Talia woke up fully after an hour of arriving at the hospital. The pungent odour of disinfectant invaded her nostrils. She also detected a subtle hint of lavender, turning her head towards that gentle note, she saw her mother sat beside her. Worry lines were etched into her forehead.
"Hey Ma! Don't frown so much. Those lines will become permanent.", Talia smiled weakly as she spoke to Violet.
Violet studied her daughter's face intently, "Oh sweetheart, thank the goddess that your alright!", a small sob escaped Violets lips.
"Ofcourse I'm fine. It'll take a lot more than a wall to take down a she-wolf like me.", Talia thought humour would be the best way to soothe her mother's fragile nerves. A small ghost of a smile appeared on Violets face. It was working.
"Yes, but it's enough to send me into a mass of worry.", she gently scolded.
Talia sat up slightly, assessing her body as she did so for any injuries that had yet to repair themselves. There was no pain whatsoever.
"Huh. How long was I out for?", studying medicine and healing had garnered Talia with the knowledge of how long a wolfs accelerated healing took to restore the body to this level. She estimated that she'd been sleeping and healing for around 4 hours.
"You were taken straight here after your fall and have been here for an hour.", before Violet could answer, a low and sensuous voice spoke from near the doorway.
Violet jumped up on hearing Brodie speaking, "Young Alpha! I hear it's you we need to thank for getting our Talia here safely... If it wasn't for you goddess knows how long she could've been lying there...", Talia let out a quiet snort when she heard her mother say this, but it wasn't quiet enough. Both heads turned to face her." Talia! Don't be so rude! Alpha Brodie brought you to this hospital when he found you unconscious... ", Violet was going to continue to berate Talia when Brodie interrupted her.
"It's quite alright madam Christie. I'm just glad I found your daughter when I did.", he hesitated slightly then continued, "Would you mind if I spoke to Talia in private?". Talia started to shake her head in protest but her mother cut in, "But ofcourse young Alpha. I'll go and get a coffee and let my husband know that Talia is awake."
'Dammit!', Talia swore to herself. The last thing she wanted was to be alone with him, though she was curious about the version of events he had given to those around them.
As Violet left the room she sent a meaningful look towards Talia. She was telling her to behave.
Brodie waited a minute after Violet left before entering the room fully and approached Talia's bedside. He sat in the now vacant chair and looked the full length of her before settling his gaze to rest on her face.
It was unnerving for Talia to have someone observe her so closely. She swallowed hard as she looked down at her hands in her lap.
"How are you feeling?", he asked her, not really knowing if he'd get a reply.
Talia stayed silent. He was about to ask again when she quietly answered, "I'm a little concerned that you're here to finish the job. I mean you seem to already have your cover story sorted.", she never lifted her head as she said this.
Brodie tilted his head to the side, his eyes never leaving her, then unexpectedly he let out a hearty laugh. "Well you never can tell.", he said as he continued to chuckle. "Look Talia,", they way her name slid off his tongue was a smooth as silk. "I am really sorry for the part I played in you getting hurt. I didn't mean to frighten you. I only came to find you to see if you would reconsider my father's offer of training with the warriors.", Brodie explained as fast as he could before she had a chance to interrupt him or challenge his sincerity.
"Talia, the way you fought was... Well it was out of this world and...and beautiful.", he added that last part a little more hushed. "Anyways as I was saying, it seemed as though the moon goddess herself was fighting through you. I just knew I had to try change your mind. Then I heard you sing...", he trailed off on this last word. He thought he'd maybe said to much or had been too complimentary. He thought he sounded like an idiot.
Talia was stunned. His honesty was not something she had expected. Still she focused in on the last thing he said, trying to find a way to keep her distance.
"You heard me sing and what? You changed your mind? You thought it'd be something that you could tease me about or at least let others tease me about? I get why you originally wanted to speak to me but let me be perfectly clear I...DON'T... WANT... TO.. BE.. A.. WARRIOR! I love training and the release it brings me but I want to help people not hurt them.", it was Brodie's turn to be shocked.
Did She honestly think that he would think her singing was a joke? He felt frustrated, did he not explain himself properly? With a sigh he tried again,
" You have it all wrong. Your voice, your sadness spoke to me in a way the legends of our kind does. I felt rooted to the spot, I just wanted to hear more. I wasn't trying to act like a perv or anything. You have a talent is all.".
What is it about her that makes him want to spill out his inner most feelings. 'Urgh, come on Brodie cool your jets on the smushy stuff. She's not even your mate.' He was still frustrated. His aura was filling the space between them making it difficult to breathe.
"Well.. I.. I.. Um thank you", Talia wasn't sure what she wanted to say so she stuttered a lame thanks. Her cheeks took on a rosey blush. She had just gathered her thoughts and took a deep breath, when there was a short knock on her door.
"How's the patient? I'm Dr. Stewart by the way.", the tension evaporated as quickly as it had appeared.
"All good Doc. Are you here to free me?", Talia was eager to leave as soon as she could.
Dr. Stewart cleared his throat and adjusted his thin rimmed glasses "About that.. I was hoping to keep you here for a few days, for observation."
