Keep your eyes peeled in this chapter, there’s a hint placed that’s very crucial to the story!

With a heated cup between her hands, Zoya released a sigh that spoke of the freedom of her rare moment alone. Dipping her head back, her soft brown waves tickled her hips as her eyes ran across the blanket of abyss that covered the usually starlit sky, her eyes shut when a splash of water rose from the choppy waves and hit her face. Pushing her toes into the fresh snow, she ignored the purple blooming beneath her skin and rose to her feet. Four hours had passed, day had turned to night and her husband had yet to return home, against even her own mind, she placed the drink down, wrapped a scarf over her shoulders and pulled on some boots then began the search for the man who won her heart and broke it all in one day.

Snowflakes fell like confetti, covering her hair in wet drops drenching her scalp that would only sink beneath strands of hair when another arrived to take their place. The mountains and trees seemed a million miles away as the blizzard warped around her in a tornado-like fashion, shaking her body and blurring her vision with white specks.

With each trudge forward it became harder to breathe, her shouts of his name drowning in the storm that pulled her two steps back for every one she managed to take. Pushing her back against the stump of an old tree, she fell onto it.

Aditya smudged his thumb over the watch on his wrist, stepped out of the cabin and tucked his hands into his pockets as he dredged through the thick layer of snow climbing to his knees. His time away from his wife had given him the opportunity he so desperately needed to think about his actions, his hands had seemed marred and heavy with innocent blood and his head ached with what was to come and what he had done. He knew fear because he felt it, the overwhelming urge to scream in a room surrounded by people only to realise that either no one could hear you or that they didn’t care enough to listen, and that was what he’d saw in her eyes today, that was what he’d put there. For the first time he had become the demon in her head, he was now the equivalent to the monster in her bed, in that moment all he’d seen was dark black and he was throwing grenades here, there and everywhere just to keep himself safe, back then it hadn’t mattered who’d hurt, but it mattered now, but maybe now was too late? If that was the case, he’d accept it, he may have pushed her too far and he only had himself to blame for that, she was not his verbal punching back and he had no right to take it out on her. How was she meant to know not to pick up the phone or give away details when he’d never specifically said not to? He hated himself because earlier on when his uncle’s call had dragged him back to the age of seventeen when he’d first become a victim, he’d dragged her back too and that, that was unforgivable.

Oatie ran in front of him, his bark loud and panicked as he gestured with his head to the right.

“What is it, boy?” Following his gaze, he froze at the sight.

Zoya sat directly in the middle of three small cubs on the left and on her right stood a grizzly, coffee-coloured bear on her hind legs. Its lips were pulled back, razor-sharp teeth clear to see from the hollow of her mouth, shoving her paw down, she roared ferociously. No one stood between cubs and their mother and got away with it.

Turning her head, her breath hitched, palms turning sweaty as she slowly stood up.

“Zoya, do not make a sound, back away slowly, keep your hands up” he ordered, an exasperated sigh slacking his body when he realised in his rush to leave he hadn’t brought his gun.

“Mm-mm” her head shook, if she moved the bear would move too.

“Zoya” he called again, “Look at me, hey” getting her attention, his eyes softened “I won’t let anything happen to you, but you need to listen to me and quickly” he gazed quickly at the bear who’s vision was still zeroed in on her before looking back to her. “Come on, Zoya, step back” he pleaded, his own heart racing so fast he thought he’d pass out, he couldn’t fail her like this, not when she’d so clearly come out in this weather to search for him, no one had ever done that for him and he didn’t think anyone else ever would.

“I can’t” she wept, placing one foot back, she tripped over the stub, arms flailing to grab onto something, then her head smashed painfully onto the ground.

The bear pounced, her jaws wrangling her left arm, crashing its teeth into her limb as she wrestled against the hold that throttled her. The snow beneath her turned to dark red clumps that clung to her clothes, her face smacking against something rough and her screams choking her voice box until finally her eyes rolled back and everything turned black.

