Hours had passed since that conversation, but Kariana’s warning still echoed in Fiona’s mind. This place was even more dangerous than she had initially thought.
Unfortunately, her options were limited: stay here or risk being outside, where her family could easily end her life. Besides, she wanted to find out more about her family and the reason why they wanted to kill everyone who left the pack and the
clan
Fiona sighed as she settled into her room, having just finished dinner and seeking a moment of rest.
Fiona sat quietly in her small quarters, the room barely furnished but functional. The bed was simple, with a thin mattress and a rough blanket, and the walls were so thin she could hear faint movements from the adjacent room. A plain wooden drawer stood beside the bed, the only space where she could store her belongings. Above it, a small hook was mounted on the wall, useful for hanging her bag or a coat.
A thin divider separated from the next the room, providing little privacy, but it was better than nothing. The air inside felt cold, and the lack of windows made it feel even more enclosed. Fiona looked around, noting how bare and utilitarian the space was. It wasn’t much, but for now, it was enough.
She tried to focus on organizing her few belongings, placing her medical supplies neatly in the drawer. The sound of soft footsteps approached from outside the room, likely one of the other healers coming to start their shift. Fiona sighed, pushing aside her growing apprehension.
Her life had changed so drastically in such a short time, and she wasn’t sure what to expect next.
A soft knock on the door interrupted her. Fiona opened it to find a tall man standing in front of her. He had a striking appearance, with dark hair that was neatly trimmed and eyes the color of amber that gleamed in the dim light of the hallway. His strong jawline and broad shoulders gave him an air of confidence, and something about his calm, collected demeanor immediately caught her attention. If she was right, this man would be her partner moving forward.
He was dressed in the simple attire of a healer–a sky–blue shirt paired with matching pants—that reminded her of the scrubs worn by doctors in the outside world. She knew from earlier that her clothing was different because she was new. Fiona quickly concluded that those wearing the sky–blue outfits had a higher ranking than her.
In this place, healers operated around the clock in pairs. Each healer worked a 12–hour shift while their partner rested, ensuring constant readiness. In the event of an emergency, the resting healer would step in to assist. This system was carefully designed to guarantee that the primary healer always had a backup in critical situations. After completing a 24- hour cycle, the healers were granted a full 24 hours of rest. Since she was new, she needed to be paired with someone beyond her rank, an expert as some would call it.
“You must be the new one?” the man asked, his voice deep and smooth.
Fiona nodded, still taking in his appearance. “Yes, I’m Fiona,” she replied.
Before she could say anything else, Kariana appeared behind the man, her usual smirk in place. “Ah, I see you’ve met Cillian,” she said, stepping forward to formally introduce them. “Fiona, this is Cillian Delucas. He’s one of the senior healers here, and he’ll be your partner moving forward.”
Cillian gave Fiona a polite nod. “Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a bit about you.” He held out his hand and smiled.
Fiona raised an eyebrow at that, glancing at Kariana, who just shrugged. “Word travels fast around here,” Kariana said. “Anyway, Cillian’s experienced. You’ll learn a lot from him.”
Cillian smiled slightly. “I’ll do my best not to disappoint,” he said with a touch of humor in his tone as he waited for her to shake his hand.
Fiona couldn’t help but feel a bit more at ease, despite the tension that had been building throughout the day. “I look forward to working with you,” she said. However, just as she was about to take his hand, a loud growl echoed in the hallway.
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20:49 Sat, Nov 30
Chapter 29
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A loud growl echoed through the hallway, cutting the conversation short. Fiona’s eyes darted toward the sound, her body instantly tensing. She knew that growl all too well–Elijah.
The moment he appeared in the hallway, everyone reacted immediately. Cillian and Kariana quickly bowed, and Fiona followed suit, her heart pounding in her chest. Elijah’s presence was commanding, his expression unreadable as he glanced at the group.
“You are excused,” Elijah said, his voice firm but calm.
Cillian and Kariana straightened, giving quick nods before turning to leave. Fiona was about to follow them when Elijah’s voice stopped her in her tracks.
“Not you,” he said, his gaze fixed on her.
Fiona’s eyes widened. They had already agreed to keep their relationship discreet, especially in such a dangerous place. His enemies couldn’t know about her, not yet. So why was he here, making it obvious?
She hesitated for a moment before turning to face him. “Do you want to talk in private?” she asked, her voice soft but steady.
Elijah nodded.
Fiona swallowed hard and gestured toward her room. “Come in
She led the way, feeling the tension rise as they entered the small, cramped space. Once inside, Fiona quickly glanced around, suddenly feeling self–conscious. The room was so basic, so bare, not the kind of place someone like Elijah would be used to. She mumbled nervously, “It’s not much, but it’s fine. I’m not supposed to be here all the time, anyway. I didn’t want anything special, really.”
When Elijah didn’t respond, she turned toward him, and her breath caught in her throat. He was staring at her, his gaze intense, as if he could see straight through her. The air between them thickened, the silence heavy with unspoken words.
“What’s wrong?” she started to ask, but before she could finish, Elijah closed the distance between them in a heartbeat. His strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her into a tight embrace. Fiona’s heart raced as she felt the heat of his body against hers, her breath hitching at the sudden closeness.
She barely had time to think before she melted into his embrace, her hands resting on his chest.
Fiona looked up at him, her pulse racing. “What are you doing?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “We can’t do this here.”
Elijah’s grip tightened slightly as he looked down at her, his gaze burning with something deeper than frustration. “If it wasn’t obvious already,” he said, his voice low and rough, “then I’ll make it obvious.”
Before Fiona could respond, Elijah’s lips crashed onto hers, his kiss firm and full of need. The shock of it sent a jolt through her, and for a second, her mind went blank. But the heat between them rose quickly, and she found herself responding, her hands gripping his shirt as she kissed him back.
