Taming the Beast

Chapter 32 (Caroline)

(Caroline’s POV)

I opened my eyes slowly and everything started spinning. I groaned and closed my eyes again when I

felt Keegan’s hand on my cheek.

“Shit, shit, shit!” Keegan muttered. There was a pause. “Mom, I need your help,” he finally said. What in

hell were they making a big fuss about? I tried to sit up, but Keegan’s hand held me down. “Don’t

move,” he said panicked. I groaned again and opened my eyes.

“I-I’m fine,” I lied. “Why is everyone freaking out?” I asked. It was then that I smelled something

metallic. It was very distinctive. I smelled it before… after the accident.

Blood.

I took deep breaths and tried to calm my breathing. I wasn’t squeamish about blood or anything; it was

just that I was thinking about the accident again. I sighed and reached my hand back to touch the top of

my head. Keegan swatted my hand away before I could.

“Don’t touch it,” he said. He looked nervously towards the stairs. “Mom!” he yelled louder. His worried

and scared face turned back to me. A moment later, we all heard her footsteps descending.

“I’m coming, I’m coming. Honestly Keegan, you would think you and your friends could take care of-”

she stopped when she saw me. Her eyes widened in shock.

“Mom… help?” Keegan asked hopelessly. I saw Lena glare at all of them.

“What are you boys just standing around for? Gregg, get some towels. Trevor, get ice. Asher, grab my

scrubbing brush and some rags. Nick, get the bleach and the stain wash from the laundry room,” they

all frantically did as she asked. Gregg handed a towel to Keegan which he wrapped around the ice

Trevor gave him before he lifted me gently and placed it against my head. I hissed in a breath which

made Keegan take it away. I took it from him and placed it back on my head. I knew he didn’t want to

hurt me, but I needed a compress on my head. Even I knew that.

“What now?” he asked looking to his mom. She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

“You’re going to be in charge of this entire… group in probably less than a year, Keegan. You should be

able to handle this,” she said calmly at him. Keegan only started freaking out.

“Mom! I hurt her! We were wrestling and I went too far. I-I can’t… I can’t,” Keegan was in full overdrive.

He was on the brink of hyperventilating as his eyes darted around nervously. I reached my free hand

over and squeezed his hand in mine. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Keegan, calm down,” I said softly. His eyes snapped to mine and he did calm down a bit. I rubbed my

thumb over his hand and gave him a soft smile. “I’m going to be okay, it’s just a bump. But you need to

keep it together… for me, okay?” I asked gently. He calmed down more as he nodded. My smile

widened a bit. That instantly sent more pain to my head, but I ignored it and tried not to wince at the

pain.

“Okay,” he croaked out.