-:Cecelia's POV:-

I woke up early that morning. I had been on sedatives the day before so I was sleeping all day yesterday. I slept early as well. 

That would explain why the clock said it was three minutes to four in the morning.

My head felt vacant and it hurt a little from sleeping too much. My body was stiff from the lack of activity and I desperately wanted to go out. I tried mind linking the nurse and cussed when I realized I couldn't. 

I still had wolfsbane in my system.

From the slight light entering from the ajar door, I saw Ashton sleeping peacefully on the couch and a smile broke out on my face. He looked so cute when he was sleeping. I didn't know how long I was staring, but the door opening snapped my attention there. I wiped my mouth to make sure there wasn't any drool.

There wasn't.

"Julian?" I guessed in a whisper, eyeing the figure in the doorway. I had a feeling it was him because no one else used to wake up that early in this Packhouse. Even if they did, they wouldn't bother visiting me. I couldn't smell well because of the stupid wolfsbane. I felt crippled. Like you humans when you have a cold or something. Annoying.

"Yup," he answered. He moved towards the light switches but I stopped him at the last moment.

"Don't!" I hissed.

"Why?"

"Ashton came in late last night," I mumbled. He stopped and came to sit beside me. 

"Really?" He asked, his voice infused with humor. I scowled, knowing his vision would be sharp enough to catch it.

"Yeah," I replied, knowing he would tease me.

"What happened?"

"Nothing, I pretended to be asleep and he kissed my forehead before he crashed," I smiled fondly at the memory.

"You what?" He laughed. "Lia, th-"

"You know what?" I cut him off, not wanting to be teased.

"Hmm?" He hummed to humor me. It was obvious he was holding back a laugh.

"I want to take a shower!" I whined. "I feel so filthy."

"Hmm, I'll ask the nurse." He nodded, accepting the new direction of the conversation.

"You're the best!" I sighed.

"Eh," he waved me off before he left to locate Julia.

They came in minutes later. Julia switched on the lights despite my protests, blinding me. Seriously, how do you humans tolerate it?

I glanced at Ashton to see him turn around and snuggle into the couch with a groan. I glared at Julia. She shrugged, unbothered.

"Do you want a shower or not?" She asked me in a quiet voice. I nodded, nettled. She wordlessly worked on my hand and pulled out the drip.

"You have half an hour," she warned before leaving.

"I better get started then," I sighed and Julian chuckled. He helped me to my room and waited while I got showered and dressed.

I refused to accept help on my way back despite my protesting body. Julian knew better than to argue and convince me otherwise. By the time we reached my assigned room in the medical ward, I was a panting mess. I climbed into the bed and closed my eyes, trying to catch my breath. Julian chuckled but I didn't have enough energy to tell him off.

I didn't want to admit but my body was burning a little. I felt itchy and it wasn't just my skin. I felt it much deeper than that.

Julia came in and gave me an approving nod for being back on time. 

"How are you feeling?" She eyed me with a knowing look.

"Fine," I said in a clipped tone. She rolled her eyes, hooking me back to the drip. "How much longer till my burn heals?" I asked her.

"Completely? Another two to three days," she told me apologetically. "We've cleaned the silver remnants from your wound but the healing process will be slow regardless."

I sighed in bitter acceptance. So I would miss three days of training at most. I could recover from that quickly. 

"My stamina?" I asked.

"Will be affected by the wolfsbane," she said. The fuck. I had worked so freaking hard to build it up!

"How much?" I queried.

"Well, the drugs we're giving you to neutralize the wolfsbane should help, so not too much," she said thoughtfully, eyeing the drip. I slumped back in my bed, pouting.

"You'll be fine soon, Lia," Julian coaxed as Julia smiled at me and left. I pouted even more.

"But till then? I have to be stuck," I whined like a kid. I blamed the drugs.

"That stuff is getting to your head," he shook his head.

That's why we're best friends. We read minds. Ha!

"I know, right?" I giggled, suddenly mirthful. He looked at me like I'd gone nuts. I probably had. I honestly didn't remember the last time I giggled.

"Umm," he glanced at the digital clock on my bedside table, "I need to go, training!" He hurriedly said. 

"Do you have to?" I cried. He nodded his head vigorously.

"I do." He stated. 

He hated what I was doing and I was loving it. It was a little hard to control my laughter, watching him act like that. The drugs were like liquor - liquid encouragement to do stuff I would otherwise never do sober. I couldn't really say I hated them. Watching Julian squirm with my sudden attack of girliness was so amusing.

