Page 84 of Marked for the Pack

Flint straddled a chair next to my bedside and began spoon-feeding me broth. I only took a few sips before the heavy weight of sleep pressed down on me, my eyes closed against my will, and the world faded away.

The next time, opening my eyes felt even easier, and I came to with Flint and Heath to either side of me. This time I felt strong enough to turn my head and look at my surroundings. I was in a hospital room with all manner of cords and lines running to my body. I really had almost died, hadn’t I?

“What happened to me?” I asked.

Turning my head made me feel woozy, and I brought my hand to my forehead. Cords trailed my arm, and I realized I was hooked up to an IV.

“Nira cut you with a poisoned blade,” Heath explained.

I touched my cheek, remembering. But gauze met my fingertips. Maybe there’d be another scar to add to my collection.

“It was wolfsbane.” Flint growled the word, his voice dripping with disgust.

I didn’t get to ask anything else, because sleep beckoned. But each time I woke up, I felt stronger. And the beeping of the machines bothered me more and more.

“This bed sucks,” I grumbled just before sleep claimed me again.

The next time I woke up, I found myself in an unfamiliar bedroom with a window. And as I rolled over on my side, I realized I was no longer hooked up to a million machines. And the bed was much more comfortable.

“You’re healing fast now,” Flint said from a chair beside my new bed.

I felt more alert, my brain less foggy.

“Is Gage…” I was afraid to ask.

“He killed Nira,” Flint said. “That makes him pack alpha of Frost Fang. He’s been by your side as much as he can.”

“I heard his voice,” I remembered.

Flint nodded. “He’s going to be thrilled you’re awake.”

“I am, too,” I joked weakly.

Flint fed me some more broth, and this time, my stomach growled.

“Think you can handle real food?”

“Maybe.”

Before I knew it, Flint had a full platter brought to my bed. I nibbled on cheese and crackers, and even dared one square of ham. Drowsiness set in fast, but this time, I felt certain I could wake up. After a few more sips of broth, I was out.

The next time I woke up in my comfy new bed, I felt like a million bucks. Like I’d just awakened from the best nap ever.

With Flint’s help, I got up and walked around. I wrinkled my nose and said, “I want a shower.”

He helped me hobble into the ensuite bathroom and into the bathtub after I shucked my hospital gown. His hovering made me feel like a complete invalid.

“I got this,” I snapped at him, then instantly regretted it. “Sorry.”

“At least let me wash your hair,” Flint pleaded with a soothing smile.

His words didn’t sound like he thought I couldn’t do it, but rather that he desperately wanted to touch me. That’s when I realized how worried he must’ve been. I’d gotten to sleep through my healing process, but he’d been watching over me the whole time, worried I might never pull through.

“Okay,” I said, dipping my head under the spray. “Where are we, anyway?”

“Frost Fang set up a house near the alpha residence. We’ve all been staying here.”

There was some subtext to his words I couldn’t figure out, but my thoughts fled as soon as I had Flint’s hands on me.

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