Chapter 7

_Leah's POV_

The next morning, I woke up in the small, cozy bed feeling more rested than I had in a long time. My muscles were still sore, but the intense pain from my wounds had lessened, thanks to Tariq's care. The sunlight streamed through the small window, casting a golden hue across the room. For a moment, I just lay there, taking in the peace and quiet. It was hard to believe that just a day ago, I had been on the verge of collapse.

I slowly sat up, rubbing my eyes, and stretched my stiff limbs. The oversized dress Susan had given me was soft and comforting, far better than the torn rags I had been wearing before. My mind drifted to Tariq. He had been so kind, so gentle. I couldn’t understand why someone like him cared about me. But I was grateful, more than I could express.

The scent of something cooking reached my nose, and my stomach growled in response. I realized how hungry I was. Slowly, I stood up, careful not to jostle my bandaged wounds too much, and made my way downstairs.

In the small kitchen, I found Susan humming softly as she worked over the stove. The warm scent of herbs and something frying filled the room, and the fire in the hearth crackled cheerfully. She turned when she heard me, her face lighting up with a smile.

“Good morning, dear. Did you sleep well?” she asked kindly.

“Yes, thank you,” I replied softly, feeling a little shy. I wasn’t used to this kind of warmth from others. “Everything was perfect.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” she said while wiping her hands on a towel. “Now, what would you like for breakfast?”

I hesitated. I did not want to be a bother. “Oh, whatever you have is fine. I am not picky.”

She chuckled and waved her hand dismissively. “Nonsense. You’re a guest here, and we take care of our guests. How about some eggs, bacon, and fresh bread?”

I smiled, my mouth watering at the thought. “That sounds amazing.”

Susan busied herself with preparing the food, moving around the kitchen with ease and grace. I watched her, feeling an odd sense of comfort in the domesticity of it all. It reminded me of simpler times, back when my life hadn’t been filled with pain and heartache.

She set the table with two plates and motioned for me to sit down. “Here you go, dear,” she said and placed a plate in front of me, filled with eggs, bacon, and a thick slice of buttered bread. “Eat up. You need your strength.”

I picked up my fork and took a bite, savoring the delicious flavors. It was simple food, but it tasted like heaven after everything I had been through. As we ate, Susan sat across from me.

“Where’s Tariq?” I asked between bites, glancing around the room.

“He had to run an errand. He will be back soon.”

I nodded, feeling a little disappointed that he wasn’t here. I wasn’t sure why I felt that way, but I found myself looking forward to seeing him again.

Susan and I chatted for a while as we ate. She was easy to talk to, her voice soothing and calm. I asked her about their life here in the forest, and she told me their story.

“My husband, Tariq’s father, was once part of the Emerald Pack,” she began. “He was a good man, loyal to the pack. But one day, the Alpha accused him of stealing. It was a lie, of course, but the Alpha didn’t care. He banished us all; me, my husband, and our little Tariq, who was just a baby at the time.”

I looked at her with wide eyes, my heart aching for them. “That’s horrible. How could they do that?”

She shrugged, a sad smile tugging at her lips. “That’s the way of the world sometimes, dear. My husband tried to defend his honor, but it didn’t matter. We were cast out, forced to live in the wilderness. It was a hard life, but we managed. Until...”

Her voice trailed off, and I saw the pain in her eyes. I reached across the table and gently touched her hand. “What happened?” I asked softly.

“Rogues,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “They attacked us one night. My husband... he fought them off, but he didn’t survive.”

I felt a lump form in my throat. “I’m so sorry, Susan. That must have been awful.”

She nodded. “It was. But Tariq and I survived. We have been living here ever since, making the best of things. It’s peaceful, at least. And I am grateful for that.”

I squeezed her hand, my heart aching for her loss. “You’re very strong, Susan. I don’t know how you have managed all these years.”

She gave me a small smile. “We do what we have to, don’t we? Life goes on, and we must find a way to live.”

Before I could say anything more, there was a knock at the door. Susan stood up quickly, wiping her hands on her apron. “That must be Tariq,” she said with a smile.

She went to the door and opened it, and sure enough, Tariq stepped inside, carrying a few bags. His eyes immediately found mine, and he smiled softly as he set the bags down on the table.

“I see you’re feeling better this morning,” he said, his voice warm and gentle.

“I am,” I replied, smiling shyly. “Thank you for everything, Tariq. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

He waved his hand dismissively as he walked to the sink to wash his hands. “There’s no need for that. I’m just glad you’re alright.”

Susan served him a plate of breakfast, and he joined us at the table. As we ate, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of peace. It was strange, sitting here with these people who had been strangers to me just yesterday, but now it felt like I was part of something... something good.