Abby
The ride home feels like an eternity, my head still throbbing with pain and the world outside a blur of snow and darkness. Karl''s
presence beside me is aforting anchor, and | try my best to focus on the sound of his voice as he reassures me that we''ll be
home soon.
Finally, | see the lights of the mansione back into view like a lifeline in a stormy sea. We pass through the tall security gate
and into safety once more, then pull into the driveway. Karl turns off the engine and stops to nce at me.
“Ready?” he asks, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.
| nod, too tired to steep. He quickly gets out of the car andes around to my side, helping me out. But as soon as | step onto
the snowy ground, my legs give way beneath me, and | stumble and fall, the world spinning around me.
“Abby!” Karl exims in rm, catching me before | hit the ground.
I clutch onto him, feeling dizzy and disoriented. “Karl, | don’t feel so good,” | mumble, my voice weak.
He doesn’t waste a second. With gentle strength, he scoops me up into his arms, cradling me like I’m a fragile doll. | rest my
head against his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his body seeping into mine. Despite the pain and difort, | can’t help but find
comfort in his arms.
As soon as we enter the house, Alice and Elsie rush over, their faces filled with worry. “Is she okay?” Elsie asks, her voice
trembling.
Karl nods, his expression calm andposed. “She’s going to be fine, but she needs some care right now. Can you bring me
warm water and a washcloth, run her a warm bath, and get her some herbal tea? Also, please call the doctor.”
Alice and Elsie nod in unison, and they scurry away to attend to his requests.
Karl carries me up the stairs and gently sets me down on my bed, and | let out a sigh of relief as | sink into the familiar softness
of the mattress.
“I''m gonna undress you now, okay?” Karl asks.
I nod stiffly.
He starts to peel off my soaked clothes, and it’s only then that | realize just how cold and wet | am from the snow.
Embarrassment floods over me as | lie there in my underwear, but Karl doesn’t seem to notice or care. He’s too focused on
making sure I’m okay.
“You''re lucky you didn’t get hypothermia or frostbite,” he says softly, his fingers brushing against my skin as he helps me out of
my wet clothes.
| can’t help but blush, feeling a bit bashful without my clothes in front of him. “Thank you for saving me,” | murmur, my throat still
sore from the screaming earlier.
He smiles, his eyes warm and caring as he continues to undress me. “You''re strong, Abby,” he says gently. “You fought those
men off all on your own until | arrived. I’m proud of you.”
His words should make me feel better, but in reality, they only serve to fuel the anger and frustration that have been simmering
inside of me. If only | could have shifted sooner, maybe it never would have happened. | scold my wolf mentally, my thoughts
filled with disappointment.
“You shouldn''t have left me all alone like that,” | growl at her in the back of my mind. “You should have been there when | needed
you the most.”
“Abby,” she whines, “I have no choice. Without him by our side, I’m not strong enough.”
Her words make me even angrier. The thought that | could be dead just because of my fated mate not being right there just isn’t
fair, and it’s also not fair that | might have no choice but to officially get back with Karl for my own safety; and despite what
happened today, I’m still not sure if I’m ready for a step that big.
Karl finishes undressing me and begins to tend to my head with a warm washcloth. “Hold still,” he says gently, dabbing at the
sore spot where | was hit.
| wince at the touch but do my best to obey. “I’m sorry, Karl,” | whisper, my voiceced with guilt. “I should have listened to you
earlier instead of going out and risking getting caught in the snow. All over a stupid dress.”
He sighs and reaches for my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “You couldn’t have known, Abby,” he says gently. “Just let it
be a lesson; never forget that I’m always going to find you. If something like that happens ever again, just wait for me.”
Tears prickle at the corners of my eyes, and | turn my head away to hide them. Karl''s words areforting, but | still feel like a
fool.
If only | had waited just a few more minutes, none of what happened with those men ever would have happened. | never should
have gotten into their car. | never should have been so trusting.
After tending to my head, Karl helps me into the warm bath that Alice has prepared. The hot water soothes my aching body, and I
let out a contented sigh as | sink into the tub. Karl stays nearby, keeping a watchful eye on me as | soak but also giving me some
privacy.
When I''m done with the bath, Karl helps me into a fresh set of pajamas and tucks me into bed. It’s then that there’s a knock on
the door, and Karl gets up to answer.
“Good evening,” the doctor says as he enters, his gaze falling on me. “Let’s see what we''ve got here...”
The doctor begins examining me,
going through the motions of
prodding at my head checking) |
evss agiingibasic questions and
inspecting my nose, ears, and throat.
He finishes by checking over my
extremities for any signs of frostbite.
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“You''re in good shape,” he says as he
packs up his instruments. “Just take
Tylenol for your head, and keep aa
hydrated. You''ve gat @iinoO
comeiasiorbut thankfully nothing
else. If you start to feel like you''ve got
a cold, though,e and see me. I''ve
prescribed you some antibiotics to
keep pneumonia at bay, but | want
you to keep an eye on your
condition.” Please read the original
content at NovelDrama.Org.
| nod, watching him intently. “Thank you, doctor.”
Once the doctor leaves, | look over at
Karl, feeling a mixture of emotio
swirling inside ofespe What ree
gomaas &b-About those men?” | ask,
my voice filled with concern. “They
could hurt someone else.” Please
read the original content at
NovelDrama.Org.
Karl sighs, his brow furrowing in thought. “I''ll speak to the police in the morning,” he says. “I took note of their license te.
They''ll be caught, don’t worry.”
| nod, feeling a bit relieved. “Thank you, Karl,” | murmur. “And thank you... for bringing me home.”This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.
Inwardly, | realize that | referred to this ce as ‘home’, even though it’s no longer my official home since the divorce. It''s a
subtle realization that tugs at my heart, but Karl doesn’t seem to notice.
Karl leans down and kisses my forehead gently. “I’m just d you’re safe, Abby,” he says. “Goodnight.”
As he starts to get up to leave, a sudden impulse seizes me, and | reach out, grabbing his hand.
“Wait,” | murmur, my eyes meeting his. “Please stay.”