Chapter 12 Unusual care
TARA:
I was scared when I heard the Alpha's voice. When did he enter the veranda?
Mason gradually pulled away from me, his warm smile not leaving his lips.
"Nothing suspicious, Alpha. I just felt she needed it." He explained casually while my head hung low.
"Why haven't you applied the balm yet? Do you want the wounds to get infected? You didn't even clean it." He groaned, visibly annoyed.
"Get me a bowl of water and a clean towel. I'll do it myself." He ordered and Mason got to it. As soon as Mason left, the Alpha took a seat close to me.
I scooted from him a little bit, earning a glare from him.
"I specifically asked him to do something for me and he went about doing what I don't know." He muttered under his breath but I still heard it.
"I'm sorry, Alpha. I asked him not to. It's painful." I partly whined.
"Look at me, Tara," He ordered. But given the training that had already been beaten into my system, I couldn't. He grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him.
"You don't have any choice here. You will do exactly as I say. Understood?"
"Yes, Alpha." I nodded. His gaze fell from my eyes, to my nose, and then to...
Mason walked in, making the Alpha immediately let go of my chin.
Wait, did he just look at my lips?
Mason dropped the water and the towel close to the Alpha.
"I'll excuse you. See you around, Tara. And yeah, welcome to the North." He smiled and left the room.
Without him there, I was kind of nervous.
The Alpha dipped the towel into the water, squeezed it a little, grabbed her arm, and wiped off the dried blood gently. It stung but I had been trained not to express my pain. I could only swallow it and let him attend to me.
After wiping off the dried blood, he took the cup containing the medicine and took off the lid. In my heart, I was already crying. I hadn't used it before but...
"Don't be scared. It will only last for a few minutes. It's for your good."
Was he encouraging me?
However, I slowly nodded. He applied the balm to my wounds. I clenched my fingers and shut my eyes. The burning of my skin was unbearable. It took a lot for me not to cry in front of him.
He blew cold air on the surface, easing the pain a little bit. I tapped my feet endlessly, counting each second that went by. It didn't take up to a minute for the pain to die down but it still hurt a bit.
But that was just the beginning. I had wounds on my neck and on my left hand. He applied the balm on the other hand and like the right hand, I chested the pain.
But when it came to my neck, I stopped him by holding his hand. At that point, I felt like my body was on fire.
"I can't take it anymore, please," I begged. But he didn't listen. He dropped my hand and went ahead to apply the balm on my neck and some parts of my chest.
The burning around that area was more intense and I couldn't hold back my tears anymore.
For some reason, that place took longer to cool down. I was so engrossed in the pain that I didn't know that the Alpha was holding my hand.
My tears fell on the back of his hand but I don't care. I tried wiping off the balm from my neck but he stopped my hand midway, allowing my body to burn. Seconds later and every sensation stopped. I looked at my hand and there was no wound.
He let go of my hands and I wiped my wet face.
"Now, it's remaining that twisted ankle."
I shifted away from him quickly, far away. He cocked a brow in confusion.
"Do you want to kill me?" I sniffled. "I'll just die." I pouted. "Besides, it won't work."
"Do you think this is a regular balm? There's magic in it. It cures any bodily injury, including fractures. I want you to be healthy for what I'm about to do. Now, come closer."
I grimaced. But still went closer. He raised my hurt leg to his thighs and began massaging it. It wasn't painful at all because he was gentle, and I almost fell asleep.
"Mason will show you to your room. Get settled in." He said and dropped my leg.
He tapped his thigh. "Place your head."
Whaaaaaaaaaatttttt?!!!
"Alpha, I can't do that. It's against the rules of conduct." I blatantly disobeyed. That was the height of it all.
"What rules of conduct? When did I give you rules?" He tilted his head, looking genuinely confused. "Remind me."
Why was he always putting me in a hot seat? Before I could reply, he grabbed my head and pressed it to his lap.
"Stretch your legs on the chair? Or do you want me to do that for you too?" A smirk appeared on his lips.
I respected myself and did as he said. He began massaging my temple. How on earth did he know what I needed? Was he reading my mind?
I shut my eyes, enjoying the feeling while it lasted. But why was he doing all of this?
I just couldn't place a finger on any reason.
I bit back my moans and before I knew it, I couldn't feel anything.
I didn't know how long I was out but when I woke up, I found my head resting on someone's legs. Who was it?
My mind was a bit fuzzy so I closed my eyes again. Gradually, the events of the past hour came flooding in. When I remembered the Alpha was giving me a massage and I stupidly fell asleep, I quickly sprang to my feet and bowed my head.
"I'm so sorry, Alpha, I didn't mean to."
Goddess! How did I get here?!
"Seems your leg is all better for you to have stood up like that." He remarked. I hadn't even taken notice of anything. My ankle was better and all the wounds on my body had disappeared. I touched my neck but there was no scratch. Even the silver marks on my skin had disappeared.
I was like a brand new human.
Did it cure the omega in me to become a beta or gamma too?
'Funny question.' I laughed at myself.
"Do you know why I asked to look at your palm in the car?" He questioned.
"No, Alpha," I gulped, shaking my head.
"I asked because I know what the hands of a murderer look like. I can tell you're innocent."
Relief washed over me like rain. He was the second person who didn't believe that I killed the head maid.
That meant, I was intentionally framed for it. And unfortunately, the main killer got away.
"By the way, you're very strong to have endured so much pain from the medicine. Too bad you broke when it was almost over." He shrugged.
Mason walked into the room and this time, he held a small nylon bag.
"Show her to her room." The Alpha stood up and exited the veranda.
"I see you had a wonderful rest," Mason noted, teasing me. I bashfully looked down, avoiding his intense gaze.
"Just so he knows, I saw your first." He winked. What was that supposed to mean?