Howling at Midnight

Fight by Icon for Hire

One week. One long week of eating one meal a day, refusing to get up to even take a piss and no showering. He spent most of his time in his home office, studying and restudying the reports that piled on his desk, changing and saving spreadsheets, planning meetings, taking care of employees’ salaries… A lot to do. At least for a few hours a night, Brad made his way to her hospital room, checking over her records and any new progress. Usually nothing worth noting.

“Why don't you go take a bath? You’ll scare her with the way your looking.” Lindsey pulled on his arm trying to get him up.

“Come on. You need your rest. I can help with the paper load.” Luke stood by the door, his adopted cousin, Lilac, right behind him.

“Alright, alright.” Brad stood and with one last look behind him, he left for his room.

Darz bowed his head in respect before straightening his back. Meers and him were fierce fighters, though most of his pack was to begin with. Their ancestors had been a fourth of a great army.

His eyes constantly scanned the hallway, stopping to watch the nurses for a moment before continuing his watch on the rest of the corridor. Darz scored high on his list of trackers. He did his job quite well. While Brad would have loved to add him to the search parties, he would be useful guarding. His superior sense of smell could come in handy if one of her attackers were to attempt to get to her.

Nodding, Brad left the west wing and headed to his room on the uppermost floor. It was tradition for leaders, his ancestors, to remain at the main house, overseeing operations and being just steps away should they be needed.

He managed to eat some noodles, even though he didn’t really have any appetite, and showered.

Brad really wished he had never left.

It was the most horrifying sound one could ever hear in their own home. Terrified as he neared the east wing, where the hospital had been built, Brad noticed the scared and tired pack members all waiting around. More were surrounding the house but wolves on guard duty sent them back to their homes.

“Hey, Brad!” Darz’s shout spurred Brad into a full out sprint until he reached her room.

“Inside now!” Smith grabbed his elbow and hauled him in before slamming the door closed.

Despite the dim lighting in the room, he could see clearly. She sat up on the bed, eyes wide in her panic, and tugging at some of the wires at her wrist. Her heart screamed wildly on the monitor and her panting breath felt heavy in his ears.

“Calm her down, son. I’ll try getting her some food.” Smith left him to complete his own tasks and calm down the people in the hallway.

Her chest heaved up and down with great effort. Amber-ish eyes darted across the room, occasionally seeing his form by the door before panicking even more. Brad turned on the lamp on the desk and sat in the chair next to her.

She squinted for a moment against the light before scooting away from him. Clearly, she wanted nothing to do with them.

“I’m not going to touch you and I’m not going to hurt you, okay?” To prove his point, he held his hands up high where she could see them.

Brad resisted the urge to grab her into a hug since it would only freak her out even more. He felt light, like a huge weight lifted from his shoulders, allowing him to breath better. She was awake, kicking and screaming, but awake. It was the best news he had all week.

The mystery woman refused to speak even her name. When Smith came back, she refused to eat the food laid out in front of her.

“At least give us your name or maybe a phone number to call someone. Anything?” Again, she refused to speak. Her breathing had evened out and she looked at the food hungrily before turning away from it. When Smith had pushed it towards her, she slapped at his hands weakly.

“Brad? Uncle? Is everything okay?” Luke peeked in from the hallway, eyes widening as he looked at the now fully awake woman.

“Leave, Luke. We don't wanna overwhelm her with too many people in the room.” Smith shooed the boy out before leaving himself. Brad needed the time and room to speak freely with her.

“Don't touch those wires.” He had meant to only push her hand away but when he got too close, she immediately withdrew further from him. She stopped playing with the wires. “We can remove them as soon as you start eating. Promise.” He nodded his head towards the trays, hopeful that she might eat. To his utter disappointment, she shook her head no.

Smith returned to a silent room, frowning at Brad from his lack of progress.

“Alright, dear. I’m going to fill you in on what has been happening while you've been out. Okay?” She didn't say anything so he took it as a cue to continue.

Her breath hitched when being told that she had been out for an entire week. Brad growled lowly in warning when Smith had begun to discuss her many injuries but the doctor pressed on.

He made a mental note to keep any of his inhuman traits to a minimum. She had heard his growl, a panic filling her at his anger. Brad simply scooted a bit back, trying to seem as little of a threat as possible. Even sitting on his hands.

She trembled at the doctor’s words, hearing what had happened to her from some else’s perspective, but her brow relaxed when the doctor spoke of her progressing recovery.

“The brace, doc?” Brad laughed under his breath as Dr. Smith flipped through his paperwork, his train of thought lost until the reminder.

“Oh yes, yes. We had to wait until you were awake to put the brace on to see what adjustments had to be made. Now, we need to put you into a wheelchair and wheel you just down the hallway. Okay? I know it's still early morning, but the sooner the better, yes? And after you can return here to continue to rest or to your room.” Her breathing began to pick up the pace as a panicky look returned to her eyes.

“Calm down. If you feel uncomfortable then we’ll stop and bring you right back here, okay?” Brad slightly touched her arm in hopes to provide her some comfort.

She cringed at the light touch of his fingertips but didn't pull away. Her breathing slowed and she nodded. Smiling, Brad helped her into her wheelchair and her wires were disconnected.

“I’ll lead the way. Darz,” Smith opened the door to talk to the man outside. After a moment of whispering, Smith waved them to follow. Brad pushed her chair since she was too weak to do it herself.

Darz followed them down the hall, growling at some nurses who tried to get too close. They’d scurry off, whispering among themselves.

Brad reassured her that everything would be okay, keeping her focus away from Darz’s hostile behavior. It did little to calm her nerves. So, he discretely patted the man on his elbow, catching his attention and signaling for him to not growl. Darz resorted to glaring, a silent warning to not approach.

Each person that passed had her shifting in her seat, sometimes wincing if she jostled a bruise or worse. Their presence did little to calm her.

She’d continuously snap her head around, looking forward, up, down, behind her and to her sides. Everything little thing had her sinking in her chair, scared out of her mind.

Once down at the end of the corridor, they wheeled her into a room where the doctor scanned her knee before placing the brace on, securing it and adjusting it to her direction. She glanced around the room, frightful of the small dimensions, but Smith smiled at her and explained everything he did before he did it.