Little Red

Chapter 25

After Demitri leaves, I spend a good amount of time enjoying the silence, pouring over our short conversation.

5 days, I still can't believe it.  Samuel's words from earlier play in my mind. 

Only you would think about training after just waking up from a coma for 5 days.

Since coming to Dark Moon, I've gotten off track with my training.  Eli wouldn't like that, and neither do I.  Does my family know what happened?  I imagine not.  Demitri probably didn't even think to tell them, the clueless ass.  If so, they probably would've been here 5 days ago to fight him and take me home at any cost.  I have no doubt Eli would be proud of me for taking down that wolf though.  Secretly, I didn't even know I could.  My only thought at the time was to save the boy.

My memories of that day are still hazy, so I decide to let it rest for now and ask about it later.

Later.

Demitri said he'll come back later.  The stupid, irrational part of me hopes he sticks to his word, but the intelligent, rational part hopes he'll stay away and heed my words.  Our earlier conversation is the first time we've really spoken to each other.  His behavior was unnerving - so unlike what I've seen from him since coming to Dark Night...I'm not sure how to react to it.  My hopeless heart argues that he is genuinely worried about me, but I'm not silly enough to believe it - even if a small part of me wants to.  

My rumbling stomach pulls me out of my head.  Remembering the simple meal in front of me, I eat.  Much to my surprise, the food is gone in minutes.  I'm thirsty as well, but Samuel didn't bring anything to drink. 

"Samuel?"  I call quietly.

The door opens, his dark, curly crown appearing in the small doorway.

"Yes?"  He asks.

"Um, can I get a glass of water?"  I ask awkwardly, all too aware of how helpless I am in bed.

He smirks.

"So now you think I'm your servant?  Get it yourself."  He's joking, but I push back the tray and swing my legs over side of the bed, more than ready to get it myself.

"Wait!"  He yells, eyes wide.  

I pause, head tilted as I wait for him to finish.

He groans.

"Get back in bed."  He frowns, back to being grumpy.

"But-"  I start.

"No.  I was kidding."  His voice is firm.  "If Demitri hears that I made you get out of bed, he'll kill me."

"Samuel, I'll be fine."  I say, rolling my eyes at the overprotective Alpha.  He warily eyes my feet as they dangle inches above the titled floor.

"Ara, your body may be weak since you haven't moved in days."  He says in an attempt to convince me.  And possibly save his own neck.

"Okay fine."  I give in.  With my rotten luck, I might end up falling and knocking my head, then I'll have to stay even longer.  But despite the logical conclusion that I should be weak and tired, I don't feel it.  I'm groggy but otherwise feel perfectly fine - great, even.  I make a mental note to ask the medical staff about it later.

He closes the door and I flop back into the pillows, trying to get comfortable on the thin mattress.  It's then that I realize that I'm only in a hospital gown and underwear.  While the wolves likely don't mind, seeing as everyone is half-naked most of the time due to shifting, I'm more than a little uncomfortable at being naked around these strangers.