"You being more observant is a must." Hannes' fingers continued to drift across my waist, and he paused from doing so only to lift them to touch my lips momentarily when I'd begun to frown in concentration as I listened to him.

From the angle in which I sat, I knew it might have been difficult for him to see me properly, but he somehow knew that I had been frowning nonetheless. My head continued to rest against his chest, and his voice was a deep rumble as he continued speaking, "And you should choose who to trust carefully."

I straightened when he shifted, and watched as he silently contemplated whilst searching my face. It then appeared as if he was waiting for me to speak, but I had little to say. I did not disagree with his words and I gestured with an exaggerated wave of my hands that he continue talking.

The stress on his face seemed to disappear at my gesture, and a small grin graced his lips as he went on, "I have also instructed more warriors, who I deeply trust, to travel with you when you go on any walks. They too shall accompany you if you are to go shopping, or I shall travel with you if I can."

My eyes averted from his own and went towards the closed door at the sound of loud footsteps; Jeremiah's footsteps. He was more than likely pacing back and forth outside, something that I'd noticed him doing throughout the morning, and the noises were beginning to distract me.

The irrational and unrealistic thoughts of Bronwyn somehow coming back to life and heading towards my bedroom would come to my mind whenever I heard Jeremiah's footsteps, and I quickly dragged in a deep breath as I focused on the lycan before me.

"It would feel a bit odd, I suppose, with so many warriors following me," I admitted to Hannes, who'd captured my waist and brought me back closer to him, but not too close that I could rest my head against his chest once more. That irritated me. "Don't you think Jeremiah and Willow should be able to protect me well enough?"

"I'm sure they are capable of doing so." Hannes said after a moment of silence. "But I still believe that it is best that more warriors accompany you."

"How many more warriors?"

"Three."

"Oh." I pushed my body backwards, until I came to rest on my back against the bed. Hannes stood, and watched me as I asked, "What are their names?"

"Henri Williams and Frederick and Elle Ammes."

I recognized the name of the woman, Elle. She'd travelled with Athena and myself to the store, along with several other warriors, and seemed to have a pleasant personality.

"Frederick and Elle are siblings?"

Hannes dipped his head in a nod. "Yes. They are." His gaze travelled over me and went across the bedroom casually. "I have some paperwork that I need to get to. And I also have the book that I'd seen you reading in the living room. The paperwork and the book is in my room."

I tilted my head. "Okay."

Hannes glanced across my bedroom again and then commented, "It's awfully dark inside here."

I shook my head, disagreeing with him as I too looked around the room whilst sitting up on the bed. The curtains were pulled back, thanks to Willow, and the afternoon light streamed through the windows.

Tugging at one of the sheets on the bed, I glanced at a mirror hanging on the wall of the room, and blinked when I saw my bewildered face. "Seems bright enough to me." I told Hannes.

When I turned my attention to him after surveying the room, I found him already watching me, and I didn't miss the playful smile on his lips as he said whilst backing away, "My room is much brighter than this. And the bed is comfortable as well, more so than the one you're on."

I arched an eyebrow high at the now smirking Alpha. "Sure." I muttered sarcastically. But he was right about his bed being more comfortable than my own, and I squinted at him. "You're trying to convince me to go into your room."

Hannes' white teeth seemed to shine when he smiled and I found myself beginning to grin as well as he asked, "Is it working?"

I laughed softly, leaning over to pick up the glass of water from my bedside table and watching him as I took several sips of the cold liquid, a warm, fuzzy feeling in my stomach growing as Hannes continued to smile and move to rest against the closed door.

Eventually I stood, which seemed to surprise him. A wave of dizziness briefly made me pause from immediately moving after standing, and I faintly noticed that some of the water in the glass I still held had sloshed over the rim and had trickled down to my wrist.

"Do you have any water jugs in your room?" I asked distractedly as I wiped my hand with the side of my shirt whilst shuffling over to him. When I lifted my eyes to his own, the soft look in them was such a contrast to the frustration I'd seen in his gaze earlier.

"I can arrange for one to be brought up." Hannes told me. I nodded, and wrapped my fingers around the door's handle, my shoulder brushing his own as I said whilst giving him a small grin,

"To your room it is then."

*********

Athena and Lilith visited the house later that day, and Hannes and I were told by Willow that they were in the living room. After a moment of savouring the warmth of Hannes' bed, I left the room despite his protests that I stay and rest.

