Page 105 of Rescued By the Beast
"Of course, as long as I'm in control of my body, I'll take care of him," I promise.
"I'll stop by later, straight from the clinic, to see how he's doing." Ethan sighs, pressing his lips together as he draws air through his nose. "His supernatural regeneration is still weak, but with the stitches and our care, he'll be fine."
He gives me one last look before leaving.
In the kitchen, I find ingredients for some porridge and force myself to eat, even though I'm not hungry. My stomach is churning with anxiety and worry, but I swallow each spoonful. I need to stay strong to take care of Mark.
Then I go back up to the bedroom with the nourishing potion Balthazar has prepared to keep him fed while he remains unconscious.
I kneel beside the bed and carefully tilt Mark's head, pouring the liquid onto his lips. He swallows without waking, his eyelids fluttering but not opening. My heart aches to see him like this.
Gently, I lower his head back onto the pillow, my fingers tracing the strong contours of his face. I stroke his hair, feeling the silky texture between my fingers, and lean down to press a soft kiss on his forehead.
"Get well soon," I murmur against his warm skin.
I stand there, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest, trying to find peace in this moment, but my heart is restless.
A sound from outside catches my attention.
At first, it sounds like just a bird singing in the forest, but... there's something strange. The rhythm of the song is unnatural.
My blood runs cold.
That's not singing.
It's a whistle.
I jump up and run to the window, my hands gripping the sill as my eyes scan the trees. My heart pounds against my ribs.
Who is there? Wolves? Something worse?
Then I see the figure standing on the other side of the fence.
Air rushes into my lungs, as if I were emerging from underwater.
"I don't believe it..." I murmur, already turning on my heels.
I rush down the stairs, almost tripping over the steps, and throw open the back door, which slams against the wall and closes behind me.
The cool morning breeze chills my skin as I run to the edge of the barrier. I want to cross it. I want to run to him, cling to the familiarity of a face I thought I would never see again.
But something stops me.
Fear.
What else is lurking in the forest? What hungry eyes might be watching us now?
"Luther!" Panting, his name comes out almost like a sob. My eyes burn with tears that blur my vision, but my mouth curves into a trembling smile. "How did you know where I was? How did you find me?"
"Damn it, Sandra..." He raises an arm, his hand outstretched towards me, but his fingers collide with the invisible barrier. His jaw tenses. "I've been looking for you all this time. I thought... I almost thought... you were dead."
Tears stream down my face as I shake my head, denying it.
"I almost was. But they saved me. I..." I take a deep breath, trying to organise my thoughts. "Luther, so much has happened, and..."
"Let me in." His eyes burn with intensity. "I need to see you properly, hold you, know that you're okay."
I open my mouth, ready to invite him in, but then my head swivels back towards the cottage. Towards the bedroom window where Mark is still sleeping, un . It's his house. I can't just open the doors to anyone who wants to come in. Balthazar was an exception.
