Chapter 19 NINETEEN

Chapter 19 NINETEEN
ILYANA’S POV

The air in the room thickened at his presence. The sight of him like that soured my wolf, and the fact that everything could or might be my fault scared me. I clenched my jaw hard, my fist balled up under the covers.

I managed to bring myself up, kneeling on the bed and breaking the silence as I bowed. “Your highness.”

He looked alarmed immediately. “Are you well enough to do that? Please sit.”

I didn’t bother sitting. I needed this. I had to make sure he wasn’t angry or mad at me. “I’m so sorry if I caused anything. Please forgive me.”

“Ilyana—”

“I wasn’t thinking. I saw the bird and opened the window. It looked scared. I had no idea something else would have entered,” I rambled on.

“I don’t even know how he came in. He was just there and he was on me. I’m sorry—”

“Ilyana…” he called out again, but I was too fast, not listening.

“I didn’t mean to cause you any issue. Please don’t punish me—”

“Punish you?” he said, scoffing.

I didn’t look up, remaining in my bowed position.

“Look at me, Ilyana.”

I stayed in my position, hands folded on my lap. “Please—”

“I said look at me, Ilyana.” He bit out harshly.

I raised myself up, meeting his eyes as I knelt on the bed.

“Sit.”

“Your highness, I’m sor—” I tried to say, but he was not having it.

His eyes turned cold like winter, his voice the same. “I asked you to sit. As your king and alpha, sit down.”

I moved immediately, settling back where I had been and covering myself with the duvet. Power radiated from him as the air in the room turned something dangerous.

Trouble. I was definitely in trouble. I should have figured the goddess of misery would come soon and ruin everything for me like she always did.

When he spoke again, his coldness was gone, replaced with something gentle and soft. “How are you feeling?” he asked, and I looked at him. Something different was in his eyes as he stared at me—softness.

For me.

“G…goo…good,” I stuttered, looking back at the covers, my fingers hitching against them.

The silence stretched again, and I sneaked a glance to see him struggling, his mouth opening and closing as if whatever he wanted to say was too far back for him to reach. I continued fidgeting, clawing at my nails under the covers.

“The pack doctor took care of me. Thank you so much for your care.”

He scoffed, the sound bitter, as he finally took his seat where Atasha had just stood. A heavy sigh left his mouth, and I watched the slight sag in his shoulders, the tiredness in them as he ran his hand through his hair.

My face pinched slightly as his jaw flexed and ticked, like he had so many things to say but didn’t know how to put them.

“I’m sorry.”

I stopped breathing instantly, the room closing in on those two words. I wasn’t sure if I heard correctly or if my ears were playing a sick joke on me.

The alpha king.

The great alpha king had just said sorry to me. Other alphas would kill to hear this. Councils, people greater than me would bow for this. Yet he just said it. And he looked sorry. Every part of him did. But for what?

“I shouldn’t have left you alone, given that you’re new to this pack.” His eyes met mine, but he looked away instantly with guilt. “I should have told you more about it. And I should have left the beta with you.”

He clenched his jaw hard. “Two days in the pack and you’re getting injured.”

“That’s not your fault,” I immediately offered, not knowing what prompted me.

“No,” he retorted, “but it’s my job as the alpha king to keep you safe.”

As the alpha king. Not as your mate.

“Fo…for a moment, I thought I’d…los—” he started, but didn’t finish, something edging his voice before he scoffed again. “Never mind.”

Something twinged inside me, disappointment tangled with bitterness. Was he ever going to accept it?

His words rang in my head again.

I don’t need a mate. 

I don’t need a wife.

“Vampires are deadly things,” he continued. “They come mostly as birds or crows and deceive people. I’m looking into this already, and I assure you, I will punish the vampire that did this to you myself.” His voice turned cold at the end.

I opened my mouth to ask why, my heart clenching. Why would he punish them personally? Why did he care? Why was he taking care of me if he didn’t want me?

Was it all because of his heir? The baby he wanted me to give?

I gritted my jaw, holding back the bitter tears. “Of course. Thank you, your highness.”

The air in the room grew lighter as he stood up, but he didn’t move. He stood there, his eyes scanning the room, landing everywhere but not on the bed. His throat moved, and he suddenly sat again, tensing the room as his focus returned to me.

“Did…did he say anything?”

“Who?”

“The vampire. Did he say anything? How did he get into the room? How did he know you were there? Did he target you specifically?”

I pursed my lips, frowning as I tried to recall everything. He had said something about my blood. I opened my mouth to reply when Atasha’s words rang in my head. My blood was self-healing, something different. What if I said something that made me suspicious again?

“Nothing,” I quickly replied.

“Thank you,” he added before standing again, turning this time to leave.

He stopped at the door, his hand tightening on the knob before he turned back to look at me.

“Is there anything I can do for you?” he asked, his voice quiet.

“For me?”

He stepped back into the light. “You’ve been in grave danger in my pack after days. I need—I almost…” He stopped, muttering a sigh. “I want to show you that I can protect you fully, and that the pack is more than just attacks. Tell me what I can do to make it up to you.”

His gaze looked sincere and painful, and even though I didn’t have anything, I frowned, thinking. This was a one-time offer. I thought of my life, of everything I had never been able to have or enjoy. I had been working all my life, cast aside like an omega from pack to pack, never cared for, never resting.

“I’d like a day off, my lord,” I said.

I had never gotten a day off before while working as an omega. It would be nice to have a day where I could relax and do nothing.

“A day off?” he frowned, stunned.

It looked like I had offended him again, and I swallowed immediately. “I…I’m sorry, I just meant—”

“What do you think you are here to do, Ilyana? To work?” he cut in sharply, though there was still softness in it.

“No…”

“You are here for one thing and one thing alone. To produce my heir. You have the right to do anything, take a day off, do whatever you want. You only have to come to me when I need you or when you want to. I won’t force you to do anything.”

“Every other day, from morning to evening, and when I don’t call you, is your time to do whatever you want. You’re not an omega anymore. You’re my—”

I looked up at him, waiting for him to finish, but all that came was the tick of his jaw and the lines on his forehead.

“You can do anything you want here. I’m not holding you back,” he finished.

I didn’t know what to say. His words were supposed to make me feel better. This was freedom. But immediately, I was reminded of what I was here for.

Not as a mate. But as a breeder.

I ignored the pain in my chest. “Oh…really? Thank you, your highness.”

“Kael,” he said suddenly.

I looked up at him. “Call me Kael. That’s my name.”

“Oh,” I replied.

His face pinched together slightly, his brows raised for me to say it. The words felt heavier. Like seeing a god and slamming them by their original name.

“Thank you, Kael,” I said, the words heavy on my tongue.

And with that, he turned and finally walked out of the room.