Chapter 82 082
Danica's POV
Alexander spent half the entire day with me. With the hot water bags, pain relief pills, gentle caresses on my lower belly when it began to hurt again. He has been a true gentleman to me so far and it feels so surreal.
I'd take a short nap and wake up to see him right there, still stroking the part of me that hurts the most while staring at me like he was staring at his whole world wrapped into a little frame.
The third time I opened my eyes to find him there, he had something to do, so he left after making sure I was wide awake, enough to remember him leaving, so I wouldn't feel abandoned.
I've been smiling so much lately that it makes me feel like something bad would happen along the line. I've been happy, yes, but still very much anxious. Because the last time I let myself feel this happy, was the moment my true despair began.
And it hasn't been pretty since then.
Despair never held the definition pretty. Not even for a second.
But now, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, I get to experience this much happiness? It felt wrong.
Too wrong.
But a part of me wished this wrong would just remain forever. That part of me that always wished for something better than a rejection. I told myself I'd be fine as long as I could be left alone, but then I got a mate, who didn't reject me like the others did, without hesitation.
Maybe it was the lack of mark... Or something else, but whatever it was keeps giving me a feeling of doubt. At myself. At my capabilities. At the weight I'm going to shoulder henceforth.
Before I knew it, my free week ended. And my anxiety grew taller and fatter. The last few days had gone by easily probably because this hadn't felt like reality. But now it does, and I'm nervous as hell.
I got to the clinic with a positive mind and I was as early as a bird. If the week would be a good one, the positivity should start now, on the first day of the week.
My usual coat changed. I hadn't paid any attention to it, so I didn't realize how different it was from whichever coat I'd worn during the trial. But now I do. I could see the difference as clear as the morning sun. And it felt nice.
You know, having the same set of people who would look down on you, looking at you with cautious eyes and respectful expression each time you walk by could give you a kind of thrill that makes you want to walk past them as many times as possible until they get exhausted from bowing too much in one day.
But what's the point of that if it would drain me too?
I looked up the records of those I treated during the trial, and Vera was there to help without acting all uptight and formal around me. Somehow, that made work a bit more comfortable than I'd imagined when I first walked in.
Halfway through the files and I realized my last patient hasn't been coming in. Not for the prescribed after-surgery meds, and neither did he check in for the scheduled check-ups.
"He really hasn't been showing up?" I asked Vera to be sure and she nodded once.
"He seemed devastated the last time he came in. And honestly I don't get it, because personally, I'd be glad and thankful to the goddess for taking a toxic mate like that, far away from me" Vera muttered, shrugging casually.
"Toxicity... I don't think that's the point here, Vera. He loves her, and her absence is doing a ton on him, toxic mate or not. At some point he would wonder if she really did any of the things she was being accused of. He'll end up blaming others, even if she confessed to her crimes right in front of him. That's the definition of a strong mate bond for you." I explained and she shivered visibly.
"That's... Scary" she whispered and I nodded in response.
It is.
"Do you have any idea where he might be? The location of his house? Working place? Or the time he comes in for a visit even though he couldn't meet his mate?" I asked and her gaze narrowed on me.
"Don't tell me, you're going to meet him?" She asked. I gave a little shrug. "I'm his doctor, Vee" I muttered and she shook her head, as if trying to shake off something from it visibly.
"You can't do that! You just said it yourself, that he's going to start blaming people. The easiest categories of people to blame for any of these are the workers at the clinic. What if he hurts you?!" She exclaimed, her eyes wide.
"You're just being paranoid, Vera. He won't hurt me. You clearly told me that he visits the palace everyday and it isn't even for his own treatment. He's trying hard to see his mate. Do you think someone like that would commit another crime of aggression and risk having his mate's head on a platter?" I asked, but even though she knew I was right, she still tried to protest.
"What if he's not in his right mind when you meet and he hurts you? What if it's his wolf that's in control at that moment?! You'd be putting four lives in danger then" she added, trying her best to convince me.
"Four lives?"
"Yes! Yours, his, hers, and mine! I played the part of giving you unnecessary information you know? And trust me, Alpha Alexander is thorough with his investigations, I'm convinced because I've witnessed it." She muttered with a sarcastic laugh.
"Jesus Vera. Have you been watching so many horror vs detective dramas lately? You sound like a grandma right now." I teased and she shot me glare.
"You know, there's always someone who would tell me everything even if you don't. You can't particularly stop me by holding the needed information back." I said and she groaned before finally giving me everything I asked for.
"Just be careful, Head Doc. We'll be roasted tomatoes without you here for long!"
"Don't worry, from what I'm seeing in these files, you still have me here until later in the evening" I assured her with a smile she couldn't resist.
A smile escaped her before she could stop it.
"Heading back to my post now, don't miss me too much" she muttered as she saw herself out.
Just then another nurse walked in, seeking my presence at the emergency treatment room, because apparently, the patient doesn't want any other person to treat her except the so-called 'Head Doctor', which unfortunately is me.
I have a terrible feeling about this.