Ch.16 Elizabeth.
There was a bright light above me that made it hard to open my eyes. The air around me smelled sterile, where was I? I moved my hand around a bit trying to sit up put was pushed back down. I felt a strange sensation where I was being touched.
“It’s ok, you’re safe.” I knew that voice and it brought a wave of calm with it.
I tried to answer but my mouth was so dry. “Water.” I managed and soon there was a glass brought up to my lips. I drank the whole thing and needed more, once more the cup came up to my lips and I drank. My eyes finally adjusted to the light and I opened them to see Tristan sitting next to me. I tried moving my arms to sit up but a shooting pain on my left arm stopped me.
“Careful, you’re going to hurt yourself.” He said coming to help me sit up. My senses were slowly coming back I could smell him all around me now.
“Where am I?” I asked him.
“The clinic.”
“Sarah? Is she ok?” I asked as the memories of the events hit me like a bucket of cold water.
“She’s ok…Elizabeth what the hell were you thinking?” He asked me upset. He knew what I had done.
“Your sister was dying Tristan.” I was mad that he would even ask. His gaze soften at my words and was replaced with concern.
“You did too much. You know how it drains your energy.”
“I was fine, if it hadn’t been for those brutes that caught up to me.” I told him stubbornly.
“Elizabeth you have been out for almost a week.” He said softly.
“What?! A week?” Had I really been out that long. I knew that healing took its toll on me but I had never been out like that before. Then again, I had never healed two people with such extensive wounds, one of which had been pretty much dead. I tried to get up and realized I was attached to various things.
“Easy, where are you trying to go?” Tristan asked.
“I have to get out of here. I feel much better.” I told him looking at my arms trying to figure out what I could pull out. I didn’t feel good at all but I couldn’t just sit here. I had managed to pull out the needles they had in me and I swung my legs off the bed. I got up and Tristan was at my side in an instant. I started to try to move around him when my legs gave out. He caught me before I fell and sat me back on the bed. My skin felt warm wherever he was touching me and his scent was all around me again.
“Do you see, you’re not better. Just relax.” He said swinging my legs back onto the bed. “Everyone has been very worried about you they will be happy to know that you are awake.” I noticed then than he had his paperwork here with him on the small table next to my bed. How long had he been here for?
He covered me with the blanket and sat back down picking his paperwork back up. He looked focused on whatever he was reading.
“Tristan?”
“Hmm?” He answered not looking back up at me.
“Tristan. I meant what I said that night. I am leaving.” I told him softly, his gaze fell on me instantly. My stomach fluttered under his intense gaze.
“No.” He said simply looking straight on.
“Tristan, this attack…your sister getting hurt, it would have never happened if I hadn’t been here. I can’t stay here and risk any of you getting hurt because of me.” It was true, I couldn’t let them keep taking on this risk just to keep me here.
“No Elizabeth.” He said looking back at his work and essentially ignoring me. I was about to protest when I heard the door open and Thomas and Justin make their way in.
“Lizzybee you’re awake!” Justin said excited.
“How are you feeling?” Thomas coming over to the bed.
“I feel better.” I told them with a smile.
“She’s lying. Not too long, she needs rest.” Tristan said not giving me another look before he gathered his things and left. I glared at him as he walked away.
“What the hell is his problem?” I asked as Justin sat next to me.
“Oh don’t mind him he’s just a big grouch.” Justin said finishing the last of Tristan’s fruit.
“Don’t be too hard on him Elle, he’s been watching over you day and night.” Thomas said with a grin.
“Why?” I asked them confused. They both shrugged at me. We spent a couple hours talking and they caught me on what had happened. They reassured me that no one had been hurt and the guest had just been a little scared.
“How did they even get in?” I asked wondering how they had broken through their defense. They had fortified their security after I had been advised that there would be an attack.
“They had to have had help. There is no way that they get through our defense without some inside information.” Justin said upset.
“We are looking into it. Tristan has been personally looking into it as well.” Thomas said. They told me about what was happening in the castle and kept me company for a while.
After a while I started feeling tired and it was clear that I was still not feeling one hundred percent yet.
“We should let you get some rest. Tristan has someone posted outside your door so you can rest easy.” Thomas assured. I smiled as they made their way out and drifted to sleep once more.
A few days later after lots of checks from Dr. Mitchell, who insisted I called her Allison, I was released and able to go back to my room.
I had made sure that there was no big announcement that I was being released so that I could get some alone time. I loved everyone but they all took turns coming to see me all day long. While I appreciated them coming to see me, I was craving some alone time. I was still feeling a little weak from all the energy I had used, but I did feel much better. The bruises were beginning to fade and the cuts were healing. Even the gash on my arm felt a little better, Allison had insisted on putting it in a sling to make sure I wouldn’t move it around and let it heal better. I was almost to the room when someone bumped into my arm hard, causing a shooting pain in my arm.
“Oh, goodness! Elizabeth I am so sorry!” Vivian said moving her arms to try to help me, but the pain was so bad all I could do was hold my arm close to me.
“It’s fine.” I managed to say.
“I didn’t know you were being released today. I would have had someone help you to your room.” She said with a smile.
“It was a las minute thing.” I told her with a smile trying to hide the pain I was in.
“Well I am sure that Alpha Jacob will be happy to hear that you are better. I hear he is quite smitten with you. He’s asked about you everyday to make sure you were getting better.”
“Oh, I should probably reach out to him. Thank you for letting me know.” I said with a smile trying to move around her, but she dropped something. We both went down to pick it up and that’s when I saw it.
She had been marked.
“Elizabeth? Are you ok? You don’t look well.”
I felt my body get hot and the ice cold, room start to spin. I started to get lightheaded and nauseous. I moved around her quickly and went into to my room. I wanted to scream and rip something apart.
He had marked her.