet seat and observed as I brushed my teeth. It was awkward, and I actively avoided his gaze.

"You hit your head pretty hard."

"What else?" I asked.

"Broken shoulder bone, few broken ribs, too. They stitched five cuts in your neck, so be careful with that. And with your twisted ankle from the other day, I'd say you're pretty done for." He laughed.

I snorted a laugh. "Thanks."

We fell into a comfortable silence as I refreshed my appearance.

Drying my face, I contemplated my question. "Sean... w-wh- what was that thing?"

He frowned, and I watched as he thought about how to answer me. But he didn't have to, because somebody else intruded.

"A ghoul."

A voice like silk. Deep and merciless as the ocean has me closing my eyes. I suppressed a shiver and opened them to see Sean giving me a confused glance.

I turned to face him and held my breath as my eyes met his. His hair was tousled, eyes dark and tired, much like mine. His white shirt was ruffled and unbuttoned halfway down, but he still had his trousers neatly in place. Even his dress shoes were in disarray, covered in mud and left untied.

Why was he dressed up in the middle of the night?

Phoenix leaned in my doorway, his shoulder against the wooden frame and arms crossed at his chest. I let out my breath when his black eyes met mine. A firm frown was his only feature. It surprised me he didn't have wrinkles yet with the amount he grimaces.

"G-g-ghoul?" I whispered.

He took a long blink and sighed. "Yes. A ghoul. I will tell you, but I insist you get back into bed until the sun rises."

I chewed my tongue but nodded and began my snail's pace to the bed. Sean followed behind me, taking slow steps in tandem. Phoenix had hardly moved when I passed by him, a sigh leaving his lips as he explained what a ghoul was.

"It's a flesh-eating monster, with a soft spot for werewolf blood." He began.

My eyes widened as I got close to him and his scent, along with his words, had me stagger. Thankfully, both men steadied me; Phoenix grabbed my IV and elbow and Sean grabbed me by the waist.

Phoenix suddenly let out a low growl, and I glanced at him to see him glaring at Sean. Sean's hands stiffened on my waist behind me and we all froze.

Phoenix sneered. "Do not touch her."

"I was just helping-

Phoenix growled again, and Sean's warm hands soon vanished from my waist. Phoenix suddenly scooped me up and carried me the rest of the way to my bed. He was warm and tingly, his eyes dark as he focused on the task.

So now he's protective and growling at Sean, yet for the past ten days, he ignores me? Temperamental much?

"I'm sorry, Alpha. I just did it out of instinct." Sean spoke from where we left him.

Phoenix laid me in bed and placed the duvet over me. He clenched his jaw as his dark eyes met my confused ones. Straightening his back, he turned around to face Sean, who shifted awkwardly on his feet. My wolf purred at the sight of his back; she had a thing for his backside.

"I understand." That was all he said.

Sean glanced at me and I could see what he was going to ask before it left his lips. "May I ask what... is going on?"

Phoenix grumbled. "You already know, it seems."

"You found your mate?" He grinned, despite the tense standoff. "Thank-fucking-finally."

I heard Phoenix grumble and clench his fists until his knuckles cracked. "You must tell no one."

I frowned this time. "Why?"

He glanced at me over his shoulder. "They mustn't know. It's for your own good."

"B-b-but I'm your m-mate..."

Phoenix shook his head, frowning. "Enough of this, please. Just get some sleep."

"Phoenix..."

"Goodnight, Nova." He grimaced before gesturing for Sean to follow him.

My mouth parted in shock and I watched as they both walked out of the room, Sean following him with sorry eyes.