+ + +

Distraught didn’t even cover what Aditya was feeling as he looked down at Zoya with an I.V. drip through one hand, her other arm in a sling after being stitched and a blood bag above her head to give her the only thing he could in that moment. His hand had ran through her blood matted, knotty hair countless times as tears burnt his stubble at the memory of her attack. They’d been lucky, that was all he could put it down to that a distant gunshot had scared the bear and sent it on its way, but how could he blame a natural protective instinct when he too felt similarly to the bear in that very moment. It was his fault, he shouldn’t have scared her, shouldn’t have stormed out, should’ve warned her about the dangers- this was all on him. Turning, he held out his hand “I appreciate you getting here so fast, thank you”.

The man smiled “Oh, it’s not a problem, wouldn’t want her to die before her time” he smiled tightly. “I guess I should be on my way”.

“I will send the money over to the hospital” he began to walk him to the door, “How did you know her blood type?”

“Oh, it was on her medical record”.

“Right” his hand shoved stressfully through his hair, “Of course, sorry” his head shook, “I’m not really with it” he opened the door. “You’re new here, right, Dr Killher?”

He nodded, his one grey eye shining with mirth, whereas the other blue one stayed stock still “Please, call me Laus”.

“Laus, thank you for this, I’ll never be able to repay you” afterall, he’d saved something so precious to him.

“No need” trailing back to the boat, he waved over his shoulder and set off.

Upon returning to the bedroom, he rushed back to her bedside “Hey” he whispered as she stirred.

Opening her eyes slowly, her hand held her head, a groan passing her lips “Hey”.

Pulling her into his arms, Aditya cradled the back of her head, his eyes shut tightly “I thought I lost you” his words ripped apart his soul, “I was so scared, Zoya, so unbelievably scared that I’d never get to tell you how sorry I am” pulling back, his hands cupped her cheeks, “You have to believe me when I say that earlier was all my fault, I shouldn’t have taken it out on you and I will do everything I can to prove to you that I can do better, that I can be better, I just hope you’ll give me a chance”.

Zoya ducked her head into his neck “You smell nice” giggling into his chest, she threw her head back “Weeeeeeee, I’m flying”.

Opening his mouth to respond, he shut it the next second. “Is the medicine the Doctor gave doing this?”He muttered aloud. When she continued to swing her head lazily from side to side, he called out: “Hey, Zoya”.

“Hey, Aditya” she laughed rambunctiously, hair whipping his face as she sat up. Whisper shouting, she grabbed his face “Can I tell you a secret?”

He nodded, so taken in by her happiness, he couldn’t look away, he’d never seen her like this and though it would wear off eventually, he hoped he could make her be like this naturally someday soon.

“I think you are beautiful, like reallyyy hot and when you come close I get these butterflies in my stomach and my chest goes dun dun dun, I have a very dramatic heartbeat, what does yours sound like?” Placing her ear on his chest, Zoya sighed “Yours is fast too, just like mine” her smile was wide, eyes twinkling up at him. Her lips downturned as she slapped his cheek “You, you won’t hurt me, will you?”

Sadly, he shook his head, his voice layered with the emotion “Never”.

“Pwomise?” Her doe eyes became wide and watery as she wrapped her pinkie finger around his and waited for him to respond.

“Promise” Aditya gulped, his eyes unblinking as if joined to hers. “I think you’re beautiful and hot too” he admitted, since that was only fair, she clearly had no control and he knew she’d regret it later, so maybe this would make her feel a little better? Nevertheless, he appreciated her honesty now and her modesty before. As he held her, he couldn’t help but feel a little more alive than usual, somehow she’d become his oxygen and now he wouldn’t survive even a minute without her.

“I know that” she threw herself back with over-exaggeration “Silly billy boop” she flicked his nose. “I’m sleepy, say night, Zoya” she ordered childishly.

“Night Zoya” pulling a blanket over her, he kissed her cheek, hand gentle over her hair before he sat beside the bed and allowed himself to do the same.

Stay tuned for more medicated Zoya, she’s fun to write and so sweet too! Did you find anything hint worthy?