JUST TO LOOK AT BELL

23 FEBRUARY, TUESDAY, AFTER DINNER

I stopped on the second floor of my tower. I had meant to go straight to my room to study. Last day of exams tomorrow! But, maybe I should drop by and check on Bell. Just for a bit. Not that I was worried, of course.

I followed his scent to my door. His scent that was mingled with the smells of disinfectant and herbs. I hesitated in front of his door.

Should I go in? I listened but there was no sound.

He was probably sleeping. So there was a good chance, I'd be in and out without him even noticing.

I was just going to take a look and make sure he's okay.

I quietly turned the knob, just at the right speed so that it made no sound, and pushed opened the door to slip into the room.

The room was lit. Delta Oran got up from the chair next to Bell's bed.

"Oh. You're here." I thought he would be having dinner with Harvey or something.

Delta Oran made a quiet bow, "Good evening, Alpha Princess."

Nevermind the formalities, my wolf chuffed impatiently. It wasn't even like there was anyone else around, "Have you had dinner yet?"

Delta Oran looked surprised, "Ah..."

And then he quickly assured me, "I only just returned from seeing to Beta Ki. Beta Harvey had kindly offered to bring up dinner so I could return to the young alpha Lorent's side."

"Is Bell alright?" I asked. Why would he need a healer by his side so much.

Delta Oran was quick to assure me, "Yes, do not worry Alpha Princess. My presence is only a precaution until he regains conciousness."

Right, he did kinda just pass out earlier, and then the machines went all blippy. The machines which had somehow magically appeared here now.

Bell's room was double the size of Ki's room, it was at least the size of his bunk at the underground, but now with the machines slotted in, it left the same tight standing space.

Two efficient knocks on the door and Harvey let himself in, "I hope you like lasagna, Delta -"

"Alpha." Harvey cut himself off when he saw me.

I stepped to the side so he could come in with a tray bearing two tall cans of beer and two take-out boxes.

"Hi, Harvey." I said.

Harvey put the food down on the dresser, "Can I help you with anything, Alpha?"

I shook my head, "I just wanted to look at Bell for a bit. I'm going now."

Because it became apparent to me that neither my good beta nor the overly polite Delta Oran would eat with me around. I was just in their way.

Phooey. I didn't even get to look at Bell's face properly. I quickly made my escape. Harvey and Delta Oran barely had time to bow me out.

I'll try again later. Delta Oran can't possibly mean to stay by Bell's bedside all night right?

I'll just go to my room and revise for my exams tomorrow, just for another hour before rewarding myself with a look at Bell. Yups.

Wait... Wth was wrong with me? Since when was looking at Bell's sleeping face a "reward"? I facepalmed and let myself into my bedroom. It's official. The mating bond had made me an idiot.

But I was still smiling to myself (since I was an idiot) even as the thought crossed my mind.

Tomorrow's exams were all hands-on type. Art, Science practical, and then Home EC - nothing that required all that much mugging, except that the the building where the cooking classroom was located was still under renovations. So now we were going to be tested with a written paper.

I guess I had better start with that. Because it's imperative that every highschool graduate knew the 100 ways to cook an egg. Just kidding, there were only 11 ways in my textbook. Hard boiled, soft boiled... I'll leave the rest to your imagination.😜

Okay, you got me. I'm just too lazy to list it.

Anyway, I actually did study, so now I was equipped with the ability to hold an educated and purely theoretical discussion on egg cooking for an extended period of time. It wasn't just eggs either. I was also well versed in fruit preparation, the benefits of pasturized milk and all the types of diary products it had to potential of becoming.

I'm not entirely sure who I would be able to hold such conversations with, but if I should ever find myself in such a corner, I would not put Mrs Martinez to shame.

By the time I was done, it was just past nine. I pulled away from my dresser which I ended up using as my study desk most of the time now. I know, I had an entire FAO. I think my betas had meant for me to do homework there too, but it's all the way at the packhouse, you know? That's like one entire driveway away!

I'm not sure how wolves like Henry or Bell liked living in their huge mansions. I'm quite sure the distance from Bell's personal suite to the breakfast room was like the same as walking out to the coffee shop round the corner - which wasn't impossibly far, but just imagine having to do that every time you needed a bite or a drink! Every.single.time!

I would be way too lazy to survive a home like that. Maybe I'll keep a personal stash of chips under my bed and drink water from the bathroom sink.

Anyway, I ended up doing my homework at home, in my room, at my dressing table and eventually, my betas caved and now one of my drawers in my dressing table actually held a secret assortment of stationary supplies and even an extra calculator.

