5

Chapter 5.

Talia sat on a bench outside the ward, waiting for the doctor as she clutched her fingers against each other. 

She kept reflecting on Damon's words last night. He thinks she's acting like an omega. 

How many people must have suspected that she's acting like an omega? She wondered, twitching her lips while staring into space. 

"Sage Storm?" A melodic voice came from inside one of the wards, but she remained motionless, staring into space. 

"Mr. Storm?!" The voice called again and she quickly turned her head to look at a tall blonde lady putting on a white labcoat, while holding a checkboard and a marker in her hands. 

"Yes... That's me. Sage Storm" Talia responded as she stood up. For a second, she had almost forgotten she was now Sage Storm.

The blonde lady motioned to her and she stepped into the ward, lips slightly parted as her eyes scanned the room. 

A bed stood near the window. Beside it, a table lined with jars and metal trays.

At the far end, a curtain hung halfway closed, separating a space she guessed was another room.

"Please, lie face up on the bed" the doctor said as she began putting on a pair of gloves. 

Talia was already lying face-up when she turned. She walked to Talia who was eyeing her closely, alert to every movement.

The doctor touched her shirt but Talia held her hands immediately, making the doctor flicker her gaze to Talia in shock. 

"Relax, I just want to see the bruises" she said, nodding at her with a smile. 

"I want to do it myself" Talia mumbled, making the doctor shrug. She watched as Talia carefully and slowly raised the shirt, then stopped right below where the band stopped at her chest, so the doctor couldn't get a glimpse of it. 

The doctor’s brow furrowed at the red and green bruises blooming across her stomach.

"Why are you not healing, Mr. Storm?" She said absentmindedly and began using her gloved hands to press the green and red spots, Talia mumbled a wince but bit her lower lips to prevent her from making a sound. 

The doctor made to touch the shirt but she held her hand midway, earning a swift look from the doctor. 

"Mr. Storm, I just wanted to see whether this bruise is spreading or if you sustained any injury on your chest as well" The doctor said, looking into her eyes and finally retrieving her hand from Talia. 

"I didn't... My chest is fine. I didn't receive a punch there. Mrs---" 

"Dr. Lanxy" The lady replied. 

"Yes, Dr. Lanxy. If that's all, I'll be on my way..." She said and sat up, then taking the shirt down to cover her stomach.

"Hold on, I have to apply some ointment on the injury" Lanxy said and moved to the table and grabbed a container, while Talia watched. 

"You know... It's strange I can't pick a scent from you. That's rare" Lanxy mumbled with a shrug as if brushing the thought away, but her eyes lingered on Talia, while rubbing the ointment on her palms

She moved to Talia, who slowly raised her shirt again, revealing the bruises, then she began applying it gently. 

"If I were you, Mr. Storm, I would visit the Scent Anomalies Department" she added. 

"I'm fine... I don't need to visit them" Talia mumbled, feeling the lady was prying too hard. 

As she lay flat, the hairs on the back of her neck prickled. Someone was watching her. 

Shifting her gaze to the window, she could have sworn that she caught a glimpse of a shadow move, as if someone was there. 

Talia let her gaze longer at the windowside for a few minutes before sighing and returning her gaze to what Dr. Lanxy was doing. She must’ve imagined it.

Meanwhile, Damon returned to his position at the windowside, his gaze locked on her when she had stopped looking at the window. 

His eyes remained on her as the doctors massaged Talia's stomach, with one of his hands resting on the window.

 A soft lemon scent filled his nostrils, making his nose twitch as a voice spoke, startling him. 

"Weird huh? He wouldn't heal fast and he's a beta's son" He turned swiftly to see Selene standing next to him at the window side too, watching Talia being massaged. 

He hadn't expected to see her there and he hadn't heard her approach. 

"What are you doing here? This is boy's infirmary" Damon watched her, but her gaze remained on Talia. 

"An interesting roommate you have, isn't he?" She grinned and turned to look at him, revealing sets of perfect white teeth. 

"Come on, I did my research. I was wondering why you would interfere and save his ass" she shrugged. 

"You never interfered with fights that's not yours to win. But then, you did with this boy--" she continued, turning her gaze to Talia, placing both hands at her back. 

"Sage Storm, son of Alaska Storm, beta of Blue Claw's Pack"

At that point, Damon noticed Talia was about turning to the window, so he grabbed Selene's arms, pulling her to himself "Come on, walk with me" he said and they strode away from the windowside, with Selene, grinning from ear to ear as she held Damon with her other hand. 

"It's fascinating how his father is a beta but he appears so weak" She shook her head while Derek walked past them, acknowledging them with a nod, as they finally stepped out of the infirmary. 

Derek walked into Talia's ward when the doctor was done. She sat at the edge of the bed, taking down her shirt to cover her stomach. 

The plaster on her forehead and at the side of her lips had been removed, but the cut was still visible. 

"Thank you, Dr. Lanxy" she stood up and met Derek's gaze. 

"It's good to see you on your feet, Storm. I thought you'd die out there at the ring" he grinned and punched her feebly on her shoulder, and she winced. 

"Yeah, me too. Big Joe is some shot, isn't he?" She shrugged as he placed his hand across her shoulder and they began walking towards the hallway. 

Dr. Lanxy walked to the window in the ward and watched Talia as she moved with Derek. Her gaze remained on her until they finally walked out of sight.  

Then she scribbled on a checkboard next to Sage Storm 'No Scent'

As they strode down, students passed by, snickering quietly, eyes flicking her way.

"Next time, don't get chosen, Talia. It's better you go out there and pick who you know you can destroy" he said and she only nodded. 

"Big Joe never lost a match, and Damon never interfere. It's strange, you know" he continued while she opened her eyes but hid her surprise.

Students kept stealing glances at her, and she couldn't help but notice. 

"He got his ass kicked real good" one boy muttered loud enough for her to hear.

"Ignore them" Derek muttered as they quickened their steps. 

"He couldn't even have a punch at Big Joe" Another boy said laughing, making Talia lower her head. 

"Don't listen to them. Damon got Big Joe real good too. With a single punch! That was sick!" Derek smirked. 

"Yeah, he did" Talia said lowly, still lowering her gaze. 

“I’ve never seen Damon care this much. He even showed up at the infirmary. That’s something,” Derek said, nodding, making Talia raise her gaze to meet his. 

"He did? I didn't see him" she furrowed her brows, blinking.

“Really? But I saw him. With Selene,” Derek said, brows briefly pinching together. Then he shrugged, brushing it off.

"Come on, let's go to the library. I'll give you a tour" Derek sighed as they continued walking in silence. 

But Talia's mind was elsewhere. 'Why did Damon come to the infirmary... with Selene?' 

Talia didn't realise then they got to the library as she stared absentmindedly from shelf to shelf. She could hear Derek speak, but could not pick up anything he was saying as she was lost in deep thoughts. 

Before she could lose herself deeper in thought, a movement caught her eye. It was Selene, escorted by two girls at her sides, strolling into the library like she owned the place. Both girls had books tucked in their arms, but Selene was holding a pink water bottle, swinging it as she walked. 

Talia’s shoulders tensed instantly.

“Hey, Selene!” Derek greeted with a friendly wave.

Selene didn’t respond, neither did she blink. 

“Derek,” she finally said, with a smile. “Why don’t you be a sweetheart and give me a second with Sage?” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

Derek glanced at Talia, then sighed. “I’ll be over there,” he muttered, already walking off, whistling like he wanted no part in what was coming.

Selene’s smile faded the second he left.