"Why?" I whined again. He inched back towards the doorway.

"I'll see you in a while, Lia." He dashed out. 

I burst out laughing. That was so funny! He would always cringe when I deviated from my tomboy personality. He would legit freak out, confessing later that I had look possessed or something. That's probably because I would put too much effort into it and end up looking like that haunted doll. But still, hilarious nonetheless.

I calmed down after a while to see the clock strike 6:07 am.

I passed time on my laptop for a while. Then there was a knock at my door.

"Come in," I called. The medical wing was the only part of the Packhouse that did not have soundproof rooms.

Aaron walked in. I froze guiltily. I knew we had to talk. He was stiff as he walked in and sat down. He didn't bat an eye at the sleeping Ashton in my room.

Proof of his hurt.

"Hey," I whispered, closing my laptop.

"Hi," he said rigidly.

"Aar, I'm sorry," I pleaded.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he muttered, shoving his hands inside his jean pockets and not looking at me.

"Aar," I said. I did not want to fight with him. He was my brother and once upon a time we were thick as thieves.

"So, I hear you'll be on the drugs for a while," he said casually. I nodded.

"Aaron, don't change the topic" I sighed. "Talk to me."

"I didn't realize we were talking, Cecelia," he scowled.

"Look, I know I should have told you, okay?" I played with my hands.

"Told me what?" He asked dumbly. I wanted to castrate him. Brother or not, it was fucking irritating. So I didn't tell him Ashton was my mate. Big effing deal. I didn't die and come back from the dead, for Goddess' sake! Sue Jace for that!

"You're overreacting, Aaron," I spoke my mind.

"Right," he scoffed. "I'll get going."

"Aaron! Dude, what's your problem?!" I kept my voice low, glancing worriedly at the passed-out Ashton. He didn't stir. Aaron didn't miss it. Of course, he didn't.

"Was I really that unapproachable that you hid it from me?" He asked me. He tried to hide it, but it was evident he was upset. I sighed, frustrated.

"Aaron, I didn't tell anyone," I told him.

"Julian seemed well informed to me," he quirked an eyebrow. Shit, I forgot about that.

"He wasn't the Alpha child of the family who is supposed to hate Ashton's." I defended.

"Really?" He deadpanned. "You thought that I hate them more than I love my little sister?" 

Good point.

"I'm sorry," I sighed, burying my face in my hands. "I don't know what else to say, Aaron."

He stood silently for a while.

"The years apart really drifted us apart, hun?" He commented, finally sitting down at the foot of my bed.

"I guess," I whispered. "Six years is a long time."

"It is," he agreed. "We've changed a lot."

"What an understatement," I said. He chuckled. We lapsed into silence.

"I'm sorry," I repeated earnestly. "Really."

"I know," he sighed. "I shouldn't hold it against you. You seem closer to Julian than to anyone else."

"He was there for me when no one else was," I said. "I will always remember that. He stuck with me no matter what."

"I understand," he exhaled with effort.

"Aaron," I waited till he met my eyes. "That doesn't mean I love you any less. You'll always be my annoying older brother. You know that, right?"

He smiled.

"I know."

"Thank you," I hugged him with my good arm, making sure to leave the IV undisturbed. He hugged me carefully, mindful of my fragile body.

Fragile. Right. 

I scoffed at myself. 

Give me a day or two for the wolfsbane to clear out from my system, then we'll talk.

"I need to go," he said, pulling back.

"Soon-to-be Alpha duties?" I asked.

"Bingo," he nodded. Of course, now that Tasha had been kidnapped, they probably had more on their plates than ever.

"We'll find her, right?" I asked.

"I hope so," he sighed. She was most probably taken by rogues. There wasn't any guarantee that she would be okay. We would be lucky if she was. Okay, I mean.

"Me too," I said as he got up.

"See you," I called, not raising my voice too much.

"Yeah. Speak to grandma soon," he said and left.

I groaned. Why did they have to tell grandma too? Now there were two emotional conversations I dreaded.

I lay back on the bed with my laptop again, plugging in my earphones while I played a random movie. Nurse Julia came in with my breakfast about a quarter to seven. Breakfast burritos and scrambled eggs. I scrunched up my nose at that. I wanted pancakes. But she sat there and made sure I finished the entire thing. 

"Good girl," she praised as I finished the last bite, taking my empty plate away from me. I glared at her. She ignored it and went away coolly. 

