7

Grace’s POV

I start to write and grimace at how awful it looks. Well, it's better than my speaking.

I write down 'I'm deaf’ on the paper and showed her.

Suddenly, a smile spreads across her face and I know she understands now. But what she does next surprises me. She signs to me.

"I'm sorry" she signs.

"It's okay" I sign back with a small smile.

"You can sign?"

"Yeah love, I've worked with hearing-impaired people before. Do you wear hearing aids?".

"Yes but the ones I had got broken".

"Okay. I will order you some more but for now, just sign or use the paper ."

"Okay" I reply with a small smile. I lean back in my bed and begin to relax a little. The doctor looks over at the Alpha before looking back at me.

"So how are you feeling?" she signs

"I've been worse." I sign back meekly.

"Dear god. Well, I'm genuinely surprised you're not dead."

"Honestly, me too."

"You're so thin dear, your body covered in wounds and bruises. You also have a couple of broken ribs but nothing that isn't fixable. You're in good hands now."

"Thank you" I sign back with a small smile.

I sigh and rub my hands over my eyes, still trying to avoid acknowledging the Alpha.

"Who is he?" I sign to her, too scared to look at him.

"That's Alpha luca of the silver Moon pack" she signs back with a smile.

Oh fuck.

I think I've heard of the family before. Only I would end up in the territory of the most feared Alphas ever.

Their family has a history of violence and death, not to mention evil, money and power. However, my father used to always have a soft spot for them. I believe he had some kind of treaty with them. Who knows whether that still exists anymore though?

She turns and says something to him and they have a brief conversation before turning her attention back to me.

"He said he wants to talk to you," she says grinning.

Shit. I guess I can't avoid it any longer.

"How?" I sign back.

"He can sign too. His grandpa was deaf and a few other pack members were also so he learnt to sign at a young age."

Oh god. Trust him to know sign language. Just my luck.

"I'll leave you to it" she signs as she goes to leave but I jump out of my bed and run to her. I quickly lose my balance and come to a crashing heap on the floor.

"Don't go!" I sign in fear, looking up at her with pleading eyes.

"Okay, okay. I'll stay. Let's just get you back into bed child. You're extremely underweight and very very weak" she signs before helping me up off the floor and walking me back over to the bed.

I get back in, pulling the covers up to my chest as she sits down next to me. I can trust her, but I can't trust him. Not yet. She nods in his direction and I slowly turn to look at him.

He moves closer and I whimper again and move away, shuffling over towards the doctor. He gives me a sad look and doesn't move any closer.

Suddenly, I feel horrible for making him sad and I don't know why. I slowly move a little closer back towards him and he perks up slightly.

He smiles and says something to the doctor before turning back to me. He studies me for a moment, which makes me nervous.

I'm scared that I'm going to get beaten at some point so I can't trust him.

What if he's exactly like the rogues?

I watch as he shifts in his chair nervously and I play with my fingers.

"Hello" he signs slowly, giving me a small smile.

"Hi" I sign back, the nerves kicking in badly.

This is going to be hard. Really hard.

I watch him shyly as he thinks about what he wants to say.

"What's your name?" he asks, signing slowly. The nerves worsen and I don't want to trust him, but something in me tells me I should.

The strange flutter returns to my stomach. I have no reason to trust him. He could be exactly like every other Alpha to every exist.

I look down at my hands and fiddle for a moment. I can't remember the last time someone asked me my name. It all feels like a distant dream. Eventually, I look back up at him. God, his eyes are beautiful. We stare at each other for a moment, warm butterflies taking up residency in my stomach.

"G-r-a-c-e" I sign back, spelling my name out slowly. I finish and he smiles.

"That's a beautiful name" he signs back, grinning. I cautiously sign back a thank you.

"My name is Alpha Luca , but Teresa already told you that."

I nod. I never knew the previous Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack had a child. My father never mentioned it when I was little.

"So you've heard of my pack before then?"

"Yes, my father used to tell me stories about your pack when I was little."

"Only good things I hope?"

"I don't remember, to be honest, it was so long ago" I sign back.

Why is he being so nice to me.

I don't understand. He should have killed me already, beaten me at the very least. Zane would have. I don't belong here.

"Grace, why were you on my land?"Luca signs, emotionless.

Oh god. How the hell am I going to explain this? I highly doubt he will like any version of the story that I tell him though. Maybe I can avoid telling him somehow?

"I didn't even know I was on your land. I'm really sorry" I sign back, trying to avoid the question.

"That doesn't answer my question,Grace. I want to know why"

"I ran away" I slowly sign back, biting my lip nervously.

"I see. Do you know what happens to rogues when they trespass onto another packs land?"

I nod and look down. He's going to beat me for being on his land, for trespassing.

I squeeze my eyes shut, waiting for the impact. But again, nothing happens.

Instead, I feel him move slightly closer and start to gently rub the back of my hand with his fingertips for a moment before sitting back in his seat. I open my eyes and look at him, confusion all over my face. He frowns at me for a moment before letting his face go back to a neutral expression. Emotionless once again.

"Why are you being nice to me?" I sign, fighting back tears

"What happened to you Grace?" he signs, a frown forming on his lips, concern highlighted on his handsome face.

Instantly, the memories flood back.

The rogues. The kidnapping. The beating. The torture. The rape.

Oh god.

Images of Zane's face dance in my vision, mocking my pain. I start to breathe heavily as a new wave of dizziness washes over me and a ringing fills my ears.

I need to leave. I don't deserve to be here.

I shakily get out of bed but quickly lose my balance and crash to the floor. I feel myself losing control of my body as I proceed to vomit up bile, the world around me becoming a blur. I feel the doctor help me up and try to put me back in bed causing a surge of adrenaline to rush through me.

I get back up, push past the doctor and run out the door as adrenaline courses through my body. I stumble through the maze of corridors and eventually, I find my way out of the hospital and run.

I run as fast as I can towards the forest, passing many different buildings and people giving me strange looks. Soon enough, deep into the forest, deep enough in that I think I might have gotten away from Luca and the doctor.

However, my thoughts are quickly shattered as Luca catches me and tackles me to the ground. I scream out in pain, my ribs aching.

He gives me a hurt look and pulls me into his arms but my panic attack is already too fully blown to be stopped.

I shake, balling my eyes out. Black spots dance in my vision and everything starts spinning and within seconds I'm out