A heavy rainstorm unleashed its fury outside the window as the thick, dark clouds loomed overhead. The violent winds blew widely as the dark clouds roared at the ground below. Each droplet created a chaotic symphony of sound as it collided large glass window echoing through the air.
The man sat restlessly in a stiff black chair at the edge of the bed, leg bouncing against the vinyl floors, his brows furrowed, biting the inside of his cheek. He took shallow breaths, struggling to steady his racing heart as worry etched lines across his forehead. Every passing second felt like an eternity, amplifying his sense of helplessness. The smell of antiseptic lingered in the air, adding to the sterile atmosphere that seemed to suffocate him. His eyes were brimming with worry as his stare never left her gaunt body. But as much as he couldn't look away from her, his heart ached to look at the state.
A clear plastic tube snaked its way from her arm, connected to a blood bag hanging on a metal stand beside her. Fresh cotton bandages sheathed her neck and wrist. Bruises covered her body, and green and purple marks on her arms and hands. The underneaths of her fingernails were dirty from the dried blood and flesh she had clawed from her neck. The giant purple and red bruise on her sunken cheek made his blood boil. There was no doubt in his mind it had been from a heavy hand that had struck her face with such force; if she were human, it would have fractured her face.
Blue snitches stretched along the edge of her hairline and tailed to her eyebrow.
The man's inner wolf was unsettled. Restless, he wanted nothing more than for the women to wake up. His hands nervously clenched and unclenched, betraying the anxiety coursing through his veins. He began fidgeting with his fingers, constantly cracking his knuckles to relieve tension.
'They will pay for what they've done to what is ours.' Growled the vengeful voice of his inner wolf in his head. He couldn't have agreed more.
His ears twitched at any sudden movement from the young blonde, a small snore came from her quiet figure as she began to stir in the hospital bed, breaking the rhythmic pattern of the heart monitor's beeping.
A gentle knock came from the other side of the door. "Excuse me." Called out a small voice. The door opened slightly, and a nurse entered the room. Her brown hair was secured in a tight neat bun. In her dainty hands was a water pitcher.
"Alpha," She acknowledged the anxious man. "Has she woken up yet?" She asked with a small smile. She could easily sense his worry.
The man shifted slightly in the chair, shaking his head, his eyes never leaving the young woman's body.
"Not yet." He answered bluntly.
The nurse nodded, "she'll be up soon. Peaceful rest is just what she needs. Moon Goddess only knows what she has been through." She reassured.
Walking over to the young she-wolf, she placed the water pitcher on the bedside table next to the bed. "I'm going to leave this water here; she will be thirsty when she wakes up."
She then took a look at the nearly empty blood bag. Its last bit of blood trickled down through the clear soft tube, disappearing into her veins.
"She's doing great; the blood transfusion helped compensate for all the blood she lost," The nurse explained, attempting to make the nervous man more comfortable. She removed the now-empty blood bag and detached the needle from the woman, who was beginning to stir in her sleep.
"Why isn't she healing?"He stared at the woman, searching for answers in her frail form. His voice carried a mixture of desperation and disbelief as if grappling with an incomprehensible reality. His words hung in the air, heavy with a sense of helplessness. Each passing moment seemed to deepen his bewilderment as he struggled to understand why the healing process had stalled. Confusion mingled with his worry, creating a swirl of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. At that moment, he felt a profound ache, both for the woman lying before him and for his own inability to ease her suffering.
"The amount of wolfsbane in her system kept her sedated for months, she is healing, but her body just needs some time to catch up." The nurse reassured the man.
"I'll be back in a little while to check on her, but if she wakes up, let me or one of the other nurses know." The nurse said before excusing herself and leaving the room.
The man continued to watch her closely. He watched as her chest rose and fell with every breath, and her nose wrinkled with every little snore. A smile made its way onto his face seeing her sleeping so tranquil.
The howling wind outside scratched at the window, trying to break through. The man could see the young woman beginning to stir more in her sleep.
