Fated but Forgotten

Chapter 13 - Aria

I had awoken in the night, like I so often did, the downside, I suppose, of drifting off to sleep during the day. But as my sleepy eyes adjusted to the dim lights within my room, I guess I was expecting to find those big blue eyes upon me, but my room was empty. The thing that shocked me the most, was that I felt strangely lonely.

I could not help but wonder where Rocco might be. I believe he has been here every time I have woken, since I came around in this very room… had something happened to him? But as I pondered this, I knew this could be of my own doing. I had spoken to the nurse when she had helped me bathe, expressing that he scared me a little. Was I wrong in saying that though?

I did not think it was in such a terrible way, just that his gaze was intimidating. So intense… I believe that stare could scare even the strongest of men. The more I thought about it, the more I wondered if maybe the nurse had spoken out? Could something have been said to him? Had that stopped him from being here? Had he been taken off my care perhaps? Because, for whatever reason, he was no longer here. And he had been every other night… every other moment, in fact.

I shifted uncomfortably on the bed, hoping to find a comfortable position in a bid to go back to sleep, and I heard the door open as I did. My heart raced momentarily, questioning if my thoughts had been premature, and expecting to see the tall and intimidating Beta returning to his watch, but in his place was one of the nurses. Her name I am unsure, but one I know was in here quite regularly as part of my care. Her face is friendly and always smiling...

“Are you okay, Miss Aria?” she asked softly, my movement obviously having caught her eye. "I was expecting to find you asleep, my dear."

“I just woke up unexpectedly.” I explained, beginning to find it a little easier now to talk.

“Well, I came in to fill your water. It is still quite early, about ten I think.” The nurse explained. “There would be no rush to sleep if you are struggling. Do you want to sit for a while? I could put the TV on?” she suggested.

That sounded better than lying and struggling to get to sleep, and I did not know the last time I watched TV, so I nodded in response to her.

“Or do you want some company? I am sure I could sit for a little bit, my jobs are done for now.” She smiled, and her face seemed full of warmth as she looked at me. It seemed she was eager to sit and talk...

I carefully considered her offer, and found myself nodding again, as she set herself on the edge of my bed. Maybe I could find out a little more about my parents from her. Or the place in which I was stuck? The nurse seemed friendly enough, and she seemed more than willing to chat. Perhaps she may be willing to give me more information than the doctors… or, of course, the Beta.

“Do you think they will let me go home soon?” I asked her the most obvious question first, and she smiled sadly at me.

“Now, that is definitely a question for the doctors.” She squeezed my hand, as I felt my shoulders sag. If she continued in this way, I did not think I would be learning anything new from her. But she continued, oblivious... “I can imagine you can’t wait to be out of here. Being stuck in the hospital is always the worst, isn’t it? You are never able to sleep properly, always being disturbed for one thing or another. And let us be honest, nothing beats your own bed, does it?”

“I want to try to get hold of my parents.” I told her honestly, completely disregarding all the other things she had mentioned, and I saw her face twist into a sad frown. Why was she looking at me that way?

“I believe the doctor and the Beta told you, didn’t they, that your parents had passed away, Miss Aria?” the nurse held my hand a little tighter, gently running her thumb over my skin in an almost reassuring movement. “You do not believe them?” she asked, sounding a little unsure now.

“It is hard to know, because nothing seems to make sense to me.” I explained, and I saw a look of understanding cross her face, and she nodded. “But then they have not been to check on me, and I am sure they would if they knew I was injured. That is what parents do, isn’t it? So, maybe they don’t know. Or maybe what I have been told is true... I don’t know. Like I said, nothing seems to make sense right now.”

The nurse was watching me closely as I spoke, her face filled with concern for me, nodding as I expressed how I felt. “Hopefully things will make sense to you soon enough.” She reassured me. “You are in the care of some of the best doctors here, they will be doing all they can to make you better, be sure of that, Miss Aria. Our pack is so lucky to have them.”

Pack. She said our pack. This confirmed in my mind once again that I was within a werewolf pack. So many elements of conversation I had heard since I had come around had indicated this, but in my sleepy or confused state I had been undecided about this, but this nurse had definitely referred to our location as a pack. But, why would I, a human, be here with werewolves? What did they want with me?

“Did the pack kidnap me?” I asked, and the nurse looked at me with a light in her eye like she was trying not to laugh, even momentarily biting her lower lip.

“Oh sweetheart, no.” she patted my hand now, a slight smile upon her face, like she found me highly amusing. “Of course, I can understand why you would think that, especially when waking here with no recollection as to how you got here. Aa human among wolves must feel like the strangest when you don't know how or why. But no. I can reassure you, no. You chose to come here, I promise. And may I say, we were happy to have you come too. Such an exciting time for the pack. We love a good celebration. And you made a beautiful bride.”

I looked at her in shock. A bride?! I was married?!