PROWESS. (COMPLETED)

Chapter 66

Anastasia POV;

The next morning, I'm up early and feeling marginally better than I had last night. I'd been suppressing the pain all morning, which wasn't helping but I was awaiting a visit from Brody and my new bodyguard, and the last thing I wanted them to see was me in pain. The very images of them finding me last night haunted and mortified me, after those events Brody had ordered the introduction and instatement of my bodyguard as of this morning. Regardless of my movements, my bodyguard would now always be nearby, and would also be on hand to advise on royal protocol. Brody assured me that the chosen candidate was one of the most experienced, highly respected men he knew.

When Anya had had checked my injuries this morning and taken me for an x-ray, I got a told off for deliberately avoiding my health check. My only reprieve from her feistiness was Rick interrupting us to say that he'd bled through his bandages, which required immediate rebandaging. Anya was the only pack member I'd allow to speak to me in such a manner, respect of a pack doctor demanded equal footing with pack leaders. While she was gone, I took the opportunity to get my head straight while the events of last night were pushed firmly into a box never to be examined. It was too much to deal with, more to the point my mind and heart were at war with each other over Kellen somehow being present at the whole thing.

The door opens, "Good news. Your x-rays are back, no skull fractures" begins Anya, stopping short when her gaze narrows in on my wrist. "What's that?" She demands, taking hold of my wrist and turning it to expose the rash on the underside. As if sensing I was hiding similar rashes elsewhere, Anya proceeds to find the rashes appearing on my ankle.

"I don't know, they appeared this week; some kind of irritation, probably been caused by all my clothes fittings with Letty." I tell her indifferently, shrugging. I try hard to breathe normally, instead becoming hyper aware of my runny nose. She doesn't fail to notice it either.

"Have you got a sore throat?" Interrogates Anya suspiciously as she begins taking my blood. Now that I thought about it, it had been getting difficult to swallow without feeling I was swallowing sandpaper.

"Little bit. It hurts to swallow." I rub my temple as I attempt to sooth the throb of my headache pushing to the forefront of my brain, whether from the attack or from the general wear and tear my health had suffered of late, I couldn't tell. Eagle-eyed Anya missed nothing, as she asks me to open my mouth and stick my tongue out. It hadn't occurred to me that I might be getting a cold, werewolves so very rarely get sick with cold or the flu because we have a naturally high immune system. Anya gently pinches the skin of my neck and the back of my hand. As she's doing this, there's a knock at the door. "Mr. Sayers is here to see you Ma'am" calls Rick.

"Have him wait in the waiting room; I'll be out shortly." Anya releases the pressure of my arm cuff and takes it off before rounding on me again, with a fierce glint to her eye.

"I've done as much as I can for your injuries from last night, that aside – let me be clear; your rashes, sore throat and headache are all symptoms of a high stress level and dehydration. You've also lost weight. You need to eat and drink more, and although I can understand why your stress level is high, you need to find ways to relax. Get a massage, take a hot scented bath, go for a cathartic run. How is your sleeping pattern?" She asks, giving me a stern look, no doubt suspecting I was about to lie.