Maxwell POVIt was a relief to watch Laura eat. Although it took her a while to get through half of the meal, I’m glad she managed to digest something. I know she probably doesn’t have much of an appetite, so starting l so she doesn’t make herself sick is key.After her meal, Ava took her upstairs to one of the spare rooms. She showed her how to use the shower and let her borrow some clean clothes. We said we’d wait downstairs in the living room to give her some breathing space.“She should see the doctor again,” I say to Ava as I pace the cream rug in front of the grand fireplace. “To double-check that everything is okay.”“I agree.”“I don’t want to push her too far,” I comment, running a hand along the stubble on my jaw. “But at the same time, I want to make sure she’s okay.”My sister nods. “I don’t think you should be pushing yourself too far either.”“What does that mean?”She sighs and chews her bottom lip. “I know you’re not over Julia. You will never be over Julia. She was y
Maxwell POVI didn’t expect the bond to be this strong, let alone for it to arise this early without any physical connection. It starts to pull on my heartstrings, and I resist the urge to rub my hand over my chest.Eventually, Laura nods.Gemma continues to smile as she holds out her hand, but she doesn’t take her palm. Instead, she follows her further into the infirmary.Ava sighs from beside me. “I am exhausted, I have no idea how she feels.”My eyes ache with heaviness and all the foreign emotions weighing down my body. “I know.”When the minutes tick by, I’m strung with worry that Gemma has found something that puts Laura’s health in danger. Overthinking is a bastard.The door opens, and I stand from my seat in the hall. Gemma guides Laura back to us. “Everything okay?” I ask.“I managed to get a better look at those cracked ribs and torn ligaments. But they’re all healed now. Laura will be weak for a few weeks, so she needs a lot of rest.Hydration and nourishment are also going
Maxwell POVThe past week has been tough, to say the least. I’ve barely had a wink of sleep. Every night I stayed awake projecting images into Laura’s mind to stop the nightmares until she was able to fall asleep peacefully.It’s agonizing listening to her screams, knowing I can’t comfort her instead. I’ve been visiting her once or twice a day, but I don’t get a lot back. She hasn’t left her room. She’s barely said two words to me. But I don’t push it. I take every day as it comes.I hold a cup of coffee in my hand which has turned cold from staring endlessly at the wall. If I don’t, I’ll peer around my kitchen to find plates and cups dotted everywhere as no one bothered to clean up last night. It irks me that my private kitchen is treated like university accommodation.“No sleep huh?” Ava’s voice echoes around the kitchen as she walks by me. Sebastian follows and gives me a slow nod.“I have every right to be worried about her,” I grumble under my breath. “And were you guys born in
Maxwell POVI don’t have time to second-guess her abilities right now; instead, I lean into the tub and pull her body into my chest. I glance down at her face and watch as she falls into a lightheaded state. Her entire body is different shades of red and pink.Ava rushes from the room and grabs a dry towel before laying it out on the floor. I flick my gaze to Kayden standing in the doorway, his eyes upon my mate with great horror.Give us some privacy, I snap.His head bows, and he turns to leave. Let us know if there is anything we can do.I place Laura down on the towel and sweep her dark hair away from her injured back. Ava hisses, and I grit my jaw at the sight before me. “Fuck, Maxwell. This isn’t good.”Blisters have already started to show. Parts of her skin are broken and weeping. How long was she up here doing this to herself? Heaviness clouds my eyes, and I try to calm myself down.Ava kneels beside Laura and places her hands gently on her back.“If you can’t do it, Gemma
Maxwell POVOn other days, she’d only want to talk to Ava. At least she’s found comfort in my sister. I barely had a chance to speak to her, but I know gaining her trust is something that will not happen overnight. I’m ready to persist.She hasn’t wanted to be in the same room as me without Ava to make her feel at ease. I don’t take it to heart. She deserves to be understood. As much as it hurts, I know she needs time and space.Over the last two weeks, I’ve thought of Julia constantly. A part of me knows I shouldn’t be diving into this new bond with Laura because my love for Julia won’t magically disappear. She was my Luna. Now, I have been graced with another.Some days, I grieve. But, some days, my wolf forces my attention towards Laura.It alarms me how easily he has moved on. It’s as if she never even existed in his world, and it gives me a headache. It’s a clusterfuck of emotions I can’t seem to control. We are two separate entities with different perspectives.I’m stuck betwe
Maxwell POVA surprising laugh barks out of her. “Of course, I’ve seen rain. But it’s been what feels like years since I’ve seen the rain, and it just…it just–”“It what?”“It makes me feel alive. It reminds me I am alive.” She shudders but not with coldness, with vibrancy. “It’s like I can feel something real. I can go outside. I can feel the rain. I can breathe all this air. It’s real. It’s not a dream. I’m loving this.”My lips spread into a bright smile. “Yeah. It’s real. All of it is real. You’re not a prisoner here, Laura. You are free to do whatever you want. Whatever makes you feel alive.”Her eyes glitter in my direction, and I suck in a breath. The way she’s looking at me makes my chest glow with a tender warmth.“You must be freezing,” I say as I focus on her lips, which are losing color by the second. “Let’s get inside. You don’t want to make yourself sick.”Laura steps around me, and we walk back towards the kitchen. I hold the door open for her as we step inside. She t
Laura POVTonight, I couldn’t sleep. I’ve barely managed a couple of hours each night for the past four weeks. Most start nightmares that torment my mind until the dream changes, and instead of being terrified, I am comforted. It’s an odd sensation that I don’t understand.I hear the calmness of the waves and the gentle breeze over a mountaintop.Every night, it’s something different. A new place. A new. I don’t fight them. I submerge in the images, and I’m grateful when I finally settle into a dreamless sleep.But tonight, I toss and turn in the sheets until they make my legs itch. I have no idea what I’m still doing here. I should have left as soon as my injuries healed and attempted to find my home. Why can’t I remember my home?The thought makes my brows pinch together painfully. A deep ache makes me question the last few years. I huff out a dissatisfied breath and bury my head into the pillow.Tears threaten my eyes once again. I don’t belong here. Yet, I don’t belong anywher
Laura POVWhen he reaches over, I’m convinced he’s about to touch me. I open my mouth and release the loudest scream. It deafens me. It wrenches from my chest because my body jumps into fight mode. It’s the last resort.I close my eyes to try and block out all the crucifying emotions that clutter my head. Blood pounds in my ears, and everything slows down to the point I’m disorientated.Voices start talking, but I don’t hear what they’re saying. My breaths become shorter, and I’m out of oxygen, yet at the same time, I can’t get enough. My vision blurs when another silhouette settles in front of me.“Laura.” The sound is muffled. “Laura, you’re hyperventilating.”Why do I sound like I’m in a bubble? I don’t even know if I’m alive right now.“Breathe, Laura.” The voice softens. “There is so much air in this room. Okay? Don’t let yourself think there is no air. You have it. Breathe. Nothing is going to happen to you.”It feels like it might. I’m going to die.Just breathe, Laura. You ca