When they touch me (Shelagh Milano)

Chapter 32 Artemisia

“It’s okay, Matt. I just bumped my head, I didn’t lose a leg.” I chuckle as Matthew carries me to my room and cuddles me into the blankets of my bed.

“I don’t care. You need to rest, love. I’m just following the doctor's instructions,” he says nonchalantly, as he rearranges my pillows.

I thank him with a smile as I lean back with a sigh.

“Can I get you something else?” He asks, and I shake my head as he proceeds to list all the things he could get me.

I laugh because he is so cute, and I love how he wants me to feel better.

“Enough, Matty.” Logan stays in the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest as he eyes me up. “Are you sure you feel alright?”

I nod with a smile. “Perfectly fine, thank you.”

“We will let you rest, and check on you later. Is that okay?” Matthew asks, his expression heavy with worry.

Thanking him with a smile, I watch him leave my room with his brother before I push out a deep sigh.

I want to go home.

And I have to fight back my tears as I think that my only option to do this would be to go through another rejection.

Or even worse, rejections.

Even if I got a glimpse of hope, I can’t see myself being accepted in this pack after Fynn’s reaction.

Maybe I should talk to Cayden about it and be honest with him as well.

Suddenly, a heavy weight lowers itself onto my chest at the thought of my mates rioting at finding out about my dormant wolf.

Emptying my lungs with a deep exhale, I cuddle myself further under the blankets. Telling him about my little secret might be extremely risky, but I guess it would be better than having Fynn spill it to him first.

“Yes,” I shout, torn out of my thoughts by a soft knocking at the door.

Wiping any residue of my tears out of my eyes, I watch a petite Omega balancing a tray with a tea set in her hands.

I sit up carefully and see a huge guy closing the door behind her. She must have caught my curious gaze as she looks over her shoulder before she smiles at me.

“They have guards in front of your quarters,” she says with a gentle voice. “In case someone tries something funny.”

Someone.

Setting down the tray on my nightstand, she passes me a steaming cup of tea. “I’m Daisy. I’m one of the Omegas appointed to this floor.”

“It’s very nice to meet you, Daisy. I’m Missy.” I say, taking a sip from my tea.

Her eyes sparkle as she nods. “I know! Here, I made you a small cake.”

“Oh, thank you so much.” I take the cake she is holding in front of my nose with a big smile.

Looks like someone is happy about her job choice.

Taking a bite of the little chocolate cake while she watches me like she is about to burst, I hum. “This is delicious!”

“Thank you,” she squeals happily, her eyes sparkling. “I’m the best baker you can find in the pack if I can say so myself.”

She giggles, and I smile at her. “I’m very happy you are appointed to this floor then, Daisy.”

“Well,” she whispers, lifting her hand up to shield her mouth. “Alpha Blackwood is very fond of sweets, but it is a little secret.”

I laugh, putting the cup of tea down on my nightstand. “I’ll keep it to myself. Don’t worry.”

She smiles brightly as she straightens her spine back up, crossing her hands in front of her.

“If there is something you need, please call me. I heard that you had lunch at the hospital, so I’ll check in on you before dinner.”

Nodding, I cuddle back down in my bed. “Thank you.”

“Now, rest well. I’ll see you in a bit.” She caresses over the covers before tucking a strand of her light-brown hair behind her ear.

I sigh deeply after she leaves my room, and close my eyes to get some sleep.

But even if I’m drugged up to the eyeballs with painkillers and I’m feeling drained, I can’t seem to catch any sleep.

My anxiety keeps growing even if I do my best to meditate myself into calmness.

In the blink of an eye, it appears to be already time for dinner as Daisy checks in on me with Matthew carrying a big tray.

“Careful, babe,” he warns me softly as he positions the tray over my lap.

My heart squeezes as I caress his face, thanking him.

I wonder how he will react to the news.

Maybe at least he will accept me for who I am.

“Do you want me to keep you company while you eat?” He asks, tearing me out of my thoughts.

Shaking my head, I reposition in my sitting position. “You are cute, thank you. But please don’t worry about me. I’m fine. Go and have dinner with your brothers.”

He nods, flashing me a sad smile.

“I’ll stay with her, Gamma,” Daisy squeaks, keeping him from protesting. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

For a moment, it seemed that he wanted to say something else, but he decides otherwise and doesn’t add more to it as he bends down to kiss the top of my head before he walks out.

Slumping back against my headboard, I have to push down a groan as I would certainly have preferred him to stay with me than Daisy.

Also, I don’t really know what they are discussing downstairs.

Or what consequences Fynn had to face.

Thinking about how it might be good to have a chatty omega as dinner company to distract me from my anxiety, I convince myself that I have made the right decision.

Unfortunately, the omegas here seem to be trained cult followers as Daisy keeps quiet while watching me eat. She has her hands folded in her lap as she looks at me as if I were some shiny alien she had been waiting to see for the two decades she has spent on Earth.

“So… Have you been appointed to this packhouse or this floor for long?” I ask her as I scoop another bite of food into my mouth.

She nods enthusiastically while beaming at me but still doesn’t say anything.

Narrowing my eyes, I wait a few heartbeats until I try again. “Tell me about it.”

“Oh, yes. I have been here since I got my wolf four years ago.” She answers with a joyful expression.

I wait another set of seconds but finally, give up as this seems to be all she is going to say.

To another painfully awkward moment.

Sighing, I take another spoonful of my food and finish my dinner in silence while being observed by the pack fangirl.

As she takes the tray from me and wishes me a good night after having checked my dressing, I couldn’t be happier.

Wiggling under my blankets, I take a deep breath and start regulating my breathing pattern anew as my thoughts run wild.

I don’t know how many hours passed as I kept tossing and turning as much as my body allowed me to but eventually my eyelids get so heavy that I can’t keep them open any longer.

With another deep sigh, I have no other option than to wait for exhaustion to finally take over as my anxious thoughts wouldn’t let me sleep.

I try to concentrate on Matthew’s scent still floating feebly in the air, but unfortunately, Daisy’s scent is far more pregnant in the air to have his calm me down enough.

Just as I’m about to pass out, a new scent invades my room, eliminating all the others lingering in it.

Taking a deep breath, I let myself envelope in it, my body relaxing immediately.

I want to check if he really entered my bedroom or if it’s just my imagination, but before I can even turn to take a look, my consciousness submits to my exhaustion, making me fall asleep instantaneously.