9 Chapter 9 - Longing

Derek POV

When I entered my office, I saw my beta, Joshua Mayers, sitting already at his designated desk, reading some kind of books. I smirked at that, knowing him since childhood, I know he is not a fan of any kind of books, except for some magazines about hot women around the world.

"I never dream to see my best friend holding a book someday, but now, look at him, are you sick or something?" I kinda ridiculed him in a way, mostly at this hour, he will roam around the pack, not looking for any sort of werewolves trouble, but looking for trouble in women. I emphasized that last part.

"I'm reading some history about a hybrid, you know, after hearing and seeing your mate's situation, I cant just take a sit and relax myself, knowing that someday the enemy might take on us" he seriously furrowed his eyebrows at me. Ah, what am I gonna do without this guy, he's really a good beta. Whenever I am not around, he always took care of the capital, the only problem about him is his addiction to women and being annoying sometimes. But, ever since he found his mate, Lauren, he changed bit by bit, but unlike me, I have my duty as an Alpha King to divert my attention than wasting my time on women that are not going to commit. I never had a girlfriend before or merely an acquaintance, yes, you heard me, I'm an old alpha king virgin. Joshua is opposite of me, he had a lot of women in his hands, I hope he'll find his mate someday.

"Trust me, you wont find any, I have been reading and memorizing some facts about our kingdom and I never encountered one"

"Then why would the capital's doctor knew something about it more than you? Do they want to hide this from us or you, why would they hide something important such as these to a King?"

Thinking about what he said made me curious, as well. I sighed, these papers just keep on coming. As I lean my back to the chair, while fidgeting a pen, I looked up at the laminated wood ceiling of my office, painted with some ancient garden scenery, a woman carrying a vase of water and pouring it on the head of a man instead to the flowers planted on the ground, seeing the woman in the painting made me think about her more, my mate. I cant get her off of my mind, ever since I found her and knowing she's my mate, I became restless. I'm also worried about her knowing what she's been through, though she does not tell us yet about her story on what happened before we found her at the border, I know for some reason, she's in deep pain. I can feel it, maybe this is one of the perks of having a mate, the mate bond makes you as a whole, making you feel each other's feelings, though we have not fully mated yet, but I can already feel her, I can sense her energy whether it something sad or not.

"You know, if you keep staring up blankly at the ceiling, you'll never going to finish that..." my beta pointing his finger to the tower of papers that I need to read and scan thoroughly. These past few weeks, a lot of report about some rogues attacking small packs one by one, leaving not even one survivor also keeps us busy. I wonder if these same rogues are the one who attacked her pack?

"I'm going to visit her now, I'll do this later..." I quickly sat up from my chair and walks to the door,

"Oh I almost forgot, will you go the south border again and see the situation there, I told some patrols to take a rest for a while due to the weather, maybe you can give them a hand?" I added, he nodded at me before I took my way out of the room and immediately walk to the backyard garden of our pack house, to pick up some flowers and fruits, I'm very grateful to the gardeners here in our capital, summer or winter they keep on tending the field. This is one way of getting our source of food in our pack house rather than expending money outside.

Due to the weather, they already harvested some fruits and vegetables, keeping those to our storage room and some in our roofed botanical garden. Since the day my mate woke up, I decided to bring her some of these to help her gain her strength back, the farmers and helpers here knew about it already 2 days ago, so they sometimes prepare in advance, except for the flowers, I want to be the one who would pick for her.

I'm in front of her room right now staring at the door ready to knock. I knocked 2 times, yet no response. I knock again this time, and quickly followed up a question.

"Are you awake, Reina?"

"Yes" why does she sounds like she's been crying? is she hurt?. I entered the room and see her sat up in her bed, her eyes are quite red, proof that she's been crying a while ago. A quick pain felt in my heart seeing my mate struggling and sad, I dont know how to help her or what to ask, I dont wanna force her to tell me something, we just met a few days ago, I want to gain her trust first and befriend with her.

I walk to the table beside her to put the flowers and fruits, and sat up to the chair near it. I am quite nervous today and my heart keeps on pounding whenever I'm with her. She looks better today than before, though her eyes seems sad.

"These are for you, my love" I said to her, damn, why did I said that, it might make her feel weird about me. I know that we're mate, but I should take this slow. I see her cheeks turned pink a bit when I said those words, and that brought a smile to my face.

I ask some more questions and she just answered it honestly. She reciprocate the conversations we're having by asking me back, about works and stuff. I keep our conversation going and I noticed that she is staring at my lips, goodness my heart is about to burst. I talk again and ask her some things, I observed that she have this sad voice, and I added some humor in my tone hoping to lift up her spirit. I really wanted her to be happy despite of her situation, and I wanted her to feel that I am here anytime for her.

"Um, I want some water..." she said after taking a few bite on a pear fruit, some juices are dripping from her lips and I cant take off my eyes on it, I want to taste it, not the fruit but her cherry lips. She gestures her finger pointing to the water dispenser in the corner, and tried to stand up but I can see that she's struggling due to her injured ribs.

"Oh, I'll get it" I said to her to divert my attention and snap out my desire for her, she said something but I already got up and walk to the corner, grabbing some drinking glass. While waiting for the glass to be filled, I turned my gaze on her and saw her watching my back, is there something dirt on my back? I got nervous a little, but when I notice her eyes are turning dark that's when I smell her scent of desire coming for her. I cant stop feeling the same and that put me to grin at her.

I go back to her and she get the glass from my hand, touching it a little electrified me, she sip the water and lick some on the corner of her lips, damn, I cant take this anymore, I bend down from where I am standing and cupped her face with my hands, pressing my lips on hers. This event bring us both in shock.