Trapped by Seven Mafia Wolves novel Chapter 98

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**Stars Refuse To Blink by Asa River Knox**
**Chapter 98: Discharged**

**Aurora’s POV**

As I emerge into the world outside, the first sensation that envelops me is the gentle embrace of sunlight. This isn’t the harsh glare of fluorescent bulbs that assaulted my senses in the sterile confines of the hospital. No, this light is soft, warm, and undeniably real. It feels alive, wrapping around me like a comforting blanket.

I squint, instinctively raising a hand to shield my eyes as Leon assists me into the backseat of the car. The hospital doors slide shut behind us with a soft hiss and a definitive click, marking the end of my two-week confinement in that cold, clinical building. Two weeks spent in a place that felt more like a prison than a sanctuary. Now, I find myself outside again, beneath a vast sky that is achingly blue and devoid of clouds, as if the universe has continued its dance, oblivious to my struggles.

Yet, this freedom feels strangely unfamiliar.

The doctor’s voice lingers in my mind, a haunting echo that refuses to fade. “You’ll need to apply the ointment twice a day. Once when you wake up, and once before you sleep.” His tone was gentle, yet there was an undeniable firmness behind his words. “Make sure to take the medication with food. All of them. No skipping doses. Your pain levels are going to fluctuate significantly, and we can’t afford to risk inflammation. And you’ll need to come in every week for monitoring. No arguments.”

I can still see his kind smile as I nodded in response, a silent agreement that felt heavy on my heart. I managed to whisper a thin thank you as he left the room, flanked by nurses who had shown me nothing but kindness. They had assisted me in changing clothes, helped me pack the few belongings I had, and reassured me that I had done well.

But deep down, I felt anything but well.

Across the room, a mirror caught my eye.

For a long moment, I avoided its gaze, unwilling to confront the reflection that awaited me.

But as I stood, with Raphael’s steadying hand guiding me, I found myself drawn to it. The moment I caught sight of my own image, my breath hitched in my throat. The girl staring back at me was a stranger, someone I didn’t recognize. She was pale, her skin almost translucent, as if all the color had been drained away. Her cheeks were bruised, her face marred with cuts, and her eyes were deep-set and haunted. Bandages wrapped around her arms, stiff and unyielding. A long strip of white gauze covered the worst of the injuries, but I could still see patches of angry, healing skin peeking through. My shirt hung loosely on my frame, and even the light fabric felt abrasive against the burns, causing me to wince involuntarily.