When I finally woke, the sky outside was already dark. My eyes slowly adjusted to the dim room, and the first thing I saw was Ashton's sleeping face beside the bed. There were dark shadows under his eyes, and a rough stubble lined his jaw like he hadn't moved from this spot for a long time. My chest tightened. He stayed here the whole time.
I looked around slowly. Four plain white walls. A hospital ward inside the pack clinic, quiet but heavy with lingering energy, like the air itself remembered what had happened. Instinctively, my hand moved to my stomach. There was still a small curve there. Still there. And the pain from before had eased into a dull silence.
"You're awake," Ashton said.
His voice was low and rough. He was already standing now, moving to pour a glass of water like he hadn't just been asleep moments ago. He placed it carefully on the bedside table, then looked at me.
"Do you want water?"
