“You look terrible, Tyler. You have to eat something. You’ve lost too much weight,” she says softly, before looking at me.
“Make him eat something, Talon. Even if you have to shove it down his throat. Angel wouldn’t want to see him this way.” She lets go of Tyler’s hand, but he reaches out and grabs her again, pulling her closer to the cell.
“So she is okay? You need to tell her I’m sorry. Please…” I watch as he begs, tears falling down his face. He sniffs and looks away, taking a few seconds to compose himself before continuing, “…please Phoenix, tell her I’m sorry and that I love her.”
Phoenix tilts her head to the side, I can tell she’s trying to keep herself from crying. Her voice comes out rough as she says, “Angel hasn’t woken up yet, Tyler.”
Both my brother and I gasp. The air leaves my lungs and I’m left gasping for it as I hunch over. Tyler comes to my side trying to get me to breath.
“Do you think she will ever wake up?” I ask, still hunched over and looking up at her.
Her posture straightens and her gaze is intense as she looks at me, “I’m gonna make sure she does. I came down to fill you in on her progress. I know the others have been forbidden to tell you anything, but I’m not part of this pack and I know Angel wouldn’t want you locked up like this.”
She looks behind her at the staircase. “I have to go.”
She looks at Tyler, then back to me, “Make him eat something. You know Angel would blame herself if she saw him this way,” Then she’s gone.
Tyler doesn’t waste another second. He reaches the table, eats the sandwich that was laid out for him along with the entire jug of water.
****
PHOENIX POV
I rush out from the basement and come face to face with an annoyed Nixon. Over these past few weeks I’ve spent more and more time around him, seeing as I’ve spend most of my time up in Angel’s room trying to figure out ways to get her to wake up. I’m learning more and more about him and his every expression, I can actually read him nowadays. Before, I was just scared of him one hundred percent of the time, now… not so much. He gets annoyed really quickly and I don’t know what I’m doing wrong most of the time, but I like spending time with him even if the feelings not mutual. Nixon is moody most of the time, but when Axel is around he gets all protective over me; secretly I like it, the fact that he isn’t bad to look at either is just a bonus. I look down feeling the heat in my cheeks.
“Nah uh... what was that, little witch? What were you just thinking about?” Goosebumps break out all over my body when I feel his rough hands lifting my chin. I look into his intense eyes, he’s never touched me before, he always keeps his distance.
“Nothing,” I whisper, frowning. I pull away from him. “And stop calling me that… I don’t go around calling you big wolf, do I?” He looks amused, it infuriates me. I walk past him and he follows.
“You can if you like… I won’t mind.” He sounds as if he’s about to laugh.
“I’m more than just a witch you know, and I’m sure there’s more to you than just being a wolf.” I stomp my way into the main house and up the stairs towards Angel’s room. Nixon doesn’t give me a chance to even open her door. He suddenly pulls me back and into the room two doors across from hers.
It’s a storage closet and it’s pitch black aside from the light coming from the top and bottom of the doors. I hear the sound of something being pulled and then a dull light shines bright enough for me to take in my surroundings. It is indeed a storage closet filled with bedding and linen. The smell of clean sheets and softener is my absolute favourite smell, it reminds me of mama and a time when I was a little girl whose mother still wanted her. I can’t resist reaching out and leaning over smelling the fresh scent. When I feel his body flush up against my back, I stand upright, the fleeting memory of my mom drifts away and I remember where I am and with whom.
“Why are we here?” I say. I use all the confidence I can muster, even though I’m shaking in my boots right now; I won’t be letting him know that though.
“I’m a wolf and you’re just a witch, there’s nothing more to it,” he spits the words out, making me flinch and back away further until my back hits the wall. He stalks over me with his taller, bulkier form. I turn my head when he invades my space. His eyes are much darker now, the muscles in his neck straining as he leans down and runs his nose along my shoulder then up my neck.
He always did smell good but here, now… with this closeness, I want nothing more than to lean into his warmth, breathing him in just like he’s doing to me.