CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

I watch him stutter in shock.

Even so, I'm amazed at how much my wolf would do and the extent it would go to save her mate. It feels like she reveals a new side to herself daily. The fierce lover.

Choosing Dante is protecting Hendrix. Crazy, but true. Even though he doesn't deserve my mercy until proven innocent of the treason.

"You're bluffing, right?" Beta Xavier makes a complete sentence for the first time, partly recovered from the threat as he's still quivering.

"How fearless of you to ask me that." I sneer. "I don't threaten, you've stuck around for too long to make that of me. And if you think I'm bluffing, I dare you." I finish.

He just stares, unsure of what to say. Defeated, he storms out, slamming the door behind him.

"Passive aggression." I mock. "It doesn't work on me." I reiterate.

After a while, my lupine form retracts, leaving me as just a human. Too exhausted to worry or fight, I slip into bed.

I close my eyes, hoping to drift into sleep, for I've not had quality sleep for as long as my memory can serve me.

Against my will, I think about Hendrix, wishing he's fine wherever he is. Slowly, my breath gets shallow, and my pulse rate diminishes. Still lost in thoughts, my eyelids shut as I drift to a land far away and absolutely safe from reach.

 I don't know how long I slept, but a knock wakes me up. It continues when I don't respond. I roll to the other side to see who the person is. And right in time, it opens to reveal Sasha, with two trays, skillfully lapped onto the other in her hands.

One has a bowl, with tepid water, I guess. There's a small towel beside it, a bottle of ointment, and then another with oil, probably for the massage. The second tray has my food neatly covered.

"Oh..." I let out a soft sigh, wishing she didn't wake me up from my beauty sleep.

"I'm so sorry, my lady, I shouldn't have woken you up." She apologizes, wearing a long face.

"You already have." I respond.

"I was worried for a bit that you'd hurt yourself." She still feels bad.

"And I've told you to stop worrying." I smile. "It's fine, what else can we do to erase it?"

"I could go back, but it won't do, I think." Her innocent eyes widen.

"Exactly." I say, sitting up.

She sets the trays down and separates them from the other.

"I could go back if you want some quality time to yourself."

I giggle. "You should listen to yourself. It's rich, coming from someone who wouldn't let me be."

She smiles.

I adjust to the edge of the bed, to allow her an appropriate working position.

She picks up the towel, soaks it in the bowl, and wriggles the excess water. Gently, she brings it to my neck, applying it to my aching muscle.

I gasp, enjoying the feel of it. I really needed this.

She continues, from my neck to my shoulders, each stroke she ensures to dampen the flannel. And then, she takes my hand in hers, and inserts it in the bowl, before tapping it with the flannel when she brings it out.

How did she know I was injured? I don't worry about the details. Sasha can be nosy, it would only cause me ache to figure it out.

She does the same for the second hand, and when she's done, she applies the ointment on both hands. I bet if she were my Beta, she would slay those beasts on my behalf even before I give the go-ahead. Only that she's an omega, not so strong to be by my side.

Enjoying her company, I would be jinxed to make her my beta and make up for her strength, which apparently is her only insufficiency.

She drops everything and picks up the oil, smearing a generous amount in her palm, before she smoothens it on her fingers and massages my neck.

I gasp, feeling all my tensed muscles relax. She does the same for my hand and back and thighs.

"I'm done, my lady." She steps backward, away from my personal space.

"You did a great job, I truly needed one." I smile, turning my neck to the sides, eliciting the sound of crackling bones.

"I'm glad I could be of help. It's my pleasure." She smiles. "Should I bring you your meal now?"

"Of course." I nod. We already did strike the bargain.

She brings it and sets it on the bedside table. "Here you go." She steps backward.

"Right." I move closer and begin digging in. I turn to see her gawking. I pause to look at her.

"I'm so sorry my lady. I just want to collect the dishes when you're done. I would be almost invisible." She assures.

Not responding, I continue eating. She's of immense help so far for me to worry. And I notice she steps further backward, plastering herself to the wall. The most hilarious form of being invisible.

I focus on my food. My stomach begins to churn, and I bite down to refrain from clutching it. The pain is like a burning sensation, feasting deeply like a hot magma melting down anything it comes in contact with. Crap! It's getting worse.

Perhaps my system forbids this meal... My wolf is silent. I try to reach her, but I'm greeted by emptiness. Whenever these symptoms start, she blacks out. Or could it be that the baby sucks so much she can't stand it?

How can a wolf be that possessive? Jealous of her mate and her vessel. Jeez! The pain pulls me back to my absurd reality.

The door opens without a prior knock, to reveal Dante, having an expression I can't place my fingers on, that's not my worry at the moment.

"Countless times, I've warned you to knock." I stand up, pissed.

"Oh, my lady, that wouldn't matter in a few days time." He waves it off and keeps advancing towards me.

"How so?" I inquire, my fingers aching to rip his face in shreds, offering him free cosmetic surgery.

"Xavier told me you chose me, which makes us a thing, and I have the right in and out of your life, and your space."

Already? I sigh. I didn't expect Beta Xavier to break it to anyone so soon. No need to cry over spilled milk. I wave it off.

"You must be insane." I growl. My voice is high-pitched. "Now, you will get yourself together and out of my room. If we must see, it will be in the general chambers, and that's only when I say so." I state. "And so you know, you will never get this close to me." I set boundaries.

"I knew you were saving your weak mate when you picked me." He begins. "And let me put this out there, if you think of hurting me, or doing anything stupid and funny, you will regret it."

"And I hate that I'm just thinking about it. You're not so stupid after all. Good tip." I mock.

"And if I ever see you an inch near that weakling, I will make sure to kill him, like I did his papa."

In the heat of the moment, I swiftly pick up the tray and toss it at him. He's not fast enough to dodge it or shield himself. It hits his face with a heavy bang, smearing the leftover of the food on his nasty face and body, before crashing to the floor.

"Get the fuck out of my room. I won't repeat myself." I warn.

I don't feel for Dr Cain, he deserved the death he got, and I wish I got hold of the letter before his death, I would have ensured his torture got worse. Oh, I will so grant him pain without death.

Dante kicks the tray aside, ruining his foot.

"If you act funny, and make a nasty move, you'd be far gone to tell the outcome." He threatens. "And since you've rolled the dice, ensure to start counting your loss, starting from now!"