When I opened my eyes again I found Ric standing by my bedside, the frown on his face leaving me confused as I blinked at him. "Thank goodness. You passed out on me and I couldn't wake you up, Alex." Ric explained, taking a seat beside me on the bed when I shifted over.
Sitting I ran a hand through my hair, tilting my head to one side as he stared at me. "You really don't remember anything?" Ric asked and as I chewed my lip, thinking he finally gave me a tiny smile.
"The last thing I remember you were kissing my stomach and then….nothing else," I admitted Ric chuckled softly, reaching up and I managed a weak smile when he tousled my hair. "Sorry."
"Don't be sorry, Alex I should be apologizing to you. Besides I started kissing you." Ric replied, giving me a bigger smile when we both heard my stomach growling. "Sounds like someone's hungry." He teased as my cheeks burned and I snorted, shifting closer so Ric could drape his arm around my shoulders.
"Sleeping for hours on end does that to a person," I told him and he laughed, helping me to my feet. When I wobbled he kept an arm around my shoulders, helping me walk to the mess hall even getting me breakfast once he saw me breathing harder. "This is stupid."
"What's really stupid, Alex?" Ric asked once he rejoined me and I just shrugged, taking the sandwich he offered me. "Running into that hay bale?"
"That and not being able to walk a short distance," I replied and he chuckled, watching as I started on the cheese, ham, and lettuce sandwich he'd made me. The food helped and as I wiped my mouth Ric leaned in leaving me slightly red-faced when he kissed my cheek. "Thanks, Ric...for everything," I muttered and he grinned at me, his lips moving to my own though before we had a chance to kiss I heard someone walking into the mess hall only to freeze.
"Could have timed that better," Ric grumbled, lifting his head away from mine as I leaned back in my chair. "So what's the emergency?"
"No emergency, Alex. We came past to check on you after your accident." Freddy explained and I sighed, rubbing at my eyes once I saw the rest of the pack standing in the doorway. "Unless this is a bad time?"
"From the looks of it you'd be right, Freddy," Ivan answered with a grin and I growled at him, pushing my way to my feet. I could feel Ric's eyes on me as I limped toward the entrance barely making it through the doorway before I leaned against the wall, a hand over my face.
"Give me a minute okay everyone? I need to talk to Alex." Ric told everyone, climbing to his feet and as he crossed the room his friends moved aside. "Alex?" He called out, poking his head into the hallway only to find it empty. "Perfect." He groaned, looking back into the room.
"Is something wrong, Ric?" Aggie asked this time and Ric rubbed a hand over his face, groaning before he entered the hallway fully. "Alex couldn't have gone far, not while she's still recovering."
"I'll go and check her room," Ric answered, moving quickly as he headed back to the room that he and Alex shared. Once he reached the row of bedrooms he blinked, noting that the door to their bedroom was wide open and as he stepped over to it he heard panting. Concerned, he stepped into the room and I lifted my head from my pillow, trying to control my breathing as I laid eyes on Ric.
"There you are. Why did you take off like that?" Ric scolded, softening when he saw my shoulders trembling. I felt the mattress sink slightly but I didn't move, even when Ric reached out gently rub my back.
"Sorry just needed a few minutes to myself," I muttered, shifting closer and Ric sighed giving me a tiny smile when I rested my head in his lap. "Sore and feeling a little sorry myself."
"You know you can always talk to me, Alex. About anything." Ric told me, looking down at me in time to see me close my eyes. "Alex, you okay?"
"Too many questions. Too exhausted." I mumbled and Ric chuckled, moving his hand from my back before he gently tousled my hair. "Just want to sleep right now." I added with a sigh, taking my head off his lap before I tugged the blanket over me.
"Of course, Alex. I'll come past to check on you in a couple of hours." Ric replied though when he finally noticed that Alex had fallen asleep he shook his head. Pressing a kiss to her forehead he left the room as quietly as he could, closing the door gently behind him. Shaking his head with a faint smile Ric wandered back to the mess hall finding the rest of his friends standing around the room.
"Before you ask Alex needs her sleep but she's going to be fine. Right now I think the best thing she can do is sleep and heal. So that means we need to get back to class." Ric explained, holding up his hand when everyone started talking at once.
Pulling the blanket tighter around me did nothing to stop me from shivering and I groaned, trying to rest my aching stomach. I'd barely even drifted off when I saw someone that made me whimper, a man with two green eyes the color of jade and two rows of very sharp teeth that he bared in my direction.
When I locked eyes with him he chuckled at me, the sound making the hair of the back of my neck stand on edge. His eyes slowly glowed red his hand raised and I flinched as he lightly brushed his fingers over my left cheek.
"Who are you?" I whispered and he laughed, growling softly though just as he hunched about to transform I felt something grip my shoulder.
