The Eve of Darkness

Chapter 7

A/N: Y'all, i had to write this chapter on my phone bc our internet is wack right now and i couldn't type for longer than 5 minutes without it dropping. Make sure to let me know if you see grammar/punctuation mistakes bc i am dying

Also, COVID can kiss my ass bc I was down for the count for like a week.

- Kai

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Finally being able to leave the hospital was a blessing that Aria felt could not have come quick enough. Waiting for Hazel, the pack doctor, to give the green light on Aria's discharge had driving the rouge stir crazy. Every day spent in the blasted clinic brought a new level of irritation and shakiness. If she had been forced to stay there a day longer, she would have thrown the bed through the window and made a break for the nearest forest for some fresh air.

Aria's heels bounced up and down quickly as she watched her mate speak with the pack doctor about how the healing went. Normally, Aria should have been able to completely heal in a single week. However, the copious amounts of wolfsbane the hunters had used to torture her had left her abilities subpar. It was annoying and irked Aria beyond belief.

"Camden," Hazel said with an exasperated sigh. "I know you're worried, but your mate is fine. Her healing abilities are already phenomenal in comparison with the average wolf—thanks to being a Sola—but she recovered much quicker from the poison than I expected." The doctor did her best to comfort the alpha as concern was reflected on his strong features. "She is more than fine and ready to go about normal life."

Aria sighed in relief at the declaration, thankful that her family had such strong healing genes.

I wonder if slow healing abilities is an American thing, Aria contemplated as her mate finished his conversation and walked over to her with a small smile. Aria observed Camden with a grin, taking her opportunity to appreciate his tall figure.

One realization that had dawned on her in her time at the clinic was that she could get away with ogling her mate all the time. His lack of sight meant that no matter how much she stared at his strong face, broad shoulders, or plump ass, she would never get caught by him.

And you can bet she took advantage of that at every possible opportunity.

"Ready to go?" Camden asked, extending his hand out to her as she looked up from his chest to his lips and finally to his eyes.

"Absolutely," Aria answered dramatically, taking his hand and walking to the exit of the clinic. It was a one story, private clinic in town, so it didn't take long to leave. Once outside, Aria took the chance to appreciate the summer warmth that touched her sun-starved skin. Being inside the hospital for so long did a number on her strength, her inner wolf feeling trapped and lethargic in the absence of Helios' light.

"So," started Camden as they came to a stop. "Would you like to see the town, the forest, or the main pack house?"

Aria thought it over. On one hand, she would have liked to go to the town over that was a bit of a drive away that she had been staying in—she had some stuff in a cheap studio apartment that she would like to collect. On the other, she was curious to see the inner workings of a pack and begin getting to know the people who she, eventually, would lead alongside her mate. On the other other hand, a run through the forest sounded phenomenal.

With so many options running through her mind, it was hard to decide which should come first. Thankfully, she didn't have to spend too much time on it, as Camden suddenly sighed heavily and cursed under his breath right before a loud horn startled Aria from her thoughts.