Have a lost my touch, I wondered. She couldn't have cared less about my glares. But then again, what harm could a wolf with wolfsbane in her system possibly do.

And Goddess did that situation hurt. My ego was hurt.

I resumed my movie only to be interrupted again.

Julian burst in, freshly showered after the training session. I glanced at the time. Almost eight.

"The kids are a nightmare!" He huffed loudly as he plopped himself down next to my feet.

"Shut up!" I snapped, worriedly looking at Ashton. He laughed loudly.

"Keep it low," I hissed.

"Are you worried we'll wake him up?" Julian jested.

"Are you kidding me right now?" I glared at him. "I told you he came in late."

"And you let him think you were sleeping," he further teased.

"Technically, I was," I retorted.

"Sure, Lia. Whatever you say," he said in a sing-song voice.

"Get the fuck out of here," I groaned.

"Aww, Lia, are you mad?" Julian chaffed, grinning.

"Come here and I'll show you," I bit at him.

I froze when I heard a wince. Turning around, I saw Ashton stretching and rubbing his eyes. His back was definitely hurting by the way he was sitting so awkwardly. His grimace was adorable.

"Good morning," I wished, snapping out of my daze.

"'Morning," he yawned, checking me out. His eyes landed on my drip and his eyebrows puckered.

"To neutralize the wolfbane," I told him. His posture relaxed and he nodded.

"Good morning, Ashton," Julian smiled, smiling as if he was onto something.

"Morning, Julian," Ashton smiled back. They were acting civil with each other? 

When did that happen? How long was I really out?

"How're you feeling?" Ashton asked me before I could interrogate them.

"I'm tired of that question," I scowled, irritated. That was all everyone had seemed to be asking me. "I am fine. I am okay. I am no longer in a state of unconsciousness!"

"Noted," he swallowed and I smiled internally at the victory. I was still looking at him when his eyes glazed over and he knitted his eyebrows. He was mind linking someone, and by the looks of it, it wasn't pleasant. I was concerned and was about to ask him when he got up and put on his jacket. He sat back down and started tying up his shoes. I glanced at Julian who was also observing him. 

I turned back to Ashton who finally looked up to see us looking at him questioningly.

"Where are you going?" Julian asked.

"I need to go home and explain a few things," he said. "I'll be back as soon as I can." I looked at him reassuringly.

"Okay," I nodded. Couldn't say I was thrilled. I was liking the feeling of having him around, even if he was drooling over my couch. Kidding, he didn't drool. But I hid my disappointment. Apparently, I wasn't good enough because he caught on, much to my embarrassment.

"I'll be back, Ce," he chuckled. "Besides we need to talk." 

I nodded in agreement, fighting a blush. 

Focus, Lia. Stop thinking about the new nickname! You guys have to talk, focus on that.

"Great," he said, walking over to me. He bent down and kissed my forehead, lingering there for a moment. I was so surprised by the gesture, I gasped. I quickly shut my mouth, hoping he didn't hear. But with the hearing we wolves have, I shouldn't have counted on it. I was right because when he straightened, I saw a faint smirk on his face.

Bastard.

He looked at Julian in the once and then left, but not before shouting over his shoulder.

"Take care!"

Julian laughed, looking at my confused state.

"Your face-" he chortled.

"Haha hilarious," I deadpanned, recovering slightly.

But my mind was still on the feel of his lips on my forehead and that bought memories of last night when he hugged me. He was addictive. I couldn't seem to push him away. I didn't know if I loved him. Probably not. It wasn't unusual for mates to fall in love within the first week. Who wouldn't fall for their soulmate once they found them?

I was starting to fall, though. I was sure of that. And Goddess help me, we hadn't even had one proper civilized conversation under normal circumstances.

Not to mention, I wasn't sure of where I stood. His absence made me feel incomplete. 

For fuck's sake, I wasn't even marked yet! The bond was so strong, I wa-

"Heelllooooo??" Julian waved a hand in front of my face, startling me. I jumped and he gave me a knowing smirk.

I missed what he was talking about while thinking about Ashton. I offered him a sheepish smile.

I am screwed, aren't I?

***********************

A/N:-

Another day, another chapter. I hope you liked it!! I have a test tomorrow, again! Screw my life! I haven't even prepared anything, yet I'm updating. Amen.

I need to go early, sorry!!

QOTD: Sunrise or sunset??

Tap that star on your way out if you liked the chapter!! Show your support, guys. I feel nice more motivated when you do. Thanks.

Until next time, all my love,
xoxo.