SELENE
A big smile appeared on my face when Drystan opened his eyes, and I immediately grabbed his hand in mine "you're awake!" I exclaimed and my smile widened and I could only hope talking to him wasn't the reason he woke up, because if it was, then all this would be creepy.
"What happened?" He asked after staring at me for a few seconds, and his voice came out hoarse and raspy.
I immediately let go of him and quickly poured water into a glass cup, I helped him sit up slowly and then passed the water to him "look who is playing wife" Eliana teased and I mentally rolled my eyes at her. Drystan shot me a quick smile before he took a huge gulp of the water and then passed it back to me.
"Thank you" he mumbled and this time his voice was clearer. I smiled at him and sat back down,
"You're welcome" I mumbled and he nodded at me.
We both fell into a comfortable silence after that, and while I rested my gaze on him, taking in every bit of his features to make sure he was still the same person and truly okay, He was clearly lost in his thoughts and stared blankly at the wall.
A few moments of comfortable silence passed before he turned towards me and raised an eyebrow, I readied myself for the question he was about to ask and just stared back at him "What happened?" He asked, again.
I sighed and shrugged, "Everything just seems so surreal and I don't even know where to start from," I said.
"Well, start from the beginning. That's how you start" he said and I didn't miss the annoyance in his voice, making me glare at him.
I clenched my teeth and quietly spat out at him "Be respectful", he raised his eyebrows at my tone but after a few seconds of deliberation, he gave up and sighed.
"Sorry" he mouthed, purposely avoiding my gaze.
"Apology accepted," I said, gloating at him "Well, I still don't know how to start this story but like you said I'll start from the beginning" my words immediately drew his attention back to me and he turned back to me with his undivided attention; his eyes rested on me completely, and I began telling him all that went down.
"And when I was in the waiting room, a woman came and..." I immediately clamped my mouth shut when I realized what I was about to say next, his face contorted in confusion and he raised an eyebrow at me but I just shook my head.
The probability of him believing what transpired between I and Elphaba is pretty slim, and I do not want to give him an opportunity to think low of me and probably cut me out of training. I took a deep breath and forced a smile on my face "forgive me, I nearly mixed up the stories" I apologized.
He scrutinized my face for a few seconds before he slowly bobbed his head "sure thing" he mumbled, but I could tell he didn't buy my cheap lie but I discarded the fact and continued telling him all that happened, anyway.
I was already done with the story when the door creaked open, we both immediately turned to the door and met Clarissa and Derick standing over there. Derrick looked very relieved and a big smile graced his face as he stared at Drystan who nodded at him as a form of greeting, but Clarissa had tears welled up in her eyes and she looked like she was about to burst into tears anytime soon.
And before any of us could register what was happening, she flung herself into Drystan's arms and hugged him tightly. He looked taken aback at first, but then he gently wrapped one of his arms around her and smiled sweetly, "Don't dare scare me like that again!" She said in a muffled voice, thanks to her tears and the fact that her face was practically buried in his neck.
My stomach twisted painfully as I watched the scene before me unfold, it isn't jealousy, or at least that's what I tell myself, it was the feeling of being disrespected. I've never hugged Drystan like that, he's never smiled at me like that nor even held me as close as that willingly and I am the one meant to be his wife.
"Get her off him" Eliana ordered and my eyes widened at the force and the anger radiating from her. I didn't expect that outburst and immediately pushed her to the back of my mind. For a moment I wished I could do the same to the constricting feeling in my chest, was I perhaps feeling jealous? I quickly shook my head at the ridiculous thought.
It isn't jealousy because I don't love nor plan on loving Drystan, it was strictly disrespect. I stared at them with a fake smile on my face and my hands tightly clenched by my side, they held each other for a few more minutes before Clarissa gently pulled away; wiping her eyes in the process.
I felt Drystan's gaze flick towards me for a second before he immediately turned away, it was at that moment that Clarissa acknowledged my presence. She turned towards me and her eyes widened slightly in shock, "oh, Selene. He's awake" she stated and I couldn't help but notice the hint of nervousness in her voice.
