Dying For You

Chapter 11

Theo's POV

Laila's father and I hung the curtain rod as Laila tried to make her first choice with the help of her Mom. Without talking about it, her father and I keep pretending like we are working on screwing the curtain rod holders to the wall. I don't want her to feel rushed. We finished about an hour ago, but we are holding a level to the curtain rod right now, pretending that's needed.

I keep checking over my shoulder to look at her. She got overwhelmed a few minutes ago and looked like she could cry anytime. My stomach is in my throat. I could vomit- I didn't mean to upset my mate.

I glance over my shoulder again to see her shaking her head and stinking into the corner of the closet as her Mom nods and writes. There has to be a better way to communicate with her if she is deaf. I wonder if she knows sign language. Probably not. The hunters that ran experiments on her probably didn't stop to explain anything of what they were doing to her. Bastards.

I should learn sign language so I can teach it to her. I'll start tomorrow.

"Ok. It's okay," Laila's Mom says, gathering all the curtains. Her Dad and I stop what we are doing to look as she stands up. She turns to us with a sign: "She's tired and getting agitated. Let's just put some curtains up so she can sleep. Then, maybe we can try again when she is feeling better."

Laila's parents start hanging three curtains of different colors. I picked up the whiteboard that her Mom had left on the ground and started writing.

'You told me you would try to sleep in the bed if I made it dark. Will you try to get in bed when they are done hanging the curtains?'

Laila sniffles, picking her head off the wall to read what I wrote. She sniffles again, then nods.

Within about 5 minutes, her parents are done. I offer Laila my hand so she can get off the floor. She looks like she could fall asleep at any second. She groggily looks at my hand and doesn't move. She puts her head against the wall again, and her eyes start to close. She's fighting sleep.

I slowly move inside the closet, careful not to spook the skittish chicken. In one quick swoop, I pick her up bridal style. She helps in surprise, looking at me with wide eyes but not fighting me.

I walk her carefully to the bed and then lay her down. Her eyes close, and she is asleep when her head hits the pillow.

"We kept her up too long. She's been fighting sleep for the last hour." Her Mom says when she notices Laila is fast asleep. I pull the covers over Laila to make sure that she is comfortable. If she needs sleep to feel better, I will do everything possible to ensure she gets the best rest likely.

"She was awake for way longer than she normally is. I don't think she will be awake tomorrow." her Dad sighs.

"I don't care. As long as she gets better." I say, putting my hands in my pockets. "I'll get out of your hair; I'll be back tomorrow to check on her."

"Ok, see you tomorrow, Alpha." Laila's Mom says.

"You can call me Theo. I've never cared too much for all the formality, and it seems we will see a lot of each other." I say.

"In that case, you can call me Ron." her Dad says.

"And I'm Rebecca." her Mom smiles at me. "And you're welcome to come and go from here whenever you want. You don't have to knock. You can be here whenever you want. I know you're busy, so drop by whenever for however long you want." she adds.

"Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow." I nod, then turn to walk out the door.

I went through the pack house until I stopped outside my Dad's office. The door is open, and he looks up from his computer at me. "You wanted to see me, Dad."

"I mindlinked you this morning," he says flatly.

"I was at training, then I went to see my mate," I explain.

"You were training?" he questions.

"I needed a break." I shrug, taking a seat across from him.

"A break from sitting on the ground, doing nothing, watching your mate sleep?" he questions.

"I didn't want to upset her. And you know me, I'm not one to sit around and do nothing all day." I say.

"I know. But that's your mate. I figured we wouldn't see you for a few weeks after you found your mate, so it's good you're responding to mindlinks," he comments.

"So what did you want?" I ask.

"Do you want to see her file?"