Page 64 of Moon Kissed

Bare, asylum-white walls glared down on me. Beneath my feet spread out grimy, boring blue carpet—nothing like the gorgeous polished hardwood, or mural-painted walls in the alpha wing. I counted twenty metal doors going up and downboth sides of the hallway, whereas the alpha wing only had five doors on each side of a hall the same length—meaning the rooms in the omega wing were much smaller. Stepping inside Nia’s room only proved it.

My nose wrinkled on first sight. Nowhere to be seen were the four-poster beds, fireplace, lounge chairs, plushy rugs, desk, antique wardrobe, or second door leading to a luxurious bathroom. The entirety of Nia’s room could’ve fit into my bathroom, and if it did, I would’ve demanded a decorator.

Crammed into the tiny space was nothing but a small, twin-sized bed that reeked from years of use, a single rickety chair, a trunk I was sure Nia brought from home, and a small sink and mirror attached to the wall.

That was it.

I looked around the place trying to think of ways it was different than a jail cell, and came up with nothing.

Nia shuffled inside and quietly changed out of her frond dress while I just stood there feeling less than useless.

“Can I get you anything?” I heard myself say. “Water, food, better blankets or pillows?”

Her back to me, Nia just shook her head.

“Okay... well...” I backed away. “I’ll leave you in peace.”

“Don’t,” she said so softly only a wolf could hear her. “Don’t leave.”

I stopped. Of course I did. “Okay, I won’t, but... Nia, you should be with friends right now. People who love you. Not me—”

“Why did you come?” Her back was still to me as she pulled on her cardigan and drew it tight around her. “Why did you come, Daciana?”

I frowned. “Why? Because I heard you. I heard you call for help.”

“If you heard me, everyone else in that room heard me. Why did you come running when no one else did?”

I scoffed remembering my short role as a pinata. “To be fair to those bastards, they were a bit preoccupied at the time. They weren’t paying attention to—”

“But you were,” she sliced in. “You were paying attention. Why?”

My furrows deepened staring at her back. “Nia, I don’t understand what you’re asking me.”

“Yes, you do,” she rasped. Nia climbed into her bed and pulled the covers almost to her forehead. She still didn’t look at me. “I asked for help, and you were there in seconds. All of you were. But when the guys burst in, they were surprised at what they saw. You weren’t.

“You knew about Mason. How?”

“I don’t know what you mean.” I picked at my itchy makeshift dress. “I didn’tknowabout Mason, except that he’s a disgusting pig, and you don’t strike me as the type to go for that. Also, someone in a consenting situation doesn’t scream for help”—Nia visibly flinched—“so no, I wasn’t surprised by what I burst in on.”

“But you were listening for me—”

“My wolf was listening for you,” I corrected. “She heard you were in trouble and raced to help before the thought formed in my conscious mind. For some reason, she likes you. No idea why, but you’ve met my fates, she’s got terrible taste.”

I thought that would get a chuckle out of her, but only silence came from Nia’s side of the room.

I grimaced.Nice, dumbass. Real great time to be cracking stupid jokes.

“Sorry,” I said, and meant it. “I used to be good at this, but a year on the run did nothing for my social skills.” Taking a deep breath, I tried something I hadn’t done for a long time.Honesty.“I did it because I said we were friends, and when people say something, they should either mean it, or shut the fuck up.”

She started, blinking at me.

“Yeah, okay,” I sighed. “I still could’ve said that better but—"

“You saved me.” Nia’s voice was small—shaking—but clear. “You’re good enough.”

With that, she flipped over, drawing the covers over her head. That was the end of our talk.

I glanced at the door that would take me out of this depression jail cell they called a dorm room. Standing up, I grasped it, and firmly closed it shut.

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