Three days passed and I stayed in the medic bay. They transfused more blood and fluids, while I stayed laid up in the bed. Kyda had come back with my bag and wand, and some spare clothes. My robe had apparently saved me from Matthews claws, and she had sent it for repair work to the witches who helped them enchant their clothes.

She hung around my room quietly. She seemed on edge, but she insisted she was fine. Mostly she just sat in the chair and asked me if I needed anything. I wandered if it was guilt that kept her there. But either way, I couldn't deny that I felt better when she was around. The mate bond was becoming harder to ignore.

I was absently scrawling in the back of my spell book when she came in on the fourth morning. She looked at it curiously but then quickly averted her gaze.

"They said you can get out of here today, but you still need to give your leg another week of rest at least," she said, and my shoulders sagged in relief.

"Thank the God's," I muttered, "I was going insane." She smiled, it was small, but it was there, and another wave of relief washed over me. Stop worrying about her wellbeing.

"So, you still need a week of rest and the guest room at my house is available for as long as you need," she said, averting her eyes as she spoke. I was making her nervous, or was it the bond? I tried to focus on her aura, but I was too tired to tune in.

"I'll take you up on that," I said and turned back to my little sketch. It was just of some of the flowers I had seen in the meadow, but I liked to note down everything I saw.

"Are you drawing?" She asked, and I looked up to see her slowly stepping closer. I studied her for a moment, she was so reserved compared to when we had first met. I sighed and handed the spell book over.

"Don't break it," I warned, "it's just some sketches of the wildlife, I like to note down the new things and pictures help," I said as she traced a finger over the drawings.

"These are really good," she said with a grin, and I felt my lips twitch upwards at the sight of her smile. "Can I?" She asked, her finger sliding under the page. I nodded and she carefully turned the page over, studying each and every detail of the sketches.

After a few more moments, she handed the book back and sat on the edge of my bed.

"Why'd you attack Matthew?" She asked and I frowned.

"It wasn't obvious?"

"You can't answer my question with another question," she rolled her eyes and I leant back into the pillows I had amassed over the last few days.

"Because I didn't like his hair," I said, and she scoffed.

"Be serious, I want to know."

"Why?" I asked and she narrowed her eyes at me.

"What did I say about answering with more questions?" She huffed and I smirked. I liked it when she was a little flustered.

"He insulted me, and then he just straight up pissed me off," I said, and she nodded slowly, seeming to slip deep into her own thoughts. "Now can I know why?"

"Just wandering is all," she said, and she stood up. "I'll be back in a bit to bring you over to my house, the doctors just want to give you one last check up," she said, slipping out of the door.

As promised, I was checked over once more before I was officially discharged. The bandage on my thigh had been replaced with a much thinner and more flexible dressing. The skin was still an angry pink, but the nurse was satisfied with the progress and gave me extra bandages before she left. It wasn't long before Kyda arrived, a wheelchair in tow.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

"No," I said, and she held up a hand.

"You are not walking anywhere, if you refuse I will leave you here," she said firmly, and I sighed. I already knew she was stubborn, fighting her would get me nowhere.

"Fine bring it here," I asked, and she gave me a pointed look, "please." She rolled the chair around with a grin, parking by the bed.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed and slowly attempted to stand. I hissed as my injured leg buckled, but Kyda was there in an instant. One of her hands was on my chest, the other latched onto my arm, steadying me as she led me to the wheelchair.

"You okay?" She asked as she settled me into the chair. She met my gaze and with her this close, I could clearly see the deep shades of brown in her eyes, dark and endless.

"Fine," I replied, reaching for my bag. I settled it in my lap before Kyda pushed us out of the room.

"Werewolves own buggies?" I asked, eyeing the vehicle parked outside the medic bay.

"Yes and they're exactly for this purpose, transporting the damsels in distress," Kyda said as she stopped beside it.

"I am not a damsel in distress," I grumbled, and she held out her hand for me.

"Will you let me help you up?" I sighed and took her hand. It was soft and warm, and I still found myself surprised by her strength as she pulled up out of the chair. I leant into her as we shuffled the few steps to the buggy.

Once I was in, she walked around to the other side and slipped into the driver’s seat. Technology like this was rare in Raynor, mostly because it was so unnecessary, but apparently the rest of Earth required it. Bookkeeps kept us up to date with the humans and their machines while we kept to ourselves. Kyda started the buggy and we started off in the direction of her house. As we drove closer, I noticed her two brothers sitting outside. When we stopped they walked over to us, and I felt my body tense as the fight with Matthew flashed in my mind.

"Hope you don't mind," Kyda said, "but I'm gonna need some help getting you upstairs," she said as she waved to her brothers. Remus and Robin were almost carbon copies of their father, broad shouldered and square jawed. I sucked in a deep breath and relaxed. They were Kyda’s' brothers, not a threat.

"Hey, man, how's the leg?" Remus asked, opening the door on my side of the buggy.

"Peachy," I said, and he grinned, an expression that mirrored his sisters.

"Don't sweat it, Robin could probably take you up the stairs alone, but I get the feeling you don't want my kid brother to bench press you," he said, and I raised an eyebrow as I looked over at his younger brother. He was somewhat scrawny and a little more reserved than his other siblings, which was honestly a relief.

"Is that so?" I asked and he nodded, puffing his chest a little.

"I can even pick up Remus," he said, and I gave him an impressed nod. The kid had guts.

"There will be no bench pressing of anyone right now," Kyda called out as she came around with my bag, "just get him upstairs in one piece please."

Her brothers mumbled something about her being no fun as she unlocked the door ahead of us. I hooked an arm over each brothers’ shoulders, letting them take most of my weight as they lead me into their house. Even though they all but carried me, I couldn't help but groan in pain as we climbed the stairs.

"Sorry man, we're almost there," Remus apologised as he pulled me up another step. I nodded and focused on breathing as we finally reached the landing. From there I let them drag me into the guestroom, settling me into the bed. Remus grabbed a cloth and wiped my face where beads of sweat had begun rolling down.

"You good?" He asked and I gave him a weak thumbs up, and that was all that the two brothers needed before they left me alone in the room. Kyda came in a few moments later with a large glass of water and a bowl of fruit. She set them down on the nightstand and looked me over.

"You look like shit," she said honestly, and I groaned.

"Thank you very much," I said, reaching for the glass of water.

"Stay put," she scolded me as she swatted hand away.

"I can pick up the glass," I told her, and she tutted, handing it to me herself.

"You are exhausted from coming up the stairs, just stay put and let me help you. Then you can do whatever you like," she said.

"You must be glad I'm stuck here for a few more days," I said dryly, and she shot me a sour look.

"I would have preferred if it was of your own free will, but this'll have to do," she said with a little shrug.

"You could have just asked nicely," I said, and she rolled her eyes.

"You wouldn't have stayed, and I wouldn't have forced you," she said, and I wandered how true that was. Would I have stayed if she asked me again?

"Well that definitely would have made Matthew a little angrier," I pointed out and she snorted a little laugh before leaving me alone in the room.