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It’s the promise of a future, one filled with precious memories with Darian and Val and all the possibilities that could bring.
He releases a low whimper, his hazel eyes flick to my hands and wrists, and he quickly moves to the cabinet under the sink to retrieve what appears to be a first aid kit, holding it firmly in his mouth.
My shaky fingers open the clasps and I start cleaning the wounds methodically, crying out when the peroxide fizzes against my injuries. Val observes me for a brief moment I pant through the burning pain searing into my skin. As my breathing calms once more, he disappears from the bathroom, only to return with a container held carefully in his mouth.
“What’s this?” I murmur, fumbling as I open the lid and peer inside.
To my surprise, it contains a series of needles for stitches and medical-grade sutures. I blink at Val in astonishment, then turn my attention back to the kit.
I swear sometimes I forget he’s not an actual wolf.
“Erm, thank you for this.”
I take a deep breath in an effort to steady my trembling hands and begin threading the sutures through the needle. As I position it against my skin for the first incision, I steal a glance at Val with apprehension.
Just do it, Lara.
I close my eyes and picture Darian standing next to me, drawing on his silent strength as I mentally prepare for what I’m about to do.
It takes a few attempts before I get the hang of sewing myown skin shut, and I nearly vomit twice as blood slowly seeps from the deep wounds.
With each careful stitch, my eyelids grow heavier, and my head droops with every slow blink. Finally, I snip the excess material after tying the last knot, and lean my head back in relief.
Val releases a quiet whimper at my side and I encircle my arms around his thick, furry neck and use his strength to pull myself to my feet. I sway where I stand, lightheaded on weak, shaking legs as we cautiously make our way to my bedroom.
A few times I almost stumble and fall, but Val remains steadfast by my side, offering support as we move step by step.
Finally, as we reach the bed, I collapse onto it.
From where I lay face tilted to the side against the pillow, a curve of gold catches my eye and I examine the newest amulet in the collection.
The intricate depiction of a hawk peering back at me with remarkably detailed eyes at the center of the globe.
I can only hope this amulet was worth the trouble, and that Darian gets home soon.
Chapter 40
I rouse from a heavy, dreamless sleep. My body aching as if it had been run over by a truck, while the scent of forest rain assaults my senses.
As my mind sifts amongst the events of the previous day, they seem distant and hazy, as if viewed through a foggy lens.
I force myself upright, pain spearing within my limbs at the movement overpowered by the surge of hope coursing through my veins as I recognize my surroundings.
I vaguely remember collapsing into my bedroom last night after tending to my own wounds, but somehow I’ve awoken in Darian’s.
Val is nestled beside me in the bed, wide awake. His eyes are fixed on me with an emotion I can’t pinpoint.
“Is he back?” My voice escapes my lips in a whisper, barely audible even to myself.
Val’s ears pin back as a pang of sadness resonates in my chest, and my heart sinks.
“So how did I-” I catch my open-ended question before rephrasing, “Did I move here of my own accord last night?”
Val blinks, his ears perking forward, and he rests his head gently against my leg. Anxiousness and dread start to grip my mind as I obsessively run through every imaginable scenario from the previous night.
With a heavy sigh, I rise to my feet and prepare breakfast for both of us as I consider what our next steps are in Darian’s absence.
I flick on the TV from where I stand in the kitchen, the local news starts to play and my heart stops in my chest. The egg in myhand slips from my grasp, splattering on the ground as Darian’s bruised and battered face appears on the screen, accompanied by the reporter sharing his recent mugshot.