Apparently, one of the side-effects of the magic Skylar had given me was tiredness, which was partially one of the reasons as to why I felt sleepy frequently. Also, Skylar had healed me enough to bring me back to consciousness and rid my body of the toxic potion, but there are still some lingering feelings of weakness that I experience.

However, I was looking forward to seeing Athena, so I managed to leave the bedroom, with a displeased Hannes walking close behind me. Lilith was in the living room with Athena when I entered, and the raven-haired woman stood at my appearance, smiling brightly. My eyes lowered to the basket in her hands and then back to her face as she walked over to me.

"This is for you." Lilith held it out for me to take, but Hannes stepped forward, swiftly grasping it instead. I glanced at him as he looked it over, and exchanged a mildly amused look with Athena and Lilith when he deemed it acceptable.

"There are books and other gifts. Nothing edible." Lilith explained to me, after shooting Hannes a look. "Some of the pack members pooled in money to purchase them for you whilst you were ill, and had them for a while. Now that they've heard about you being awake, they wanted me to deliver them."

I smiled, taking the weaved basket from Hannes who seemed almost reluctant to hand them over to me. "That is very kind." I traced a finger along the basket. "Could you pass along my thanks to them?"

Lilith nodded. "Sure. They'd like to spend time with you sometime as well." She glanced at Athena who nodded in agreement.

"So I've been told." I said, continuing to cradle the large basket in my hands. The scent from the flowers which decorated it tickled my nose, and I fought sneezing. The wood creaked behind us and I turned to see Willow, who offered to take it from me and carry it upstairs.

"Thanks." I gave it over and then sat down on a sofa. Lilith lingered by the doorway whilst Athena and Hannes slipped into a conversation, and she eventually walked over to me and sat down as well.

"Alec had heard about what happened," Lilith told me. "He wanted to visit, but he needed to complete some work first."

"Work?"

"School work." Lilith explained. "His father was a teacher, and despite everything that has happened, he still wants Alec to complete some work. It's nothing too hard though."

"How has Alec been?" I asked. "Has he talked with you anymore about how he felt regarding what happened?"

Lilith's eyes averted from mine momentarily. "He's still saddened. I try to spend as much time with him as I can, and always let him know that he can talk to me about his feelings," She frowned as she continued speaking, "He was upset when he heard about what happened to you. Now that he knows you are a bit better, expect the little fella to show up sometime this week."

"Well," Lilith's gaze went to Hannes as she went on, half-sarcastically, "If Hannes allows it, I mean. His protectiveness is expected though, considering there is someone else in the pack who wants you gone."

I grimaced, casting my eyes towards the fireplace and staring at the flames, listening half-heartedly as Lilith continued rambling on. Anxiousness knotted my stomach as I once again realized that there was someone in this pack who wanted me dead, and I feared it was someone who I might know.

"Do you think that you'll be feeling better soon? Say, by next week Wednesday?" Lilith's question snapped me out of my thoughts and I gave her a blank look.

"I'm not sure. Why?"

"Some of the pack members and I are going hunting and we thought you'd like to join us."

I smiled briefly, although taken aback by the invitation. "I probably wouldn't be able to keep up with you all." I told her. Lilith shook her head, and placed a hand against my wrist as she assured,

"No, no. You would be fine. I have to warn you, however, we do run, but not in our lycan forms. We don't usually have to go too far to catch our prey though."

My stomach twisted further. "What exactly is it that you hunt?"

Lilith's eyes narrowed as she recalled, "Deers and rabbits for the most part. You should come; the hunters would be so thrilled."

I opened my mouth to say that it would not be only I who would have to come with them if I were able to, as the warriors Hannes had spoken to me about earlier would have to join us.

Before I could explain this to her however, Lilith pushed on, "Perhaps Hannes could come along if it would make you comfortable."

That caught Hannes' attention, and I felt his eyes on me even though I did not look at him. I listened in as Lilith went on to explain to him about what she'd told me, and I leaned into Hannes' touch when he placed a hand against my shoulder, and looked at me in question, waiting for me to respond to Lilith's suggestion and invitation. 

I was still very much aware of the possibility that the person who wanted me killed could be amongst those pack members, however, I knew I'd be protected. Nonetheless, I still felt wary.

"We will see." I shortly told Lilith, who finally accepted my words.