13

~Aurelia Williams~

It was dark around me, but I could hear voices, albeit faintly.

"When does she wake up?" asked an unfamiliar dark voice, which had a calming effect on me. I wished I could have listened to her longer.

"That's up to you," chimed in another.

I tried to open my eyes, but it was far too bright around me, which made my eyes sting as they weren't used to the brightness. So I pinched them together again.

"She's waking up," stated a third voice.

I tried to open my eyes again and could make out the outlines of three people. However, the white light burned my eyes again and I had to close them again.

When I finally opened my eyes again, I saw a familiar face. It evoked fear in me but at the same time a different feeling. A feeling that made me incredibly comfortable. It was just indescribable.

Am I dreaming or am I dead?

I guess I'm dreaming because I'm feeling really, really tired.

Without saying anything, I stared at that incredibly handsome face. His facial features were angular, which only made him look all the more masculine.

But all of a sudden I realized who he was.

"You," I stated in a weak voice and backed myself further towards the end of the bed. Even if it triggered something indescribable in me, it also scared me. It brought up memories of last night, if it was last night at all .

"Yes I do," he replied to my statement.

I had so many questions in my head. Who are you? What happened? Why I'm here? why did you want to kill me Did you even want to kill me? But instead of asking anything, I wanted to get up and walk away. I had to get away from him and Steven. I so hope my father lied and didn't do anything to him.

I threw the covers aside and was just about to swing my feet out of bed when a man in a white coat -I assume the doctor- said "Don't!". It was only then that I noticed the large splint around my right leg Movement, too, as my chest ached, so I sank back into the mattress.

“You broke your right lower leg. We were able to fix him through an operation, but he still has to be sedated for a while. They've also broken a few ribs and a broken cheekbone," the doctor explained. I tried to follow him, but it took such an incredible amount of strength that I didn't really understand half of it. I was just incredibly drained and wanted to go back sleep.

"The concussion shouldn't be ignored either," he added.

Then he turned to the others. Only now did I look at the third man in the group. He was very muscular, but no more muscular than this 'ER'. A few strands of his light brown hair fell on his forehead. He also had deep blue eyes. He was leaning against a wall and had his arms crossed over his chest.

"She needs a lot of rest, so it would be better if you go now." Towards the end, the doctor's voice became quieter and it sounded more like a question. His gaze, which had previously been on that 'ER', slid to the floor. It looked like he was uncomfortable looking this 'ER' in the eye.

But instead of the desired response, the doctor only got a low-pitched hum, which sounded more like a dog's growl. He looked at the doctor with a very stern expression and it looked like the doctor wanted to sink into the ground.

Then the doctor turned and disappeared from the room. I didn't get it, but I never did lately anyway.

So it confirms my suspicion that I'm still dreaming. Dreams are also always illogical and confusing most of the time.

This 'ER''s gaze slid from the door back to me. And then his expression softened.

"I'm sure you have questions?"

I nodded hesitantly.

"Okay... so how do I explain that," he stammered to himself, handing his hand through his short black hair. At that moment, he didn't look so scary anymore, and more nervous. The other man, who had been nonchalant before who was leaning against the wall, now stood up straight to study me.

"What's going on?" he demanded, obviously confused. "First you spare her, then you save her and now? What's the matter with you, man? I mean she's just..." He stopped and his gaze slid from me to this 'ER', back to me and then back to him. "Impossible".

They stared at each other in silence and it almost looked like they were talking. But then the brown-haired ran out of the room without a word. What's going on here?

"Finally alone," said the man in front of me and ran his hand over his face in relief.

Then his gaze fixed in my eyes and he suddenly became very serious.

"Okay, so let's start with this: do you believe in myths? Of vampires, witches,... and werewolves?" he asked me, looking at me intently on his last word.

I shook my head. To me it was always bullshit. I didn't know how humans came up with such creatures. But why did he ask me that? Does he want to tell me a fairy tale now? It's all just getting more confusing, so I skeptically furrowed my eyebrows.

"All of these myths are real."

I almost laughed. Are you serious now? That doesn't explain any of my questions. How does he come up with this nonsense? Why doesn't anyone explain to me what's really going on here?

Still, he looked at me as seriously as ever. Not a tiny smile line betrayed him, which made me swallow. He's joking, isn't he? That's the way it has to be...

I had to swallow. This just couldn't be real.

I pinched my arm slightly under the covers just to feel a little pain. My head was still pounding and my ribs hurt, so it wasn't a dream after all? Why else does this all feel so real?

"Who are you?" My trembling voice finally sounded. I looked deep into his green eyes to see if he was being honest with me.

"My name is Arsen Storm and I am Alpha of the mighty Silverstorm pack."

I didn't understand him. What did he mean by alpha or pack? Still caught in his green eyes, I asked my next question.

"What are you?" Did I even want to know?

"I'm a werewolf, Aurelia."

And somehow my gut told me that it wasn't lying, even if my head and my reason didn't want to admit it.