5

~Hunter

I stare down at my legs, silently cursing them.

It's been a week since the dinner and my injury has made little progress. My legs still feel lifeless and stiff, incapable of making a quick escape if necessary.

The door to the room opens, Taysa walking through balancing a tray on her arm.

"Good morning." Her sing-song voice fills the room. "How are you feeling?"

I shrink back into my pillow, closing my eyes as she rips open the curtains, cold, grim light casting it's horrid glow over me.

Even a sunny day depresses me now.

"I still can't walk, or hardly move," I grumble. She's heard this mantra every day this week, and yet the smile never slips from her face.

Setting the tray down on the bedside table next to me, she plucks off the silver lid covering the main plate, revealing a perfect omelette.

"The healers think that by next week you'll be able to start walking," Tay tells me.

"Comforting."

Seeing me staring enviously at the steaming mug of coffee, she hands it to me, watching me take a tentative sip before blowing at the liquid.

"We are meant to be friends, you know...We can't be friends when you hate me," she says quietly, looking down at her prettily painted fingernails.

I sigh, sitting up. "I'm sorry, I'm just frustrated. I'm meant to be many miles away from here by now."

In another situation I could see myself getting along with Tay. She's kind and attentive, even if it can be a little suffocating. Want is most important is that she means well.

"Why are you frustrated.?"

I give her a long look. "Why did you give me a fake backstory?"

"So mother would like you a bit more," she say uneasily. "It's not that I think that you're from a bad family or something, it's just that she will feel better thinking your family as based close by."

"The backstory is fine. Keep it," I mutter, taking a longer drink from the cup.

The ex-Luna liking me isn't a top priority, but it should keep them from digging deeper into where I actually come from is exactly what I need.

"By the way, myself and my parents are going to be leaving tonight to an event." She stands. "Kaan and my sister Azura will be home, so if you need assistance of any kind, they...well Kaan will be there."

Dread spills through me quicker than the poison did.

Alone here. With him.

"He's going to kill me," I groan, slapping my hand over my eyes. He's going to come in here and be done with me, then tell my parents I made a daring mistake while they were gone.

"No, he's not," Tay assures me. "Trust me, it will be fine."

"Alright..." It's not like I can invite myself to their event, so I'm stuck here.

Tay gives me a little wave once she reaches the door. "Have a good rest of your day, Hunter."

I squeeze the pillow around my head, dreading the incoming evening.

***

My attention never drifts from the window all day.

Eventually, much to my dismay, the sky darkened, the moon brightening as the sun dips below the horizon.

No one comes to my room for hours.

I quietly eat the dinner the servants brought me and settle into bed again. Why did I think Kaan would come here? He's probably minding his own business in his wing of the house, forgetting I exist.

Tiredness nearly pulls my lids closed. I sigh. I need to bathe first, it's been days.

The problem is, I have to spend a great deal of time mustering strength before I can actually manage to stand.

Bracing one hand against the wall, I push myself up. My legs shake a little, although I don't immediately fall back onto the bed so I'm making progress.

I manage to slowly make my way into the adjoining bathroom.

My loose pants come off first, then my food-stained shirt.

The pain in my back is vicious and unrelenting as I struggle to lean down far enough to turn on the faucet. My fingers brush against its polished metal surface, but slip right off.

"Fuck," I mutter under my breath. No bath then, I guess.

Ignoring the frustrated tears that prick the back of my eyes, I release the deep breath I've been holding. I just want to be healthy, pain-free again.

A sharp knock at the door makes me still.

"Who is it?" I ask warily.

The bedroom door clicks open. "Who do you think?"

Panicked, I snatch up the towel and wrap it around myself. It's nearly midnight, what is Kaan doing here?

"Whoa...I'm getting dressed," I call out.

Before my injured self can reach the bathroom door to slam it shut, he appears at the threshold.

He smirks, leaning his forearm against the doorframe. My blood warms as he eyes rove over my bare, trembling legs, at the towel plastered around me at up my neck before finally settling on mine.

"You're really struggling, aren't you," he mumbles, amusement lacing his tone.

The bathroom light does little to pierce the dark night. Shadows shift over the strong, sharp planes of Kaan's face, giving him an almost sinister look.

Alpha's aren't meant to be scary...I think he may be the exception.

"You shot me in the spine, what do you expect," I bite back.

It's far easier to direct my anger at Kaan than to concentrate on the persistent, aching pain in my back that won't subside until I'm submerged in hot water.

"I suppose."

"Turn around. Or better yet, leave," I snap. I would point at the door if I didn't need both hands clutching the towel. I can't allow a single slip up, even if I'm still wearing my underwear.

