The morning after

Aidora

I kept rubbing on the necklace, trying to figure out if it was truly hot when I woke up last night or if I was just lost in the daze of my nightmare. It makes zero sense for it to burn hot.

“Did you get anything I just said?” Lina asked, tapping me lightly and I snapped out of my thoughts.

“Sorry. What did you say?” I muttered and she sighed dramatically.

She hadn't left my side since last night and no matter how many times I asked her how and why she was there, she only ever gave vague answers. Although, I could take a guess.

I wasn't too sure, but I felt his presence last night. The bond must have alerted him, and it was probably his wolf that dragged him out, but the thought of him rushing out worried about me, made my stomach flutter.

To me, he was still my best friend and a part of me still held on to the love and friendship we once shared.

“You didn't hear me again?” there was a hint of exasperation in her voice and I instantly braced myself for a lash out.

“I'm sorry,” I mumbled and I heard her sigh again.

“You shouldn't be in your head too much. You need to be alert, a lot happens around here.”

My brows creased and I looked up at her. “What do you mean? What happens?”

She grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet. My back and legs fought against standing up so upright. I gritted my teeth and forced myself to remain standing without leaning.

“The alpha doesn't do well with repeating himself, you have to listen and get his orders at once. There are too many rules and too many eyes in this place.”

I narrowed my eyes, there seemed to be a lot more that she wasn't saying, but I wasn't going to push.

“You're going to get washed up, then eat and you're going to go out for a walk.”

“A walk?”

“Alpha’s orders. If you're to recover, you have to exercise your body.”

The meal and the bath all passed by in a blur for me, my mind kept going over what it'd be like to go on a walk. My throat was dry and tight from nerves.

“Li-lina,”

“Yes?”

“You know who I am, right? and why I am here.”

She froze. Her fingers hovered over the dress she was picking up for a few seconds, then she took a breath and picked it up.

“Aidora Sinclair,” She faced me, her features were bland. “Everybody knows who you are, but not everyone is out to get you. Some of us understand your parents committed the crime, not you, you were only but a child.”

A lump formed in my throat at her words, the urge to say ‘my parents were innocent’ danced at the very tips of my tongue, but I swallowed them. My throat burned as I did, but I forced myself to smile.

“Thank you.”

“I'll be by your side during the walk. You can tune out whatever they say to you, no one will hurt you out there, you're under the Alpha’s protection… for now.”

Air seemed to pass through my nose and lungs easier once that was cleared up, but it didn't stop the nerves from eating at me.

“Are you ready?” She asked once she was done cleaning up and I nodded, not trusting my tongue enough to speak. “I'll be with you,” taking my hand, she laced our arms together and we walked out of the room.

Once we made it out of the house, I held onto Lina even more. There was no one around for the first few minutes, and the further we walked, the more I loosened up and actually looked around.

So much had changed. I could barely recognize anywhere.

My eyes turned to the direction my home once was, and I almost pulled Lina to that direction, but I couldn't. That path led deeper into the pack and whatever change laid ahead, I wasn't ready to confront it.

“Where are we headed?” I asked after a few more minutes of walking around and there was still no one in sight. “And why is there no one around?’

The second the question left my lips I stopped walking and pulled my hand out of her hold. We haven't come across a single soul since this walk, and she didn't look bothered, it felt like she expected it.

“Training is currently going on, most people that patrol these axises are there at the moment.”

“I want to go back.” I said, moving back a bit more.

it was way too suspicious, and I was not going to follow her blindly. Trusting her, trusting anyone, was too risky.

Lina opened her mouth like she was going to say something, then her eyes widened slightly and she shut her lips. “Okay then.”

Expecting us to go back, I turned back to walk away, but three steps in and I noticed I was walking alone. I turned rapidly and she was still marching ahead without turning back.

Her silhouette disappeared but I could still see her shadow and she wasn't moving anymore. My fear skyrocketed and I wrapped my arms tightly around me. Everywhere was empty, too empty and I felt cornered.

A sudden wave of anger slammed into me and my wolf stirred. Hadrian. Heavy footsteps drifted into my ears and I squared my shoulders, eyes darting around for where it was coming from.

From the shadows, Hadrian walked out, wearing dark purple joggers and a blank top, his eyes darkened. My knees instantly buckled at the sight of him.

I somehow couldn't get over how attractive he looked glistening with sweat.

I could hear my heart pounding but I couldn't tell if it was from excitement or fear. My wolf didn't seem to care, I could feel her wiggling around and purring.

“Why are you just standing around under the sun?” his voice came in unexpectedly and I flinched, instantly losing my footing.

I had no proper stamina from years of starvation, but right before I could tumble to the ground, calloused hands wrapped around my delicate wrist and pulled me into a rock hard chest. Blood immediately rushed to my cheeks at the contact.