Chapter 138

Fiona

A heavy pain in my head draws me out of the darkness and into a bright white light. I blink against the light above me and raise my hand to block it out.

The sharp, clean smell of disinfectants assault my senses, making me cough.

“She’s awake!” Someone, a man, yells. I turn my head to the left just as Ryan darts over from the door. He leans over the bed, touching my head softly while his eyes scan my body. When I cough again, my dry throat seizes, he grabs a cup from the little table beside me.

“Drink slowly,” he instructs me, bringing the straw to my lips.

“Thanks,” I rasp, trying to smile, but the pain in my head throbs obnoxiously from the too bright lights. “C-can you turn the light down?”

Ryan looks over his shoulder then nods and makes his way over to the door. He dims the lights, and not even a second later, the door opens and a man in a doctor’s white coat walks in.

“Ms. Bowen, it’s good to see you awake so quickly,” the doctor announces. I would nod, but I have a feeling it wouldn’t do anything good for the headache currently trying its best to split my skull open.

“Do you remember what happened? Do you know what year it is?”

“2024, and I hit my head on the stairs, or maybe the railing, after…” I glance at Ryan, and he subtly shakes his head for me not to say anything. Is he trying to cover it up? “I fell.” The words come out sticky and make me feel gross. I’m not sure what Ryan means, but I am sure as hell going to get to the bottom of this.

“Well, you’re quite lucky you have no further injuries other than your concussion and heavy bruising,” the doctor says with a soft smile. “There were no complications during the stitching and or in your sleep, so if you don’t have any questions, you’re free to go home and rest.”

“Thank you,” I mumble, “I don’t have any questions.”

The doctor nods in understanding and says he’ll send a nurse in to discharge me. The moment he leaves the room, I pin my glare on Ryan, but before I can say anything, he speaks up.

“I’ve called Ethan and let him know what happened. We also found the video of Angela throwing you down the stairs—”

“And what are you doing about that? Why did you stop me from telling the doctor?” I ask, pushing myself up no matter how much it makes my body ache. “I want to report her to the police and having a doctor back me up would be very helpful.”

Ryan sighs. “I understand, Fiona, but you have to understand that there are things at play here with the dissention between our packs that need a bit more time to settle. Ethan will take care of her when he gets back, so could you wait until then?”

I want to shout that I won’t. I want to tell him that she deserves to be taken away by cops. A few bruises and a concussion are nothing compared to what could’ve happened, but I also don’t want to put Ethan or his pack in a bad situation.

“Is he home yet? How long was I out?”

“No. Actually, Ethan’s stay has been extended, and you’ve only been out for the night. I moved our meetings to tomorrow, so you can go home to rest,” he answers. A nurse comes in, unhooking me from machines as I talk with Ryan.

“Extended? For how long?”

“Two more days at least. There were some problems in the pack that he’s having to deal with before he returns,” Ryan says with a grimace. “He’s been away so often lately- we both have- that some of the elders have stepped out of line.”

I nod. If a leader isn’t around, someone else will usually try to step in and take over. It makes me wonder if Ethan needs to take more trips back to his pack or if he needs to find a way to stay there permanently again.

I guess if he becomes this Lycan King, he’ll definitely have to move back permanently.

Where will that leave me, though? Would I go with him?

The question makes me pause. I hadn’t really thought about it much. Ethan says we’re meant to be together, but anytime I pictured us together, it was always here. I don’t know what life in the West would be like.

“Don’t worry, though, Luna. Ethan will take care of everything, including Angela, when he returns. All you need to do is rest.”

Nodding, I allow him to help me up and into a wheelchair that the nurse insists is hospital policy. I can guess by the guilty look on Ryan’s face that it’s him who asked for the chair, but I don’t have the energy to argue as they wheel me down to the lobby.

The ride home is quiet, and when Ryan pulls into Ethan’s driveway, he jumps out of the car and helps me out.

“I’m not an invalid, Ryan,” I mutter as he sets me down in front of the door.

“Sorry. I just… Will you be okay?” He asks, the hesitant and worried tone softening me.

