CHAPTER 21
BELLA'S P.O.V
A steady beeping slowly pulled me out of the darkness. The strong aroma of antiseptic and bleach was strong to my nose, making it burn and run. I could feel stiff worn thread bare sheets under me, they were scratchy and rubbed against my skin unpleasantly. Where was I? It didn't feel or smell like mine and Sam's room. As my mind started to wake up and my senses began to function better, though I kept my eyes closed. I could tell it was well lit inside the room I was in -even with my eyes closed, the light shone brightly, making me flinch and bury my head further into the scratchy pillow.
I slowly turn my head out from the pillow; start to gradually open my eyes only for then to snap shut and throw my arm over them. It was so bright in here. It was making my head pound even worse. A groan slips from my lips. There must have been someone sitting next to me asleep because right after I groaned in pain the person snorted awake, walked over to where the light was coming from and threw the curtains shut. I silently thanked whoever it was with a small smile.
It took me a few blinks to open and focus my vision but eventually I could make everything out. When I could finally focus on what was around me my eyes wandered over my body, checking for injury or harm. I lifted my hands out in front of me looking at them. I had one of those tapped Hospital Pulse Ox Finger Monitor tapped to my left pointer finger. I had two I.V's, one in each arm. I had a blood pressure cuff on my right arm and when I tried to turn my head to look at it, wires in my hair seemed to stop me from moving my head. I raised my right hand up into my hair; what felt like little plastic beads seemed to be glued onto my head and were connected to the wires that had stopped it from moving- I had wires everywhere. In my hair, on my chest and around my sides. All sending messages to the many monitor machines working around me.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw movement, whipping my head to the left of my hospital bed, Paul sat in what looked like an extremely uncomfortable looking metal chair. Surprise and confusion flowed through me at seeing him sitting there, his forehead was wrinkled up, his eyebrows knitted in the middle and a deep frown replaced his usual cocky smirk.
"Paul? What's going on? Where is Sam? Oh god is Lucas okay?" The beeping on the heart monitor started to speed up and Paul was quick to rush to me. He moved to sit on the side of the bed, raising his hand up he smooth it down the back of my hair in comfort. "Shh. You need to calm down. Lucas if fine, he's with Kim and Jared." A smile amount of relied washes through me, but something still felt off.
"Sam?" I ask, groaning in pain as I try to sit up in bed. Paul shifts a little away from me to stand up uncomfortable on his feet, he was avoiding my gaze. My heart drops to my toes and one again the stupid heart monitor picks up speed.
"Once the doctor looks you over, I'll take you to him." He leans over me and reaches for the heart monitor, switching the volume off then sits back down beside me on the bed.
"What aren't you telling me, Paul?" trepidation soaking my insides, it was starting to make my head pound and nausea build up.
"I've linked the doctor he is coming over now." I sighed, accepting the fact I wasn't going to get any answers until the doctor saw to me first. But still my heart beat fast, the feeling of something was wrong was getting stronger by the second. Something was definitely wrong, that I knew for sure. Sam would have been here if he was okay and the fact that Paul wont tell me anything has me even more worried.
Tears started welling up in my eyes. The last thing Sam and I did was fight. Id accused him of taking my choices away from me, which is true but he didn't know that I actually kind of like him. If I'm being completely honest with myself I more than just liked him. I might actually be falling in love with him…..maybe. I lowered my head into my hands. Sorrow filling my chest making my heart pound harder and my very being ache. The tears rolled down my cheeks, slipping through my fingers to land on the hospital blankets.
"Luna. Beta." Said a gravely voice, my head shot up out of my hands to look at the new person in the room. An older looking man in a white lab coat greeted with his head slightly bowed. He had soft blond hair that was graying and age lines around his eyes and mouth. He wore wire rimmed glasses, behind them shown warm and caring eyes that also held much wisdom from a life of experience. I was slightly surprised he was the doctor seeing me and not Dr. Clearwater. How many doctors dose Sam's pack employ here?
"How are you feeling? Any pain, nausea?" I waver on how I should answer. I mean, yes I was sick and my head hurt as well as my body but I didn't want that to keep me away from finding Sam. So I just shook my head 'NO' to all his questions. The doctor hesitantly walked up to the right side of my head. He bent down to look at something behind my bed. He slowly stood up holding what looking like a long piece of that old school fax printer paper. On it held what looked like line graphs. He cleared his throat as he tore the paper away from the machine, folding it up and sticking it in the locking metal clipboard.
