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SKYE

I might have heard their voices first. Or maybe I felt their auras. The bond. The connection to the people I loved most.

“Open your eyes, beautiful,”

“You can do it.”

“Wake up.”

I opened my eyes, and they felt so unbelievably heavy. My vision was blurry, and all I could see were fuzzy figures looking down at me. Someone squeezed my hand. I squeezed back. I closed my eyes again. Maybe I fell back asleep.

“Come on,” someone said, the tone in their voice urging me onward.

I forced my eyes open again, and the fuzzy figures slowly came into focus. One by one I recognized the people watching over me. Severen. Halo. Crux. Charisma.

“Am I…?” My throat was so dry.

“You made it,” Charisma said.

Halo stroked my cheek. “You got a new heart. You’re going to be alright.”

I think I hummed something affirmative. I was so exhausted.

A new face entered the circle. A nurse. She spoke with a raised voice, her words carrying. “Skye? I’m nurse Lawrence, do you remember me?”

“I don’t think so.” Was I supposed to?

“That’s alright. How are you feeling?”

“Tired,” I admitted.

“That’s the anesthesia. Do you want a popsicle?”

Nothing sounded better than a popsicle right now. A popsicle sounded better than sex. “Yes.”

“Alright, I’ll be right back with one. Try to stay awake. Talk to your pack.” Then, she left my line of sight.

I looked up at the four people who loved me most. “How long?” I asked.

“A few weeks,” Severen said.

“Oh.” I closed my eyes.

“Don’t fall asleep, babe,” Crux said.

“I’m not,” I murmured. “I’m just… taking in your auras. They’re… all around me. It’s comforting.”

“We didn’t leave the hospital for one second,” Crux said.

“That’s right,” said Halo. “We were always with you, beautiful.”

I smiled softly. “I know. I don’t know how I know, but I know. Thank you.”

Nurse Lawrence returned with the popsicle and she adjusted the bed so I could sit up, while Charisma helped me with the popsicle. It was purple.

“When can she leave?” Severen asked.

“She needs to be kept for observation, to make sure her body doesn’t reject the organ. Skye also has to regain her strength. It will be at least two weeks.”

“Two weeks is nothing. We can do that easy,” Charisma said.

I sucked on the tip of the popsicle. It was so cool and soothing on my lips and throat. I hummed in pleasure. “How’s the house?”

“Oh,” Charisma fawned. “It’s amazing. You’ll love it.”

She pulled her phone from her bag, one she designed herself of course, and swiped around until she found pictures of the house. She turned the phone screen in my direction and I admired the pictures, lifting my hand to swipe onto the next one.

The kitchen looked like a show-room, ideal for lazy macaroni salad lunch on a hot day, or mimosa-fulled brunches with lively talk all around the table.

The living room looked so cozy with our plush, oversized couch that we could all snuggle in together and watch a movie on our big screen television, or cuddle and kiss in front of the fireplace.

Severen’s office had shelves built into the walls, his desk, and a big window to let in natural light and a view of the ocean. His desk sported a cup full of pencils and pens next to his laptop.

The sunroom. The beautiful sunroom with bamboo roll-down shades that, when rolled up, gave an unobstructed view of the beach and ocean. I couldn’t wait to spend hours out there just reading and listening to the waves.

I smiled softly. “Perfect.”

“Your nest is all ready,” Halo said. “Waiting for you.”

“I didn’t see a picture,” I said.

“Because a picture won’t do it justice,” Severen said.

My smile grew. I took in a deep breath, but winced at the pain in my chest.

“You alright?” Crux asked.

“I’m fine,” I assured him. “This is good. This is the start of a new beginning.”