Her only Alpha

The walls

"Good God child! Are you alright?" A worried voice demands while putting an arm around my shoulders to support me.

"Uh... Yes... I think so. Thank you ma'am..." I could tell it was the voice of a woman even before I answered as the voice was very high pitched. I hope I sound more convincing than I feel. I cannot put any weight on my leg anymore, and it was still dripping with blood. An excruciating pain, like a knife twisting inside my knee, shoots through me everytime I try to take a step forward. Why? Why now? What am I going to do... I can't abandon my plan now, not after I had come so far.

"Honey... let me get you some help! Come take a seat!" I don't want to take a seat, I have to keep running! But I comply with her request. I am tired and hurt and I feel light headed and dizzy...

"I... I can't" I say as tears well up in my eyes. A single tear rolling down my cheek. And I feel my throat close up. Tears are now streaming down my face, and then everything goes black...

"Nurse, is she ok? What happened to her?" I can recognize Anna's voice anywhere... but I still can't open my eyes. I feel like I am wondering outside of my body unable to gain control but aware of everything being said at the same time. Where am I? What's going on?

"As I was just telling Mr Agnor here... Miss Holmes suffer a rather serious tear to her anterior cruciate ligament in her knee. She may need Reconstructive ACL surgery later on but we can only do the surgery once the swelling has gone down ." a very professional sounding woman informs Anna. What... did she say Mr Agnor?

"What are the advised steps going forward." A composed male voice asks. That IS Adrian! He found me! And he is here WITH ANNA! Oh my... this is bad, very bad!

"First things first... She is staying the night, under observation. She lost quite alot of blood from that cut she has." she says sternly. I hear Anna gasp in shock as Adrian says...

"I understand. I will be staying here with her then. Could you kindly assist with the relevant arrangements." He sounds so professional, taking charge of the situation.

"No problem Mr Agnor. When she goes home she will be place in bed rest slowly progressing to being slightly more active again. Please understand, ACL injuries have a long recovery and the first phase is especially crucial. She will be fitted with a brace since the joint must remain straight for the first few weeks to allow the ligament a chance to heal. She should also stay off her leg atleast until the doctor has cleared her for more activity..." as the nurse carries on explaining I zone out... This is all too much! I feel my traitorous tears run down my cheeks, and I am unable to wipe them away.

"I... I'm sorry... Cora hasn't mentioned you before. And I know EVERYONE involved in her life." Anna is catching on!

"I am Adrian Agnor, son of Andrew Agnor the founder and CEO of Agnor Industries." I hear a shuffel... I can only imagine him holding out his hand to her. He is that type, so painfully formal.

"I met Cora at the Festival and couldn't will myself away from her innocent and luring beauty. So you see... we are still new." We? Did he just say WE? There is now WE!

I wish I could see Anna's face, I bet her mouth is hanging open just about now.

"Oh... ok...." Anna sounds very awkward.

The room goes quiet as I drift away again.

I finally open my eyes, everything between when I was running through the forest up until this very moment feels like a vague memory. I move my arm and feel something tugg at my skin, looking down I notice the IV still attached.

Good evening princess..." says a husky voice behind me. He is really here... keeping watch over me... holding me... Why is it that I feel so comforted by it?

"Wha... what time is it?" I ask in my now raspy voice. The room is dark and all the lights are off, I turn towards him but find it hard to see him clearly, I can only see his silhouette in the moonlight which was shining through the window.

"It's already past midnight, you had slept the whole day." His voice sounded sad, his words were slow and cold, trailing off to the end.

"Please don't run from me again... I promise I will take care of you... all of you." Now THAT I didn't expect to hear!But the sincerity in his voice spoke more to me than the words themselves.

"Feeling you leave was like having my soul torn from me. I realize we don't know each other yet, and missing your wolf probably leads to numerous questions on your side... but I plan to remedy that, if you would let me." Spooning on the hospital bed together, bathing in the moonlight, whispering our conversation... It made me feel closer to him somehow.

"Adrian.. I'm... scared... I want to believe you, I want to believe all of this fairytale stuff is true... but my life, well, my life has been hard and I have come to accept that my fairytale doesn't exist." I kept calm and gave him the truth he had asked for

previously.

"I want to know you, all of you. Please, tell me everything." He strokes my hair as he whispers in my ear. Oh wow, this feels so... wonderful. My thoughts and his words are making me feel uncomfortable, so I shift away from his grip.

"I am trying my utmost best Cora, but it's impossible if you won't let me in." hurt evident in his tone.

"I'm sorry Adrian, but it's different for me than it is for you. You are rushing into me because your wolf is pushing you to. I don't feel what you feel, I am just me, there is no wolf telling me what's right or what's wrong." my hand cupping his cheek, imploring him to try and see things from my point of view, without offending him in the process.

