Chapter 22 Close to You
Lulu
I knew something was wrong the moment Caspian didn’t wake up, even after I called his name three times.
Normally, Alpha Caspian was annoying in a very consistent way. The slightest argument and he’d already be throwing his Alpha status in my face.
“I’m the Alpha. You obey me.”
Or giving me that look that clearly said, “Why are you so stubborn, Lulu?”
This time—nothing.
“This isn’t funny,” I muttered, pressing the back of my hand to his forehead.
Cold. Way too cold. A werewolf shouldn’t have a body temperature like morning dew.
My heart dropped straight to my stomach.
“Miss McCarthy?” Dalila appeared at the doorway, her face changing instantly when she saw my expression. “Oh, Moon Goddess...”
“I’ll call the doctor,” I said quickly. “And Beta Rohan.”
My hands were shaking as I contacted Doctor Allen. Minutes later, Alpha Caspian’s room was filled with the sharp scent of medicine and heavy tension.
Doctor Allen knelt beside the bed, checking Caspian’s pulse, pupils, and temperature. His face was grave and that was never a good sign.
“What’s wrong with him?” I asked, my voice barely holding together.
Doctor Allen stood up and took a deep breath. “Alpha Caspian is experiencing an illness… supernatural in nature.”
“Supernatural?” I echoed.
He nodded. “More accurately, it’s highly personal. I can’t explain the details, even to you, Miss McCarthy. What you need to understand is...this isn’t an ordinary sickness.”
Beta Rohan stepped forward. “I’ll take over leadership of Sapphire Water for the time being.”
I glanced at him briefly, but my attention snapped back to the Alpha lying pale and unmoving on the bed. The most infuriating Alpha I’d ever known now looked… fragile.
“Watch his temperature,” Doctor Allen continued, handing me a bottle of medicine. “Don’t let it drop below thirty-five degrees. If it does—”
He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t need to. Anything supernatural like this was beyond help. Only the Moon Goddess could save Alpha Caspian.
I nodded. “I’ll stay with him.”
The night felt endless, but I didn’t waver—adding wood to the fireplace, brushing my fingers over the back of his hand, again and again.
I sat by Caspian’s bed, changing warm compresses, making sure the blanket didn’t slip. Dalila checked on me from time to time. My stomach cramped from exhaustion and stress.
“You need to rest too,” she said softly.
“Later,” I replied. “This is the least I can do to repay his kindness, Dalila.”
I wasn’t about to be an ungrateful she-wolf.
I didn’t remember when my head finally hit the pillow. I only remember a faint chill and a strange sense of safety… like the scent of water and ice mixed together.
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was a pair of ocean-blue eyes staring at me with clear amusement.
I froze. Alpha Caspian was awake and I was… in his bed. Right beside him.
“Morning,” he said casually, lips curving into a lazy smile. “If I knew I’d wake up like this, I might get sick more often.”
I let out a small shriek and immediately jumped off the bed. “I…I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to. I just…fell asleep!”
He chuckled, then laughed even harder at the sight of me standing there like a confused mess—after keeping me awake nearly all night.
“You know,” he said, tilting his head, “in other packs, this could be considered an invitation.”
I shot him a glare. “You really have no shame.”
“And you took care of me all night,” he replied lightly. “Seems fair, Thank you, by the way.”
I snorted. “I regret it. Turns out I nursed a shameless flirt of an Alpha.”
“Ouch,” he said with a soft laugh. “That hurts.”
I fled to my room and took a cold shower, hoping it would wash away the nerves. No luck. At least one thing went right—Alpha Caspian hadn’t woken up as some Mr Hyde version of an Alpha werewolf.
After my shower, Dalila came in carrying a breakfast tray.
“Alpha’s orders,” she said with a teasing smile. “You’re not allowed in the dining room.”
I sighed. “He recovered way too fast.”
While eating, I told Dalila everything waking up in Caspian’s bed, that look, the ambiguous comment.
She stared at me for a long moment. “You should know something…”
“What?”
“You’re the first she-wolf who’s ever slept in Alpha Caspian’s bed.”
I choked. “WHAT?”
She nodded firmly. “He’s surrounded by women, yes. But sharing his bed? Never happened.”
My cheeks burned. And strangely… my heart warmed. Dalila’s words sent my pulse racing.
To distract myself, I sat at the piano an hour later. My fingers brushed the keys lightly, playing a cheerful version of “Für Elise,” then shifting into a soft but hopeful “Clair de Lune.”
The music calmed me.
“So this is what you do when you’re nervous.”
I turned. Alpha Caspian stood in the doorway—healthy, strong, and annoyingly…handsome.
“How long have you been standing there?” I asked.
“Since the third note,” he smiled. “Come on. Help me pick something to wear.”
I frowned. “For what?”
“The coronation of Alpha Fridmund from the Crystal Ice pack.” His gaze lingered on me. “I need your opinion.”
He felt… different. Softer. As if he were making up for old sins. I just hoped I wasn’t misreading him again.
At the boutique, we were browsing when my body suddenly went rigid.
Leia strutted in with her friends.
Damn it. Why is Leia here of all places?
I panicked. No place to hide. I forgot to bring Identity Flux with me. Instinctively, I stepped back and hid behind Alpha Caspian.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Shh. Don’t move. I can’t let her see me.”
“Who—” Caspian turned his head.
He immediately pulled me into his arms, one hand covering my face.
“You’re safe,” he whispered.
Leia walked past. She didn’t see me.
When they were gone, Alpha Caspian didn’t let go right away. My heart was pounding.
“Care to explain that little scene?” Alpha Caspian asked, one brow raised.
“Leia Andrews. She’s Alpha Scott’s mistress.”
“Hm.”
I was about to say more, but realised it was pointless—if anything, it’d just make me look weak in front of him.
I stepped back. Safe from Leia, yes—but definitely not safe from Alpha Caspian.
“Why do I feel like this whenever I’m near you, Alpha?” I murmured, my gaze lowered.
“Do you like it?” His hand lifted my chin. “Answer honestly, because even if you lie, I’ll know, Lulu McCarthy.”
Oh, Moon Goddess.
This was not the moment where I could afford to give the wrong answer.