Chapter 33: THIRTY-THREE

The walk Knock-knock-knock Ava heard a subtle knock on her door.

“Come in,” she responded weakly. She’s been in bed for two days now, two whole days. She’s taken some medicines and now she’s feeling better but the guards won’t let her go anywhere, not even for a walk.

“We’re sorry Ava, but it was the alpha’s orders, he believes someone that lives here is trying to kill you, and until he finds out, you’re not allowed to leave this room.”

Nani told her all about the lakes barbed wire and the sabotage yesterday, why would someone do something like that to her? She’d barely been here for a week and now she already has enemies? This was too much to take in. Having nowhere to go, she’d stayed in her room sleeping the time away. She slept and slept to the extent that she even got tired of sleeping. It was the knock on her door that just woke her up, and she opened her eyes to see who it was.

It was Nani, and she was holding her tray containing her dinner and beaming a smile in her direction.

“Good to see you’re looking way better dear! The blood has returned to your face.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Nani Rosalyn.”

“And thanks to my powerful medicines too, the ones you don’t like taking,” Nani squeezed her face and scolded.

“But Nani, they’re so bitter!”

“They’re not meant to taste good dear; their job is to heal.”

“I hope you didn’t bring them today.”

“I did, and you’re going to eat them whether you like it or not.”

“Please, can’t I just skip this one? I’ve eaten all others and now it feels as if my mouth wants to fall off.”

“You can’t skip anyone dear, but don’t worry, there’s a reward if you finish your food this time around.”

“Really, what is it?”

“I’ll take you out for a walk, I’ve spoken with master, and he’ll allow it only if I accompany you, I know how bored you’ve been getting since the incident.”

Ava considered it a small reward for such a hefty price, but seeing the unfortunate condition she’s been in for the past days, the reward didn’t seem so small.

She sighed, “ok, I’ll do it.”

With great difficulty, she struggled to eat the food set before her, the taste of the special chicken soup she loved from Nani was changed by the bitter leaves and concussions she mixed with them.

When she was halfway.

“Can I please stop now? I’ve already eaten a handful,” she mumbled, her mouth filled with those bitter veggies she almost threw up.

“No, no absolutely not! We had a deal, I take you for a walk AFTER you FINISH your food, not a single bite left.”

Ava creased her brow, Nani was being so mean to her, but the thought of being given a chance to leave this room after being locked up for long hours, fueled her determination and she ate every bite up, until the bowl was empty, her stomach was already complaining by the time she finished. It couldn’t have been able to take another bite.

“Good job Ava, now you put on your clothes,” she pointed at her lingerie night wear… “and I’ll go down and drop this tray, I’ll come to your room after I’m done and we can then go from there.”

“Ok Nani, thank you.”

“You’re welcome, dear.”

Nani took the tray and hurried out while Ava proceeded to change her clothes. Finally, she could stretch her legs, she thought happily.

**********

“Such a fine evening,” Nani remarked, holding Ava’s hand in hers and gazing up at the moon.

“Yes,” Ava sighed. She never thought that the fresh air outside could taste so good, way better than the soup she’d just eaten.

Nani led her to the packhouse garden the two sat down. From the garden, she could see that the lake behind it had already been covered up that day. She was weak that day but she remembered it vividly, Lucas had given instructions to drain the lake, all because of her. He’d risked his own life, just to save her. What lengths was he willing to go to protect her? She wondered; this man was the most confusing one she’d met.

At first when she saw his true nature, she’d hated the moon goddess for pairing her with such a jackass, he might be good-looking, but he had an unwelcome character, one that would repel any she-

wolf. But now, after seeing him that day, after seeing the fear in his eyes, he looked so terribly frightened of losing her, of losing something that belonged to him, like he was familiar with the pain of losing something so dear to him before, and he was scared of experiencing that pain all over again.

She knew that there must be a reason for this; his possessive nature didn’t come naturally, something must have caused it. She recalled Cian telling her that day that Lucas had a dark past, could that be the reason for it? Could his past be the reason for his possessiveness? She wondered.

Nani saw her looking at the lake, it was like she was reading her mind, it was as if she was about to give the answers to the questions Ava was finding, and she knew just what to say.

“I’d like to tell you the story of your mate Ava, but you’d better brace yourself; it’s a very sad tale.

It’s the tale of a broken wolf, or should I say rather, a cursed wolf.”