"We are from completely different worlds. You grew up loved, I grew up hated. You are admired, I am rejected. You are perfect, I am nothing." Did I

seriously just tell him that I thought he was perfect?! what type of medication did they put me on.

"You are wrong.."

"About what?"

"Many things...but for one... Just because you don't have a wolf telling you what's right, doesn't change the fact that we were fated to be together. You just need more time to see it than I do."

"How can you be so sure?" I am trying, I am really trying, and I know he is trying too.. but how do I break down this internal wall that has protected me all my life.

"We can talk tomorrow my princess. You need to get some more rest. Just know one thing, you are safe with me." I decide to stop fighting him, I'm too tired to fight. So l close my eyes and drift away into the darkness... still in his arms.

The sun shining on my face wakes me up. When I open my eyes I feel fresh and energetic. I forget about my injury and move to get up, suddenly the pain returns.

"Ow!" I squeak, bringing me back to reality.

"Hey, where do you think you're going?" Adrian asks. I completely forgot he had spent the night with me. This conversation is going to get very awkward very quickly, but I feel if I don't swallow my pride now, I might just die.

"I need to pee... really really REALLY badly" I say eyeing the empty IV bag hanging next to me. My statement is met with a raucous laughter.

"Your wish is my command." he says humorously. Adrian unhooks the IV and gently picks me up to carry me to my private bathroom.

"I take it the private room is part of the

necessary arrangements you spoke to the nurse about?" I ask with one eyebrow raised at him, feeling smug at my eavesdropping.

"Oh so you were only PRETENDING to be

unconscious??" His joke hid something that threatened to surface...

"What's wrong?" I couldn't contain my

curiosity.

"You are making it a habit of being untruthful, knowing very well that it is the one thing that I cannot deal with. All I am doing is trying to prove myself to you." he says curtly, the hurt look on his face is unmistakable.

"Kidnapping me and hunting me down was you proving yourself?" the sarcasm rolling off of me. I hate not being given a choice in anything! Does what I say and want not matter to ANYONE!

"Don't push my buttons Cora! You might not enjoy the consequences. You very well know that I am unable to let you go. And even if I were, I refuse to. So we can either do this the nice way or the not so nice way, so to speak." he was dead serious, his aura emitting power and authority, but I refuse to give in to my instict to cower and run away. He took away my flight, but he can't take away my fight. l aim to slap him in the face but he grabs my wrist mid swing. Oh s**t.

"I don't want to play games with you Cora. You are mine. The sooner you realize it, the easier it all will be. I meant everything I said last night. You are safe with me, I will not hurt you... but don't think that what you did will not have consequences. And Oh, am going to enjoy those consequences." His words sent shivers down my spine. How am I going to get out of this?

"I have already made arrangements for you to come back home with me. It would be better if the pack doctor took care of you anyway." the conversation had suddenly turned to a monolog. I refuse to converse with terrorists.

An hour of silence had passed when Anna enters the room relieved to see me.

"Cora!! You are awake!" Anna was wearing a short green sun dress. She is picture perfect. I catch Adrian rolling his eyes at that last word. Overreact much? He is being so childish. I was actually non responsive when I had overheard his conversation with the nurse, but I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of that revelation. I sigh loudly glaring in his direction.

"Anna! I am so happy to see you!"

"Wow... you look AMAZING Cora! No, like in seriously! You should come here more often!" she said amazed while handing me a small mirror from her handbag.

"What's in this thing" she says as she animatedly studies the empty IV bag. I look at my reflection... and... she's right! The dark circles around my eyes are gone! And my cheeks are.. pink." I am shocked, touching my face as I stare into the mirror. Adrian raises his eyebrows.

"Now that you mention it... you are correct in your observation Anna. I wonder what brought forth this change" he mumbles deep in thought while staring into the distance.

I did this. You like what you see? I jump as I hear a strange feminine voice, one that I do not recognize.

"Who is there?" I ask loudly into the room..

"Did you guys just hear that?" l ask looking at both of them, my eyes wide with uncertainty.

"Nope..." Anna answers clearly confused.

"I didn't hear anything" Adrian clarifies with both brows raised.

"I can swear I heard someone speak to me... What medication did they put me on anyway?"

Anna chuckles but Adrian's expression was frozen.

They can't hear me dummy. The voice says as she giggles. I am a part of you! And now... finally... after all these years I HAVE A VOICE! She continues, jumping with joy.

"Oh!"

You know you don't physically have to speak, I can hear your thoughts... and feel what you feel... and I feel FANTASTIC!

