Adelson
He woke up to the sound of water. His body still ached, with every breath sending a dull pain through him. The room was unfamiliar. Very simple and half-empty, it immediately opened into a kitchen. Noah tried to lift himself on the sofa. Leaning on the armrest, he nearly yelped like a beaten dog. His wounds were washed out, with fresh bandages applied. Beside him on a small table stood a glass of water. He reached for it with his more or less healthy hand; he was terribly thirsty.
The door latch clicked, and a girl in a long dark T-shirt entered the room. Her pink hair was wet, water dripping from it. Her purple eyes immediately focused on the boy. It was clear she was making an effort before speaking.
– How do you feel? – she asked softly.
– Like I’ve been run over by a bulldozer, – Noah admitted, – how long have I been out?
– Two days, – the girl replied, – you woke up periodically, muttering. But you don’t remember any of it, do you?
The young man shook his head negatively.
– Why am I here? – he asked in a suppressed voice.
– How to say… – Nari pondered, – I just didn’t want to leave you at that dump. After all, you saved my friend. Consider this my gratitude to you.
– Thank you, – the boy smiled weakly, – but it wasn’t necessary. It’s dangerous for you.
– Chasing after me was safer? – Nari asked sarcastically.
– You don’t understand… I need to go while no one has found me here! – he tried to get up from the sofa, but his legs wouldn’t obey.
– Oh, Great Tree! – Nari prayed, – where do you think you’ll go in that condition!?
She caught him by the arms and, with some effort, seated him back on the sofa.
– Inaria, I truly appreciate it! But you don’t understand! If they find me here, you… I can’t!
– Oh, I know you’re not a beta, – the girl suddenly interrupted him, – just calm down! Your wounds will start bleeding again!
The boy froze.
– Don’t look at me like that. It was hard not to notice. For a beta, you’re too… the girl paused, – you’re too much. Moreover… when you were mumbling, you let out a roar.
– I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to! I thought I was controlling everything, but!..
– It didn’t affect me, – the girl said quietly, – so there’s no need to apologize.
– What do you mean “didn’t affect”?
– How should I know? It just didn’t affect me. In any case, you won’t be safe here for long. I couldn’t heal your wounds quickly; I need a bit more time. Once I’m done – you’ll be off in all four directions. But for a few days you’ll have to endure my company. Some people actually risked their lives to save you. So, don’t think about dying somewhere in a ditch.
She turned back to her small kitchen and loudly rattled dishes.
– I’m not much of a cook, so don’t expect culinary masterpieces, – she called out without turning, – and the selection in the omega ghetto isn’t great, so…
Noah couldn’t find anything to say. He leaned back against the sofa and closed his eyes. Fragments of that day floated through his mind. Fire, blood, screams. Wonder in the purple eyes, resembling an endless cosmos. He couldn’t recall how he ended up in this room, but for some reason, he remembered the purple haze and the scent of vanilla and pink pepper. And gentle hands that held him, embraced him, stroked his hair.
The girl placed a plate of simple broth and toast in front of him. Just from the smell, his stomach twisted, and he let out a loud whale-like groan.
– Can you hold a spoon? – the girl ignored it, – or should I help?
– I can manage…
– Manage, then manage, – she shrugged, – come on, it’s been two days since you had a crumb in your mouth.
She herself sat in another corner of the room and examined something with genuine curiosity on her communicator’s screen. After lunch, she quickly changed clothes and instructed him to wait until she returned. And again, Noah found nothing to say. They had already spent half a day in silence, now she was leaving altogether. What puzzled him the most was her behavior. He felt that despite her feigned calm, she was nervous and felt insecure around him. He didn’t understand whether she was afraid of him or just uncomfortable around an Alpha. Yet even if that were the case, she had saved his life. Healed his wounds, calmed his roar. And hadn’t turned him over to the authorities.