Her heart sank, "Why? I feel great. Brand new in fact. I don't see the need to stay here when I'm perfectly fine.", Talia did indeed feel better. Maybe even better than she had before.
"The thing is miss Christie, its about the rate at which you healed. I've never, in all my years in the medical field, came across such an anomaly. I was hoping to ask you some questions... Maybe take a blood sample.", the doctors eyes gave away his yearning to study her. Talia suddenly felt like an oddity.
With a sad and fearful tone she sat playing with her fingers as she asked, "Is there something wrong with me?"
The conversation flowed easily throughout the meal, like they had been old friends catching up after a long absence. They had moved back to the loungearea infront of the fire, stomachs fit to burst after three courses of delectable food. Mila had brought through a tray of coffee which was appreciated by everyone. Lounging around enjoying the comfortable chatter, Brodie hardly took his his hands off of Talia. He was always touching her in some small way, currently his fingers were playing with the soft, silky curls of her hair. Talia had been explaining to Brodie's parents about her plans to become a doctor, her inherant desire to help others when she started to feel odd, losing focus, her words refusing to form as she continued trying to talk. She went silent, her eyes rolled back in her head as her body started convulsing before suddenly going still. The panicked voices of everyone else in the room sounded fuzzy and far-away to Talia as if she was li
Talia was still sniggering as she got out the shower and headed back through to her room. She had heard the pair of them but decided to not let on, plus she needed some time to calm down from almost nearly moment Brodie and she had. If her mother hadn't come home, who knows how far it would have gone? 'Oh you know.', her wolf answered her. 'We can't let them mark us until your birthday. Fool around all you want but do not mate him before then.' 'I didn't intend to but is there a reason why?' Talia thought, not sure if she would get an answer. 'Can you tell me your name please?' 'There is no reason apart from the strength of the bond we will share. When I am fully with you, the bond we make will be one the strongest our kind will have ever seen and my name is Rieka. 'No pressure then!', Talia whistled as she glanced over the clothes on her bed. She dressed quickly, a little self conscious at how much her bra pushed up her boobs betwee
Talia linked her parents to let them know that they would be eating with the alpha family tonight, shutting it down rapidly again to drown out Violet's squeals and ramblings. Brodie was still wiggling his eyebrows at her, causing her to giggle with delight. She took his hand and led him up to her room. "I know exactly what we could do.", with a coy grin she led him over to the bed and sat him down on the edge. Brodie gulped audibly as Talia bent down in front of him, her tight ass on show for him, through her skin tight jeans, causing his own trousers to tighten at the sight. Brodie longed to touch her, palm her firm cheek but he couldn't work up the courage before Talia had righted herself with a backpack in her left hand, hooked by one finger. "You could help me study?", she was trying to keep the humour she felt off her face, to appear innocent, which was proving to be very difficult. "S..study? You want me...to help you study?", Brodie looked as
The room was silent and still. Brodie had stopped talking sometime ago and now they all were just sat like statues lost in their own thoughts. It would have been an alarming sight for anyone walking in and witnessing it, like time had been frozen within the walls of the room. Mila was the first to shake herself free of the trance that the heavy atmosphere surrounding them had created. She stood and walked to the window, one arm around her slender waist, the other propped up by it at the elbow, resting her chin on the back of her long fingers. She stood, staring out into the grounds and beyond that to the vast forest, her expression neutral. A small grin tugged at her lips and a warmth glinted in her eyes as her head turned towards the men, her body following on. "I think that we should meet your mate, Brodie. I'd very much like to get to know my new daughter.", Mila's smile grew as she spoke happy that her son will have a strong Luna. She wasn't at all sure w
Brodie thought about what Talia had read to them and if there could possibly be any truth in it as he walked back to the packhouse. He believed she was special, she was his mate, but for her to be directly decended from not only the first wolf but the Moon Goddess as well was mind blowing. He thought about the stories that he was told as a child. He recalled something about the first wolf had became enranged that there was now a superior line of wolves and he, feeling that he was the alpha of all wolves, set out to destroy them. The tale that Talia had read was a watered down version designed for children, where as the more mature version was a lot darker, with more death and destruction and less happily ever after. Brodie's mind and heart was heavy as he walked through the packhouse doors. He would have to bring his parents up to speed with everything but felt like he was betraying Talia, in doing so. debating with himself, Brodie concluded that if there was
"Did you really think that would work? Wolves, remember?", Lachlan pointed between his wife and himself. "We have excellent senses.", He looked amused rather than annoyed, which made both Talia and Brodie visibly relax. Lachlan chuckled at pair of them. "It's okay, you're both adults, well almost, and you are mates. Sleeping is easier, isn't it?". Talia wore a tight smile. She would've agreed if she hadn't ended up in another one of her dreams. She took Brodie by the hand and led him to the table, intending on getting coffee for both of them but he turned the tables and gently pushed her into a seat and went to get the drinks instead. Her heart fluttered, such a small but sweet gesture, sent tingles running through her entire body from the tip of her toes right up to her head. "Thanks.", she smiled sweetly as he handed her the cup. The four of them sat at the table eating a breakfast of mushroom omlettes. "Do you either of you know if being born under