Chapter 22 The Feeling Of Being Close
My heart hammered in my chest as I walked out of the office and went over to my post at the front. I sank into the chair and placed my hand over my chest, trying to calm it down.
My skin still held the warmth of his touch, and the look of concern on his face replayed in my mind over and over, making me feel like there was something more. I shook my head quickly, tapping my cheek softly as if to wake myself up from a dream.
The ache in my hand, which I had been trying to ignore, returned, and I suddenly took note of the bruise again. It would have been worse if not for my wolf’s healing strength. At least now it was only a bruise and not something deeper.
I rubbed my hand around it, my mind drifting toward the memory of Warren’s reaction, but I pushed the thought away and distracted myself with inputting the sales record into the system.
“You have to get yourself together, Diana,” I muttered to myself as I typed the figures on the paper in front of me. “He has a mate, and you’re just fooling yourself around him. Even if he feels the same way, he just wants to take advantage of you.”
But the more I muttered those words, the more they sounded like lies I was forcing myself to believe.
I spent the rest of the day typing and calculating. Warren hadn’t left his office. Thankfully it gave me time to think straight and focus on my job. I looked at the papers once more and then at the laptop screen before putting everything away.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” a sweet feminine voice said.
I looked up to see a red-haired lady smiling warmly at me.
“Hello, how may I help you?” I returned the smile.
But instead of answering, she placed a small ornament on my desk.
“Can I see where the bruise is?” she asked gently, walking over to the other side so she could stand beside me. “This ornament isn’t just anything. It’s an old healing treatment we still use. It works faster on werewolves.”
I blinked and instinctively covered the spot on my hand. “Thank you,” I said politely. “But I’m fine. It’s just a scratch.”
“I need to apply it,” she insisted kindly but firmly. “Alpha Warren instructed me to.”
My eyebrows shot up. “He—he told you to do that?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “He said you should get treated immediately.”
A strange warmth rushed through me. Warren… did all this?
“Really, I’m fine,” I tried to argue again.
She shook her head. “I have to apply it. If I go back without doing it, the Alpha will know.”
I stared at her, confused. Warren didn’t even look like he cared about anyone enough to do something like this. Especially not… me.
But after arguing for a moment, I finally sighed and pulled my hand away from my lap, allowing her to see the bruise.
“Thank you,” she said softly before opening the ornament.
The moment she applied the cool mixture to my skin, a slight sting shot up my arm followed by a soothing warmth. I couldn’t stop thinking.
Why would Warren care this much?
Why did he look so angry when he saw the bruise?
Why did it hurt him so much when he thought Mark was my mate?
I shook my head quickly to clear the thoughts.
“You okay?” the lady asked, noticing my movement.
“Yes,” I nodded, forcing a smile.
She finished applying the ornament and wiped her hands. “The bruise will start fading off soon,” she said before leaving.
“Thank you,” I whispered as she walked away.
When she was gone, I started gathering my things. The sky outside was already turning dark, and I had no money for transport. My chest tightened at the thought of trekking home again. I reached for my phone, thinking of calling Mark, when a familiar voice cut through the air.
“Well, well, look who is pretending to be busy.”
“Cora,” I breathed out in relief as she walked toward me with her usual playful grin.
“I came for a little gossip, earlier,” she said jokingly, “but I see you’re working like a responsible adult, so I didn’t want to disturb.”
I laughed lightly. “Thank you… for yesterday,” I said, my voice soft.
She brushed it off with a flick of her hand. “Please. As long as we’re friends, that won’t be a one-time thing.”
I stood to pick my bag from the other side of the desk, and when my sleeve shifted, the bruise showed.
Cora gasped loudly. “Diana! What happened to your hand?!”
“I—” I stopped. I wanted to lie. It would be easier. But something in me couldn’t.
“I was attacked yesterday,” I said quietly. “On my way home.”
Cora’s eyes widened with worry. “Oh my God! We have to go to the hospital. What if you have broken bones? You know these things don’t show immediately and before you know it, you’re lying down somewhere not breathing!”
I laughed softly at her dramatic tone. “Cora, I’m fine. It’s just a scratch.”
We were still talking when the door to Warren’s office opened.
My heart skipped.
Warren stepped out, his eyes scanning the lobby until they landed on me. Cora immediately straightened up and bowed her head a little.
“Alpha,” she greeted.
I didn’t look at him. My cheeks were already getting warm.
“Diana,” Warren said, his voice deep and calm. “Are you ready to go home?”
I froze.
Slowly, I turned toward him, and the moment our eyes met, something tightened inside me.
“I’m… waiting for your next order,” I said quietly.
A smirk pulled at the corner of his lips, and my stomach flipped. He shouldn’t be allowed to look that handsome.
“I’m dropping you off,” he said. “Round up quickly.”
Then he walked back into his office.
The moment the door closed, Cora grabbed my hand, her eyes wide.
“Did he, did he just offer to drop you off?” she whisper-screamed, covering her mouth. “Diana, what is going on?!”
I didn’t have an answer, so I just pretend to smile.