"Well the EEG doesn't show any abnormality's but your EKG shows some fluctuations with the rhythm of your heart. Though they are mild it is enough for me to give you a low dosage anxiety prescription. My conclusion is the stress is whats causing your heart rhythm to fluctuate, which is completely understandable given the circumstances." My body visibly relaxed a little and a short sigh leaves my lips. Dose that mean I can go see Sam now?
Through out the doctors check up and explanation Paul watched the unnamed Doctor like a hawk, his eyes fallowing the doctors every move.
"She should be fine Beta, everything else looks good, I'll allow her to leave but she needs to take things slow and rest, also," He says pausing from writing on his clipboard; hand half way extended with a little prescription paper in hand. "Luna. Make sure you take these, one now and one in 6 hours. Ill only let you leave here is you promise to take this anxiety medication. It wont be permanent, its only a 2 week scrip to help you with the upcoming stress your going to be facing." Upcoming? What did he mean by that, nonetheless I nodded and gave him a half smile, reaching for the paper. The good doctor only smiles then gets to work on removing all the wires and I.V's on me.
The EEG was the most painful of the removals. That shit was sticky like gum and it made my hair so matted up with knots - I worried Id have to cut it short- the doctor only laughed and told me to use baby oil to get the glue out "It will comb right out." he says...ya we'll see about that.
"I wish it was under better and different circumstances, but nonetheless, it was a pleasure to meet you Luna." The doctor bows his head to me, and then leaves quickly. Once the doctor left I turned my head to meet Paul's intense eyes. I sigh in exasperation. "Why dose everyone keep calling me Luna?" Paul blinks a few times before he replies. "Sam never told you?"
I shrug my shoulder and made a lazy face. "I meant to ask him but...every time Id try to ask him he would give me some runaround or just totally avoid it and move on to a different question I'd asked. That our he would distract me." I mutter the last part, a hot blush spreading over my cheeks. Paul's hearty chuckle sounds loud and fierce through the room. I snap my head to look over at him, my eyes wide with shock and a touch of embarrassment. Hes laughing at me? What a jerk, though after a few seconds I ended up softly laughing right along with him. Once we calm down Paul helps me stand up from the bed, but lets go once I can hold up my own weight.
"Bella. Luna is what he call the mate of the Alpha, they are equal to him in every way. Only a few people actually know your the Luna. Sams inner circle are the only ones that know your the Luna. Me, Jared, Kim, Jake, Emily -and the girls that work in the kitchen with her-, and of coarse the elders and medical team." I stare at his in disbelief, only a few huh?….more like half the house, but then again theirs like over 200 people living here so whats a few dozen. I shake my head and chuckle to myself. This shit was just to crazy for me. I'm still trying to get my head wrapped around the fact I'm here; Sam is my mate and that werewolves exist.
Paul helps me get dressed back into my street cloth and out of the hospital gown -much to my embarrassment- though he was a complete gentlemen about it, averting his eyes when needed. See I was still pretty week feeling and when I tried to do it myself I had almost fell over so Paul helped me in the end.
He lead me out of -what i found out to be the clinic Sam had taken me to when Id been attacked by the rouge wolf. It was a lot bigger than I had thought- and down some hallways. As we walked my mind started contemplating what he told me. Biting my lip in concentration. So when they call me Luna, dose that mean they'r acknowledging that I am there alpha as well? But I'm nothing like Sam or an Alpha. He's their leader, He's one of them. I'm not!
I'm just a human that was kidnapped under good terms but in the wrong way of doing so. I mean, I can defiantly lead people, and help those that needed guidance, my middle school and high school sports teams could tell you that as well as my friends and raising my baby brother. But to lead a huge group of werewolves was so not happening.
I was so caught up in my inner thoughts I hadn't seen Paul stop walking and ended up ramming my nose into his back. I grunted up at him holding my nose in my left hand, rubbing it. "Why'd you stop doofus." I grumbled out.
Paul smiled down, it didn't reach his eyes and that worried me. When I looked around, Paul had stopped us outside of another hospital door. This caught my attention right away and my eyes flashed back up to his. Water collecting in the corners of my eyes and my bottom lip started to tremble. Was this were Sam was? What he hurt, of god I think I'm going to be sick.
Paul's had hesitated on the door nob then turns back to me. "He should be okay, he just has to heal. They got him with some sort of poison that has slowed down his process to heal. But out doctors are very skilled and are working very hard to get him fixed up. It might be a bit of a shock for you when I open this door, Bella. He was hurt really bad and doesn't look like the Sam your used to, just know that he's healing albeit slowly, and with you awake and here that will help him even more." I nodded up at him, working to swallow the bile down that started to rise up my esophagus. I had to be strong….for Sam….for his pack…..My pack.
