The healer arrived not long after, she moved efficiently, examining my ankle with careful hands while murmuring incantations under her breath.
“You’re lucky it’s only a sprain,” she said after a moment, “No breaks, but you’ll need to stay off it for a few days. I’ll apply a salve to reduce the swelling and speed up the healing.”
I nodded silently, biting my lip as she worked. The coolness of the salve eased the throbbing pain in my ankle, Harlan stood nearby, his arms crossed, his eyes never leaving me. As the healer wrapped my ankle in a bandage, he moved closer, kneeling beside the bed.
“She’ll need to rest,” the healer continued, looking at Harlan. “No walking, no stress. Let the ankle heal naturally, and she should be fine in a few days.”
“I’ll make sure of it,” he replied.
The healer gave me a kind smile before gathering her things and leaving the room.
As soon as the door closed behind her, Harlan reached for my hand, “You scared me out there,” he murmured, his thumb brushing lightly over my knuckles.
“I didn’t mean to,” I said,
His gaze lifted to meet mine, and the intensity in his eyes made my breath catch. “I can’t lose you, Anya. Not like that. Don’t ever do that again, please.” He brought my hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to my fingers, his touch lingering as if to reassure himself that I was still here.
“I’ll be fine,” I said,
“You don’t have to be fine,” he replied, “Not with me. Just… let me take care of you.”
I didn’t know how to respond. He stayed by my side, but it couldn’t stop my thoughts from straying.
The memory of Kael’s touch, his scent, his eyes filled with something unspoken, refused to fade. My wolf stirred restlessly, her longing for him clashing with the warmth of Harlan’s care.
Harlan kissed my hand again, his lips soft against my skin. “Rest, Anya,” he said, “I’ll stay here. I’m not going anywhere.”
I closed my eyes, exhaustion pulling at me, but sleep didn’t come easily. My heart felt torn, caught between the man beside me and the wild, untamed pull of the one who had saved me.
The healer’s instructions were clear: rest, no walking, and minimal stress. Harlan seemed to take those words to heart, refusing to leave my side.
The first night, he stayed by the bed, sitting in a chair he’d dragged over. Every so often, I would wake to find him still there, his fingers loosely holding mine or brushing the hair from my face. His concern was genuine, but it couldn’t quiet the storm brewing inside me.
By morning, the swelling in my ankle had gone down, but I was still confined to the bed. Harlan brought breakfast himself and insisted on helping me sit up, though I assured him I could manage.
“Let me do this,” he said, and his hands on my shoulders as he adjusted the pillows behind me. “You shouldn’t strain yourself.”
“I’m not completely helpless,” I replied, attempting a smile.
“You were almost crushed by a beam yesterday, Anya,” he said, “Forgive me if I’m a little overprotective.”
I didn’t argue. I couldn’t but no matter how kind or attentive Harlan was, my thoughts kept straying to Kael. The way his arms had felt around me, the way he called my name. My wolf had been restless ever since, her emotions a confusing mix of longing and frustration.
Why him? I questioned her, trying to make sense of it. Why Kael, when Harlan is right here?
But she offered no answers, only a quiet hum of acknowledgment whenever his name crossed my mind.
By the third day, I was restless. Harlan had been a constant presence, ensuring I ate, drank, and rested. He read my favorite lecture in the evenings, and even convinced me to let him carry me to the balcony for fresh air.
“Look at that view,” he said softly, his hand around my waist as he helped me settle into a chair. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
I nodded, my gaze on the distant hills, but my thoughts were elsewhere. My chest tightened with guilt, knowing I should be grateful for his care, and yet, the memory of Kael’s eyes, his voice, his touch, lingered like a shadow I couldn’t escape.
Harlan’s fingers brushed mine, pulling me back to the present. “You seem far away,” he said, “Are you still in pain?”
“No,” I lied, forcing a smile. “I’m just tired.”
He nodded, though his eyes lingered on mine as if searching for something I wasn’t ready to share.
Meanwhile, Lila’s presence in the house had grown more noticeable and more irksome.
She would appear at odd moments, her perfume lingering in the hallways. Whenever Harlan stepped away, she would find an excuse to be near him. But it wasn’t working. Harlan’s attention remained on me, and Lila’s frustration was evident.
“She’s milking this for all it’s worth,” I overheard her mutter to a maid one afternoon. “Harlan hasn’t left her side. It’s pathetic, really. She can’t even walk without him hovering like she’s made of glass.”
I clenched my fists at her words, but I said nothing. My ankle was still tender, and I couldn’t afford to waste energy on her pettiness.
But Lila wasn’t one to give up easily.
That evening, as Harlan helped me back into bed, Lila appeared in the doorway, a tray of tea in her hands.
“I thought you might need this,” she said sweetly, though her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Chamomile, to help you sleep.”
“Thank you, Lila,” Harlan said, but He didn’t even glance at her as he adjusted the blanket over me.
She lingered in the doorway, her grip tightening on the tray. “You’ve been taking such good care of her, Harlan. It’s admirable, really. But don’t you think she could manage a little more independence by now? The healer said it was just a sprain.”
“She needs rest, Lila. And I’ll decide how best to care for her.”
I avoided looking at either of them, wishing to disappear.“Well,” Lila said after a moment, “if you need anything, you know where to find me.”
She turned and left, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
Harlan sat back down beside me, his fingers finding mine once more. “Don’t let her bother you,” he said softly. “She is having a hard time taking care of shadow.”
But that wasn’t true not entirely. Because as much as Lila’s jealousy irritated me, it also highlighted a truth I couldn’t ignore. Harlan’s care, should have been enough. He was my chosen mate, the one I was supposed to build a life with. But my wolf, my heart, couldn’t seem to let go of the pull toward Kael.
As the days passed, that pull only grew stronger, and with it, my confusion.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Kael’s face, felt his arms around me, heard his voice. My wolf would stir, and I couldn’t silence her no matter how hard I tried.
And through it all, Harlan remained by my side, his love and care a constant reminder of the life I was supposed to want.
But deep down, I knew, something had shifted. Something I couldn’t explain, something I couldn’t control. And no matter how much I tried to push it away, it refused to be ignored.
