Chapter 52: Mine
"Why?" Zaliver asked, reaching into his wallet. My eyes widened as he peeled out a thick wad of cash.
Oh. My. Goddess.
"Because I want those fruit snacks... and those barbecue chips... and a Sprite. And that Snickers bar. Oh! And a sandwich, but they don’t have any, so that granola bar will do. Hey, do you have five bucks?" I looked up at him with what I hoped was my most innocent, doe-eyed expression.
He glanced between me, the vending machine, and the money in his hand. With a deep, dramatic sigh that I definitely didn’t take seriously, he pulled out another bill.
"How about this," he said slowly, like he was trying to reason with a very small and greedy child. "Pick one thing for now, and if the doctor gives the green light, I’ll get you all the junk food your little heart desires later."
More candy later? That sounded like a win.
I didn’t even hesitate. I snatched the dollar from his hand before he could change his mind and punched in the code for the fruit snacks. Victory.
Tearing open the bag, I popped one into my mouth, chewing with satisfaction... until I paused. My brows pulled together. Something felt... off. I stared at the bag, then shifted my gaze to Zaliver, who was looking at me like I’d just grown an extra head.
"You want some?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant. Please say no.
Instead of answering, he stepped toward me and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his chest like I was some priceless treasure. I blinked, arms frozen in front of me, still clutching the snack bag awkwardly.
He leaned back against the wall beside the vending machine and nuzzled his face into my hair and neck, breathing me in like I was the sweetest thing in the room not the fruit snacks.
The warmth of him was soothing. It chased away the sterile chill of the hospital air. My eyelids fluttered a bit. He smelled so good, like pine and spice and something dark and addictive. I could’ve melted into him right then and there... if I hadn’t been too focused on the chewy candy in my mouth.
Then I felt it a low, steady vibration. He was purring. At first it was subtle, almost a hum under my skin, but it grew louder the longer he held me. Something inside me stirred at the sound, a hazy awareness curling through me, but my thoughts were too foggy to make sense of it.
I wriggled my arms free and wrapped them around his waist, patting him gently. "There, there," I mumbled.
He pulled back just enough to look down at me, his piercing eyes searching mine, then ducked his head again and continued purring like an oversized feline. My body felt heavy, drowsy, and I blinked slowly.
"Can we go home now?" I asked, voice soft.
I didn’t expect him to scoop me up bridal-style without warning, but suddenly my feet weren’t touching the ground anymore. He began striding down the hallway with purpose.
"Why did you leave the room, Vivian?" His voice was low, tense, though still soft. "You could’ve been hurt or worse. You’re in no condition to be wandering around without me."
Had I not been buzzed on whatever they’d pumped into my system, I might’ve picked up on the strain in his voice, or the way his arms clutched me tighter than necessary. His thumbs rubbed slow circles on the back of my thighs, something I might’ve noticed too if my fingers weren’t buried in his silky hair.
"I wanted food," I mumbled, nuzzling into his neck. "Something sweet, I think."
"You could’ve pressed the call button instead of disappearing," he grumbled, carrying me back into the room.
As we entered, a young man with bright blond hair and warm hazel eyes looked up from a clipboard. "Hello, Luna Vivian. I’m Dr. Leonard. How are you feeling? Any pain?"
I perched on the edge of the bed, Zaliver standing beside me with his hand resting gently but firmly on my shoulder. I leaned into his touch without thinking.
"Tired. Everything’s sore. So... what happened? I remember throwing up blood, then nothing." My brain wandered, distracted. I tilted my head. "How does your hair stay so soft?"
"I came back the moment you didn’t answer me," Zaliver cut in before the doctor could respond. "Had you transferred to a hospital I trust. Dr. Leonard’s been monitoring you since."
I turned to the doctor and gave him a polite nod. "Thanks. But... I’m okay now, right?"
Zaliver’s expression shifted, something unreadable passing through his eyes as he stared at the doctor, who hesitated for half a heartbeat before smiling and nodding.
"You’re doing well," Dr. Leonard said carefully. "You might not feel quite like yourself for a while. The medication you were given numbed a lot of your physical responses. Rest and hydration are important... and staying close to "
He suddenly stopped mid-sentence, coughing awkwardly.
"Staying close to what?" I pressed, eyeing him.
He swallowed and glanced at Zaliver, who stood a little too still beside me.
"Nature," Zaliver said smoothly, voice laced with a sharp undertone. "He means nature. It’s calming for wolves, right Doc?"
Dr. Leonard nodded quickly, eyes flickering between the two of us.
I narrowed my eyes at both of them. Something wasn’t adding up. I could feel it in my gut. Like there was a puzzle everyone had the pieces to except me.
"So what was actually wrong with me?" I asked again, this time firmer.
The doctor and Zaliver exchanged a look, then stepped aside and started whispering to each other in the far corner of the room.
Seriously?
Wasn’t I the patient here?
I scowled as a nurse walked in, breaking the tension with a bright, too-practiced smile. She fussed over me, checking my pupils, ears, pulse everything except what I wanted to know. The moment she left, my head throbbed, an ache pulsing right at the base of my skull.
Something big was being kept from me. I could feel it. And no amount of fruit snacks was going to sweeten the truth when I finally uncovered it.
Comments