Chapter 6

• I Laid there alone and cried, my face absolutely on fire from the pain. I could feel blood pooling from my lip again and what felt like my nose. My vision swirled, and I had trouble bringing myself to my feet.
• Damn floor.
• Damn wolves.
• When I eventually stood, everything swam, and I wobbled my way down the stairs, clutching onto the banister for support. I found my bedroom by heart and quickly locked the door behind me. I embraced the darkness of the room and collapsed on my bed.
• Furthermore, I cried once again, for the feeling of not being welcome always hit me hard. Not only that, but I longed for wellbeing, for safety beyond my bedroom walls. To not have to worry every time that I stuttered fearing the repercussions. I longed for freedom, for no one to judge and rule over me. I longed for my wolf and our heritage. A place in the pack.
• With those thoughts in my mind, I dragged myself into my bathroom. Once again this month I was throwing back painkillers yet this time I opted for the stronger ones. My vision was steady, but the pain in my head had me cramping up and vomiting into the toilet two minutes later.
• Knowing I had to shower since it covered me with blood and sick, so I turned on the water. I had to make do with lukewarm water for my shower, since they restricted omegas to how much hot water they could use.
• Before I could strip off my clothes, a knock sounded at my door. I practically whimpered a sob.
• “Y-yes?”
• “Ember?"
• My body slumped in fear. He couldn't see me this way. He would get suspicious.
• “Yes Alpha?”
• “Ember, I came to tell you about tomorrow-do I smell blood?”
• My heart clenched in fear. “N-n-”
• “Open this door, Ember!” Steven demanded.
• My eyes teared, and I trudged my way over to the door and unlocked it with my head hung down. If only he was ten minutes later, I could have hidden this.
• “What happened? Why are you in the dark? What's the blood I smell?” He wondered.
• He spoke as though he were an alpha who cared and not the one who dismissed me in public.
• I risked a peek at his face to find his blue eyes darker than before, pupils blown as he harshly stared down at me. I wanted to break free of the alpha stare, but I couldn't.
• Not only that, but I had to hold my ground.
• “I f-fell.”
• His eyes narrowed. “Interesting fall Ember. I noticed the split lip earlier.”
• I shrugged, fighting my mind against the command. “I honestly f-fell.”
• I mean – I wasn't lying.
• Knowing I couldn't defy the alpha command, he sighed and nodded. “You have got to be more careful. You're human. How is your vision?”
• “B-blurry.” I chewed my lip and instantly regretted it after the sharp pain.
• He stood in front of me and inspected my injuries, his eyes widening once he saw my scalp.
• “This will not heal in time.” He mumbled, brushing my hair to the side.
• In time? What did he mean?
• “S-sorry?” I asked.
• “This hurts bad, yeah?”
• I mutely nodded, which made him sigh, his hand on my head letting go finally. Automatically, my arms wrapped around themselves again, and I stepped away, cascading my hair across my chin.
• “I need you to see the doctor. You will not heal that overnight.” He sighed.
• Not a doctor!
• I shook my head. “I don't want my p-parents to know.”
• “Very well. I will not force you…" He mumbled. “I see how uncomfortable I make you, and I'm sorry I had to command that, Ember. But my pack members are important to me, as are you. I will sort this out, mark my words.”
• I nodded mutely as he left my room, not believing a word. Numbly, going to lock my door, the only sound now was my shower running in the other room and my shaky breath. I bit back tears as I thought about the problems this may hold against me as I climbed into the warm water.
• Blood rushes down the drain, my matted hair soaking in conditioner in hopes it would strengthen through all my body's malnutrition. I dried myself gently after washing and then looked at myself in the mirror. My left eye was swelling shut again, and my nose and lower lip no longer dripped blood, but definitely looked like I had plastic surgery gone wrong. My chest heaved in anguish at the sight, but I fought the tears back.
• Getting into a nightie, I was about to climb into bed when a soft knock sounded at the door. Hating the visitor already, I cracked the door and peered my good eye through.
• Alpha Stephen stood mutely again with a needle in his hand and a first aid kit in his other.
• “Let's get that sorted.” Is all he said as he made his way into my room.
• I could've cried at his generosity, but I was all dried out… Maybe he did care after all?
• He made me sit on the bed and tended to my wounds with antiseptic. He placed a few strips onto my head, and he gave me an ice pack for my eye.
• The needle he held was full of his own blood; it was fresh. His wolf DNA would work its magic and the swelling in my eye would vanish, I hoped. I was told alpha blood could help heal lesser wolves, but was hard to get them to give it up. It wasn't enough for the injuries to disappear completely, going from what I knew about transfusions, but at least I could see by morning.
• When he finished, he gave me painkillers and bruise cream before standing and leaving. “It should start working as you sleep.”
• I curled up into my sheets, my eyes dry from tears at last. I let out a content sigh as the strong meds kicked in before dozing off into the world of sleepy comfort.