feelings

I take the hand he holds out to me and find myself back on my own two legs. Well, more like a leg and a half at the limit... Daemon sighs and puts his hands behind my knees to carry me. Surprised, I cling to the first thing I find: his shoulders. As it does not seem to bother him, I take this opportunity to lay my head against his chest.

The young man takes me back to his room and slams the door before putting me on the bed.

- Ok, I want you to listen to me until the end, without interrupting me, okay? He says, pacing in front of me without looking in my direction.

I nod quickly, feeling like I've swallowed lead. His words can hurt me more easily than blows and I'm not sure I want to hear what he's going to say.

- Well, first I would like to apologize for Kyle's behavior, he's worried about me, it was only to protect me...

I confess that I did not expect that... would there be a tiny chance that I would stay by his side? Daemon takes a deep breath and runs his hand through his hair, he's nervous. I swallowed hard waiting for his next words.

- But thanks to him I learned your first name, Alyss, he adds, stopping to look me in the eye. And I want you to know that being mute doesn't change your value to me. My wolf recognized you and you felt it too didn't you? Otherwise, I couldn't touch you so easily... As soon as you move away from me, I feel a huge emptiness in my chest, I can't imagine living without you. So mute or not, we're kindred spirits and I'm not going to let you slip through my fingers that easily.

Overwhelmed with relief, I can't hold back my emotions any longer. My tears are streaming down my face without me trying to wipe them away.

Hey how are you ? Do you have pain in your ankle? I should have let you see Tristan instead of keeping you for me, he worries suddenly, seeing me cry.

I shake my head and let him kneel in front of me before throwing myself into his arms. He barely manages to catch himself before he falls and laughs as he hugs me.

His protective arms surround me and isolate me completely from the outside world, I feel indestructible and inwardly sigh with contentment. One of Daemon's hands strokes my hair while the other circles my back. I would like this moment never to end.

A notification on his phone interrupts our hug and Daemon sighs as he stands up.

- I had completely forgotten about this meeting... I have to meet some other alphas this afternoon, can you stay here with the twins? Kyle will accompany me.

I nod my head uncertainly, I don't intend to leave the house. Daemon greets me one last time kissing my hair before leaving the room. My wolf greets her gesture by jumping for joy and communicates her good humor to me.

- Well, why are you smiling all by yourself? Trisha asks curiously, watching me from the hallway. I'm sure you're thinking of Daemon...I knew it! She exclaims, seeing me blush. Anyway, I came to tell you that Tristan wants to see you in the infirmary, he's worried about your ankle.

The young wolf guides me through the house while talking, it's amazing how much she can tell in just a few minutes. Arrived at the infirmary, Tristan welcomes us in surgeon's uniform which stresses me slightly.

- So, can you give me your wrist Alyss? He asks after making me sit down.

I do so and watch him remove the bandage carefully while watching my reactions. He took every precaution possible not to touch my skin directly and I am grateful for that.

Under the bandage, the skin on my wrist is still swollen, but the pain is almost gone. Tristan applies the balm as gently as possible with his gloves and puts on a new bandage.

- I would like to look at your ankle now, will you show me?

The skin on my leg has turned blue but I don't even have a sprain, just a few bruises. Even thinking I wanted to run away, Kyle held back his strength, he might not be as brutal as he seems. Tristan informs me that I will soon be recovered enough to transform, I can't wait to run in the forest again.

- And now, the best! Throws Trisha coming back into the room. Look who I brought you!

With these words, she approaches and places a duck next to me. I look at her speechless, I thought that duck story was a joke or a code...

- Well then, you had never seen that-

- Trisha, of course Alyss knows what Neige is, maybe she didn't expect you to show up with her, that's all.

- Ahh, I was worried for nothing then, sorry for not having warned you but it was a surprise

I come to my senses and smiled at him, it's an original surprise.

Proud of her idea, Trisha proposes a game of video games in the living room while waiting for Daemon's return. She takes her pet with her to “keep her lucky” and I give her a thumbs up to encourage her.

Too tired to follow them, I prefer to rest and show them the door to the alpha's room so they won't look for me. Unfortunately for me, I am unable to sleep without my soulmate. In his absence, all the memories I would like to forget resurface.

~Flashback~

As soon as the sun rises, its rays pass through the only opening in the cellar and wake me up. About an hour later, one of the betas comes to free me and gives me a bowl of cereal or a piece of bread for breakfast.

Then, the tasks are variable. I have to clean the house of the alpha and the betas, prepare breakfast for them, cook and serve meals. Depending on the days and the mood of the alpha, he added things for me to do. In the afternoon, it's laundry and gardening. I also have to prepare the guest rooms when I am asked to do so and organize Lucinda's fittings or prepare her outfits when she does not know how to dress.

at noon, I take the time to eat a little but I'm not allowed to have the same meal as the pack. if my day's work is satisfactory, I have the right to soup and a piece of bread in the evening, when I return to the cellar. otherwise, the alpha descends to "take care of me".

~end flashback~

by dint of tossing and turning in bed, I end up getting up to explore the house, ruminating on these memories will get me nowhere.

I already know that the ground floor has a bathroom, a kitchen, the living room and the dining room as well as the infirmary and the daemon's office. upstairs, there is his bedroom, several guest bedrooms and... a library!

I enter the room as discreetly as possible, it is magnificent. All the shelves are made of carved wood and I can't say how many books are gathered here, but it doesn't take long for me to explore through the shelves. This place is wonderful, I wish I could stay there forever.

I have loved books since I was little and it has been a long time since I had the opportunity to read. I grab a book at random and sit on the floor to start reading.

The creaking of the door startles me as I turn around. Snow left the living room fleeing the cries of the twins. The animal walks over to me and lays down beside me as I begin to read.