Chapter 1 #2
I nibbled my lip. “I had a run-in with Dr. Hastain…and he said some really upsetting stuff.” Tore’s grip on me tightened as his heart started to beat harder and faster. “We should wait to talk about it with everyone though, if you’re okay with that.”
Besides, I needed to work up the nerve and emotional grit to even get the words out.
After a moment, Tore nodded while running his nose against my hair, seemingly just breathing in my scent.
I was thankful he was willing to wait despite it being obvious that he very much wanted to know what was going on.
It made me want to tell him all the more because I didn’t like the idea of something weighing on his mind…
Truth be told, it was very much weighing on my own.
There was so much to discuss and questions I needed answers to.
At the same time, I was tempted to ask him to lay down with me and hold me. Would that be weird? I had no idea what I was doing when it came to any of this, that much was clear, but I knew that I liked Tore’s touch and wanted more of it.
“Where are the others?” I asked tentatively, feeling a bit insecure about interacting with them after what had occurred and the strong emotions I’d felt radiating from them in the medical center.
In some ways, Tore was the easiest to communicate my harder emotions to because he was very straightforward and always made a point of expressing how much he liked spending time with me…
Liked me, in general. I resisted the urge to look over at the most prominent proof of that: my snow globe collection.
“Probably waiting right outside.” He nodded towards the closed door. “I think they are trying to not crowd you all at once.”
I wouldn’t mind that.
Tore’s chuckle made me realize I’d spoken that out loud, and I ducked my head and tried to get out of bed.
After a moment of trying to untangle myself from the blankets, he easily lifted me and set me on the floor.
I offered him a shy smile before a wave of dizziness swarmed me and I grabbed him for stability.
“You need food and water.” Tore led me towards the chair, picking up the book and putting it on the window seat before saying, “Don’t move.”
I had a somewhat goofy smile on my face as he disappeared, leaving me in my cozy dorm room, one that was slowly, very slowly, starting to feel like my own. Although it wasn’t very hard since it was the nicest room I’d ever had the pleasure of sleeping in.
I wanted to cover the walls with memories of my time here, mainly with my mates, but also with Aanya and Ruby… But knowing I wasn’t supposed to be here for school but for a far darker reason turned my stomach towards the concept.
While waiting for Tore, I grabbed the book sitting on the window seat and tilted my head, trying to read the faded title.
The Great Gatsby.
A title I was familiar with, but not one I had ever personally read. I opened to the first page and scanned through about three sentences before a sound had me looking up.
A smile filled my face, somewhat unsurprised and equally thrilled to find Dakota standing there.
The man crouched down in front of me, making me feel far better about our size difference, as he removed the book from my hands and clasped them between his much larger ones.
He didn’t have to say anything for me to see the concern there.
In the few days I’d known him, Dakota had been an open book, and something about that had me trusting him almost immediately.
Even if he did intimidate me. I knew he didn’t do it purposefully; there was just so much intensity to Dakota that it could be overwhelming.
“What are you doing out of bed, little wolf?” His voice was soothing as it ran over my ears, causing me to lean forward so that we were closer. The magic that surrounded Dakota was all-consuming, and his obsidian eyes were ones that I could get lost in easily.
Unlike Tore’s current state, Dakota was a bit more put together, his dark hair pushed back and damp from the snow.
He had clearly been outside, outfitted in dark boots, jeans, and a coat, his almond skin tone in direct contrast to the white fluffy precipitation that dusted his shoulders.
I couldn’t help but run my fingers over his shoulder and brush some of the snow off, unable to answer him yet.
Mostly because I didn’t really have a solid reason, and I had a feeling he very much wanted to place me back onto the soft surface.
“Tore helped me off, he’s going to get me food and something to drink,” I explained. “I was just waiting for him and trying to decide if I felt like taking a shower.”
Honestly, the concept sounded amazing right now. A bath sounded even better, but I’d never had the luxury of taking one of those, and I had a feeling it wouldn’t happen any time soon.
“You should be resting,” Dakota pointed out softly. “Do you want me to set you up on the couch so you can watch some TV?”
