Page 152 of UNAwere

I find the off button on the heart rate monitor and press it.

‘Can you not touch that, please?’ a woman in scrubs says, coming into the room. She shakes her head. ‘It’s on for a reason.’

‘I’m very much alive,’ I tell her, smiling. I wriggle my fingers at her. ‘See?’

‘You were actually tachycardic when you came in,’ she says, snippy. She reaches across my bed and turns the monitor back on. ‘And we were making sure your heart rate went back to normal and stayed there.’

‘I don’t think a bossy doctor is going to do me any good,’ I say, glancing at Nolan.

He hides a smile behind another wedge of orange.

‘I’m not a doctor, I’m a nurse,’ the woman says. She’s a Were, and I haven’t seen her around the house before. ‘And I’d rather not get in trouble with the alpha just because her sister-in-law can’t do what she’s told.’

I glance back at Nolan, cheeks heating, and he lets out a small chuckle when the nurse is gone.

‘Briggs wasn’t happy when you weren’t doing well.’

‘Where is he?’ I ask, my heart clenching.

‘Helping his sister boss people around the house, I think.’ Nolan shrugs. ‘He was sitting by your bedside when I came in, but I told him I wanted to speak to you alone.’

‘I’m sorry, Nolan,’ I murmur.

‘Why?’ he asks.

‘I didn’t go through with it. With Warner.’

‘Well, if you think you made a mistake, I’ll let you know that your mistake made an alpha out of your mate’s sister and the alliance still stands. Stronger, in fact, now it’s Hannah who took charge.’ Nolan shakes his head. ‘And she’d do anything for you… because her little brother loves you.’

I sigh. ‘Nolan, we’ve been doing it all wrong. Luminaire. Contorting ourselves to fit into an expectation that humans have of us. And for their benefit, not ours. I-I haven’t known anything during my time with Jude. I pushed aside so much of who I am, and it really set me back…’

He watches me closely, slowly chewing.

‘Do you know I hadn’t even seen myself as a wolf before I met Jude?’ I swallow. ‘He was the one that convinced me it was okay to listen to my wolfish side. He told me I was indoctrinated. I thought he was culty, but now I know he was right.’ I shake my head, my heart skittering at the look on Nolan’s face. ‘I don’t say these things to make you feel bad, Nolan, but—’

‘You’re right,’ he says, voice small.

‘I…’ I stop, taking a breath. ‘It’s no wonder organisations like WEREHu have to exist.’

He lets out a quiet laugh. ‘I was just following on from the last alpha. I never questioned it. But you’re right. And this is why the alliance with Primrose is so good for us.’ He gestures between us. ‘Perspective.’

I smile sadly. ‘I thought it’d feel good…’

‘What’s that?’

‘Making a decision for myself for once. But I just feel… guilty.’

‘That’s because you’re not used to it. Not because it’s wrong.’ He gets off the wall and drops the orange peel in a bin near the sink. He comes to me and takes my hand. ‘I’m proud of you, Sybbie.’

‘Thanks, Nolan.’

He smiles, pats the back of my hand, and then leaves.

‘It was about time he left,’ Bernie says, bursting through the door. She grins when she sees me. ‘You’re looking better!’

My bandage is stiff against my shoulder, my eyes feel like sandpaper, and I’m sure my hair is a mess, but I give her a thumbs-up.

‘C’mon,’ she says. ‘I’m taking you to the cabin.’