"Yeah, he is," I said, trying to sound more cheerful but my voice came out stiff and humourless. She forced a smile at me before turning back to him with the biggest smile on her face. I heard shuffling and in a few seconds Derrick was standing beside him, and soon enough they all were engaged in a conversation.
I couldn't stand the feeling of being left out, nor the disrespect of watching my *fiancee* look cosy and perfectly comfortable with another woman in my presence, and I immediately stood and mumbled "I'll be right back" but I'm pretty sure none of them heard me. I was about to walk out when someone immediately grabbed my hand; holding me back.
I raised an eyebrow and turned to see the person holding me back, and it was Drystan; he was fully engaged in the conversation he was having but his hands held mine tightly. I glanced at our joined hands and then back at him, and this time he was staring at me.
Just as I was about to wiggle my hand out and ask him why he was holding on to me, I saw fear flash through his eyes but it was gone just as fast as it came, and for a moment I doubted what I saw and was about to wiggle my hand out again but he immediately mouthed "Please stay"
My eyes widened at the vulnerability he let show on his face at that moment and I nodded my head, he offered me a small smile before he turned back to Derrick. I slumped back on my chair and just stared at our joined hands, a small smile made its way to my face as I stared at them but the smile was wiped off my face completely when I looked up and found Clarissa staring at me, jealousy and pain were clearly written all over her face.
It was at that moment that a thought I didn't want to harbour entered my mind and without thinking twice I freed my hand from Drystan's hold and walked out of the room.
Lots of thoughts swirled through my mind as I walked through the hospital corridor, "Does she like him? Does he like her back? Did I just come in between two lovers? Does Derrick know about this? Why did I get such a strong reaction to the both of them being cosy?" These thoughts and more ran through my mind, and I just slumped on one of the waiting chairs.
"None of those should matter," Elaina said all of a sudden, and I sighed. How does she always manage to drag herself back up into my mind after I've locked her out?
"It should matter Elaina, we just can't come in between lovers!" I whisper-yelled and I can swear she rolled her eyes.
"It isn't our fault. If they both are or were lovers, Derrick would know and he wouldn't give out his sister's lover" she countered intelligently.
For a moment I was about to accept her words and discard my thoughts, but I shook my head in realization "An Alpha would do anything to protect his pride and an Annha will do anything to fulfil her responsibility" I mumbled to her and she fell silent when she realized how true my words are.
"You are also an Annha, and your responsibility now is to get married to Drystan. You should fulfil your responsibility" she stated after a few months of silence, and I sighed deeply.
She's right, but if they both were lovers then it all makes my responsibility a little too tedious to fulfil. "Why does everything suddenly seem so confusing and hard?" I asked, my mind momentarily going to Elphaba and her strange words. When I got no response to my question, I sighed "We should go on a run" I said when I couldn't stand to think of all these anymore.
"We do need it" the moment she said that I quickly stood up and walked out of the hospital, walk-in straight into the thick forest at the back of the hospital. I felt shivers the moment I stepped foot into the forest, "are you sure we should go on a run here?" Eliana asked and for a brief moment I wanted to turn around and leave, but I stood my ground and began removing my clothes.
"We should" I replied and got on all fours to let the wolf part of me dominate the human side, Eliana reluctantly accepted to proceed with the run and quickly pushed herself forward and in mere seconds I was fully transformed into a beautiful wolf.
I stood there for a while, basking in the feeling of having the wind brush through my furs as I lazily stretched out. It's been long since I was in my wolf form; thanks to Mooncrest pack and Drystan, but now that I shifted after a while, it feels so good. When I felt I've stretched enough and I've enjoyed the feeling of the wind caressing my furs softly, I gave up control to Eliana and she immediately dashed into the forest.
Eliana ran without a care in the world, jumping over branches and sliding past trees at such a fast rate it was hard for my eyes to even catch up, but that didn't stop me from feeling the immense happiness of being one with my wolf and running out in the open after a long while. The thoughts that led us into running passed by as she ran through the forest, and the further we ran the more nothing seemed to matter anymore.
I took a very deep breath and let myself enjoy these moments of peace I have because as much as I tried I couldn't shake off the feeling that this might be the last moment of peace I have.