Everything looked like it moved in slow motion through my eyes. The door swung open and my eyes landed on the still figure that laden on the bed. My breath hitch as my eyes looked him over. This wasn't the Sam I know. This Sam was pale, with dark rings under his eyes. His lips were a light shade of blue and I could see bruises on his chest and face. I gently raked my fingers through his disheveled hair, lightly trailing them down his cheek to rest on his neck. My thumb stroking his cheek, hoping it brought him some comfort. While I was doing so I noticed something off. Furrowing my brow I asked. "Why cant I feel the spark between us anymore?" My voice was this with emotion as I glance over my shoulder to look at Paul.
"His wolf isn't responding at the moment. Its an effect of the poison in his system. They think its temporary." Paul says sadly. I nod slowly in understanding as I go back to watching Sam.
"Bella?" I grudgingly turn my teary eyes away from Sam and look over to Paul, but my fingers continue to trace lightly over Sam's cheek. Paul's eyes flick to Sam quickly then back to mine. "He wouldn't be happy about this, but I feel there is no other choice in the matter right now." I tilt my head in confusion, making a somewhat sour face. What is going on about? Cant he see I just want to be left alone with Sam.
"What are you talking about Paul." I mutter in irritation. Paul clears his throat softly, scratching to back of his neck before he speaks again and when he dose his voice holds a twinge of uncertainty. "Well, when the Alpha is away or busy or incapacitated for a time, the Beta takes over. How ever the pack has heard rumors of his current situation and they're scared. The rogues that attacked us today, they might have had this all planned out so it would weaken the Alpha in order to attack again later on. I am trying my best to calm the situation, but I think…" he trails off, rubbing the back of hi neck awkwardly once more. He takes a deep breath before looking me in the eye. "I think we should introduce you to the entire pack as our Luna. Sam has already marked you so for the most part it is official. The pack, I think, will calm down a little knowing that there Luna is here."
I gasped in shock, my mind raced with everything that he just said. My face pinched in dislike. I inhaled a deep breath through my nose and moved my head to look back down at Sam, warring with myself. Trying to find the best way to say no as politely as I could think of. That just wasn't happening. I cant be the Luna. I cant lead a pack of wolves. I'm a human for godsakes! But Sam brought me here for a reason, He took me from the club, He chased after me when Id ran away, He even gave Lucas and I a home. Sam wanted me here, He knew that I would become the Luna. Did that mean he truly believed in me that much to lead his pack?
My heart swelled at the thought. Sam must have believed that despite the fact that i was human and danced naked for men, that I would be a great leader and Luna to his wolves. But-
"Why would he not be happy about your plan?" A soft smile graces Paul's lips. "One of an Alphas greatest joys, is when he gets to introduce his pack to their new Luna. My hope is he wont be too mad because you aren't mated fully to him yet. Technically speaking, this will be like a temporary Luna announcement. After you mate, he can introduce you again, officially."
"Wait, I'm not mated fully to him? What dose that mean?" My eyes widen as i look between Sam and Paul. I was so confused. I thought when Sam bit me that was the extent of our "Mating". I was even more confused when I started to see a light pink tint wash over his cheeks.
"Well you are his mate. He has marked you, but the two of you haven't….erm….consummated the relationship yet." He finishes, a full blown hot pink blush bleeding up from his neck to stop at the tips of his ears.
I could only assume that the nervous chuckle and blush Paul dose is at my own expense from seeing the face I make. I could only imagine how I looked as understanding dawned on me. I could feel my whole body heat up like fireworks on the fourth of July. Complete utter mortification fills me while talking to Paul about this. Oh god just kill me now.
I clear my tight throat, forcing my vocal cords to work properly. "Okay. Lets introduce me or whatever as the Luna. But only temporarily. There will be an official ceremony when Samuel is better." I end while looking back down at Sam, twirling a piece of his silky chocolate brown hair in between my fingers.
The hope in my voice brings Paul and I to a moment of silence. Please get better. I need you. I think as i lean down to place a gentle lingering kiss to his cold, clammy forehead.
"I have called for the meeting. The pack will gather in an hour. You should o get cleaned up and ready. Kim will be waiting for you in your room. I'll take care of Lucas." Paul tells me as we walk out into the hallway and towards the elevators. I nod. "Thank you, Paul. I give a last glance over my shoulder where Sam lane sleeping then walked onto the lift.
The pain in my chest confirming what I had my suspicions of...I was indeed in love with Sam.