Chapter 28

~Grace~

I couldn’t sleep.

Laying in bed, I stared out the window at the moon, the curtains drawn back I hadn’t heard Alex come back in yet, and I was sick with worry.

Had something happened to him? What was so serious that he needed to be gone this long?

I rolled over, groaning. There was no way I’d get any sleep like this, but what could I do? I didn’t even really know where he was.

Pulling out my phone, I stared at our text messages from when we last talked. Should I send him a message?

I put my phone back down. No, that would definitely make me look too clingy. What was I worried about, anyway? Alex was strong enough to protect himself.

Finding some solace in my decision, I pulled the covers tightly around my neck, and closed my eyes, settling in. I couldn’t help just sitting here and worrying, anyway.

A fearsome howl tore through the night, and my eyes flew open, my heart beating fast.

Alex!

Something bad happened, I knew it!

I ran to the window, looking out into the dark night. The treeline was illuminated by the moon, and I saw a group of birds flying into the air where the howl came from.

That’s it. Now, I knew where he was at.

Quickly pulling on some clothes, I ran out into the night, and without hesitation hopped on my motorcycle, filled with fiery determination. Alex had saved me before, I would be there for him, too.

I ride to the forest’s border and make the rest of the way on foot.

Trekking through the thick brush, I kept my ears pricked for any sound apart from my own footsteps. A cry called out in front of me and I slowed, trying to pinpoint the sound.

Continuing towards the cry, I suddenly stopped, surprised to find a man on the ground. He was not nearly big enough to be Alex, and I felt relief that it wasn’t him.

But then, who was this man? He looked hurt, laying on the ground, clutching at his stomach.

I took a cautious step forward. Getting a better look at him, I realized he had platinum blonde hair, pale skin, and sharp features. He was striking in the moonlight, like a star that had just fallen from the sky.

A twig snapped under my foot and he looked up at me, blue eyes watching me intently. He became still.

“Hey, I’m here to help. Are you alright,” I asked, my voice gentle.

The man moved away from me, baring his fangs, growling in warning. Maybe I should have been scared, but I just felt bad for him.

He looked like a scared stray, hurt and confused and not sure who to trust. I gave the stranger a smile, kneeling down but not getting closer.

Once an aggressive stray has been shown kindness, and realizes that that the person only wishes to help, they’re usually quite sweet. I just had to convince him I wasn’t going to hurt him.

I held out my hand to him. “I’m Grace. What’s your name?”

The man stayed still, looking me up and down as if sizing me up. Was he checking to see if I was a threat? If I attacked him, if he could take me?

He bared his teeth again, not answering my question.

I sighed. Patience and gentleness was important in this situation, but it didn’t seem like he was warming up to me at all.

“Why are you out here all alone? This is a restricted area, didn’t you know?” I asked gently. He didn’t look like a Lycan, and definitely shouldn’t have been here.

“It’s dangerous out here, you really shouldn’t be here. Don’t you have a family I can take you to?” I continued.

The man only stared at me again, with his round, blue eyes, but no answer. He stopped growling, and seemed to relax a little. Maybe I was getting somewhere after all.

“I can take you back to my place for the time being, is that alright with you?” I continued, and the man sat up, more relaxed. In this position, I could see in the moonlight that he held his hand over a bloody stain on his side.

Oh, no! He was wounded! No wonder he was so defensive.

I gasped at a sudden realization. How could I be so dumb! Maybe he was mute, that’s why he couldn’t answer any of my questions! And stupid me, continuing to ask him question after question… the poor man!

Out here all alone, wounded, scared, and confused. My heart ached with sympathy for him.

I knew what it felt like to be alone. I couldn't just leave him here.

I stood up slowly. “I’m headed back to my place. I’ve got a motorcycle just outside of the trees here, and I can take you there and get that wound of yours treated. Does that sound good?”

The man slowly stood up as well, but I saw him wince and fall forward. I rushed over and caught him, and I could hear his labored breathing. He must be hurt badly.

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” I say soothingly, struggling to hold him upright. He seemed to be putting a lot of his weight on me.

“I can help you walk to my motorcycle, okay?” I say, and I feel him nod.

“Okay. I’m going to let go for a second to reposition myself, that way we can both be facing forward.”

He nodded again, and I slowly let go of him. He staggered, but kept himself upright as I figured out a good position to assist him. I glanced at his wound, and it shone with wet blood. I winced in sympathy. It looked like it hurt a lot.

Placing his arm around my shoulders, and wrapping an arm under his, I made sure his side was firmly pressed against mine to give him more stability.

“Alright, just slow and steady now, okay?”

We began our slow walk through the forest, and it was exhausting work, but we made it to my motorcycle.

“Just sit here, and I’ll sit behind you so I can hold onto you while I drive,” I tell him, and position him securely on my bike.

I ride as quickly as I can back to the Black Lycan clan, parking my bike as we get past the gates. I had been holding tightly onto the stranger with one arm the entire time, and my arm felt numb.

Sliding off, I held my hand out to help the stranger, but noticed his head bobbed forward and his eyes were closed, as if he were sleeping. He started to lean to the side.

Oh, no!

In a panic, I rushed forward and caught him before he hit the ground.

“Are you okay?” I whispered loudly to him, not wanting to wake up the whole clan, but my heart pounding with concern.

The man didn’t answer as usual, but as I sat on the ground, his head in my lap, I realized it was not because of his usual quietness, but because he had passed out!