Chapter Thirty-Seven – The next morning

Somehow Talia had fallen sleep, her body and mind too tired to stay up any longer. Monica was the one who woke her, with a fresh cup of coffee in her hand. Adam was still sleeping next to her, his face for once peaceful and rested.

“Thank you” Talia took the cup from Monica and followed her into the hallway. The small clinic was quiet now, everyone either at sleep or taking a break after the night shift. The clinic itself was the old barn rebuilt and moved to the far back of the property, shielded from sight for protection. The staff count was low, seeing at this was a small pack with not many who needed tending to. But they had set it up anyway, in case they needed medical care that the local hospital couldn’t provide.

“How are you holding up?” Monica asked once they were both seated in the comfortable chairs in the waiting area. Talia had curled her feet up, her elbows resting on her knees as she gently sipped on the coffee.

“I don’t know” Talia answered truthfully. It had been a mere week since she had arrived, and everything had happened so fast since then. One day she had been talking to Adam about why he didn’t tell her the whole truth, the next she found a link to the past, and now that link was the reason Adam was lying in a hospital bed. It was a lot to take in.

“I don’t blame you. It’s been a crazy couple of days” Monica took a sip from the coffee. She had been up all night and needed the strength. There was just no way she could find a moment to sleep when the people she loved the most in the world was hurting.

“That’s putting it mildly” Talia let out a sigh. “But it’s not been all bad” She added. It had been crazy yes, but crazy didn’t always mean something bad. There could also be things that were crazy good, like her and Adam. The love she felt for him was unlike anything she had ever felt before. At times it felt like it was going to drive her crazy.

“No, not all bad” Monica agreed with a nod. “We’ve found some new friends, exposed possible threats, learned the truth, even though the truth might hurt. It’s all good things, even when it hurts the most”

Talia looked at Monica. She’d never thought much about her role in everything. She had just always been there, taking on a role of the caring mother for those who had none. It hadn’t crossed her mind that the woman saw, heard and knew loads more than she let on.

“Learning the truth hurts, but it also gives some sort of clarity” Talia said after some thought. It had hurt her to the core when Xavier said it was better if she was dead. It had sounded like he regretted saving her. And she’d let her emotions get the best of her, striking before asking, the complete opposite of what Adam learned his wolves. And now she understood why.

“Knowing your true heritage makes it easier to understand your path” Monica said quietly, sipping her coffee with a forlorn expression on her face. Like she was stuck in a memory. Talia didn’t want to pry, she looked so at peace.
–
An hour passed by before a nurse came to check up on Adam. Talia followed after, while Monica went back to the house. She had to get started on making breakfast for all the hungry people. They were feeding a third more than usual, she couldn’t sit still for too long. Talia had tried to convince her to let someone else take over so she could get some rest, but Monica refused it. In just that short hour Talia’s admiration for the older woman had grown immensely.

“Now Alpha, how are you feeling?” The male nurse asked Adam before going to check on his dressings. “Good. All good” Adam answered, a smile presenting itself on his lips once he saw Talia in the doorway.

“How are you doing?” He asked her, holding out his hand for her to take. She didn’t hesitate with closing the distance, putting her hand in his. She’d knew he would be okay; Damir was a strong wolf that could heal many wounds, but seeing him sit up, seeing him not flinch at any movement, it was a relief. It was proof that he was indeed doing good.

“Did anyone check you out?” Adam asked her. She shook her head and saw how his eyes darkened. “I’m fine I promise. I feel asleep before they could check me out” She lifted his hand to her cheek, leaning against it.

“Jonas, can you do a quick checkup of her for me?” Adam asked the nurse, who smiled and nodded once he was done checking the dressings.

“Of course Alpha. Miss” Jonas pointed to a stool in the room, and Talia reluctantly sat down. Jonas hunched down in front of her to check her eyes and how they responded to light, he checked her muscle reflexes and listened to her heart and lungs.

“All clear, you’re fit as a fiddle” Jonas smiled before turning his attention back to Adam again. “We’ll remove the dressing soon, and then you can leave. Want something to eat first?”

“No, thank you” Adam answered, and Jonas took his leave, leaving the two of them alone again.

“Are you sure you’re doing fine?” Adam asked as he got seated more upright, patting on the room next to him for her to come sit.

