We stay like this for a while until he says,
“How about we get you something to eat? You haven’t had anything solid in almost a week.”
I pull away from our comfortable position and think about it.
“Yeah, I’m pretty hungry.” I agree.
I don’t actually feel hungry, but I don’t want to make him upset with me, either.
Not when things are starting to go so well.
“Alright, I’ll make you a little snack. Then we can get the kitchen to bring something up for you.”
“Thank you. I’m just going to freshen up real quick, if that’s okay?”
“Of course. The bathroom is through that door.” He points to the back of the suite.
He helps me get out of his lap and I make my way to the bathroom.
I look in the mirror and realize I’m a mess.
My face is visibly dirty and there is still some dried blood in my tangled hair.
I look down and see my hands and arms are just as gross as my face.
I sniff the shirt I’m wearing.
I smell terrible.
UGH!
How embarrassing!
I wash up at the sink as quickly as I can.
At the very least, to get the dirt off my face, arms, and hands.
I don’t have a hairbrush or a hair tie, so I try just running my fingers through to smooth it out.
It ends up looking worse.
Oh my Goddess!
The hottest guy on the planet is just outside the door.
Of course I look like a feral child!
I swallow my pride and head out to the kitchen.
Alpha Bronx is cutting berries with a much smaller knife than he had the last time he was in the kitchen.
“Feel better?” He asks, not looking up from what he is doing.
“Umm, better enough for now, I guess.” I reply shyly.
He smiles as he looks at me and nods.
He doesn’t seem to notice my messy appearance.
“Umm, just out of curiosity, did you call me ‘Baby’ earlier?” I lean against the counter and ask as he prepares the bowl of fruit salad for me.
A guilty look crosses his face, and he rubs his hand on the back of his neck.
“Uh, yeah, I guess I did. Is that alright?”
“I think so. I just wasn’t expecting it.”
He has me sit at the breakfast bar of the kitchenette and puts the bowl of fruit in front of me.
I smile as I take a piece of strawberry.
It tastes amazing.
I eat more fruit when all of a sudden, my stomach feels like it is in a weird knot.
“Oww!” I push the bowl away and grab my stomach.
“What is it, Baby? What’s wrong?” Alpha Bronx comes around the counter and kneels in front of me.
His eyes glaze over as he mindlinks someone.
A moment later, a doctor comes to the room.
He gets there so fast that I wonder if he was waiting outside the apartment.
He starts checking my pulse, looking in my eyes and mouth, and asking me questions.
He tells us the fruit is too much for my stomach right now.
I need to eat bland foods and work my way up to exciting foods, you know, like fruit.
Toast with butter and crackers until I can slowly tolerate more.
“I’m glad to see you up and about, Luna.” He says with a smile as he packs up his bag.
My head snaps up.
He just called me Luna.
He pats my hand and tells Alpha Bronx to call him if there is anything more.
The Alpha takes some Ritz crackers out of the pantry, arranges them on a plate, and hands the plate to me.
“Bon appétit.” He says with a shrug.
“Alpha Bronx, that doctor called me Luna.”
“Okay, first things first. It’s just Bronx. My name is Bronx Mason. You, of all people, never need to call me Alpha. Got it?” He says with a smirk.
It’s kinda a sexy look.
“Okay, Bronx.” I emphasize his name, playfully.
“What’s the second thing?”
“The doctor was right to call you Luna. You’re my mate and as long as I don’t completely fuck things up between us, one day you’ll be Luna of my pack.”
I can feel my face flush.
“Now eat your crackers, Baby. I slaved away all day, on them.” He dramatically puts the back of his hand on his forehead.
I giggle, looking at the little plate.
“I love that sound.” He leans against the counter, putting his chin in his hand.
I smile at him before clearing my throat,
“Um, Bronx. I was wondering if anyone picked up my clothes before we left Silver Moon? I have a pair of leggings and a couple of t-shirts.”
“What? You don’t like my favorite shirt?”
He looks offended.
“I-I’m sorry. I j-just meant…” I stammer, trying to figure out how to backtrack.
“Kas, it’s okay.
I’m just teasing.
It was a bad joke.
I’m the one who should apologize.
Not you.
I’ll get Lenora.
Hopefully, she has some clothes that fit you.
We’ll get you to the mall tomorrow so you can buy new clothes.
I’ll be right back.’ He caresses my cheek lightly, then leaves the room.
Crap.
I can’t go to the mall.
I have no money.
“Lex, is this real or are we having some kind of bizarre dream? Like, are we going to wake up in my bed in the dungeon?”
“No, I don’t think this is a dream, Kas. I can feel his wolf. I can’t wait to meet him! And Bronx called you Baby. So romantic just like always!” Lex says excitedly.
I munch on the crackers, and listen to Lex gush over our mate.
Always?
I’m not sure what she means by that, but I continue to munch on the crackers and chat with her.
Without warning, Lenora barges into the room with Bronx close behind her.
They both plop giant piles of clothes on the bed.
“Well, you’re about eight inches shorter than me and from what the doc says about sixty pounds lighter. Soooo… I brought my niece Elle’s clothes.” Lenora says with a shrug.
I pick up a few things.
There are a lot of neon-colored leggings and shirts with kittens and unicorns.
“Sorry, she’s ten,” she cringes.
“Uhh, it’s okay. There must be something in here I can wear.” I shrug.
I don’t want to admit the clothes are a lot nicer than anything I’ve owned before.
I find a pair of jeggings and a white t-shirt that says ‘Girl Power’ in sparkly pink letters.
Good enough for me.
There’s a couple of pairs of clean underwear but no bra.
Not that I have much of a chest, but I do prefer to wear one.
I keep digging until I find a spaghetti strap undershirt in the pile.
It will have to do.
Aside from smelling like I have a dead animal stowed away, Bronx’s shirt is huge on me.
It comes down to my knees like a dress, so anything is an improvement.
“Don’t worry, Kas. There are some stores with petite sections at the mall. We will find adult clothes for you,” Lenora reassures me.
I feel myself flush with embarrassment.
“About that. I-I, um, I can’t go to the mall.”
“Why not?” Bronx and Lenora ask at the same time.
“I don’t have money for shopping. Alpha Graham never paid me. Getting to live in the packhouse was my payment.” I say, looking at the ground, red-faced.
“Oh, Baby, you don’t have to worry about money.” Bronx pulls out his wallet and hands me a black credit card.
+20 Bonus
“I-I, what-,” my eyes go wide.
I have never been to a mall, let alone used a credit card.
I barely know this guy and he is just handing me his?
Lenora grabs the card out of Bronx’s hand.
“I’ll handle that.”
Bronx groans and rolls his eyes as Lenora puts his card in her pocket.
“Um, Lenora, can I talk to you for a second… umm, alone?” I shift my eyes away from Bronx’s gaze.
He doesn’t ask why I need to talk to her, he just squeezes my hand and steps out of the room.
“What’s up, Kas? Everything alright?”
“Oh, yes. Yes. It’s just… before you leave, can you help me wash my hair and back? Everything is still sore and umm… I haven’t had a proper bath in literally months. I don’t want Bronx to think I don’t take care of myself.”
“Of course, Kas. I’d be happy to.” She smiles warmly.
We go into the bathroom and she runs a bath for me but I’m hesitant to take off my clothes.
“It’s okay, Kas. I saw your scars when you were in the hospital wing.” She has tears in her eyes as she speaks.
“I’m sorry for everything you had to go through that caused them. You should know that in this pack, from the time we are very young, we’re taught that scars are actually a sign of strength. It means you’ve survived something your wolf couldn’t help you through. You have had to endure it on your own,and that is what they call strength.”