Alpha of Dahael - ONC2024

Chapter 15 - Mutual Connections

They went outside to give her some privacy and allow her to rest, once outside the room, Audeion and Trish moved to a quiet corner of the hallway, speaking in hushed tones to avoid disturbing other patients.

"Thank you for watching out for her," Audeion said, his voice low and earnest. "It's good she has someone here who cares, especially with everything that's been happening in Daysville."

Trish nodded, her expression filled with concern. "I'm just glad I got here when I did, Audeion. They left her alone and barely conscious outside the hospital," she replied, anger simmering beneath her words. "God knows what would've happened if they dropped her off anywhere else, she's new here no one would really know if she was missing or not." 

"Does she have any family to contact?" 

"Not that she's mentioned," Trish shook her head sadly at the thought. "She mentioned that the assailant mentioned that they could smell him on her, she's only been here a few days so I'm not even sure what that's about." She rubbed her temples in frustration

"Someone even mentioned 'smelling' something on her—something about him. She's only been here a few days."

Audeion's expression darkened, his jaw tightening. He knew enough to sense what might be happening beneath the surface. If rogue wolves had attacked Sayde thinking she was close to him, it meant they were paying more attention to his life than he'd thought, and while he wanted to reassure Trish, he couldn't deny the troubling signs this attack suggested.

He reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a business card with his contact information neatly printed on it. Handing it to Trish, he said, "Please give this to her when she's ready. If anything like this happens again, I want her to be able to reach me—day or night."

Trish accepted the card with a serious nod, slipping it into her pocket. "I'll make sure she gets it, and I'll check in on her for a while just to be safe."

With a final nod, Audeion said his goodbyes, turning down the hallway with his thoughts racing. The signs were unsettling as if rogue wolves had been watching Daysville closely. 

This attack wasn't random, and the fact they'd mentioned "him" could mean they couldn't smelt his scent from him interacting with her earlier that day. The whole reason he hadn't knelt beside her bed with concern was that he wasn't sure who was watching or listening. 

He didn't want anyone asking her any invasive questions either. He took a deep breath and sighed his only hope is that she messaged him soon so he could finally get to talk to her. He'd have to tread carefully to keep her out of further danger.

His heart ached slightly, he didn't want to leave her but he'd have to count on Trish to take care of her while he couldn't, for now, all he could do was make sure she knew she wasn't alone.

As Audeion walked away, his mind replayed every detail of the conversation. The unease building within him hadn't let up since the moment he'd sensed the rogues were watching Daysville. 

The thought that someone was targeting Sayde because of him gnawed at him, and with each step away from the hospital, he resolved to keep her safe—whether or not she ever understood why.

Sayde, meanwhile, stirred in her hospital bed, drifting between sleep and wakefulness. Her dreams swirled with fragmented memories: an intense pair of eyes, voices she couldn't recognize, and a feeling that someone was watching her. She turned her head toward the window, catching a sliver of the sun peeking through the blinds. The warmth was comforting, though her thoughts remained disjointed, and her head throbbed with a dull ache. 

She had slept the rest of the day yesterday it seems, she looked at her surroundings and sighed inwardly.

She struggled to open her eyes fully, Trish entered the room, her expression instantly softening as she saw Sayde awake. She approached the bed quietly, a slight smile on her face.

"Hey there, sleepyhead," Trish murmured, her tone gentle. "You passed out on me yesterday before I could come back and talk to you."

Sayde tried to smile back but winced as her headache flared up. "Hey, Trish. Thank you for...well, I don't know exactly what, but I guess for being here."

Trish nodded, patting her friend's hand. "You were in a rough spot, Sayde. Someone left you outside the hospital—barely conscious. It's a miracle anyone even noticed you."

Sayde's eyes widened slightly as she processed the words. The fog of her memory made it hard to recall much, but flashes of the voices and the pain came back. She remembered someone leaning over her, talking about "smelling him on her." The cryptic words brought a knot to her stomach.

"Whoever it was," Trish continued, her voice tinged with anger, "they left you there like you were nothing. It's infuriating to think about."

Sayde nodded, her gaze drifting out the window again. The weight of the town's secrets felt heavier now, and she couldn't shake the sense that her move to Daysville had stirred something she couldn't yet understand. 

She thought of Audeion, an unexplainable warmth filled her chest, as if his presence had somehow grounded her during their brief encounters. This quickly spiralled into fear as her mind went back to the night before, 'Was it the fact that they had met that same day?' 'What did they mean when they said they could smell him on her and what did that mean in general?'

Trish cleared her throat, pulling Sayde's attention back. "Mr. Dahael left this for you," she said, handing her the business card. "He said you can contact him anytime if you need anything. He seemed extremely worried."

Sayde turned the card over, examining the neatly printed contact details. Despite the strange circumstances, she found comfort in the gesture, knowing she had someone who even through small interactions had worried enough to let her keep in contact. Dare she say she now had two friends in this god forsaken place —even if she couldn't understand the danger lurking just beyond the shadows.