Hellbound Heart

When Elle woke up, she was surprised to find herself back in the Reigns castle.

Their room that was usually kept dark due to the heavy curtains that were always kept closed, were now so bright and airy. Looking around, she noticed that the thick curtains were indeed drawn back and the gentle sunlight and breeze were coming in, making the room feel so light and refreshing.

She revelled at the new sight that welcomed her. It was such a nice day, she even thought that today was probably the most beautiful morning she had seen in a long while.

Feeling a slight movement next to her, Elle turned her head, only to see a fluffy white big bundle beside her. Snow!!! How was he here with her in bed?!

She was so surprised that she just looked at the fluffy wolf with her mouth hanging open. When Snow's eyes opened and met her gaze, Elle jumped on him and hugged him. How long had it been since she last saw this adorable and furry whitey? It felt like it had been forever!

Elle spoke to tell him, 'how are you', but she froze when she realized that there were no sounds coming out of her mouth.

Her expression soon changed when she started to recall everything that had happened. Her eyes slowly stretched wide at the memories that flooded her mind.

Slowly, she let go of Snow and looked around.

It was then that she saw a man sleeping on the couch. His arm was covering the upper part of his face and he was half naked. Those dark tattoos all over his body immediately told her that it was none other than Sebastian, her husband.

Elle swallowed. She recalled that moment when she had broken down and he just held onto her. Though everything was still not very clear to her, she could remember hearing his voice and he had been telling her 'sorry' over and over again.

For a long while, Elle just stayed quietly on the bed, absentmindedly petting Snow with one hand while her gaze was fixed on Sebastian's sleeping form. Why was he sleeping there? He hated the idea of him sleeping on the couch. And he had also reminded her consistently to never allow Snow to sleep in their bed... so why...

Looking down at Snow again who was enjoying her attention, Elle petted the wolf one more time before she quietly climbed off the bed. She went to pour herself a glass of water first and then calmed herself down.

Sebastian did not like the windows drawn and now she knew the reason why. But here he was, sleeping in a bright warm room and on the couch he had sworn he would never sleep on.

Before she knew it, her feet were already bringing her closer to him. It was as though her body's automatic response was to always bring herself nearer to this man, no matter what the circumstances that surrounded them.

The look on his face that day when he came into that room which she had been held captive in for four days, she remembered how terrifying he was. Was he going to look like that again once he woke up? Would he lose his temper at her again and start accusing her with those harsh words? What happened after she passed out? Was he still –

Elle gasped out in fright when Sebastian suddenly grabbed her wrist. He had moved so fast that she barely saw anything until his hand was clamped around her wrist.

Her eyes drifted up as his own flew open. Their gazes locked for that one eternal moment, before he sprung to sit up on the couch.

"You're... awake." He uttered in a gravelly and rough tone of voice as he had just gotten up from sleep. His grip on her wrist was slowly loosening. He looked and felt a little... different – the kind of different that Elle could not explain nor put her finger on. But she could clearly feel that there was something off.

Shaking his head as if to awaken himself, he said, "I should call the doctor."

Upon standing, he scooped her up and then walked back to the bed. He gently placed her back down onto the bed, not caring that Snow was still lying down there beside Elle. "You're not well, so stay put." He told her softly and then pulled away. He was behaving so gently to her that she could not quite grasp it yet.

But seeing as he was about to walk away, Elle opened her mouth and tried to stop him but her voice still failed to come out. Seeing as there was nothing she could do, Elle lowered her outstretched arms and waited patiently for Sebastian to go fetch the doctor over.

When he returned, a female doctor and a nurse entered along with him. Elle tried to ignore the fact that Sebastian was half naked and had gone out that way to call for the doctor and nurse. But when she saw the tinge of red on the nurse's face and realized that she kept on glancing at Sebastian's naked body, Elle could no longer stop herself and mouthed at Sebastian.

He immediately pushed himself off the wall where he was leaning in.

Bending over, he asked. "What is it?"

"Please get dressed." Elle said in a whisper.

He quietly stared down at her. It was obvious he was not expecting what she just said.

"Don't worry about it, everyone is already used to seeing..." he trailed off when Elle frowned.

She opened her lips, looking ready to argue her point but she stopped and bit on her lower lip instead, before looking away from him.

The corner of his lips lifted a little and then he whispered back into her ear. "Alright, I'll get dressed."

Surprised, Elle was about to turn to him when she suddenly felt completely frozen from his unexpected action.

What... What did he just do? Did he just... kiss her head?