“I’ll be fine.”

He looks me up and down for what seems like the millionth time, so I pat his arm. The dark bags under his eyes tell me he didn’t sleep much last night, probably from worry, and I’m overcome with a soft sensation.

Wrapping my arms around Ryan, I murmur, “Thank you for finding me, Ryan.”

“Of course, Luna,” he says softly, wrapping his arms around me as well. His hug is nice, but not as nice as Ethan’s hugs. “Let’s get you inside. I’ll be staying in one of the guest rooms, so if you need anything, just ask.”

“I’m fine, Ryan,” I lie again, swatting his hand away as he hovers beside me. I’m not fine. My head hurts, and no matter how many times I call Ethan, he doesn’t answer the phone. He hasn’t called back or messaged me.

“You should’ve taken more than one day to rest, Fiona. The meeting isn’t more important than your health.”

He takes the larger stack of papers from my arms, and I roll my eyes. He’s been babying me since I got here this morning, but I couldn’t go two days with nothing to do. I was going crazy just sitting around the house.

Ryan follows me up to the meeting room, and instead of letting me get things together, he forces me to sit while he sets out materials.

“Fiona, it’s good to see you again,” Chris says, leaning in for a hug. I skillfully dodge him while holding out a hand for him to shake, which he does. I don’t miss the tick of his jaw, but I ignore the small feature.

“You too, Chris,” I reply politely before moving to my seat. My headache slowly filters back in as Ryan helps direct Chris to a chair that’s furthest away from me, thankfully, and I smile appreciatively at him.

The entire meeting goes by quickly in a blur of plotting, planning, and preparation, mainly on Ryan’s part. I think he can tell I don’t feel great, but Chris clearly doesn’t. The few times I look over at him, he’s staring, and at one point he winks.

“Thank you for coming, Mr. Carter. I’ll have someone show you out.”

“Could I speak with Fiona for a moment? I’d like to apologize for our previous encounter,” Chris asks, glancing at me.

Ryan looks to me for confirmation, even as his face clearly warns me against it. I want to say no, but the politeness that my parents drilled into me wins over.

“I have a few minutes,” I tell them both, hoping Chris understands what I’m not saying. Ryan hesitates until I nod and wave him off.

“I see Ethan isn’t here,” is the first thing Chris says once Ryan is gone. It sets my hair standing on end, and I sigh. “I’d like to take you out to dinner, Fiona. Just us and a nice night. I can show you what its like to be with someone who will sticks around.”

His tone rubs me the wrong way, and I step back. However, my movement doesn’t deter him. He follows me until I hit the wall.

“Chris, I’ve already told you I’m with—”

“Ethan,” he growls, slapping his hand on the wall by my head. I jump, the sound ringing in my ears.

“Yes. I’m with Ethan, so please stay professional and—”

He cuts me off again, “I know you are having problems, but if you were with me, you’ve be happier. This injury… that wouldn’t have happened on my watch.”

“This wasn’t Ethan’s fault,” I mutter, the hurt from earlier resurfacing. I don’t want to be with Chris, but he’s not wrong. Ethan and I are still having some issues, especially since he won’t answer my calls.

I called him three times today and at least twice yesterday, but there’s been no contact. Ryan wasn’t any help because all he said was Ethan would be back soon, and he’d talk to me then.

A hand wraps around my wrist, squeezing until the bone begins to hurt. My heart slams into my ribs as fear roils in my stomach, making my legs tremble.

“Just give me a chance, Fiona.”

“S-Stop, Chris. I already told you—”

Before I can finish, Ryan is at our sides, yanking Chris back and holding him by the back of the neck.

“Hands off,” Ryan growls, and Chris’s eyes widen. “You had your chance to apologize, but you blew it. If I ever see you near Fiona again, Silverclaw will find a new partner for raising funds. All further communication from here on out will be virtual and done between you and I or between you and Ethan.”

Chris nods quickly before Ryan shoves him out the door. I watch him stumble away, wishing I’d just stayed home to rest like Ryan suggested.