Shifters (Feline english version)

Chapter 36

I was near him before Adam. Up close, the damage to his back seemed severe. I looked away because the sight of his wounds made my heart hurt too much and went to crouch down near his head. His sweaty hair was falling out in front of his eyes, so I couldn't know if he had lost consciousness or not. I pulled them as gently as possible away from his face and his gaze held mine. At least he was conscious. He looked at my right arm and cheek with a painful look, then grabbed my wrist with both his shackled hands to rotate me and examine my left flank and arm. His eyes filled with a sadness and guilt that made my heart ache. He drew me to him until my face was only a few inches from his, then he whispered in my ear.

- 'Why?'

He stared at me intensely, apparently trying to understand my gesture just by staring at me. Before I could answer him, he looked away from me when Hannah approached, before stopping a few inches away from us.

- 'They're all gone, you can get up now,' she said, throwing a little key at him as if he were a dog.

- 'What's your problem, in the end?' I said, standing up to face her.

I was so angry with her for her bitchy behavior and coldness that I only wanted to punch her again! Nevertheless, the shadow of sadness mixed with softness that flashed over her face as she looked down at Jude's back disconcerted me enough to stop me.

- 'I'm just tired of all this drama,' she said, turning her back on me, and then she started to walk away without a glance back.

I watched her leave, stunned by her behaviour, when a deaf growl made me turn to Jude, who was painfully trying to get up on his own and panting in pain.

- 'I don't think I can do it... without help,' he said in a breathless voice, showing us his hands still tied.

Adam hurried to free him, then we helped him get up without hurting him too much, before taking him to his studio. Once inside, he refused to lie down and preferred to sit with a wince on the edge of the bed. He may have difficulty breathing and look like he was on the verge of fainting, but neither Adam nor I had been able to talk some sense into him. Hannah then barged into the room without knocking, closed the door behind her and stood still, her eyes glued to Jude and frowning. From the look on her face, there was something wrong. As for Adam, he seemed terribly uncomfortable.

- 'Jude, I'm sorry I... I should have...' Adam stammered unable to finish his sentence.

- 'You warned Christina and apparently it was the right thing to do, so stop blaming yourself and worrying. You had nothing to do with it anyway, and it's not a few lashes that will trouble Jude, he's had worse!'

Hannah had not moved from the doorstep and had answered Adam without taking her eyes off Jude for a moment. Adam flinched as if she had slapped him and began to look at his shoes with great diligence.

- 'Kudos for the tact Hannah, your improvements are a delight!' I mocked.

That sociopathic bitch was really starting to bother me.

- 'However, from the look on your face, your injuries seem to be more serious than they should be. Why?' She continued as if I was not there.

- 'Thank you Adam, for your help and support, and as Hannah said, I've had worse,' Jude breathed painfully. 'Go ahead. Otherwise Charles will ask more questions than necessary.'

He was trying to put on a good face, but his tense muscles and choppy voice didn't fool anyone. They smiled at each other and Adam left. The moment he left the room, I saw Jude sink. Certainly not much, but enough for me to notice, and so did Hannah apparently because she approached him with a suspicious look on her face.