Seven

      I woke up to bright dazzlingly lights which caused my eyes to squeeze back shut, convinced I would go blind if I left them open. 

      “She’s just opened her eyes!” My mothers voice shouted. 

      Wait.. my mother? Where am I? 

      “Serena, kiddo, can you hear me?” My father’s voice was much gentler than my mothers, thank god.

      “Yes, I think everyone heard mum” I groaned, attempting to open my eyes once more. Being successful, I looked around to see I was laying in a hospital bed in one of them god awful gowns that showed your whole ass.

      Speaking of asses, I felt a breeze on mine.. that’s weird.

      Oh shit, I shot round to see my naked bum had been mooning on who I presumed to be a doctor. 

      “Don’t worry, I’ve seen many over the years and I’m certain I’ll see a fair few more” the woman laughed.

      “I presume you are my doctor?” I asked.

      “Yes Serena, I’ve been looking after you since you came in. I am Dr Blake” the woman smiled at me, she looked awfully young to be a doctor. Her deep blue eyes were kind, showing warmth and concern for me. Her brunette hair was tied back in a low ponytail, out of her face.

      “Well I do wish we had been able to have a better introduction before I showed you my backside but hey ho, beggars can’t be choosers” I shrugged, using humour to hide my embarrassment.

      Dr Blake laughed.

      “You’ve been in a coma for 3 days Serena, how are you feeling?” My mother asked, placing her warm hand on my arm.

      My attention turned to my mother.

      Shock ran through my body. “3 days?! Does that mean I missed my birthday?” I sulked.

      My mother rolled her eyes at my failure to take matters seriously, as my father laughed.

      “I feel fine mum, honestly. I can’t believe I’ve been out for 3 days” and I wasn’t lying, I really did feel absolutely fine. In fact, I felt great.

      “Do you remember what happened?” My father asked.

      I thought for a moment, piecing together the memories I had from 3 days ago.

      “I had gone for a walk around the surrounding areas of the academy, wanting to see more and I found a lagoon. It was so peaceful, so I fell asleep. The next thing I know, I wake up to a rogue in my face. I tried to fight him off but I wasn’t prepared and haven’t been doing combat training very long. I tried my best but I couldn’t shake him off” I shook my head, reliving the memory.

      “I remember thinking I was going to die but then Na- erm the King saved me. Where is he? Is he alright?” There was a sudden panic in my voice.

      “He’s fine, Serena. A lone rogue isn’t going to take down the King” my mother laughed. “He’s been out of town since the attack, meeting other packs. He’s trying to find out if the attack was a one-off or if you were targeted. He told me he will be back tonight.”

      A targeted attack? I was currently just a human, I didn’t even have a wolf. Why would I possibly be targeted? It didn’t make sense.

      “It must have been a one-off, there’s no reason for me to be specifically targeted” I shook my head in confusion.

      My father sighed and looked at my mother, who’s eyes had lowed. They were hiding something.

      “What are you keeping from me?” I raised an eyebrow.

      “Not right now Serena, you need to have your tests done so you can be discharged”. My mothers tone told me not to challenge her, however apparently I’m incapable of obeying so I asked again. “What are you hiding from me?”

      Why did everyone feel the need to keep secrets from me? I’m a big girl, I can handle knowing important issues that effect my life. I’m literally sat here in a hospital bed, after almost losing my life, and they still won’t tell me why I maybe almost died?

      “You need to speak to the King first” my father informed me.

      I rolled my eyes and looked away. Now I knew the royal pain was alright, I could go back to be furious with him. Another one, keeping secrets from me. Soon I was going to lose my shit.

      “I want to go back to my room. How long till I can leave Dr Blake?” I asked hopeful.

      “We are just getting your results now Serena, but you were completely healed from your injuries before you came in so I’m sure it will be soon”. Dr Blake smiled and left the room.

      I was completely healed before I came in? How was that possib- the lagoon. Had I imagined that? 

      “Where did they find the rogue?” I asked my parents.

      “In the lagoon, he had passed out from lack of oxygen” my father shrugged his shoulders and my eyes popped open.

      Oh shit.

      It wasn’t a dream… I actually controlled the water. What the fuck? No, surely not. It’s not possible. Only Royal Fae have those abilities and I’m certainly not one of them. How could I, Wolfless Serena, control the elements? I’m just being silly now.

