“I’m fine,” I assured him. “This is good. This is the start of a new beginning.”
Chapter 14
SKYE
Itwasjustoverthirty-six hours when I was taken off the ECMO machine, and stayed off. The heart I had received was very strong. A few days passed after that and, little by little, I was regaining my strength. I was out of the woods and my pack mates felt confident enough that they didn’t have to stick around 24/7. They could go out into the world, go home. Sleep in their own beds. I envied that privilege.
Someone was always with me though.
This morning, it was Halo. Just us girls, and that was nice.
I was in my room all alone though, because she was having a shower. As I waited, I watched a movie that I wasn’t really paying attention to.
My phone buzzed and I picked it up.
Crux
Checking in. How are you feeling?
I bit my lip and grinned as a wicked thought floated through my mind. I put my phone down and reached behind my neck to untie the laces keeping my hospital gown on. They unknotted easily, and I shrugged my shoulders then dragged the neckline of the gown down and let my bare chest breathe. Excited, I picked up my phone, ready to send Crux a sexy surprise.
On the phone screen, I saw myself. Pale and bruised. A bright red-brown track of staples and flakey, scabbing skin running from my clavicle, to just below my ribcage. I felt…wider. More distant from myself. Torn apart.
There was nothing sexy about this.
I wiped a tear from my face and covered myself up with my gown.
Skye
Fine.
I sent the text and dropped the phone onto my mattress.
The door to the bathroom opened and with it, a puff of steam, followed by a refreshed and pristine Halo. Her hair was tied back, and I could see the sheen of her SPF moisturizer on her otherwise makeup-free face. She looked stunning in a simple green t-shirt and black yoga pants that seemed shrink wrapped to her long, lean legs that had prowled dozens of catwalks.
In her hands was a familiar plastic bowl filled with soapy water, and a wash cloth and hand towel draped over her shoulder.
“Ready for a bath?” Halo asked brightly.
“No.” I turned away from her, showing her my back, and probably the untied laces.
“No?” She sounded genuinely confused. “What do you mean no?”
A sponge bath had been a regular routine now, private time between Halo and I. Even if it wasn’t routine, I, like most omegas, loved being pampered, and I almost never said no about anything, especially not to Halo.
“I said no,” I snapped, gripping my favourite soft blanket with white knuckles.
“You’ll feel better after. You know you will.” She touched my shoulder and I shrugged away.
“Just leave me alone.” I grit my teeth, hot tears coming to my eyes. I didn’t want to be mean, I loved Halo. She was one-third of my entire world.
“Okay,” she said softly. “I will. But not until you give me an explanation. Deal?” She touched my hair and I let her.
“I don’t… I…” But I couldn’t get the words out.
“Come on,” Halo cooed. She put her hands on my shoulders and pulled lightly. “Sit up. Let’s talk like civilized people.”
I let her prop me up on the bed, on my back, and I hastily swiped a tear from my cheek. I looked at her, then away, hugging myself. The skin on my torso felt so tight. It was hard to breathe.