"Am I missing something?" Anna asks, now completely lost, even more lost than I am.

"It's..." I start.You can't tell her silly! She will only think you are coo-coo.

"Uh... never mind..."

"She's fine Anna... I think it might be the painkillers talking." Adrian answers

"Ooooohhh that makes sense!" Anna sighs in relief.

"Well... since you are going to stay at your new boyfriend's place for a while. I have packed you a few of your things." Anna smiles.

"Thank you so much! You are an lifesaver!" I say as I pull her into a hug.

"We are almost ready to go. Our car is parked in front and they are drawing uo the discharge papers as we speak." Adrian informs us, breaking up our hug. Rrrrrr hello handsome! my wolf purrs at the sound of his voice.

Stop it! We can't trust him! I correct her. Says who?...

Says me!!...

You are so boring!! I roll my eyes at my inward struggle. Adrian sees and sends me a frown.

Where have you been hiding all this time? Wait... this means I am not wolfless??!! I can hardly believe what's happening.

I have just been sick, and too weak to talk. But I am feeling so much better now!

Adrian picks me up, bridal style, snapping me out of my wolfy conversation.

"Where is your head at right now? You were so dazed you didn't even notice when Anna said goodbye."

"Oh... I... am..." What am I? sorry, no! Surprised, for sure!

"You seem different in a way?" He looks at me puzzled.

Tell him!! Tell him!! He will be happy with us!

No! She is scowling at me now, I can feel it.

"I feel different."

"Let's get you home..." He says softly as he carries me to the car.

Back in his room I notice that he had bought me fresh flowers, a bouquet of pink wildflowers, placed in a crystal vase next to my side of the bed.

"They are lovely Adrian! Thank you!" I say as I take in their sweet scent. His eyes light up at my reaction and he smiles a truly happy smile.

Are you sure he can be trusted? I ask my wolf. But all I get is silence, I can feel she is still upset with me and has resorted to giving me the silent treatment.

"Here, let me do that for you" He reaches to fluff the pillows behind my back.

"You don't need to do that. But, thanks."

"Anything you need princess."

"So, tell me... last night you mentioned I was wrong about many things, but you only gave me one example. Could you enlighten me?" I decide to jump right to it.

"I meant to say, you are not the only one to experience rejection. Its not wise to judge before knowing the whole story."

"Then please, tell me the story." I pry

"Perhaps another day, certainly not now." he looks away and I can see he is not ready to talk. There really must be something big, hiding away inside of him. I would love for there to be something we share in common, but I just can't picture it. How would Adrian have ever experienced a rejection as heart numbing as mine? He goes to sit by my feet, taking one in his hands. Are my feet abnormally small? Or are his hands freakishly big? I wonder to myself, with no reply from my wolfy inner companion.

"Mmmmm..." I hear myself moan.

"Have I found your weakness at last?

"Unfortunately, I am one big weakness." I state with a sigh

"Not from where I am standing! You underestimate yourself, if only you saw what I see..."

"I want to tell you something... At the hospital I...." I was cut of by Connor bursting into the room. Adrian spins around, his eyes glowing red and canines bared at Connor.

"What do you want!" Adrian growls

"Alpha, I... am sorry. I did not know you had... company" he bows his head in submission.

"Spit it out so you can leave!"

"The hunters... they are in Cold Spring. They heard about the incident..." he was almost breathless as he spoke, as if he had ran all the way here. Adrian straightens and stands to his feet.

"This is serious! Have our best men keep an eye on them, I need to be informed of their every move."

"Yes Alpha."

"Get the Council together, I will be right there."

Connor slowly lifts his gaze, making eye contact with me. As his eyes meet mine he sends me a deathly glare. I feel my wolf shiver inside me...

We have to be careful of that one. We can't allow him near us.

But he is my brother...

He is evil... trust me.

"I am sorry my princess, please, I would love to hear what you were going to say, but I need to meet with our Council to discuss these urgent matters. My sister will be here any minute, she will keep you company when I leave."

"You have a sister?"

"Yes, unfortunately." he says rolling his eyes dramatically as she enters the room.

"Oh don't let Mr Serious fool you, he LOVES me" she beams a smile at me and I can almost feel the room light up.

"Please don't embarrass me Aria..."

"I wouldn't dream of it big brother!"

She sits down on the bed as Adrian closes the door behind him.

"Soooooo you are the girl all the fuss has been about! I'm Aria, but you can call me Riri, since we will be sisters soon."

Oh I LIKE her!! my wolf chips in.

Hey, whose side are you on anyway! I should really give you a name. Or is that even a thing?

I already have a name silly!

What is it then?

I am you, Cora, just the funnier and wiser half. She says as she giggles