      I shook my head to myself.

      But my injuries are completely healed and my wolf only has those abilities after I have shifted for the first time, so it wasn’t that?

      Flashbacks of laying in the pool whilst my body repaired itself replayed in my head.

      Okay, I’m going crazy.

      It finally happened.

      “Good news Serena, you can leave now” Dr Blake smiled as she walked in the room.

      Thank the moon goddess for that, I clearly needed some air.

      

      An hour later, we arrived back at the academy. My mother insisted on helping me walk, regardless of how many times I informed her I was perfectly capable.

      As she wrapped her arm around my waist and guided me inside, I rolled my eyes and just allowed her to do what made her feel better.

      We approached my bedroom and as I went to unlock, Maddie swung the door open before me with a worried look on her face.

      “S, thank the moon goddess you are home”  she grabbed me into a bear hug. 

      “I hope you didn’t get used to having this big room all to yourself” I laughed.

      “Never!” She giggled, allowing me to walk through the door.

      “Right sweetheart, we are going to our hotel. Call us if you need us but we will be back tomorrow after you have spoken to the King” my mother hugged me.

      I rolled my eyes, “so my parents can’t even tell me the truth about my life without his royal highnass dictating”. 

      As annoying as he was, I secretly couldn’t wait to see his stupid face. I was still furious with him from the other morning, but the way he risked his life for me… my feelings for him grew deeper.

      My mother rolled her eyes. “Actually it was us who asked him to discuss other matters with you first. It made more sense this way”.

      I shook my head “I’ll see you tomorrow”.

      With that, my parents left.

      “So…” Maddie looked at me as if she was waiting for me to tell her something.

      “What?” 

      “You’re 19!” She yelled in excitement.

      In the mist of the days events, I had completely forgot what being 19 meant.

      “Have you met your mate?!” 

      “Mads, I’ve been in the hospital and then came straight here. Surprisingly, I did not meet my mate in the car journey home with my parents” I rolled my eyes, laughing at her excitement.

      Maddie pouted, hoping I had more gossip for her other than the fact that I was now out of my coma.

      “Have I missed much?” I sat down on my bed, grabbing a cushion to hold in my arms.

      “It’s actually been pretty quiet round here. Everyone seems to be on high alert since the attack and with the King leaving for a few days, people have been on their best behaviour. Although S, after he spent the first night with you in hospital, he came back to the academy furious. I think his trip was decided last minute the following morning”. Maddie carried on explaining how annoying some of the lecturers had been but after she told me Nate spent the night in hospital at my bedside, my attention was gone.

      He stayed with me? That didn’t seem like treatment you would give to one of your sexual conquests. My heart rate increased, wondering if maybe there was more between me and the King. Could he actually care about me?

      Don’t be stupid S, you barely know each other. Plus, he’s the King.. why would he care about a girl who still couldn’t shift and do the main thing she was born to do?

      How did he find me anyway, only Archie saw which way I turned and he was so engrossed in his laptop when I was leaving his office he surely wouldn’t have heard me scream.

      I shuddered at the memories of the rogue resurfacing in my mind.

      No, he must have come to the hospital to show a good example to my parents.

      “… anyway Mr Edwards says it has to be in Tuesday, which I think is so unfair!”

      Maddie’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts, she was still complaining about the teachers. I laughed and thought about how glad I was to have her as a friend.

      “Maddie, you lost me at Nate being at my bedside”.

      Rolling her eyes at me, she said “he needs to hurry home so I can have your attention back”.

      I opened my mouth to respond and tell her she now had my full attention, but I couldn’t. I was overwhelmed by the smell of vanilla, which had just hit me like a tsunami.

      My eyes widened as a gasp escaped my lips.

      “S, what’s wrong?” Maddie had a confused look on her face, wondering what I was talking about as she sat down on her bed.

      “He’s here” I told her, frozen on the spot.

      “Who?”

      I heard footsteps approach the already open grey door. My heart felt like it would beat out of my chest as butterflies consumed my stomach.

      I spun my head towards the door, and there he stood. His emerald eyes met mine and I felt as though I had my breath knocked out of me.

      There he was, the most beautiful man I had ever seen, standing before me.

      “My mate” responding to Maddie’s question.