05- Trapped

(Hiraya’s POV)

"What took you so long?" he asks his secretary impatiently. "Please check Ms Raya first. She is hurt as well. I can wait."

The man, who Kaan introduced to me as his secretary Elijah, ordered the medical team to check them both. "We were parked not so far from here but for some inexplicable reason, the car wouldn't start when you've landed. We couldn't contact you, and I figured your transmitter broke so I immediately called in more medics to help, just in case. An ambulance should be here soon--"

"I'm fine, I'm sure Raya needs it more than I do--"

I panic as all eyes turn to me and blurt out. "That's not true, he can't even stand up, so please take care of him first--" It feels like I just threw him under the bus but it just feels so awkward being fussed about like this.

He shakes his head dismissively. "I'll be alright in just a few--"

The ambulance arrives at that moment, and Elijah shrugs. "Either way, you're both going to be thoroughly checked so we can make sure you're going to be alright."

The medics confirm that I have a dislocated shoulder, which fortunately they are able to relocate to its proper position, while Kaan has a badly sprained ankle that they put in a cast. Both of us will also be under observation for head trauma.

I take a deep breath. "You know what, you don't have to bring me to the hospital for further treatment; I already feel a lot better. If you can just drop me home and have my car delivered there as well, I will be forever grateful…I'll just rest at home..."

Kaan frowns. "Do you have anyone who can look after you?"

I bite my lip. "Um, sure. My, uh, family will," the lie rolls bitterly from my tongue but he doesn’t need to know the whole drama that is my life. I don't want to go to the hospital; the last time I was there was to identify my parents after a horrible car accident, and the trauma is still real and unhealed. Getting him to pay for the tow truck to bring my car home is payment enough for whatever damage I have incurred when he fell on me.

"I would feel better if--"

"Please...I don't want to go to the hospital. I just need help getting home and for someone to bring me my car, if it's not too much to ask."

I probably look upset because Kaan notices and he just nods and motions for his secretary to do what needs to be done. Elijah asks for my address, telling me that the car will be at my doorstep as soon as possible. The medic gives me pain relievers and tells me to go directly to the hospital or call for help should I start vomiting or feeling worse and I simply nod. Kaan tells me his personal driver will take me home, while the ambulance will be taking him to the hospital for further check ups and I nod gratefully. Before we leave, Kaan apologises again for what happened and tells me to call him should I need any help.

“Elijah will give you my mobile number so you can reach me anytime,” he says.

There is a startled look on the secretary’s face which immediately vanishes with one sharp look from Kaan. “Of course, sir,” he says with a bland expression once more.

“I accept your apologies. Thank you.” I smile and wave goodbye as Elijah closes the door.

“Wait!” Kaan calls. “Um, you were about to tell me something before they arrived…”

I blink in surprise. “Oh. No, nevermind that. Just be more careful next time. I’m sure your family worries about you very much.”

*********

(Kaan’s POV)

The car drives away and I am left staring at the vehicle as it disappears. I shake my head, thinking my parents would probably like her.

What an odd thought to have. Especially about a woman I just met.

Taking  a deep breath, I turn to the medics to tell them that I don’t need to be brought to the hospital. Elijah tells me another car is on its way and soon enough another car arrives and takes me home to my apartment. Being a lycan, I should heal soon enough, but I would need to shift into my other form to speed up the process. I’ll just go to my private gym, then—

To my surprise, I find my father, Wayan, waiting for me inside the apartment. "Dad!?"

"Lakàn! You are hurt! What happened!?"

Grimacing inwardly, I try to walk as normally as possible for his sake, even though my foot is killing me. "I'm alright, I just twisted my ankle a little." I sit on the couch as beads of cold sweat are already forming on my forehead. If my mother finds out about this, I'll never hear the end of it.

As it is, my father acts as if he should carry me himself to the hospital.

“Seriously, I just twisted my ankle, Dad, I’m alright. Nothing to fuss about so please don’t tell Mom. She’ll be worried for nothing.” I give my old man a warning look. “I’m not kidding. She’s been hounding me all day. I don’t need that from you either.”

My father sighs and goes to get me a drink. “Scotch?”

“Neat.”

“Alright.”

My father clears his throat. “They told me you cancelled today’s meeting.”

I groan. “So you have spies in the office now?”

“Of course not, don’t be absurd. You forget one of your investors is my old friend Arthur. He called me to ask if something had happened.”

“My mother happened.” I mutter.

Dad sighs, handing me my glass and sitting beside me. “I did tell her to give it a little rest, but you know how tenacious she can be when she wants something. Just be patient with her. You know she misses having a child to take care of. It’s been a while since you’ve been little and we never got to enjoy another one, no matter how hard we tried. She has so much love to give and you’re too grown-up now for her to mother.”

I sigh as well. “I know that, Dad, but I can’t give her what she wants. At least not yet. I’m not ready to look for my mate or even choose one.”

As a shifter beloved by the Moon Goddess, lycans and werewolves are blessed with the ability to recognize their fated mates through scent and sight. But unlike werewolves who are helpless against their destiny and may have a hard time rejecting their fated mates if they are not acceptable to them and will feel horrible pain at the breaking of the bonds, lycans have no such difficulty. Just as werewolves need the full moon to shift, lycans do not require it and can ignore it if they do not want to shift. This is the main difference between lycans and werewolves: the power of the moon over them.

“You know, it’s not so hard to get your mom off your back if you’re willing to listen to reason,” my father tells me casually, perhaps a little too much.

I narrow my eyes suspiciously. “And what does this…reason say?”

Dad chuckles, his eyes twinkling in amusement. “Just give her something to nibble on while she waits. Something to keep her busy so she won’t be fluttering around you like a starving butterfly.”

Starving butterfly? More like an annoying mosquito out for my blo0d. “I’m listening.”

“Well, since you seem very busy to find yourself a mate…why don’t you let her… do it for you? Or at least, give suggestions… you know, nods in the right direction. After all, no one knows you better than your own mother.”

I roll my eyes and stand up. “Nevermind. I’m going to the gym.”

“Fine. Should I go now? I do have to buy some smelling salts and get some calming tisanes for when she finds out you got hurt, doing whatever you did tonight.”

I stare incredulously at my sire. “Who told you I went for a night jump!?”

He narrows his eyes at me. “You just did.”

F*ck it. “Oh, that’s sneaky.”

Wayan grins, shamelessly. “We’re old and bored, son. There’s nothing else to do.”

I grit my teeth in annoyance. “One blind date. I am willing to give her a chance to—”

“We’ll take it!” Wayan cuts in, grinning from ear to ear. “You won’t regret it! We’ll find you the perfect girl!” He sounds almost giddy as he rushes out the door. “We’ll be in touch soon! I can’t wait to tell your mother!” I can still hear him chuckling in excitement as he waits for the elevator, muttering something like “I won this round, Freya.”

Great. Now my parents are making bets about me.

“You guys have got to find another occupation!” I shout out from inside the apartment in exasperation.

“Sure, son. We’re working on it, and expecting a grandchild soon!”

I groan. Damn it, I walked right into that one.