Chapter 17

As they arranged the books, Lake and Amelia couldn’t help but bump onto one another, their hands colliding and their bodies brushing. It was a small, enclosed library with barely enough air for both of them to share.

“Sorry,” Lake barked out a laugh. A short laugh that managed to brighten his face. He’d been laughing more often, speaking more often and even helping more often.

“It’s no biggie,” she muttered. She’d heard Lucy use the word before and had requested for the meaning.

Lake chuckled at her attempt, his lips forming in a way that indicated he was amused, “you didn’t have to change your accent,” he said, scratching the back of his head.

“Oh, is that so?” She questioned, and strode to a chair, with Lake following her from behind.

For a moment, he fell silent.

“When you get your necklace, what happens?” His voice was so low, and there’d been a hint of hurt in it.

They had about four days left.

“I do not know,” she smiled for a moment, her mind wandering.

She couldn’t help but wonder about the possibility of moving to the human country. Her country had lied about women having to marry their mates to bear a child. If Lake was her mate or not, there was a possibility of happiness.

Not that finding a mate wasn’t special, but some had misused the lie to force some sham of a marriage.

How messed up the country was—how unfairly women were treated.

The lies that’d been passed to torture innocent women.

The lies were passed down with no trace of its origin. Passed down to generations, just like the misconception about the humans and—

A man had stalked into the shop, ogling and signaling for Amelia’s attention. She raised her head, attempting to stand.

“I’ll take care of him,” Lake muttered as he strode to the counter. He was always so protective, and somehow, he reminded her of Troy: he’d offered to chaperone the times Harry had briefly visited.

“But I want her to take my order,” the man spat, walking towards her direction, but Lake pushed him; he had a smoldering temper and Amelia could smell trouble.

She rose from her seat, and Lake gazed at her sideways. “Stay away, Amelia. I’ll handle this,” he said.

But Amelia…Amelia didn’t listen. He was only going to choose violence, and she didn’t want him to take that route.

She decided to handle it her way.

The man settled as she stood at the front, her hand on her hip. “What would you like to purchase? We have—"

“You,” the man responded, barking out a hysterical laugh.

Amelia felt her temper flame up. She’d never felt so insulted.

Was she some kind of item that could be bought?

Lake raised his fist, “I’ll teach you how to respect a lady.”

Instantly, Amelia held his hand, feeling as it slowly relaxed.

“Allow me,” she muttered with a huff, clenched her fist, and punched his face.

And the weird looking man…the man cried out in pain, his eyes watering up.

“You broke my nose!” he said, placing his hand over it. “You…you mo—”

“Get the hell out of here!” Lake roared. His anger could make a dead man rise. He then jerked his head over at Amelia. “For a woman that preaches love, tranquility and peace, you sure do know how to throw a punch,” he chuckled.

“For a man that doesn’t smile often, you sure do laugh a lot,” Amelia retorted, wiping the naughty-boy charm on his face.

“That was a brave move.” There was no humor in his voice this time. “Makes me certain you’d have done well alone the first time I met you.”

Amelia cocked her head, “Let’s just say, I fear nothing.”

Lake stared at her closely, “surely, there must be something.”

Amelia paused, trying to bustle through her mind, “there will be something, I presume, but I guess I haven’t discovered it yet,” she said, “what about you? What are you most afraid of?”

Lake shrank away from her, his eyes blinking as he turned. She lurched forward and gazed up, finally noticing a scratch on his chin. “My goodness, you’re bleeding!” she moved forward, placing her hand on his chin.

“It’s nothing,” he waved off, “it’s not exactly a new thing.”

“Of course,” she said, “you’ve got quite the reputation.”

There was a safety box perched on a side of the wall, and Amelia wandered to get it after helping him to a seat.

Intently, she drew out wool to clean the wound; there was no need to ask for help.

It was just common sense.

After, she dressed the scar with a plaster. For a moment, they shared the same air, her eyes glued to his, her heart beating rapidly, and her palm sweating.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, his fresh hot breath blowing her skin.

“You flatter me,” she smiled nervously, attempting to stand, but Lake held onto her firmly.

How was she supposed to act?

“Lake…” she whispered slowly, but he didn’t respond, his grip tightening, and her legs fidgeting.

Beyond the ticking clock, beyond the tickling sensation, there came the voice. “You’re making a mistake.”

But Amelia…Amelia ignored, what could her wolf possibly know? She was already inches away from him, her—

“I’m closing up early today!”

The two flinched, breaking their almost kiss. Papito was approaching and his mouth formed a thin line as he studied them.

“I’ve got a date.”

***

The Alpha king was still very ill, and Amelia took it upon herself to visit the Lakes’ residence to ask for help from Laura. She was a nurse whose shift was mostly at night, hence the reason she was always tired whenever she arrived home. She’d freaked out earlier after seeing yet another plaster on Lake’s face.

“Don’t rebuke him, please,” Amelia had pleaded on his behalf, “it was all my fault.”

Laura had softened her face before patterning up the stairs to change her outfit.

“Flambo infection. It’s a bacterial infection,” Laura began after Amelia revealed the symptoms. “Nothing serious, with just an antibiotic he’ll be well and fine.”

Nothing serious?

Amelia stared agape; the physicians had been searching tirelessly for a cure of an illness so basic.

She couldn’t help but ask, “this sickness…how does one contract it?”

“Sometimes, the body forms it, but most times, it is deliberately contracted. Just a drop of portion can lead to the infection; if not treated on time, it could cause a lot of damage, and the most occurring…death.” She revealed, and Amelia widened her eyes.

She knew the king’s sickness wasn’t natural all along. Someone with access to the human country had poisoned the king.

The mysterious question still remained, who?

“I need that cure, Laura,” Amelia pleaded, her eyes glittering.

Laura freed a smile, “of course, sweetie,” she whispered and gazed at Lake. “I owe you a lot.”