Chapter 5. Is There Something Wrong with Me?

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?"