Ava’s POV
Lily sits on the bed beside me, picking at her robe hem while I sit with my back against the headboard, my knees pulled up to my chest watching her.
It’s been nearly two hours and we haven’t heard from anyone.
And I wouldn’t dare leave this room until I hear from Cameron again.
I thought about texting Caleb, but dismissed the thought quickly. He most likely doesn’t even have his phone on him and even if he did, he’s busy.
He also didn’t seem to thrilled at me when he saw me in the forest.
There’s a knock on the door and Lily and I both jump and look at each other.
I slide out of bed to open the door, hesitating with my hand on the doorknob.
“Who is it?”
“Eric.”
I pull open the door to see a tired looking Eric standing in athletic shorts and a tee, probably what he rolled out of bed in when he heard about the attacks.
“King Cameron just wanted me to make sure you were in your room still.”
He gives me a small grin.
I feel my face flush.
He sent a babysitter.
I shrug.
“Still here.”
“Do you need anything? I think it’s going to be a long night downstairs and they’ve made sandwiches, I’m happy to get you something, or Lily.” He moves his head to look past me but I don’t move, Lily wouldn’t want to be seen in her pajamas.
“I’m good. We’re good. Thank you.”
Eric looks at me for a moment longer, as if he is thinking, then nods to turn away. I turn around too and catch sight of Lily, looking at me with wide desperate eyes.
Oh!
“Eric, wait!”
He turns around.
“How are the two who were attacked tonight?”
He looks solemn and my stomach drops.
“They are going to recover. Lucky our healer was here, or neither would have.”
I feel nauseous.
Eric looks in my eyes and I know we are both thinking the same thing.
Lucky Cameron had woken up and came to join the fight, or I wouldn’t have made it either.
I nod at him and mumble a thanks. He nods back and starts to walk away again.
This time when I turn around, Lily is at my side.
“Ava!” She hisses. “See if he can take us to the pack hospital!”
I hesitate before turning around, but Eric is already looking at us. Lycan hearing.
“I can ask…”
Lily pokes painfully at my side.
“That would be great, thanks.”
He turns and walks away.
I close the door and look at Lily.
“I don’t think Cameron will let me go, I think you should ask Caleb.”
“I don’t have my phone!” Lily whines.
“Go get it then! Or just go to his office and ask him.”
She gestures towards her clothes.
“There are a ton of people awake now, I can’t risk being seen again.”
I roll my eyes.
“Borrow some of mine.” I dig through my clothes and give Lily different options as she wrinkles her nose up at each item I present to her.
Frustrated, I throw the top and leggings on the floor and go to flop on the bed beside her.
“Whatever Lily. Go in your pajamas then.”
Lily sits for a moment and then starts going through my clothes herself, mentioning randomly that we should go shopping before I move, again.
The bedroom door swings open and I jump upright, while Lily squeals.
It’s Cameron.
He stares at me.
“You wanted to go see Beta Ralph?”
His tone isn’t friendly. I bite my lip.
“I’ll take you.”
Lily runs into the bathroom with clothes in her hand to change into while Cameron and I look at each other.
“Um…thank you.”
He says nothing.
I want to reach out and grab his hand. I want him to wrap me in his arms. I don’t like this tension between us, but I don’t know how to make it better yet.
I apologized.
I stayed in the room like he asked me too.
“Okay, I’m ready.”
Lily comes out of the bathroom in a jean skirt and a white ruffle tank. She has brushed her hair and pulled it back into a ponytail.
I nearly laugh when I see she that she has also used my mascara and lip gloss as well.
Cameron nods and turns to walk out the door, Lily closely following him.
I sigh and walk after them.
It’s a silent and short walk to the pack hospital, with Eric meeting us outside the packhouse to walk with us.
I feel a heavy sense of dread the closer we get.
We finally reach the sterile hospital room where Ralph is staying. Caleb is already there with Ralph’s parents.
Lily runs up and grabs Caleb’s hand while she leans over Ralph’s bed.
I walk up slower. Cameron hangs back.
I feel a breathtaking sense of relief when I see him sitting up in bed, smiling, looking like himself.
“Hey Ava! I heard you were out there when the attack happened, glad you are okay.”
His smile is genuine. Caleb grabs his shoulder and gives it a friendly squeeze. Ralph winces slightly.
I grab onto the hospital bed railing.
“How are you? Do you feel okay?”
He grins. “I’ll survive. Whatever medicine the Lycan’s healer uses is pretty amazing.” He turns to a nurse as she walks in to check on him. “Y’all should get some of that tar juice. It does taste pretty disgusting though.” He makes a face.
The nurse smiles fondly at him.
I look at Lily and she’s holding on tightly to Caleb’s hand as she looks down at Ralph, her eyes shiny.
I’m hit with a sudden desire to leave.
I turn to look at Cameron and he nods at me.
“Well, get some rest Ralph. I’ll come back tomorrow to check on you.” I give him a smile and he lifts a hand to me as his mom starts fussing over him and trying to get him to drink more water.
I walk over to Cameron and without a word to each other, we take off back to the packhouse, Eric walking with us.
Eric leaves us at the packhouse entrance and Cameron walks me alone back to our bedroom.
He opens the door for me and stays in the hallway.
I bite my lip.
“Are you coming in?”
He looks at me for a moment before answering.
“No.”
“When…when should I expect you back?”
Cameron looks at me a moment.
“I am not sure yet.”
I chew on my lip as I nod at him. I go to step into the bedroom as he starts to walk away.
On impulse, I reach out to grab his hand, feeling the sparks going up my arm from where our skin touches. He stops and turns around.
I throw myself against his hard body, wrapping my arms around him.
He doesn’t wrap his arms around me, so I squeeze him tighter, inhaling his intoxicating scent to make me feel better.
I feel him hesitate, but then he finally, very slowly, wraps his arms around me, one on my back, the other holding my head against his torso.
Neither of us say anything.
I can feel some of the tension ebbing away from both of us.
We stay holding each other for at least five minutes before he gently pushes me away.
“Go to sleep Ava.”
I nod and watch him walk away.