Chapter 6

_Leah's POV_

Tariq carried me through the thick woods for what felt like hours. My body was limp in his arms, every muscle too weak to respond. The cold night air bit at my skin, but somehow, his warmth shielded me from the worst of it. I didn’t understand how he could be so gentle after all the cruelty I had known. Every time he looked at me, his gaze was filled with kindness.

Eventually, we reached a small cottage nestled between the trees. It was old but sturdy, with smoke rising from a chimney. Tariq stopped and whistled three times. His breath was visible in the cool air. Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing an older woman with silver hair tied back in a loose bun. Her eyes were sharp but filled with warmth.

“Tariq,” she said softly. “Is this her?”

He nodded and gently carried me inside. “She needs help, Mother. Quickly.”

The inside of the cottage was small but cozy. The air was filled with the scent of herbs and burning wood. A fire crackled in the hearth, casting a warm glow over the room. My body, still racked with fever chills, immediately relaxed at the sight of the fire. Tariq laid me down on a soft couch near the chimney. The warmth seeped into my bones, and for the first time in days, I felt a bit of comfort.

I glanced up at Tariq as he knelt beside me. He gave me a reassuring smile. “You’re safe now, Leah. But I need to take a look at your wounds. Turn around for me, alright?”

I hesitated but his kindness made me trust him. Slowly, I turned onto my side, wincing as the movement pulled at the torn skin on my back. Tariq’s eyes darkened with concern when he saw the extent of the damage.

“Susan, bring me the ointment and the medical kit,” he called to the woman, who was already bustling around the room.

The woman, his mother, hurried back with a small box and a jar filled with a thick and green paste. She handed them to Tariq without a word. Her eyes were soft as she looked at me. “Don’t worry, dear. You’re in good hands now,” she said, her voice full of reassurance.

Tariq opened the medical kit and pulled out some cotton. I tensed, knowing that cleaning the wounds would hurt, but he was so gentle with me. As he carefully wiped the blood and dirt from my back, I couldn’t help but flinch.

“I know it hurts,” he said softly. “But this will help you heal.”

I nodded and bit my lip to keep from crying out. His touch was careful but the pain was still sharp. After he cleaned the wounds, he applied the ointment, which felt cool against my burning skin. I exhaled a shaky breath. I was grateful for the relief it brought.

Tariq wrapped the bandages around me. His hands were working with precision and care. I couldn’t help but think about how different he was from Kayden. Where Kayden had caused me nothing but pain, Tariq was bringing me comfort and healing. I found myself wishing that the Moon Goddess had mated me to someone like him instead of Kayden. Maybe things would have been different.

Once he was done, Tariq sat back on his heels and met my eyes. “It’ll hurt for a while, but you’ll heal faster now,” he said.

“Thank you,” I whispered. My voice was still weak but I meant it with all my heart.

Tariq’s mother, Susan, gave him a proud smile before turning to me. “Come with me, dear,” she said gently. “Let’s find you some clean clothes. You can’t stay in those rags.”

I hesitated, feeling too weak to even move, but I nodded. Susan helped me stand, and I leaned on her as we walked toward a small set of stairs. “Yes, madam,” I said softly.

She chuckled. “Call me Susan, child. None of that ‘madam’ nonsense.”

Upstairs, she led me into a small and simple room. There was a large wardrobe against the wall, and she rummaged through it, finally pulling out an oversized dress. “This should do for now,” she said, holding it out to me.

The dress was far too big for me, but I accepted it gratefully. “It’s perfect,” I told her, even though it hung loose on my frame. I didn’t care. Anything was better than the torn and bloodied clothes I had been wearing.

“I’m sorry it’s so big,” Susan said with an apologetic smile. “I’m not exactly your size, as you can see.” She laughed softly while patting her round belly.

I shook my head quickly. “No, it’s fine. I’m just grateful for anything. I’m the one disrupting your lives.”

“Nonsense,” she replied. “You are no burden, Leah. You need help and we’re here to give it.”

Her words touched me and I nodded. I was too tired to argue. I slipped into the dress, the soft fabric soothing against my aching skin.

“You must be exhausted,” Susan said and guided me toward a small bed in the adjacent room. “Get some rest. You have been through more than anyone should.”

I wanted to rest, but there were so many questions swirling in my mind. “I need to talk to Tariq. There’s so much I don’t understand.”

Susan gave me a sympathetic look. “I know, dear. But he’ll answer all your questions tomorrow. For now, you need to sleep. Rest is the most important thing.”

I opened my mouth to protest but quickly realized that she was right. My body was too weak, too tired to do anything but lie down. I nodded and let her lead me to the small bed. It was simple but comfortable, and as soon as I lay down, I felt the weight of exhaustion pulling at me.

“Goodnight, Leah,” Susan said softly, her hand brushing over my forehead in a motherly gesture before she quietly left the room.

I stared up at the ceiling, my thoughts racing despite my fatigue. Tariq had saved me, but how had he known about me? How long had he been watching me? He said I was meant for something more, but what could that possibly be? I had spent so long feeling like I was nothing, like I didn’t matter. Could he really believe otherwise?

As I lay there, the warmth of the bed and the soft crackling of the fire downstairs slowly lulled me into a sense of peace. Tariq had risked his life to save me. I had to trust him. He had been so gentle and so kind.

But who was he really? And why did he seem to care so much about me?

I closed my eyes. I was too tired to think anymore. My body ached, but for the first time in days, I felt safe. I would have to wait until tomorrow for answers, but for now, sleep was all I needed.

As the darkness took hold, I whispered a silent prayer to the Moon Goddess, thanking her for sending me Tariq. He was an angel.