Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted novel Chapter 465

Chapter 465: Lisa: Taking Care of Him

"Is it too fluffed? I can flatten it a bit." I punch at Kellan’s pillow again, trying to get it just right. "Sorry, I’m not used to hospital pillows. They’re always either too flat or too lumpy."

His eyes follow me as I circle the bed, adjusting his blanket for the fifth time in twenty minutes. I separate the orange slices I’ve peeled into perfect little crescents, arranging them on the napkin like a sunburst. He hasn’t even touched the first one I sat out fifteen minutes ago.

"Here, you should eat something," I say, pushing the tray closer. "Unless you don’t like oranges? I can find something else. Maybe the cafeteria has—"

"Are you okay, or are you trying to smother me with kindness?" Kellan asks, his voice completely flat.

I blink at him, frozen mid-orange adjustment. "You saved my life. Am I not allowed to be a little doting?"

Kellan narrows his eyes. "You don’t dote. You sass. I’m concerned."

My cheeks heat. Caught. I’ve never been good at this whole caretaking thing. I’m all sharp edges and attitude. But seeing him lying there, bandaged and bruised because of me has twisted something in my chest. The weird compulsion I felt earlier has faded, but the guilt lingers.

Besides, the thought of returning to an empty room with nothing but my nightmares feels unbearable. I’d rather stay here and make a complete fool of myself trying to show Kellan how much he means to me.

As you can see, it’s not going very well.

"I sass people I don’t care about," I say, too brightly. "You clearly need a gentler approach."

"Uh-huh." He doesn’t look convinced. "What did Dr. Beaumont give you? Did you get into my pain meds?"

I roll my eyes. "Shut up and drink your water."

There. Now I sound more normal, right?

I reach across him for the water cup on the nightstand, but my balance is off—whether from exhaustion or lingering adrenaline, I can’t tell. My hand misses the cup entirely and I pitch forward like an idiot, falling across his body with a soft "oof."

Kellan grunts, pain flashing across his face. Before I can scramble away, his arms wrap around me, pinning me against him.

"I didn’t mean—wait, are you—does it hurt?" I stammer, mortified I’m crushing his wounds.

"Not as much as you moving would," he murmurs, his face buried in my neck.

He holds me firmly but gently against him, our bodies pressed together from chest to hip. I can feel his heartbeat against mine, steady but quick. His breath hitches against my skin, warm and damp, sending a shiver down my spine. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

I go very still, afraid to cause him more pain. But as the seconds tick by, I become aware of something else—the subtle but unmistakable hardness pressing against my thigh. My heart pounds so loud I swear he must hear it.

No, this is ridiculous. He’s injured. He’s in pain. I’m probably imagining—

But I’m not.

I’ve been dancing around him forever, afraid of what giving in would mean, how it would change things. And here he is, bandaged and bruised because wolves and vampires are fighting over territory.

Over me.

I’m not worth this kind of pain, but he seems to think I am.

He’s the best thing to ever happen to me. Maybe—maybe—I’d even choose him over Ava. Mostly because she has Lucas and Selene and Grimoire to help her keep going. But Kellan?

He only has me.

And me? I only have him.

Well, and Ava. And I guess he has Lucas, too. But it doesn’t sound nearly as romantic when I start delving past the emotions of the moment.

It’s my claim this time. Not his.

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