I nodded, feeling a pang of gratitude towards him. He was the only one who seemed to care about me, who treated me like family. My own family, on the other hand...
"Thank you, Theo," I said, my voice cracking. "You've been like an uncle to me, always looking out for me even when my own family doesn't want anything to do with me."
Theo's expression turned stern again. "Your family's a lost cause, Akira. But I'm not. And I'm going to make sure you get the care you need, even if it's just for a few more months."
I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. I was lucky to have Theo in my life, even if it was just for a little while longer.
I made my way out of the hospital room, determined to discharge myself and get on with my day. As I turned a corner, I suddenly found myself face to face with Gavin. My heart skipped a beat as I froze, scared that he might know about my illness. We hadn't really spoken in months, not since he banished me from the pack, until yesterday that I crashed his birthday.
The tension between us was palpable, and I could feel the weight of our unresolved issues hanging in the air. I didn't know what to say, or what he might say to me.
Just as it seemed like the silence was going to stretch on forever, Lylah appeared around the corner, a look of surprise on her face. "Oh, Akira! I didn't know you were... um... here."
I shook my head, trying to clear the awkwardness. "Just getting some fresh air," I muttered.
Gavin's eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking between me and Lylah. "What are you doing here, Lylah?" he growled.
Lylah hesitated, looking unsure of what to say. "I was just... uh... looking for you, Gavin. We need to talk about the pack's upcoming gathering."
Gavin's expression darkened, but he nodded curtly. "Fine. Let's talk."
And with that, he turned and stalked off, Lylah following closely behind. I watched them go, feeling a mix of relief and sadness. I knew I couldn't avoid Gavin forever, but for now, I was just grateful to have dodged another confrontation.
As I watched Lylah follow Gavin, I couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia. I remembered the day our parents died, the day our lives changed forever. Lylah had lost her parents too, in the same brutal attack that took mine.