You're Not A Burden..

Klaus

I returned to our room ten minutes later with a tray of food in my grasp. Lisa had cleaned herself up, but the bags under her eyes refused to leave, and just from a single glance, I could tell she was still troubled mentally..

"Thank you.." she whispered all while avoiding eye contact with me. She was still embarrassed with her last action, and it was evident that she prayed for me not to bring it up. Although she didn't see, I flashed her a bright smile before lowering the tray of food down to her reach.

"So, what did you do while I was gone?" I initiated a conversation, hoping that Lisa would further it this time around. She didn't like talking to me, and whenever she did, her responses were curt and disengaging. The only time she ever spoke freely was whenever she decided it was time to blame me for her troubles, one way or another.

"I don't do anything around here, so it's pretty boring." She replied without meeting my gaze. She was right, and I understood that sitting around all day could be very exhausting, but I couldn't give her the freedom she wanted, not yet at least. Icarus was probably prowling around the corner, waiting for the slightest opportunity to get to her. The last thing I wanted was for those two to meet each other. And for that plan to come to fruition, Lisa would have to remain within the safety of the castle walls, while Icarus was never to be allowed inside.

"What about Mark, didn't you find his company.... entertaining?" The little pause in-between my sentence seemed to have stirred up some reaction in Lisa, but she kept it subtle.

"It was, we simply got bored of each other's company. I dismissed him to get some rest." Lisa lied, only this time she had raised her face to meet my eyes. "What happens if I don't give you what you want? What will you do to me?"

I stared at her for a moment, unsure of what to say. It felt as though the question had nothing to do with me, but at the same time, it had everything to do with me. It was weird hearing her ask me about what I'd do to her, the old Lisa used to be fearless, and didn't care about the threats I laid out for her. So why did she suddenly care? Why did she seem so interested in knowing my future plans for her?

After staring and thinking, I finally decided to tell her the honest truth. "I haven't really thought about it. Honestly I didn't expect any of this to happen. I thought everything would go as I wanted, but you—"

"I'm a pain, a burden?" She completed with a hung expression on her face, one that gave me the answer to my rampaging thoughts. The question earlier definitely had nothing to do with me. If I was to guess, she and Mark probably had a fight in my absence, and now she was feeling guilty about whatever transpired between the both of them.

"You're different, Lisa. You're not a burden." I corrected sharply. "You're an omega, but you've got the courage of an alpha. To some it might look stupid, but you've intrigued me quite a bit."

A light smile tugged at the corner of her lips, and she immediately turned away to keep me from seeing her shy face. It was the first time Lisa genuinely smiled at something I said, and that realization stirred up a feeling of satisfaction within my body.

"Thank you..." She squeezed out before suddenly pausing for a while. I could feel the steady rise in her emotions, and upon sensing an imminent implosion, I pulled closer to her and settled right by her side. Slowly, I steadied my hand on her, and with an erratically beating heart, gently pulled her into my arms.

She didn't try to pull away, nor did she try to push me away. She merely buried her face in my chest, and allowed her tears to pour onto my bosom. I caressed her silky hair while I whispered gentle words of affirmation in her ear.

"You're not a burden, I promise. We started off on the wrong foot, but I'm willing to change things for your sake, our sake."

Lisa nodded gently to my words while her trembling hands clung onto my shoulders desperately.

"I thought I was doing the right thing. Why can't anybody understand me." She cried out in a whisper. She clearly didn't care about our promise, Mark had hurt her, and now her pain was sieving right through her lips.

"I'll try to understand you—"

"It's fine, I'll be fine." She interjected abstractly. After those words, she tried to lift her body off mine, but was too exhausted to do so. I could tell she was tired from crying all day, and it was evident as she and she battled to keep her heavy eyelids from closing. Nature called, and my body provided the comfort she needed. Before I had time to realize it, Lisa was fast asleep in his arms, her head rested on my chest, and her arms clinging onto my shoulder.

I wrapped my arms around her and comforted her further with my warmth. With my thumb, I wiped away the streaks of tears that stained her face before planting a gentle kiss on her forehead. I had no idea what transpired between her and Mark, but I was going to make sure it never happened again. He had clearly hurt her, and had somehow forced her to feel like the bad guy.

I wanted to rise from where I sat and immediately move to confronting Mark, but at the same time I wanted to remain close to Lisa. I wanted her in my arms a little longer, and I was willing to stay still for as long as it takes. All that mattered was the fact that she was safe in my arms, away from the pain that the world would bring her. For that sake alone, I was willing to leave Mark for now. Lisa needed my company the most right now, and I wanted to be there for her.