Captured By The Dragon
Episode 43

Malcom – third

Malcom was careful not to intrude on Patara. Her mother let him know that she was in a healing process and would love to see him when she felt better. It was hard to keep away all these months, but he knew that she was worth it. He would wait a lifetime just to see her smile again.

He hadn’t stopped thinking about her since the day he left her with her family. Her wide, terrified eyes and trembling form stained itself on his mind and wouldn’t leave him. It took everything in him not to wrap his arms around her and tell her it was all going to be okay.

It was concern and worry for her well-being—yes, but it was also something more. Something that he tried to ignore and forget about—but he never could.

The first moment he laid eyes on her was like a shock through his body. He knew she was beautiful, but it went beyond that. It was more than just her innocent personality and beautiful face. There was a spark in her waiting to be freed—and he wanted to be there to see it.

Malcom knew his crush was wrong on so many levels. Not once in his career had he had a crush on a victim in his cases. He helped them get home and then moved on to the next without another thought about them. All of the girls were beautiful and innocent like Patara, but she was the first one that he couldn’t seem to get out of his mind.

He wasn’t sure why he was so caught up on Patara when she was forbidden to him like all the others. It was against his code to think of her that way—she had been through enough and didn’t need another man trying to win her attention.

But his heart couldn’t stop thinking about her. Especially when he was alone at night.

He might not have heard from her personally, but he did hear from her mother almost daily. She would check in with him and let him know how thankful Patara was to him. She would tell him that she thought of him every day and asked about him often.

But every time he asked to see her—her mother immediately said she wasn’t ready for male visitors. Which he understood and respected. He would wait years if that was what it took to finally see her again.

It felt almost unreal when he got a text in the middle of his shift from her mother. Apparently Patara was ready to take visitors.

Patara

I refused to leave my bed for days once I was finally back home. I was dried out of tears and left a broken hollow form of what I once was. There was a horrible feeling that I just couldn’t let go of—why didn’t it feel like my baby was dead?

I always heard that a mother would know when her child was gone. I heard endless stories about the special bond one shares with their baby. But—I didn’t feel as if my baby was gone. I would know, wouldn’t I? It would be more obvious and certain but for some reason it felt like all the doctors were wrong.

Which was crazy… of course they weren’t wrong. They wouldn’t lie to me about my child, even if it was a shifter. Would they?

How could I feel so much pain for something I had barely known? It was a cruel way of the world to lose a part of yourself that you can never get back. Not even my sister could make me smile. She brought me my favorite take out and chocolates, but it felt like I was watching everything from outside of my body.

The rest of my family kept their distance beyond the occasional check in. At least they didn’t expect anything of me yet.

“Patara, you have a visitor.” My mother opened my door widely as I was drifting off to sleep. She frowned when she saw I was still in my pajamas and no where near ready to receive visitors. “Get up!”

My mother moved like a storm through the room. She raked through my drawers to find something for me to wear before she started to attack my tangled hair with a brush.

“Mom! What are you doing? I don’t want to see anyone!” I struggled in her grip but she wouldn’t let up. She picked at me until I was presentable and forced me to change when all I wanted was to stay in my comfy clothes and sleep the day away.

“You can’t lay here for the rest of your life! You have a nice visitor who is very concerned about you!” She said as she tried to prefect the mess I was.

“Who is it?” I finally asked. It was useless to deny my mother—she wasn’t one that easily let up when she wanted something. She always got what she wanted—especially when it came to her children.

“It’s the man that saved you from that horrible world. Malcom is here to see you and see how you are.” My mother said with a delighted smile. I knew that smile well, it was the smile she wore when she had a plan that was already set in motion.

“Mom… I am in no state to socialize, this isn’t a good idea.”

“You haven’t once thanked the man for saving you since you returned. It’s time for you to face him and let him know that saving you was a good idea.” My mother hissed and pinched me.

I winced and moved towards the door. “He’s here now?”

“Yes! He’s been waiting for you this entire time! Now go!” She pushed me towards the door. I felt like I was too pale and sick looking to even consider seeing anyone—but I clearly had no choice.

I dragged myself down the steps and saw him in the living room from the stairs. He stood the moment he heard me. I watched him nervously drag his fingers through his hair and fix his suit before he finally turned to greet me with a warm smile.

“Patara—I hope I didn’t come at a bad time…” His smile lowered when he saw the look on my face.

“Of course not! It’s a perfect time!” My mother said before I could even open my mouth. “Please, sit! I have a fresh pot of coffee brewing now. Would you like anything else to eat?” She asked in a voice kinder than any of the ones she offered me.

“No, I’m fine. Thank you, madam.” Malcom said with a slight bow. He offered his hand to me and I hesitated before I took it. I knew if I didn’t, my mother would never let me hear the end of it.

He escorted me to the couch and sat on the chair across from me.

“I’ve been waiting to see you for quite some time.” Malcom said. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you.”