SOPHIA
I helped the old lady back to her feet. With her weight resting on me, i took charge and carefully led her towards the direction of her house. It was difficult doing so under the pouring rain but i was determined to get her there.
Minutes later, we arrived at the building and I walked her to the front porch after she confirmed that it was indeed her house.
I made her sit on one of the chairs outside and after fumbling her bags for a while, she brought out a key and gave it to me. I noticed that she was slowly getting better and recuperating fast which was weird cause no one recovers that quickly especially after such an injury.
After unlocking the door, i reached out to help her off the chair she was seated on but she only smiles at me.
"I can handle myself from here my child. Thank you very much."
Before i could object to her words, she was already on her feet. "You're hurt. You shouldn't put pressure on the wound or it'll only get worse." I instructed feeling very concerned at the moment. My medical instincts taking over almost immediately.
"It doesn't hurt as much as it did before." She told me. "The herbs you applied are working perfectly fine and my wolf will do the rest so you shouldn't worry my dear. Thank you erm—?"
"Sophia." I answered. I was a bit confused. Did she just imply that her wolf would heal her? Was that animal also capable of healing? The more i thought about it, the more crazier it sounds but i didn't say anything out loud. That would only mean that i believed all this crazy talk.
"Thank you for your help Sophia and thank you for not abandoning me in that rain. Not everyone would be kind enough to do what you just did or lend a hand to an old woman in pain. I'm forever in your debt my child."
The old woman walked past me and made her way inside. I stood outside rubbing my arms together to curb the cold as i contemplated what to do next. Should i run back into the rain and try to find that bathing house or anything that would connect me back to my world?
That's where everything started and if i can maybe go back there, I'll be able to figure out how to leave this place. But it's cold and i barely knew my way around the area. I am a damn stranger in an unknown man's land.
"What are you still doing outside Sophia?"
I whipped my dead towards the door to find the old lady standing there with a bright lamp and a stick. "Aren't you coming inside? Please come in. The rain is getting worse and you might catch a cold." She ushered me in and after giving it some thought, i agreed.
I couldn't refuse even if i wanted to. I was drenched, shivering, tattered and very hungry and i don't know where to go from here. Maybe i would just take shelter here for a while and figure out my next course of action.
I made my way into the beautifully decorated and furnished house. It wasn't extravagant or anything out of the ordinary but it was warm and felt very comfortable. I liked how simple yet classy it was.
"Follow me." The woman told me and i trailed closely behind her. We arrived at a door and she opened it up for me. "This is the bathroom. You can freshen up in here so that you won't catch a cold. I'll bring some heated water and a new change of clothes for you when you're done." She instructed and started walking away.
As soon as she left, i stepped into the bathroom to have my bath. I realized then that i had to do it manually seeing that they didn't have those modern facilities that i was used to.
The old lady brought the water as promised and i made sure to scrub myself clean and rinse all the dirt off my body. I cleaned myself with a dry cloth and she gave me a gown that was just about my size to wear.
It was made of woven natural silk and cotton. It was simple yet very pretty and unlike anything I've ever worn before. I finished dressing up and made my way back into the living room only to find her setting up the table. I offered to help but she blatantly refused.
I am shocked at how strong she was for her age. Most people i know at this age couldn't even lift themselves up talk more of doing such hard labour but here she was handling everything around the house like a pro. I wonder if all the old women around here are the same.
"Do you live here with someone else ma'am?" I had asked and she turned to look at me.
"Why do you ask?"
"The dress. It's strangely my size so i was curious and that's why I asked."
She nodded her head once. "I live here with my granddaughter and that's one of her dresses. She works in the palace but will be back home any moment from now."
"I wanted to cook her favorite meal for dinner when the rain started pouring. On my way back from closing the barn, i missed my step and injured myself badly. That's when you found me." She explained to me. That explains everything now.
"I honestly don't know what I would've done if you haven't found me lying there. Thank you very much my child."
"You're welcome ma'am."
She resumed setting the table while took in the place properly for the second time. This place is unreal. If i didn't know any better, I'd say that i was in the 80's era. Nothing feels modern at all but the real question is how am i here and why?
"You're not from around here are you?" She asked jolting me back from my thoughts that i am forced to look at her. "Who are you and why were you in the woods by that time? Did you run away from home? Or was anyone chasing you?"
I swallowed hard. What do i tell her now? If i should tell her the real truth and how i got there then she wouldn't even believe me and if i should tell her that i was running away from the cabin of three men who tried to kidnap me and claim me as their woman then she might send me back to them. None of those story are favourable to me at that very moment.
I have to come up with something. Anything that wouldn't make her suspect who i am or how i ended up in that place. The less people who knows, the better. At least until i can figure out a way out of this place.
"I don't remember." I blurted out. "All i remember was running away from a group of men who chased me and tried to capture me. I found myself lost in the woods and trying to navigate my way when i heard your screams and stumbled on your injured body."
Well it wasn't the real truth but it wasn't exactly a lie.
"So you don't remember your parents or your pack or how you might've gotten here?" She asked and i shook my head negatively. "That's so sad. Poor thing, you must've been through so much on your own. I can only imagine how frightened you were." She muttered pitifully.
Well, she wasn't exactly wrong. I have been through so much in just one day. My boyfriend cheating on me with my best friend, trying to kill myself only to end up here where three handsome as fuck young men tried to take me for themselves, running away in the woods only to end up here.
If i were to write a book about this day of my life and how i had gotten to this point, I'd for sure, without a single doubt become a bestseller.
"You don't have to worry about a thing from now on Sophia." She said to me. "You can stay here and recuperate for as long as you want. This is your home now so make yourself comfortable and take all the time you need until you can remember."
"I couldn't possibly—"
"I insist my child." She cut me short. "Consider it my gratitude for helping me out today. Allow me to at least return the favor for your help."
I thought about it for a while before nodding my head in agreement. Without saying much, i walked up to her and engulfed her in an unexpected hug but she didn't pull away. "Thank you so much ma'am."
She rubbed my back soothingly. "You can call me Grandma. That's what my granddaughter calls me. It's better and easier that way for my old bones."
I chuckled and eventually pulled away. "Alright Grandma. Thank you so much for your help."
"Grandma!" Someone yelled loudly from outside and we both whipped our heads towards the direction of the door. "You won't believe what happened today. Imagine having to do all that work for the royal family only to—" She stopped halfway taking off her sandals, her whole body froze on the spot when her eyes met mine.
I did an awkward wave. She looked from me to her grandma and back to me again.
"Who are you and what are you doing in our house?" She asked while i stood there speechless and unable to utter a single word.