Chapter 89 089
Danica's POV
The entire day passed by at a torturously slow pace. Each time I shut my eyes to sleep and I wake up again to realize I only slept for thirty minutes almost drove me over the damn edge.
Jasmine came in thrice to help with my bath, breakfast, and lunch.
Eventually, I stopped avoiding the book and at 7pm, I was halfway through the book… yeah, just like that.
It's one hour until dinner and I'm literally counting my fingers for Alexander's arrival. Dinner came in, I tried not to be tempted to eat until he came back, but eventually I did. At 9pm.
Yet he was nowhere to be found. Not even a trace of him.
At first, I began to pout, then I started to worry. It isn't so impossible to have an Alpha still out there working by 11pm, but it made me worry still.
Sleep had long deserted me, but I couldn't step out of this room without making it so obvious that I'd spent the entire day in someone else's room. Because, like always, he'd gotten rid of my clothes and the only option was his big shirts, and maybe his big pants too, but that would only have me looking like a possessed clown.
One more hour and I lost it. I totally forgot everything about decency, rumors that could spread or whatnot. I threw on a shirt from the stacks in his wardrobe and then I stepped out, one steady step at a time, ignoring the sourness that lingered between my thighs.
Then I started walking, first towards the meeting hall, while avoiding the guards on patrol like I was doing something out of character.
There was no trace of Alexander there so I headed towards his study, hoping he was there, because if he isn't…
I might just alarm the whole fuckin' Pack.
After what seemed like an eternity, I got to the Study, but for the first time since I got here, I realized it had a different security system. The last time, I watched him push the doors open so easily so I didn't think it would be on another whole level.
But right now, no matter how much I pushed, knocked, banged, the door didn't budge.
“Alexander! Are you in there? Please let me know if you're there, I promise I won't bother you…” I trailed off anxiously, tiny sobs escaping me as several ideas from the pit of hell dropped in my mind.
‘He is an Alpha, Dani. A freaking god-damned Alpha. One of the strongest that ever ruled the werewolf world! You shouldn't worry too much about him’ Aurora muttered softly and I collapsed against the door. Sitting right there with my legs tucked beneath me.
I knew that. I knew he was one strong Alpha and he couldn't possibly be kidnapped or anything. But he did mention coming back. He wanted me to stay put in his room until he returned. That was supposed to mean he would return at a perfectly normal time not way past midnight.
And with that, I couldn't help but wonder if he was truly okay. Or if something bad happened to him. I decided to hold onto Aurora's words, hoping he was fine and that something was probably keeping him late. Something that wasn't death or attacks.
If he was in the study and somehow didn't hear me knock or doesn't want to see me, then I'll stay right here until he's ready to see me. And if perhaps he wasn't in, he'll also meet me right here whenever he returns.
Everything around me was dead silent, including Aurora. And when it seemed like another hour had passed, I tried to swallow the unease that was clogged in my throat. But it was impossible.
‘Aurora, do you really think he's okay?’ I asked, hesitantly. She stirred but remained silent and that was literally the biggest trial of my life.
‘Rora?’ I choked out a sob and that was when she finally spoke.
‘He's near, Dani. If something bad happened to him, you would have felt it deep in your bones!’ she snapped and the tiny whimpers stopped altogether.
I was just about to question her words, see if she was just saying that to make me feel better but then I felt him myself.
His presence. Powerful, thick, with a touch of anger or maybe distress.
I felt everything and all the plan to yell for worrying me so much flew out the window in a blink.
His steps halted the minute his gaze landed on me. Blake was right by his side, eyes widening as he also stopped walking. They both looked like they'd just seen a virgin ghost.
“Little mate?” He muttered, unsure yet firmly.
Another stray tear rolled off my cheeks as I curled up tighter, refusing to run up to him despite myself.
“Holy shit, Danica! What the fuck are you doing out here?!” He cursed under his breath, taking off his coat and draping it around me.
“Waiting for you?” I muttered silently, and he blinked in disbelief.
“You weren't…”
“Do you know how hard it is to stay in that room of yours, checking the time every one hour and wondering why you still haven't returned? Do you have any idea how hard it was to convince myself to stay right here until you return instead of actually going out to find you?” I muttered and he just gaped at me.
“You didn't tell me you were going to stay out till dawn. I thought something bad happened to you!” I continued and he let out a hard breath, like he was having an internal battle with himself.
“Holy Hades in hell, Danica. You freaking have a phone! You could have put a call across rather than putting yourself in danger!” He snapped and I flinched.
Right, the fucking phone. I always forget I have one.
“I… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you… it's just…” he muttered, realizing what he'd just done. “Come on, let's get you back inside” he added and I didn't bother arguing. There was no point in provoking him when he clearly isn't himself.
Something did happen. But he didn't get hurt. Not physically at least. There was no blood stench, no visible wounds, and that alone sent a huge relief to my bones.
He dismissed Blake, and took me to the room. Not his. Mine.
He tucked me in bed and turned to leave but I held him back, sitting back up twice as fast as he'd tucked me into the duvet.
“What happened out there, Alexander? Something's bothering you” I asked but he shook his head, avoiding my gaze.
“Nothing out of the ordinary…” he trailed off and I tugged harder at his hand. He hadn't expected the move so he ended up tumbling at the edge of the bed and hitting the bed with a soft thud.
I fought back a giggle at the frown that crossed his face.
“Tell me what happened to make you so angry and conflicted, Please?” I muttered, and eventually he gave in, shoulders sagged as he sat upright.
I've never seen him so... weak? Distressed? Vulnerable? I couldn't even find the right word.
“Someone I know was attacked. She got hurt. And it might be hard to save her. After my mom died, the way she did, I'd vowed to protect the one true friend she had. But I failed to do that again. She was on her way to visit and then she was attacked” he explained and at that moment, I could picture how much she must mean to him for him to be this conflicted.
“It wasn't your fault, Alexander. You didn't attack her. You just didn't get to her in time to stop her from getting hurt. You don't have to be so sad when you have me” I muttered and he finally met my gaze, hopeful.
“We're going to do everything possible to save her and bring her back to her healthy feet… together” I added, squeezing his hands in assurance.
He pulled me into his arms and held me there… tight, unmoving, like I was his l
ifeline. Then he muttered.
“I don't know what I could have done without you, Little mate.”