6

~Hunter

For the first time in days, I'm not in excruciating pain.

The slightly too hot water has numbed my senses in the most blissful way. The soap, scented rose and vanilla leaves my skin feeling smooth and buttery.

However, this is one thing ruining my experience.

“I don’t like the fact that you could turn around at any moment," I mumble, casting my gaze back to Kaan.

It's only been five minutes since I sat down but he hasn't so much as tilted his head in my direction.

“Believe it or not, I have no interest in seeing you undressed," he responds.

I roll my eyes.

Maybe it's because my mind is no longer on the pain, or maybe I'm just losing it, but I can't help but wonder if he has a lover. Not because I want him, but because Tay mentioned that they don't breach these walls often.

“Have you even spoken to a woman other than your sisters?” It comes out like a dig, which I don't mind.

His shoulders tense. “What makes you think I don’t?”

“Taysa doesn’t see anyone, so I presumed…” I drift off, waiting for him to explain the strange behaviour this family exhibits.

Being that I come from a high ranking family, I know what it is like to feel excluded from the general population. It's not common practice to mingle with others that aren't of similar rank.

Kaan sighs. "It was that way my entire childhood. Now that I'm Alpha I attend various functions, although it's not normal for me to roam the streets."

I raise my brows. I'm surprised he's admitted that much to me.

"No wonder you're miserable to talk to," I grumble, smiling a little. I can tell he wants to turn around and look me in the eye, but he's resisting.

"I've only been the Alpha for six months," he admits quietly.

My nose scrunches up. "And yet you're still told what to do by your parents."

"It's a complicated situation."

I stare at his back, at the way the fabric of his shirt stretches over his toned muscles. His head is bowed as he stares down at his hands.

My eyes narrow. He's not stupid. He won't divulge family secrets to me, a nobody who stumbled into their lands and branded themselves a criminal.

“I’m sorry for shooting you," he murmurs after a long moment of silence.

I pause my washing, water dripping from my arms.

“I would accept your apology, but I think I’m going to need some more time...” I say carefully.

There's not much use in hating him for what I did. I most certainly resent him, and may even enact my revenge in the future, but I found hate just wears a person down until their very being is controlled by what caused the anger in the first place.

That doesn't mean I'm going to roll over and play nice for the Alpha.

“Fair enough." He gives a little shrug. “What made you come here?”

I take a moment to recall my backstory. I crafted it before I even fled from home, although Tay's amendments have made it a little harder to follow.

“Travelling. Wanted to see the area.”

“Do you have people waiting for you to get back?”

“No. No one cares about me, exactly,” I say quickly.

That's not entirely true. It's true in that no one will actually miss me as a person, but they will miss what I represented, and what I am worth to these people.

“I heard you have a sister other than Taysa," I add before he can delve deeper into those waiting for me back home.

Home. I need to stop saying that.

“Yes, Azura,” he tells me. “She keeps to herself, so I wouldn’t bother seeking her out.”

If she keeps to herself she may be the exact kind of person I do want to be around. Tay is sweet but she's overwhelming in large doses, and Kaan is...complicated and infuriating - a miserable combination.

“Okay. I won't." Or I will. I haven't decided yet.

“She’s mute, and she can't read or write. It's virtually impossible to speak with her as she refused to pick up any other kind of communication," he explains.

He rolls the sleeves of his shirt up his forearms, revealing tension in the muscle.

He cares about Azura, I realise. Like a lot. A lot more than Tay, who seems to bother him even when it's just her name being brought up.

"Right...Protective brother." I chuckle to myself, although I have first hand experience with protective people.

It's how I wound up here.

He draws in a breath, his tone becoming cold and bitter. "Don't give me a need to show you, and it won't matter."

"Fine," I grumble, trying not to reveal how much his words genuinely frighten me. "I'm done."

“No you're not. You didn’t even soap your back," he comments.

My eyes widen. I didn't because my arms have lost a lot of mobility as well, and even reaching over my shoulder is virtually impossible.

"How do you know?" My eyes trace the room, looking for some kind of mirror or reflection that he has been watching me bathe through.

"I can't see you," he mutters, sensing my unease. "I assume because I doubt you physically can."

I huff out a sigh.

“I’m protecting my wound anyways.”

He stands. “Let me.”

He turns around, just as I manage to draw my knees up to my chest and turn mostly away from him. The bath is filled with bubbles, however, nothing feels modest enough when he is looking at me.

“Hey-“

"Calm down, I can't see. And I'm not looking," he adds.

He kneels beside the tub, not giving any though to the water now drenching his knees as he leans past me to grab the bar of soap.

I remain painfully still, watching his awfully large hand clasp it before pulling back, suds dripping down his wrist.

"You're okay with this, right?" he tests.

I roll my eyes. He's chosen to be conscientious at the wrong time, although I suppose I appreciate it.

"Just do it."

Thankfully my hair is swept off my back and bound atop my head so he doesn't get soap all mixed up in it. Wordlessly, he starts drawing the bar of soap across my back, lathering it up.

