Leilani.
I woke up to pounding in my head and an intense pain at my back that reminded me of the eighty strokes I'd suffered not so long ago.
I winced in pain, closing my eyes and willing myself to fall back asleep but my eyes soon snapped open when at that same time, the door creaked open. I jerked upright but as soon as I saw who it was, the walls I had up came crashing slowly. I sighed;
"Frostclaw."
"Are we regressing to last name basis now?" Jarek teased, flashing me a small smile. However, I didn't get to respond to that when he pushed a tray of mouthwatering dishes onto my lap.
My mouth instantly watered at the sight in front of me, but because I didn't want to seem 'so hungry', I held back and bit my lips.
"Are we having a feast?" I asked instead.
Jarek chuckled, "No," but the doctors say you're malnourished… extremely malnourished. So I had to bring a bit of everything. If we stick to this kind of meal plan for a while, I'm sure your health will bounce back pretty soon."
His tone held an undertone of something that made me curious and a little bit scared. And as if noticing this, he glanced away, his voice turning stiff as he said;
"Your injuries are not healing, sweetcakes. And it's not because you do not have a wolf… you do… it's only because you're terribly undernourished."
For a moment, I was stunned into silence. Shocked down to my bones— but no, I wasn't surprised that I was undernourished. Fuck, I expected that, given the number of times I was forced to donate my fucking blood to my fragile sister, Chalice, and the bizarre amount of times I was left starving for no reason at all back at my pack.
I'd have been surprised if I was well nourished.
However, what stood out more to me was the idea that I had a wolf. A freaking wolf. Me, Leilani? The pack's runt?!
That was impossible!
I shook my head, chuckling. "I have a wolf?"
My question seemed to shock Jarek who turned to me with wide eyes. His deep seeing eyes bore into mine for a moment too long, and when they landed on my lips… they became darker— if that was even possible.
"Yes." He breathed out, "I know you told me a long time ago that you didn't, so when I rushed you in, I made sure to inform the doctors who as soon as they checked you said that info was wrong. I even thought you lied to me about—"
"I have a wolf?" I couldn't help but ask again, my voice coming out shaky. And goddess, I couldn't help the smile curling up my lips.
Jarek nodded once, his eyes trailing along my face, but said nothing, and then suddenly, he came to sit by the bed, picked up a spoonful of my rice and muttered; "say ahhh."
"Ahhh," I answered in confusion, wringing my eyebrows together as I opened my mouth.
However, shock hit me like a freight train when he pushed the spoon into my mouth, filling it up with yummy buttery rice. I moaned.
"Oh, don't be too loud," Jarek cautioned me with a smile, his head turning towards the door, "…or one would think I have my hands on your body, and not on your plate."
It took Silly me more than a minute to grasp his words but when they finally settled, my face colored brightly. But surprisingly, I didn't shy away, I simply smiled. "It's delicious."
"My friend only makes delicious meals."
I wanted to ask him who this friend was when suddenly, he brought up some sauced chicken to my mouth and asked; "You didn't know you had a wolf?"
"I've never felt it before." I answered amidst chewing. And that was true. "I still have a hard time believing I have one."
A knowing look flashed across his face before it disappeared. He mused under his breath;"Something is indeed strange about that…"
But I heard him. I heard him clearly.
"Indeed."
Deciding not to get my hopes too high, I shrugged off the topic altogether, but that didn't stop the tingling in my fingertips, or the way my heart seemed to flutter at every interval.
I wish it was true… oh moon goddess, make it real. Make it real. Maybe that way, my family and mates would want me.
Maybe…
Tears pooled in my eyes when Jarek wouldn't stop feeding me with practically everything in the tray, and I couldn't help but wonder how I'd never experienced anything like this before. How I've never been cared for this way before.
In fact, this food in front of me right now was a luxury, one I had never experienced in about ten years now.
However, suddenly, he dropped the fork in his hands and leaned impossibly closer to me, his breath fanning my face. I'd been very chill since the start of this meeting, but when he brought his fingers up to my lips to wipe the broth there, butterflies erupted like dragons in my belly. I shrieked, recoiling, and earning myself a deep rich laughter that floated around me, engulfing me like wild fire.
Now, my face did heat up. I squirmed; "get away from me, you perv!"
"You're the perv here!" He retorted with a smile. "I was only trying to get broth off your lips!"
And then he made a point to lick that same broth off his fingers.
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. "You fucking psychopat—" I began to curse, but almost immediately his phone suddenly rang.
He picked it up without hesitation, a frown forming on his face as he drawled; "Speak."
Suddenly, I was reminded that he was an Alpha, and if I didn't know before, his sudden stiff posture and intimidating voice were more than sufficient to enlighten me. I do not know what the other person said to him on the phone, but by the time the call came to an end, his face was stony, his expression dark.
He turned to me; "Your family is asking me to bring you back."
I froze mid bite. "What?"
"They're pressing charges against me. They say I kidnapped you."
Now, I was dumbstruck. My mouth fell open. "What?"
"And that's not all." Jarek mused with a smile. "They believe you've stolen something from your sister and think that you've come to pitch it to my company… So I ask you now, Leilani, what can you steal from Chalice besides common sense?"
I was too stunned to speak. Too shaken by the craziness of this all to form sentences. My mouth hung open in shock, only to be snapped back closed when Jarek leaned closer and stuck a slice of watermelon into my mouth.
I gave him a pointed look.
"I didn't steal anything from her. I didn't even come here with anything."
"I believe you," he answered quickly— too quickly, "…but now, me believing you isn't all that you need. You need proof… evidence. Alpha Zevran is on his way here to come get you as we speak and I fear that this is the part where they try to—"
"What? Zevran is on his way? Why?" I rushed out, forgetting to chew. In fact, I totally forgot all about the food. "What for?"
"Because you belong to me. You're a member of my pack, and you cannot simply leave because you felt like it." A voice came from the door, and as soon as I heard it, a tingling sensation ran down my spine.
I didn't need to check. I didn't need to look, I already knew it was Zevran.
My heart plummeted.
However, what I didn't know was why he would go to this length just to come get me. I didn't understand why he didn't just send a guard, or the police. Hell, he could've sent my father if he wanted to.
But no, he was here.
Smiling at me like we were long time spa buddies, when in truth, all he's ever done was hurt me.
I frowned instantly at him but he didn't seem bothered. Instead, he stalked even closer, his gaze intense. "I think this is where I take charge of her." He said, turning to Jarek, then to me, he drawled; "Hello mate."
I gulped.