No one comes to my room for hours.
I quietly eat the dinner the servants brought me and settle into bed again. Why did I think Kaan would come here? He's probably minding his own business in his wing of the house, forgetting I exist.
Tiredness nearly pulls my lids closed. I sigh. I need to bathe first, it's been days.
The problem is, I have to spend a great deal of time mustering strength before I can actually manage to stand.
Bracing one hand against the wall, I push myself up. My legs shake a little, although I don't immediately fall back onto the bed so I'm making progress.
I manage to slowly make my way into the adjoining bathroom.
My loose pants come off first, then my food-stained shirt.
The pain in my back is vicious and unrelenting as I struggle to lean down far enough to turn on the faucet. My fingers brush against its polished metal surface, but slip right off.
"Fuck," I mutter under my breath. No bath then, I guess.
Ignoring the frustrated tears that prick the back of my eyes, I release the deep breath I've been holding. I just want to be healthy, pain-free again.
A sharp knock at the door makes me still.
"Who is it?" I ask warily.
The bedroom door clicks open. "Who do you think?"
Panicked, I snatch up the towel and wrap it around myself. It's nearly midnight, what is Kaan doing here?
"Whoa...I'm getting dressed," I call out.
Before my injured self can reach the bathroom door to slam it shut, he appears at the threshold.
He smirks, leaning his forearm against the doorframe. My blood warms as he eyes rove over my bare, trembling legs, at the towel plastered around me at up my neck before finally settling on mine.
"You're really struggling, aren't you," he mumbles, amusement lacing his tone.
The bathroom light does little to pierce the dark night. Shadows shift over the strong, sharp planes of Kaan's face, giving him an almost sinister look.
Alpha's aren't meant to be scary...I think he may be the exception.
"You shot me in the spine, what do you expect," I bite back.
It's far easier to direct my anger at Kaan than to concentrate on the persistent, aching pain in my back that won't subside until I'm submerged in hot water.
"I suppose."
"Turn around. Or better yet, leave," I snap. I would point at the door if I didn't need both hands clutching the towel. I can't allow a single slip up, even if I'm still wearing my underwear.
Kaan looks down at me, his gaze burning my skin. "Why? You're covered."
"I could be smothered in a million more of these towels and it wouldn't be enough," I tell him. I would push him out the room if he wasn't so large and broad in stature and I wasn't injured.
He's standing there like we are a couple in love and him watching me naked is a normal occurrence.
I waver, both at the disturbing thought and my weakening legs.
A frown forms between his brows. "You're struggling to stand."
The rational, stubborn side of me wants to bite his head off, but the irritated, tired and sore part of me is so beyond frustrated I could cry.