Family Secrets

Adrian and Nadja 1

­­Nadja

"I used to pretend," I whisper, rubbing a trembling hand over my eyes. "Ah, it's hard to even say this," I sniffle quietly, wiping at a tear before it can run too far down my face. I take a deep, shuddering breath then raise my gaze to the comatose figure in the hospital bed. He's handsome, with strong features, dark good looks, and a fighter's build. He looks peaceful, his dark lashes resting against his ashen face. That's the part that lets me know something's wrong. Normally he's got this healthy, tan glow, and when he smiles, his entire being seems to radiate warmth, like the sun.

"My own personal sun," I whisper, eyes tracing the panes of his beloved face. I close my eyes, stilling myself. Why this is so difficult I don't know. I also don't know why I feel like I need to confess, but I do.

"Alright," I say quietly, "Here goes... I've fantasized about you for years. It's not just in the naughty way. I dreamed about what our first date would be like. Our first kiss. Holding hands. What it would be like to have you bring a kill to my door and ask for me to be your Mate, to be marked as yours for the rest of my life. I'm not sure when I fell in love with you, but it happened early on. I guess you probably didn't notice. Even if you did, what would we have done about it? We're not allowed to be anything more than friends... and even with all my imaginings, I never thought you'd ever see me as more than that anyway. Other Weildon wouldn't have. But then, you were never like other Weildon, were you? No, you saw this loud, awkward girl, heard her poorly mimicked accents and thought 'this one's mine now'. You even said that to me, do you remember? You said, 'Hi. I'm Adrian, and you're mine now.' Wayden, I thought you meant as a friend. I always thought you only liked me as a friend."

More tears slip down my face as I think back to all the times I caught a hint of something more in his gaze, all the times my stomach fluttered with happy jitters, feeling that there was something between us, a magnetism, a static. Then I'd just convince myself I had to be imagining it. I'm not allowed to be courted, after all. Who would dare face Alpha's wrath just for the chance to be with me? I'm not worth that.

Yet when that strange male threatened me--

"I was so happy to hear your voice," I whisper, shamed and humbled. "I knew you'd rescue me, knew you wouldn't let him hurt me... but I never thought he'd have a gun, and--" I reach out, squeeze his hand, "Adrian, I'm so sorry this happened. I hate that you're lying here. It should be me. You--"

My entire body jerks as a nurse opens the door. Cold dread dances along my skin as I wonder how much she heard. My gaze snaps to her, but her expression is preoccupied, detached and efficient. Maybe she didn't hear all that much. Tentatively I venture, "Good morning."

She blinks, then turns to see me. As she does, her wrinkled face pulls into a glowing smile, "Hello, dear. How's he doing today?"

"Same as yesterday, I think," I tell her.

She nods, bustling closer to check his vitals and change out IV bags. "It sometimes takes a while," she clucks her tongue. "But don't you give up on him."

"I won't," I vow fervently.

She smiles, "He's lucky to have a girlfriend like you. Not all of these—"

I feel my face flush, "I-I'm not his girlfriend."

I see her gaze drop to his chart, can see her eyes narrow as she wonders who I am and why I'm here. I know I'm about three seconds away from her demanding answers, so I blurt, "He's my best friend. And he saved my life!"

Her brows rise into her wispy hairline. "Oh?"

"There was this male—I, I mean man--that threatened me and was trying to hold me hostage. Adrian intervened, got me safe, but in the process... "