I'm not sure what they decided to do with my actual office at the FAO. I never imagined I'd have my own office room at the age of 15. And from the pack notices and all public and online appearances, the Night Leaf FAO had been doing outstanding work among the youth of the Green Packlands community and making purposeful strides towards a brighter future since the day I stepped into office. I knew, because I've seen their social media and visited their website (because I accidentally clicked on the link).

If anyone noticed that the lights of the Young Alpha's office were never on, no one had said anything about it - at least not on social media.

Okay, whatever. I was done studying! Now to go check on Bell ~❤️

I happily - quite nearly skipped - out of my room and made my way down to the second floor of my tower. I was smiling like an idiot too - but only because I was. I blamed the mating bond.

If Delta Oran was still there, I would retreat and try again later at 10. I'm so smart for an idiot.

Yes, it's gotten so bad that I didn't even care that I was being an idiot anymore. No wonder they called it love sickness. It really was a kind of delipidating condition.

Luckily I was alone so there would be no one to judge me.

I remembered the sight of mate sitting in his bed this afternoon, the sunlight a halo around him and smiled even wider. Not that I expected to see Bell in a suite now that he was back at Night Leaf, but my Bell was the type who looked good in anything. ~❤️

I liked it when he swept his hair back and wore a suit - I even liked the arrogant b****** face he would accessorize his outfit with. I liked it when he wore his hair wild with his training gear or our blue warrior jacket. I liked it when he was bossing the world around him like he owned the world. I liked it when he was quiet and brooding, just staring off in thought.

I liked the sound of his deep voice, that made me think of the bottom of the ocean, although I've never been. I liked how when he laughed it sounded like happy thunder. I liked the rumble he made when he purred - although I seldom heard either laughter or purring, but like the rare smiles he sometimes let fly, their rarity made it all the more precious.

Oh and his smiles. When he smiled, how could I explain it, but my whole heart would smile back. ~ ❤️

I LOVE BELL.

OMG. I said it.

Well, technically, I'm writing it.

I really, really, really loved him. When exactly did that happen? Like where was the line between not-in-love and love?

I didn't even check out his butt yet. Although I didn't always looked like it, I always paid attention when people around me were talking about Bell. It's not that I meant to eavesdrop, but my wolf would just happen to hear it, and there were these three things that girls would highlight when talking about Bell's hotness. One, he was the Lorent future alpha, which for some reason was all a guy needed to be hot. Two, he was a rebel, a real bad boy type. Three, his bod, but when that topic came up, it usually veered to his butt - especially if they didn't think I could hear it.

Which totaled together was a dumbest reasons for attraction. Did no one notice how gorgeous my mate was? Dark haired and caramel gold eyes and all?

And when he smiled... its like everything stopped to watch.

Which I admit, wasn't exactly the most intelligent reason for attraction, so I'm not any better than the other girls. I've never really thought about it - I mean, Bell was handsome, and this was more like fact than me being blindly in love. Everyone said so. Then again, pack wolves usually all described their luna was beautiful. Either all Lunas were beautiful or all pack wolves were blinded by their love for the Luna. Maybe that's it. Maybe our whole pack just fell in love with him because he was our luna.

Wow, the moon goddess sure enjoyed messing with us.

Today, when I saw him sitting there in his bed, his hair swept to one side and a jacket draped over his shoulders, I was sure it was the most beautiful I've ever seen him. I'm not sure how, but at that moment as I stood by his bed, I was quite sure that if he had asked for the moon, I would have agreed in a heartbeat to get it for him.

What sorcery was this? It was terribly unfair. There should be a ban on looking so beautiful - for the sake of everyone's peace and sanity - specifically mine.

I'll just take one more look at him tonight. Maybe it was some kind of Lorent spell. Now that he was back home in the nitty gritty reality to Night Leaf, maybe I would see him in a different light and realize that the apparition this afternoon was just a passing mirage.

And then I won't be at risk of trying to take down the moon or anything crazy like that.

Because you know, I was the alpha. I was going to protect everyone's happiness. And I wasn't planning on falling in love, becoming an idiot, or losing my mind or anything stupid like that.

Just one look. I've seen him sleep before. I remembered the way his lashes were so long, and his mouth a perfect bow. OMO. For some reason, I was a little more excited about it than I should be. WTH was wrong with me? This love thing... no one ever told me how terrifying and consuming it would be.

Okay, calm down, Sam. I'm just going to take a very quick look. I was finally in front of Bell's door and in my excitement, I forgot to sense if Delta Oran was on the other side. I turned the knob and pushed the door open, and of course, Delta Oran was there. Not cool, Delta Oran. Not cool at all.