“That would be nice.” I nodded as he leaned forward and pressed his forehead to mine, inhaling while gathering his thoughts. His next words were quiet and serious, causing my eyes to prickle with emotion.
“I am so damn glad you’re okay, Effie. I was so worried. If Ryder hadn’t pulled you up… No, I don’t even want to consider that. I can’t consider that or else I may lose it.”
My fingers came up to the base of my throat and I rubbed the spot anxiously, not liking the guilt that infiltrated my chest. The last thing I’d wanted was to hurt these men.
Dakota immediately pulled back. “Is your head hurting?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I just feel guilty about causing everyone to worry, and it’s giving me a bit of anxiety.
” It was the truth, even if it sounded a bit weird.
I hadn’t been aware until about two years ago that anxiety could manifest in a physical form like chest pain or a cold sweat, but every time I would see one of my previous bullies, my body would freak out before my head could, and it became very clear it was a response to the idea of being hurt again.
Right now I wasn’t worried about being hurt, I just felt very anxious and guilty despite them not meaning to make me feel that way.
Dakota’s eyes softened. “Do not feel guilty about us caring or worrying about you.”
I knew he was right, even if I still felt a bit like that. I decided to change the topic, looking towards the book. “Whose is that? Yours?”
Dakota’s lip twitched. “The Great Gatsby? No, little wolf, that is far too tragic for my liking. Have you read it?”
“No, I recognize it though.”
“It’s…interesting.” Dakota smirked. “Long story short, it’s about a man obsessed with a woman that is far too good for him, something he is very aware of. So he tries to buy his way into a position worthy of her and it gets him killed.”
Was that the story? I felt like it was a bit different than that…though I was soon distracted by the accented voice that came from the door.
“Dakota. Out.”
Caedmon stood in the doorway, his eyes narrowed on Dakota as tension cracked through the air.
I found myself curling into my chair, not liking the expression on his face at all and not knowing how to deal with the anger radiating off him.
My movement had him snapping his gaze to mine as he examined my expression, causing him to wince, muttering something under his breath and running a hand over his handsome face.
Dakota let out a frustrated noise, pressing a kiss to my forehead and whispering something about Caedmon being all ‘bark’ before grabbing the book he’d been talking about.
He walked towards the door, and once he reached Caedmon, he shoved it against his chest and spoke in a lethal tone.
“Do not ever use that tone of voice around her again. Final fucking warning, Caedmon. I’m getting tired of your moody bullshit. ”
That lethal energy that I sensed from Caedmon filled the space, a growl leaving his throat, but Dakota paid it no mind, passing him and leaving the two of us alone.
Caedmon closed the door, and I wouldn’t lie, the energy coming off him had me feeling a bit nervous.
Especially when he leaned against the closed door and looked towards the ceiling, seeming to try to gather himself and calm down.
I didn’t mind; I could look at him all day. Caedmon was absolutely beautiful. There was no denying that.
Everything from his dark green eyes to his leanly muscled frame, dressed in a suit worth more than everything I owned combined, was attractive to me.
He was a man who had too many secrets and was burdened by all of them.
I wanted to comfort him, but I was both intimidated and infatuated with him.
It was a heady mixture that had me just freezing and doing nothing.
I had seen a softer side to Caedmon, and when he looked back at me, I felt all the tension drain out of me.
I knew at that moment he wasn’t mad at me, and I found myself worried about why his olive skin looked so pale.
He didn’t look like he was feeling alright at all…
Something I couldn’t think too much on, because the man was crossing the room towards me.
When he knelt down in front of me, I felt my eyes widen.
Oh wow. He wrapped his arms around my waist and laid his head in my lap, letting out a shuddering breath, the tension seeming to roll off his body completely.
My fingers hesitantly ran through his hair as I felt my eyes prickle with tears, knowing there was significance to an alpha like Caedmon being on his knees and in such a submissive position.
It almost made me feel uncomfortable, my wolf not fully positive how to push forward, but that was greatly overshadowed by the relief I felt at him touching me.
I wasn’t sure why I had thought he would be mad at me, but the relief that he wasn’t was immeasurable.