For a while we don't talk. He works the bar across every inch of my skin, probably figuring I won't be washing so thoroughly for a bit.

I can feel his gaze on the wound. I can feel his guilt.

Suddenly, he pauses. “You were burnt.”

I wince. I was hoping the wound had struck me on the part of my back that harbours ancient scars from my childhood. It's not a conversation I want to be having with him.

“Just a small amount," I grit out.

What does he want me to say? I have a sadistic mother who used horrific methods of punishment on her daughters? That this same mother sold me off to a man I don't love? That she made sure the burns were done on a part of us the public couldn't see, and by the time a man did, we would be married to him, and it would be too late?

“Where did you come from, Hunt?”

He says it so delicately, so earnestly that I almost consider telling him the truth.

Reality smooths back that brief moment of weakness very quickly.

“Don’t call me Hunt," I snap.

He sighs, leaning over to place the soap back on its perch. He turns his head while I rinse off, then hands me a towel.

"Alright, can you stand?"

"Yes...Once I figure out how to make my legs move again." They are back to feeling numb and useless.

Thankfully he turns around before I can snap at him again. I drain the bath of its water before wrapping the towel around me.

When he turns back around, he holds his hand back out to me.

I stare at it, shaking my head.

"Come on."

"You're not wearing gloves."

He massages a frown from his forehead. "Seriously?"

I shrug. In escaping a place even worse than this, I've learnt a lot about self-preservation. Nothing as stupid and pointless as a mate bond is going to keep me here, and although I doubt Kaan is my mate, I'm not taking any chances.

I can tell in his expression what he is thinking.

There is no way you, a stray girl from who knows where is my mate.

"Fine."

He disappears for a moment, and when he comes back, he's wearing gloves. At this point I'm already hanging halfway out of the tub, trying my hardest to get out on my own.

He shakes his head at me, grabbing both my arms to help me up.

His strength is nothing to laugh at, although looking at him no one would assume he is lacking in it.

He helps me all the way to the bed.

"Thank you," I mumble, shame burning at my cheeks.

"You don't need to thank me. Not after I did this to you." He swallows thickly, his eyes mellowing as he looks over me.

I give him a long look. "Are you going to be this nice to me when I can walk again?"

"Nope. Have a good night, Hunter." He turns toward the door, although lingers, looking back over his shoulder with a stupid smirk plastered across his face. "Unless you want help changing."

I smile sardonically, waving. "Goodnight, Kaan."

He leaves, closing the door behind him. The room is suddenly doused with quiet.

I hate it.

Changing comes far easier than I expected. The bath has relaxed my muscles, giving me a little more mobility than I had before.

Fuck it. I'm exploring.

Grabbing the walking cane Tay brought me yesterday that apparently belonged to her grandfather, I test my legs.

I can do this.

The quicker I can regain full use of my legs again, the better. The healers think I need another week before I can walk, but that means nothing to me. I'm desperate.

I wander off down the hallway, ignoring the sharp jabs of pain that come with each step. Strangely my legs respond to my every command, and the more I move, the easier it begins to feel.

I'm going to be out of here before I know it.

Riding the wave of triumphant, I start up the stairs to the third level. It takes at least twenty minutes for me to reach the top, and by the time I make it I'm exhausted, sweaty and ready to collapse.

Regardless, I push on, finding the entrance to a small yet impressive library. It must be someone's personal connection.

My eyes spot a table and chairs in the centre. I need to sit down.

I stumble over, frightening the poor girl who sits there reading an awfully tall looking book as I slump into one of the seats opposite her.

"I'm sorry, I can't exactly walk far so I may have to rest here for a moment," I tell her, raising the cane. "Hope you're not doing anything important."

Is she staff? I don't think anyone else lives here.

She stares at me with wide hazel eyes. Her panic has subsided a little as she realises I'm not a threat, although she still continues to stare at me strangely.

It suddenly clicks.

"Oh, you're Azura."

Who else would be up here? I was wondering where Kaan and Tay's other sister dwells, and it seems at the very top of the house is her chosen spot. I can't blame her, the view from the library window is magnificent, even at night, and it's secluded.

She nods slowly, her fingers gripping her book tightly.

She's beautiful. She has the same sharp, angular facial structure that Kaan has, but her eyes are large and round like Tay's.

Her hair is raven black, though, like her father's and her figure is lithe like her mother's.

"I'm Hunter. I'm staying here while I recover from an injury," I tell her.

Her eyes flare wider and she draws in a sharp breath. Is she reacting like this because she is frightened of me? I suppose I am an outsider.

I understand you're mute," I say tentatively. "Are you reading?"

Kaan told me she couldn't.

She shakes her head and lays the book flat down on the table. I look closer, seeing that the once blank pages have been painted over.

"You paint?" I ask softly.

She nods, smiling a little.

The paintings are vibrant in colour and wonderfully detailed. It's evident she is incredibly talented.

I let out a breath, relaxing. "It's nice to meet you, Azura. I would like to be your friend."