Chapter 37 A Different Morning

Chapter 37 A Different Morning
Calix woke up when he heard the sound of something falling, and from the chair where he had fallen asleep the night before, he saw Ruella trying to retrieve a spoon that had fallen under the bed. Her face showed that she was in pain, and she was trying her hardest not to make a sound so as not to wake Calix, unaware that he was already awake and watching her.

"Next time, you can wake me up if you need help," Calix said, making Ruella jump.

He got up from the chair, walked over to Ruella, and picked up the spoon for her.

"Here." Calix handed the spoon to Ruella. "Are you going to take your medicine?"

Ruella nodded hesitantly, continuing to avoid his gaze. To be honest, she still remembered last night’s incident where Calix and even Valdyr had seen the scar on her back. It was embarrassing, Ruella couldn’t bring herself to look Calix in the eyes.

With her weak hands, she tried to reach for the medicine packet on the bedside table, but her bones ached, making it difficult for her to grasp it.

"Do you want me to help?" Calix asked, offering his assistance.

Again and again, Ruella responded with a small nod.

Calix nodded in understanding, then opened one of the small packets containing the medicine she had to take before eating. He poured the powder onto a spoon.

"W-water…" Ruella murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Sorry? Could you repeat that?"

"T-the medicine needs a little water," Ruella repeated.

Calix took a glass of water and held it out to Ruella. "There’s no other spoon, so just dip it in a little until there is enough water to dissolve the medicine."

Ruella complied, then took the medicine without any trouble or drama.

"Here’s the water, drink it," Calix said as he took the spoon from Ruella’s hand and handed her the glass of water. "You did great. The medicine must be bitter, but you took it easily."

Ruella carefully took the glass of water and drank it all in one gulp.

After that, Calix remained seated on the edge of the bed, reading the text on the medicine package, which only made Ruella more nervous.

Although it felt strange and completely new, her heart was warmed by the care Calix had shown her since last night. Ruella was reminded of how fiercely Calix had defended her in front of the residents of Frostfang. That warm moment vanished instantly when she remembered that the scars on her back had been exposed.

"Cal…" Ruella called out softly.

"Yeah?"

Ruella looked hesitant. "About the scar on my back, it… I got it while I was in the Bluemoon Pack. You must feel disgusted and want to get rid of me from your life as soon as possible. Even so, please let me stay for-"

"I have no intention of making you leave anytime soon." Calix cut in as he took the glass from Ruella’s hand and placed it back on the nightstand. "Just focus on your recovery because next week we have to return to the capital."

Ruella looked up, meeting Calix’s gaze, he had been staring at her all along. It made her incredibly nervous.

"Really?"

Calix nodded. He knew Ruella was not fully ready to talk about the old scars on her body, she must feel uncomfortable, and Calix did not have any urgent need to hear about them right now.

Or maybe he did not even care about those scars.

"Besides, I need to figure out why we can communicate telepathically even though I have not officially marked you yet," Calix said.

Right, telepathy. Ruella had completely forgotten that extraordinary moment because so much else was happening.

"What did you feel when our minds connected?" Calix asked.

Ruella tried to recall that sensation. "My ears were ringing, and at first my head hurt. But after that, everything was fine."

It turned out to be exactly the same as what Calix had felt, he had even had to lean back to endure the pain and ringing in his ears.

"Do you believe now that I am your mate?" Ruella asked.

Calix stood up from where he was sitting. "From the start, I just refused to believe in that ritual or anything like it. And that telepathic incident will not change my mind," he said before leaving.



The chefs and staff in the main kitchen were taken by surprise by Calix’s arrival. Those who had just finished preparing breakfast looked puzzled, as it was unusual for their Alpha to make a surprise visit to the kitchen.

"Where’s the head chef?" Calix asked a staff member who was about to distribute food to the buffet tables up front.

Shortly after, the chef arrived to greet him.

"Good morning, Alpha. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Yes, please make me a bowl of porridge and have a server bring it to my tent," Calix replied, stating his request.

The chef nodded. "Alright, I’ll prepare it right away. Is that all?"

"Yes, that’s all. Oh, and a drink to warm the body up."

After that, Calix left the main kitchen, and on his way back to the tent, he ran into Rubina.

Rubina frowned in surprise. "Cal, did you just come from the kitchen?"

Calix nodded.

"That’s unusual. What’s the matter?"

"I asked for some porridge."

"You don’t usually order special meals. You usually eat whatever’s prepared without complaint, especially in a situation like this," said Rubina.

"It’s not for me, but for Ruella. She needs something easy to digest," Calix replied.

His answer made Rubina’s mood even worse. Early that morning, she had heard that Calix had defended Ruella the night before, and now she saw the attention he was giving her right before her eyes.

"Last night… Was everything okay last night? I heard the villagers came to your tent in a rage," Rubina asked, as if she were not the one who had sparked the villagers’ anger.

True, upset that Calix was prioritizing Ruella, she went to the lodging tent and told the women there that Ruella had returned. Rubina even added that Ruella blamed her for accidentally revealing her true identity.

The villagers, already filled with hatred, were easily incited and protested on the spot, no matter how late it was.

"Cal?" Rubina touched Calix’s arm as he suddenly fell into deep thought.

"Yeah? Oh, yeah, everything’s fine. In that case, I’m leaving, and tell Orion to come to the meeting tent," Calix said.

Rubina nodded. "Alright, I’ll let him know."

Calix left, leaving Rubina staring after him, her mind filled with questions and plans to get his attention like she used to.

"Damn it. Now everyone’s talking about Ruella, Ruella, and Ruella!! It’s so annoying," she growled.