Page 62 of Virgin for Next Door Wolf Daddy
She tried to sit up but was too weak. A soft hand gently pushed against her shoulder. A familiar voice called out softly to her. “You’re safe. Lay back down. Everything is okay.”
Talia turned her head to the other side and saw Taryn sitting in a chair, holding a book.
“Taryn. Thirsty.”
“I’ll be right back,” the girl said, rushing out of the room.
Talia could hear her calling through the house. “Mom. Talia’s awake.”
Taryn returned a minute later with a cup of water and a straw.
“Take tiny sips. If you drink too much, too fast, you’ll get sick.”
Talia tried to nod but the effort made her head hurt. She sipped the water and the cool liquid slid down her throat, soothing it. She licked her lips and her eyes roamed around the room again. “Where am I?”
“Our house,” Beth said, walking in the door holding Zane. “You’ve been very sick, but Savvy, Taryn, and I have been using our magic to heal you and protect the baby.”
“How long?” Talia managed to squeak out.
“Three days,” Taryn said.
She rubbed her belly and looked at Beth and asked in a pleading voice, “The baby?”
“She’s fine,” Taryn said. “I’ve scanned her several times a day, and she hasn’t suffered any from the fever, pneumonia, or dehydration. She’s healthy.”
Talia felt her muscles melt as she lay against the cool sheets.
“Is Sebastian back yet?”
Beth pressed her lips together and handed Zane to Taryn. She sat down on the bed and picked up one of Talia’s hands. “He and Rory found you. Marvin carried you off the mountain, and then Sebastian and Rory brought you here. Sebastian believed the people responsible had something to do with the mission he had just returned from. He wanted to make sure that nothing like this could ever happen again, so he and his crew went back overseas to deal with the problem. He called Rory this morning and told him that the situation was handled and that Sebastian and his crew are on their way back.”
“General Sorn,” Talia whispered.
Beth raised her eyebrows. “You know him?”
“The men talked about him. They were afraid of him.”
“They should have been. I’ve been reading up on him and he is a very nasty character. Zac and Conner took care of the men who kidnapped you, so they don’t have to worry about anything ever again.”
Talia started to close her eyes but then they popped wide open again. “My job.”
“I talked to Principal Jones. She knows what happened and your job is safe,” Beth assured her.
“She stops me in the hall every day to ask how you’re doing,” Taryn said.
“Good, I’m glad. I love teaching, especially at the school I grew up in.” Talia felt very weak, and she heard her voice fading. Darkness reached in from the edges of her consciousness and soon, everything faded to black.
Talia stayed another week at Beth’s. She slowly felt herself get stronger. Finally, she decided that it was time for her to go home.
She was afraid that she would be uncomfortable in her own house. Her windows and doors had been locked and the alarm set the night that she was kidnapped. However, as she walked around the familiar rooms, she was comforted. Someone had come in and cleaned the house and made sure that the fridge and cabinets were stocked.
Talia smiled. She loved the people in her life. She wandered around her house again and a sense of peace settled over her.
There is no way in the world that I’m going to let those jerks steal my happiness, my home, or my life from me.
She went back to school the next morning. Principal Jones called her into the office soon after she arrived.
Great. I haven’t even been in the building for ten minutes and I’m already being called to the principal’s office. Some things never change – everyone dreads going to the principal’s office whether they are kids or teachers.