Quickly rising from the chair, he walked towards the bed where she lay. A wool blanket had been placed over her legs to keep her warm. Taking the cover in his hands, he tucked her in gently, as if to not wake her. He placed his large hand over her forehead feeling sparks erupt through his fingertips, sending shockwaves through his body. He brushed her disheveled hair from her face, slowly caressing her cheek.
"regina mea," He whispered.
Suddenly the she-wolf's eyes fluttered open, and her radiant cyan-blue eyes opened ever so slowly. This time she found herself staring into warm pools of chestnut. Looking at one another, though they had never met, at that moment, they'd both felt as if they'd known each other their whole lives.
"Mate." The words left their lips effortlessly in sync.
The woman gingerly touched her neck, wincing at the pain radiating from it.
Their wolves yipped loudly in their heads. All traces of the world around them seemed to disappear at that moment.
She sat up slowly, groaning in discomfort when her injuries' pain brought her back to reality. The woman gingerly touched her neck, wincing at the pain radiating from it. With each swallow, a sharp twinge shot through her throat as if a thousand tiny needles pricked at the delicate tissues.
"Where am I?" Her voice, usually strong and clear, now emerged hoarse and raspy, further evidence of the toll the injury had taken. Her small hand cupped her forehead, fingers accidentally brushing against her stitches.
"Ow," she let out a faint whine.
"Be careful, love." His words sent shivers down her spine. His voice was so calm that she recognized it as the same one she'd heard. "You're safe," The alpha reassured her, "you're in Royal pack territory here in the States."
Her heart began racing, the beeping of the heart monitor increasing rapidly. A bead of sweat dripped down the back of her neck.
"You, you're the alpha?" She croaked, letting out a soft whine from the persistent pain in her throat.
The alpha quickly grabbed the water jug that had been left next to the bed and poured the cool liquid into a paper cup. "Here, have some water." He handed it to her.
She thanked him and took the cup from his hand, her fingers brushing against his own, sending sparks through their bodies.
Slowly, she lifted the cool, clear liquid to her parched lips, savoring the moment as the first droplets touched her parched tongue. A sense of relief washed over her as the water flowed down her throat, soothing the soreness that had plagued her since waking up. She gulped down every drop before handing back the empty cup to the alpha, who gave her another cup. Then, she gladly took the cup from his hands and drank it all, as she had done with the last one. She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with air that seemed to carry a newfound sense of peace. With each exhale, a tranquil stillness settled within her. Now she was finally able to focus her thoughts and truly see the man before her.
He towered over her, his broad shoulders and chiseled features accentuated by the soft glow of the room. She felt a combination of awe and vulnerability in his presence as if his mere stature commanded attention and respect. The lines on his face bore the marks of experience, hinting at strength and resilience that mirrored his physical form. Her eyes traced the contours of his muscles, admiring the sculpted physique. Every contour of his muscular frame seemed meticulously carved as if an artist had meticulously chiseled away to create a masterpiece. His broad shoulders and sculpted chest resembled the strong warriors immortalized in marble, evoking images of ancient gods and heroes. Each muscle rippled with a harmonious balance of power and grace, akin to the sculptures that adorned the halls of renowned museums.
As she admired him, she couldn't help but feel protected.
"I am Cane, and I am your mate." He introduced himself, the corners of his lips lifted into a bright smile. "But you probably know that by now."
"You...are you.." she stared at him in disbelief. Her eyes were wide. "You're the alpha? You're.."
This can't be real. There is no way this is happening. How he'll do, I even end up here...wherever here is. A million thoughts buzzed around in her head, causing her vision to become hazy.
"I am nothing else that is more important than your mate." His voice was delicate as he spoke to her, being careful not to overwhelm her more.
"Can you tell me your name?" He asked her.
"Bianca North," She said shyly, a rose color dusting her cheeks. Her wolf was going crazy in her head, yipping and howling in happiness.
He stared into her eyes, mesmerized. "Ego semper posuit oculos in femina pulcherrima es," The words dripped from his lips like sweet honey. His eyes were glossed, flickering from chestnut to jet black.
"What, what does that mean?" She asked curiously
"You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
Cane Aeneas-BlackWood
Age 24 years old
Species: Lycan
To be crowned Werewolf King & Alpha of the Lycan pack