Chapter 9: Nine

ROMAN

Her soul was glowing again. But the smile on her face...it was more beautiful. There was something about it that filled my chest with an intense pressure. I realized then that Solana wasn't in trouble. I was. Still, I refused to show it. I couldn’t show weakness. Especially not to her.

"Love? I do not know what that is. What makes you think I would fall in love with you?" I asked.

"Want to make a bet with me, alpha?" She asked, and my eyes widened.

How was she so bold?

She was so different from everyone I had encountered.

"What bet?" I asked.

She gestured at me to lean over, that smile of hers causing my stomach to flutter.

Is something wrong with me? I thought

Tense, I bent towards her, and she reached up to whisper in my ear.

My hand instinctively found her waist and settled there to hold her steady. I feared she would tip over trying to reach me.

"If you fall in love with me, I get whatever I ask for. If I fail, I'll do whatever you ask for," she whispered in my ear, and I stared at her, intrigued.

Me?

Fall in love? If that wasn't the most ridiculous thing I'd ever heard, what was?

"And if I end up asking you to slit your own throat?" I asked, and she gulped.

She lowered herself, pulling away from me.

"Why? Are you scared, little one?" I asked, and her cheeks turned the same colour as the rose.

Strange.

Was her illness acting up?

"I'm not afraid of death, dearest," she said.

My throat tightened. Dearest?

How could she so easily give me an endearing name when I'd been nothing but cold to her?

"So, do we have a deal?" She asked, and a crease formed between my brows.

My heart was pounding faster. Was this fear or unease?

Maybe this was fear. Probably because this bet was an expensive gamble. I couldn't afford to get attached to this woman.

"I'll take that as a yes. Now, let's seal it," she said, holding out a hand towards me.

Hesitantly, I held out mine, and she took it, holding it firmly. There it was again. Warmth.

Her smile widened.

"Let's have dinner together tonight," she blurted out, and I blinked at her.

I didn't want to burst her bubble by telling her I couldn't taste anything, but I was curious—

And curiosity was a terrible thing.

...

"You are getting too comfortable with the sacrificial lamb, Alpha," Elder Maeve said from her position in front of the desk.

"I understand your concerns, Maeve. But I know exactly what I'm doing," I replied.

She sighed. "Your thirtieth birthday is in twelve months. You might think there is plenty of time. But that's not true. She will have to carry your pup for at least seven months."

"Quiet," I hissed. "I'm trying to read."

She mumbled an apology, and I released a sigh, tracing my fingers along the page of the book on my desk. I'd asked Nigel to help me get a book with details about body language and emotions. It was written in braille. Elder Maeve didn't know that, though.

There was a knock on the door. A sour taste filled my mouth.

What part of 'I need to be alone' did they not understand?

"Come in," I droned, pinching the bridge of my nose.

Zamora hurried in, breathless.

"Alpha, why is that woman in the kitchen cooking? What is Anna doing? Why did she neglect her responsibility and leave it to that mutt—" Her words trailed off when my gaze clashed with hers.

"Mutt? Did I hear that right?" I droned. She lowered her head instantly.

"No, alpha. I—"

I rose to my feet slowly.

"Tell me, Zamora. If my wife is a mutt, what does that make me?"

She whimpered, sinking to her knees.

"Please pardon me, Alpha. I didn't mean to—"

"Yes, you did. You meant to spite me. Do you know why you are still allowed to walk into my residence?"

Her eyes went wide, glistening with tears.

Was that fear? If it was, good.

I exhaled slowly, halting right in front of her.

"Forgive me, Alpha. I won't cross the line again. Please don't cut me off. I'm begging you."

I closed my eyes for a moment, torn. I wanted her gone. She was nothing but a nuisance. But, after Solana is gone, Zamora is the one who will take her place and raise my pups if there will be any.

"Get out," I said instead.

Thinking about all of it was making my head pound.

The instant she rose to her feet, a familiar ache pierced right through my chest.

I gasped, choking on air as I doubled over.

Zamora was by my side in an instant, along with Maeve.

"I'm fine," I croaked, pushing past them towards my chair.

It was my personal countdown. A countdown towards my own death. It was a miracle I hadn't felt the pain since my visit to the Red Grove pack.

Was it Solana?

Was she healing my body subconsciously?

The ache spread faster, burrowing its way up my spine. My fingers dug into the edge of the desk as I fought to stay upright.

"Alpha," Zamora gasped, already rummaging through the satchel she carried. "Drink this."

She held out the mug from my desk, the steam rising from it carrying the sharp scent of crushed herbs and iron. I knew that smell. The mixture she'd brewed countless times to dull the pain when it became too much to bear.

Maeve's voice trembled with caution. "Perhaps we should call—"

"No," I growled. I didn't need Solana here. I didn't want her to see this weakness.

Zamora hesitated before pressing the mug into my hand. It was warm against my palm. I took a slow breath, forcing myself to drink.

The taste was foul, but I swallowed it anyway, ignoring the burn that followed. For a moment, it felt as though my lungs had turned to stone. Then the pain began to ebb.

Maeve hovered nearby, worry etched into every line of her face. "You should rest, Alpha. The strain—"

"I said I'm fine." My voice was softer this time, but no less final. I leaned back, drawing in a shaky breath as the heat in my chest dulled to a low thrum.

Zamora lingered, still kneeling beside my chair, her hands trembling as she adjusted the cup on the table. "Should I stay in case—"

"You've done enough," I interrupted. "Neither of you will mention this to Solana. Not a word."

"Yes, alpha," they chorused and left.

I blew out a shaky breath, resting my head on my desk.

'I'm not afraid of death,’ Solana's words floated into my mind, and I closed my eyes, the pressure in my chest growing.

How could someone as small and fragile as she was not fear death?

As powerful as I was...I didn't like the thought of it. Not in the slightest.

Who would take care of my pack if I was gone? What about the poor orphans I called my children?

I couldn't feel much. But this one thing was clear to me.

The knock on the door alerted me.

I narrowed my eyes at it, wondering who it was this time.

"Dearest, it's me."

My heartbeat grew louder. I could hear it in my ears.

What was the strange reaction?

Bracing myself on my seat, I brought a trembling hand to my face, hoping I didn't look sick. I could have turned her away, but for some reason, I couldn't.

"Can I come in?" Solana asked.

"Yes, come in," I replied.

The instant she came in, my whole body went rigid. She was wearing a beautiful long blue dress that hugged her curves perfectly. She was stunning. But that was not...that was not what caught me off guard.

I could...

I could smell her.

And at the same time, a presence was stirring inside of me. One I hadn’t felt in a long time.

My wolf?

What was this smell?

Her expression faltered when she saw me.

"Dearest, is something wrong?"