Kaan looks down at me, his gaze burning my skin. "Why? You're covered."

"I could be smothered in a million more of these towels and it wouldn't be enough," I tell him. I would push him out the room if he wasn't so large and broad in stature and I wasn't injured.

He's standing there like we are a couple in love and him watching me naked is a normal occurrence.

I waver, both at the disturbing thought and my weakening legs.

A frown forms between his brows. "You're struggling to stand."

The rational, stubborn side of me wants to bite his head off, but the irritated, tired and sore part of me is so beyond frustrated I could cry.

"I'm just trying to have a bath and I can't even reach the tap because you...you did this to me," I blurt out.

Kaan smooths a hand through his hair, dark brown looks sifting through his fingers.

I watch silently as he brushes past me, leaning down to turn the facets on. The sound of rushing water fills the room, followed shortly by steam.

I would thank him, but I think he owes me more than one favour.

"Need more help?” He asks, sounding surprisingly sincere.

Regardless of any help I probably need, I'm not going to get it from him. I plan on getting very naked and enjoying a long, hot bath without him anywhere near to disturb the peace.

"Definitely not," I snap. "I just won't bathe."

"You haven't bathed the entire time you've been here, and you need it." He looks over me, his nose scrunching up a little. "Let me help you."

He reaches for my arm but I pull it back.

"I'll manage fine," I grit out, glancing at the bath. It's about half way full.

Kaan leans his back against the frame, an amused smirk finding its way back onto his face again. "Alright, give it a shot."

Keeping one hand on the towel, I use my other to slide along the wall, keeping me straight as I attempt to lift my leg up over the ledge of the bath.

One foot settles into the water, but my left leg hesitates. It's the one most troubled by my injury.

Summoning a breath, I begin to lift it.

A bite of pain siezes my back, although I ignore it. However, my foot barely makes it to the edge of the tub before my right leg gives out and I stumble.

My right leg flicks up out of the bath and I'm tumbling back. Before I fall straight back onto my backside, there are hands grabbing my waist, holding me up.

A gasp stumbles past my lips as my hands find the wall, bracing myself. Kaan stands close, his grip on me strong.

"You're only going to hurt yourself more," he murmurs, shaking his head.

I hold my breath, tracing my gaze over his face, which is now unnervingly close.

"Get away from me," I growl, pushing at him. He doesn't move, his hands firmly planted on my waist, fingers gripping the towel.

"You're not going to get there yourself." He points to the bath I just fell out of. "Why are you afraid of me helping you?"

"Because you tried to kill me," I remind him.

And I'm not removing this towel with you looking.

"I'm not going to submerge you under the water. Come on, hold my arm."

He removes his hands from my waist when he is sure I'm not going to fall, then holds his arm out. Begrudgingly I link my arm through his, feeling the rich, luxurious fabric of his tunic.

Using his body weight as leverage, he helps me into the bath, both my feet making it in this time. I sigh in relief. My time of relaxation may only be moments away.

"I'm fine from here," I tell him sharply.

"I'll help you sit down."

I push him off, wavering a little. He holds his hands up as he backs away a step.

"I understand you're not very well socialised, but you're not meant to see women naked when they don't want you too," I snap angrily.

He rolls his eyes. "It's not sexual, I'm just trying to help you."

I close my eyes, shaking my head. Images unintentionally flood my mind of Kaan naked...and me.

"I'll be fine. Turn around," I say, my voice sounding a little breathless.

Sighing irritably, he turns, stalking to the bathroom door before he stops.

"Okay, but I'm not leaving the room in case you can't get out of there once you're done."

I scowl at his back. I can't tell if he's plagued by guilt from what he's done, or if he has an ulterior motive. Regardless, I've lost enough shame from this experience to not care enough about his plans.

Plus he's right. I really need a bath.

Never taking my eyes off him, I slowly remove the towel, flinging it back onto its hook. Then, I drag my underwear down my legs and place them on the floor right near the bath.

"You sure you don't need help sitting down?" he asks, moving to turn his head.

"Don't," I practically yell. "Don't you dare turn around."

"Alright, alright," he mutters.

It takes every last ounce of strength for me to sit down. My limbs make terrible slipping and scraping sounds against the bath as I struggle my way down, some water even spilling over the side, but eventually I settle under the water, turning the facets off.

"You can go now," I tell him, reaching for the soap.

"Sorry Hunt." He pulls up the chair once tucked under the desk, sitting on it with his back still to me. "You're stuck with me."

I sigh, closing my eyes as I sink beneath the surface.

Lucky me.