She started to crave it even before she had woken up. The last Adaline remembered was that sensation of warmth spreading in her entire body. It suited and calmed her and was like a huge fluffy blanket wrapped around her protecting her from the world. She woke up and immediately craved that.

Branstad she had woken up to a cold room and a fluffy blanket providing her want but that was nothing in comparison to the one she had received earlier.

​​

She bit her lip nervously as she found herself alone in the room again before she heard the fuge those being opened and her aunt walking into the room.

"Aunty Tess," her eyes gathered moisture immediately at the familiar face as she stumbled out of the bed to hug her aunt.

"Oh darling, don't," Tessa mumbled out when she saw Adaline trying to get out of bed but failing miserably to do so. She immediately quickened her pace and covered the long area. How could a bedroom be that big?

She hugged the child to her heart's content.

"I'm not causing you any pain, am I?" Tessa asked her softly to which Adeline shook her head.

She rubbed the young girls back trying to comfort the child as much as she could. Thankfully the bandaged hand was behind Tessa's back which meant that she did not have to glance at it and feel more guilty then she already did. She felt like she had abandoned Adaline.

"Okay, baby, now we have to talk about something." She slowly and gently pulled away from Adaline who looked like she could use a few more moments for the hug.

Cassandra took a seat on the other end of the bed. "Hello you," she waved at adeline.

"Hi," Adeline shyly waved back.

"What are you getting shy about, my darling girl? You are more shy than when you met me for the first time." Cassandra laughed and teased her. Though in her mind came a fleeting thought to what was the reason for Adeline's sudden shyness. Was she retreating back socially? That was not good at all.

Tessa smiled a Little but then arrived at the topic at hand. "I have a man who calls himself my mate. And they all have decided that you can come with me now."

" What?" She muttered in shock. What was that supposed to mean?

"I know, but we all thought that it might be better if you came and left with me. I can tell you more about that man later." Teresa Woods emphasized on the words more and later indicating to Adaline that whatever questions she had in mind would be answered by her at a later time.

Who's drift the girl thankfully caught. She nodded and smiled a bit. "So I am staying with you forever?" She asked a bit hopefully yet felt a singing sensation in her chest.

Tessa scoffed in her mind, careful not to do it in front of Adaline and simply shrugged in return. "How about we talk about that at a later date? I just want to focus on you for now." She tapped Adeline's chin who looked to be a little skeptical.

Adeline may be someone who was clueless here but she knew who held the authority. She turned to look at Cassandra who was watching the scene unfold in front of her with keen and alert eyes. "Can I really go?" She asked her who looked a bit taken aback.

"Yes, you can." Cassandra answered immediately. "Why?"

Adeline shrugged in return, "I don't know. It always ends badly for me, wherever I go." She mumbled and looked down at her wrist. It was the worst for her. Always.

The mood in the entire room dimmed immediately and Tessa could not help but throw a pointed glance into Cassandra's direction. All of this could have been avoided.

"Well," Cassandra said as she stood up and have them a quick smile, "you can leave right now if you want and we shall send over your stuff as soon as possible." She threw another quick smile their way before walking out of the room.

Adeline watched the door closed and muttered, "That was weird."

'That was guilt,' but Tesa did not say it out loud because Adaline was unaware of a few things that might change her perspective on everyone which she did not want.

"Anyway," she smiled and helped Adeline stand up, "I think I can go and get you some comfortable clothes from the wardrobe. Do you want to take a bath?"

A bath? It was too cold for her to take a bath. Perhaps before sleeping tonight she could take a warm one. "Not now." She answered truthfully and her aunt nodded, taking her answer before she went to the closest to bring her a change of clothes.

"Here," she brought a fluffy woolen sweater along with sweatpants. "Come I'll help?"

Adeline shook her head in sudden embarrassment. "I'll be fine." She muttered and grabs the clothes and walked into the bathroom.

She knew that there aren't just wanted to help her but she sent like a bother some person. She never needed help in dressing herself for the past 12 years at least and needing it now only made her seem helpless that she did not want to be.

She hated it.

She really did.

She got dressed slowly and carefully. Her wrist her now and she made a mental note to ask for some kind of pain killer.

Tessa smiled as she saw her and there was a man standing next to her that Adeline has seen previously on the Friday night dinner.

"Hello," she greeted respectfully.

"Hello adaline," he said a bit hesitantly, "does it sit well with you that I'm calling you by your name?"

With such a certain amount of respect Adeline stared at him and then her aunt who shrugged. "Let's just go." She said and walked out leaving the other two to follow her.