I gasped, pushing myself up only to find Ric watching me and he blinked, eyes searching my face as I panted. "Whoa easy there, Alex. It's just me." Ric soothed, concerned as I pressed a hand to my face my eyes briefly meeting his before I groaned. "Hey did you have a bad dream?"
"It's nothing, Ric," I muttered, not even looking up when Ric brushed my chin with his fingertips. "Yes, it was." But when I tried to look away Ric tilted his head to one side, examining my face for several seconds.
"You had that dream again didn't you, the one about the wilderwolf?" Ric asked, frowning at me when I didn't meet his eyes. "Alex, tell me the truth." He demanded, his eyes changing to a deep red and I swallowed my eyes widening as he fixed his gaze on me.
Seeing me breathing hard, my eyes fixed on him wide and unblinking Ric blinked, his eyes returning to their usual brown though by then the damage had been done. "Alex, look at me. I didn't mean it." Ric told me but I slowly shook my head, pulling the blanket around myself to hide my face.
"I already have one wilderwolf chasing after me, I don't need another," I muttered as Ric ran a hand through his hair, reaching across. I tried to pull the blanket tighter around me but he wouldn't let me, a light kiss on my nose causing tears to leak from my eyes.
"I'm not a wilderwolf any more thanks to you, Alex. If something's bothering you you can tell me." Ric soothed and I sniffed, wiping at my eyes before he offered me a soft smile. "I didn't mean to make you cry." He added, his fingers soft as he wiped my eyes.
"I'm sore and my dreams keep getting worse and worse. You making me cry is the least of my problems right now." I answered with a cough, rubbing at my throat for long enough to leave Ric frowning. Once he placed a hand on my forehead I rolled my eyes, which made my aching head worse.
"You have a fever. When were you planning on telling me, Alex?" Ric asked, barely able to contain a chuckle when I shrugged coughing again. Shaking his head at me he gently rubbed my back as I coughed into my hand, closing my eyes which helped. "Alex, maybe you should be lying down." He suggested after watching me for several minutes and I opened my eyes my lips pressed together.
"But I'm hungry and thirsty," I complained, cringing a little at how whiny I sounded but Ric just laughed. Tousling my hair he wrapped the blanket around my shoulders, kissing the top of my head before he straightened.
"I'll be back in a few minutes," Ric answered and I managed a weak smile, watching as he left through the open door. Whistling to himself, Ric finished making lunch for him and Alex before he grabbed two cans of soda. As an afterthought, he picked up a tray setting everything down on it before he picked the tray up carefully.
Ric was in a good mood, knowing that Alex would appreciate the gesture though when he stepped into the room he found a sight that left him frozen. "Alex?" He called out, quickly setting the tray down before he hurriedly crossed the room reaching Alex's side who was lying on the floor not moving. Reaching out he grasped her shoulder though just as he went to shake it I groaned, shifting onto my side and Ric blew out a breath.
"Alex, what happened?" Ric asked, sighing when I groaned instead the pounding in my head stopping me from opening my eyes. "Here, just stay still okay?" He added and I winced as he wrapped an arm around my waist and one around my shoulders. With some difficulty Ric managed to lift me back onto the bed, pushing his hand onto my chest to stop me from toppling forward.
"I tried to stand and…." I trailed off with a grimace, opening my eyes to find Ric's eyes on my face. "Bad move right?" I tried to chuckle only to wince again and Ric nodded. Once I finally lowered my head I saw where his hand was and Ric coughed, cheeks red as I tilted my head to one side. "Don't worry about it. Your hand's the only thing keeping me upright right now."
"Still should have asked first, Alex." Ric chuckled, running a hand through his hair and I gave him a weak laugh which just started me coughing all over again. Helping me lean back against the pillow Ric moved to the desk returning to my side with a tray and something that had my mouth watering. "Here, I thought you could do with something to eat. I know you're feeling rotten but you need your strength to fight off whatever this is." Ric explained, seeing me staring at the bowl he had between his hands with my mouth open.
"Whatever it is it smells amazing." I breathed and Ric blinked at me as I reached out for the bowl though when he slowly shook his head I fixed Ric who had a raised eyebrow. "Now what?" I muttered and Ric chuckled, holding a spoon between his fingers. "Fine."
Despite my reluctance at being spoon-fed the chicken soup helped and as Ric finished his meal, a turkey sandwich and a soda I sighed. Seeing me curling up onto my side Ric smiled reaching over before he lightly rubbed the top of my head with his open palm. "Better?" He asked but I didn't respond, pulling my pillow closer so I could rest my head on it. "Well, I'll let you rest."
"Thank you, Ric...for everything," I mumbled and Ric chuckled, placing the empty bowl on the tray. By the time he finished his meal, Alex had fallen asleep not even stirring when he lightly brushed her cheek with his thumb.