“I’m a little shaken, that’s all” Talia answered as she took the seat next to him, curling up to rest against his body. “It just – the look in her eyes. They were wild and crazy. There was no trace of any reasonable being left in her”

Talia shuddered lightly, and Adam wrapped her tighter against her. The attack had been unprovoked and out of nowhere. He had been so preoccupied with her to think of anything else, to be wary of any lurking dangers. If he had only paid more attention, taken a whiff of the scents lingering in the air. If he had just done that he’d known they weren’t alone and been on the alert. But he hadn’t, and it had put them both in danger.

“You were ready to take an arrow for me” Adam said. She hadn’t even hesitated to shield him, to protect the wounded one. “If anything…” His voice broke off as a lump settled in his throat. He had to swallow hard to not start crying.

“I’d do it a thousand times over. I just have one regret – and that’s not sending her flying” Talia looked up at Adam, her eyes meeting his. “You did the right thing” Adam pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I know – but still” Talia had to take a deep breath to calm herself down. If only she got her hands on that redheaded maniac…
–
Adam was released from the clinic just in time for breakfast. Everyone turned to look at them both as they walked into the packed dining area. The word had spread far, and Talia could see how some of the newcomers looked scared. They had come her for peace and quiet, and then the Alpha was attacked dead in the night, on any other midnight stroll. She didn’t blame them for being worried.

“Adam, how are you feeling?” Marjatta was the first to come up to them. The expression on her face was worried, with a hint of relief. “I’m better than ever” Adam assured her with his signature confident smile. It seemed to put the female at ease.

“In fact – if I can get everyone’s attention” Adam spoke up. Everyone turned to look at the Alpha. Talia stepped to the side, settling herself at the same table as Devan and Katlyn, who had Alehtta with them. Seeing the little girl safe and sound made her heart beat easier.

“I know many of you have just come her, fled form things I cannot begin to imagine. And I get that you’re scared. We’re all scared. There is at least one hunter in town who wants our kind gone, and she’s not afraid to attack without reason. This makes her more dangerous than most – because they all have a moral code. And she broke it. And I’ll be honest, we don’t know where she is right now. But we know who she is, and we’re having people out looking for her. And I promise you all, I’ll do everything to keep you all save”

“Why didn’t you just kill her then and there?” One of the newcomers rose to his feet, an angry expression on his face. “I was kind of preoccupied being used as target practice” Adam answered him back calmly, staring at the man with such a look that made him shut up and sit down, his head bowed.

“Anyone else have any questions?” Adam looked at the room who had fallen quiet. “Good. Let’s eat, then Devan and Dimitri will sign up volunteers for some sort of military practice. We’re not warriors, and we’re not going to pretend we are – but some training is better than none”

With that Adam got himself seated on the table next to Talia.

“Did you get hurt?” Alehtta asked with a small voice, making the adults at the table look at the little girl. Her expression was unmistakable, she was scared.

“I did – but I’m fine now. My wolf healed me” Adam answered her in a reassuring voice.

“But what if you don’t have a wolf?” Alehtta looked to Talia, who in turn wrapped her arms around the little girl, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head and she rocked them back and forth.

“Don’t worry about me little one” She whispered into the girl’s head, but it wasn’t enough. Alehtta was still stiff in her embrace, her scared eyes locked at Adam.

“But – you can’t shift. You can’t heal” Alehtta’s eyes filled with tears. She had only been there for a single day, but she had already taken a liking to the Alpha and his Luna. Though she wasn’t like them she was warm and welcoming, like her own mother had been.

“I want my mom and dad” She blurted out and started crying. Talia wrapped her arms tighter around the girl, moving her over to sit on her lap as she let the little girl cry her heart out. Several of the wolves that had come with her the following day looked at them, a sad expression on their face.

“I know sweetie, I know” Talia cooed, trying her best to calm the little girl down. “I promise we’ll find out what happened to them” Talia looked over to Katlyn. She had taken a flight sometime after dinner, and she expected she had arrived back late that night. Her expression was undeniable, there were no good news.

“Everyone is so quiet about it, I know something bad happened” Alehtta said as she had cried her heart out, and it broke the hearts of everyone in the room. Loosing ones parents was never easy, and it was a long road to acceptance and recovery.

“We’ll protect you, just like your mom and dad, I promise” Adam leaned towards the little girl, getting her to look up at him. His calming words had a soothing effect on her, Talia could feel how she relaxed in her arms.

“How about we eat, and then I’ll show you a special place in the house that will be just yours. Is that something you’d like?” He had a small smile for her, and she nodded in response. They had to distract her somehow. “But you have to keep a secret – promise?”

Alehtta lit up and nodded more vigorous, even smiling a little. “I promise!”