Chapter 51 Quiet Tensions
Alyssa's POV
Nira was still not back and Zayne had the Pack doctor check on me. After a series of tests and whatnot, he concluded that she was drained, using all her energy on healing him. And considering how we haven't shifted after the first time we did, he assured me that once she was well rested, she was going to come back.
“Good morning, Red," Zayne greeted, pulling me closer and placing a kiss on my lips.
After he found me in the library, he didn't let me go…not that I wanted him to. He had the Omegas prepare something for me to eat, while he listened to me talk about my relationship with Lori. And while he doesn't fully support it, he respected that I knew what I wanted.
“Good morning baby," I replied, snuggling closer. “Let's stay in bed all day, make up for lost time.”
He chuckled lightly, "I'd love that…"
I let out a sigh, “I can sense the but coming from a mile away." I murmured and he laughed, the sound vibrating through my chest.
“Only because I have to catch the idiot who did this, and teach him a lesson...one that he won't forget in a hurry.” He said and I nodded. I couldn't wait for that to be over as well, so that I could have his undivided attention.
Once we were done getting ready, Zayne went to his office while I went to meet the girls. “I can't believe you are a healer,” Aria said, a few minutes after I saw them. We were taking a walk, and it was the first time we were actually talking about it. Mel wasn't feeling too well, so I gave her the day off despite her insistence on coming along.
“Just when I think my brother couldn't get any luckier…are you sure you don't have a brother I can go out with?” Aileen asked, her voice light. "Who knows, he might have the same ability.”
“Unfortunately, my mother was more interested in playing house with our Pack's Beta." I replied. Talking about my mom doesn't hurt anymore, I didn't care what she does with her life and I was happier now.
“But I have a step brother.”
She scrunched her face, “I'm going to pass."
“Stop encouraging her," Aria said, “except if you don't like him and you want Tristan to take care of him."
I wanted to remind her that he was a Beta, which made him a bit higher than Tristan. But I've also learnt to never underestimate men who were in love.
We returned to the childcare where we met Lori waiting for us…me, holding a full cake. My brows furrowed, trying to understand what was going on. It wasn't my birthday, was it?
“It's not what you're thinking." Lori said, grinning. “I tried baking this…I swear, no one helped me. You should try it.”
Aria jumped in front of me, “what are you planning to do?"
I fought back a laugh, I mean, I get that they didn't trust or like her but even if she was trying to harm me, she wasn't dumb to do it in the eyes of people she knew didn't like her and suspected everything she did.
“Calm down, Tiger." I said instead, “we're kinda friends now…remember?”
The girls didn't hide their disappointment, but they still moved out of the way, not taking their eyes off her. “Guys, it's just cake, come taste it."
Aileen was the first to step forward, collecting the spoon from Lori who wore an amused look. “I'm only eating because my brother will kill me if he hears I let you eat anything without tasting it." She said, and though she had a point, it was also her favourite thing to eat.
And in less than ten minutes, the entire cake was gone and Aileen was the first to get over the cakegasm.
“Maybe you're not a completely bad person…that doesn't mean we're friends.” She said.
Lori chuckled, “I don't dare."
But who were they kidding, I could see the walls they built around her slowly crumbling and Lori didn't make it any easier. She begged me to teach her how to make other types of cakes which I did, so each time she came to hang out with us, she brought one along and I knew it was only a matter of time before they were best friends.
About a week later and Nira still hadn't recovered, and I found myself thinking about it. What if she was gone? And healing Zayne was a one time thing, it was the moon goddess response to my plea not to let him die.
“It feels like I haven't seen you at all this week." Zayne complained, pulling me to sit on him.
“You're busy," I replied, “How's the plan to catch the attacker coming along?"
“We're going out tonight to lay an ambush so we can catch them unaware.”
I frowned, “You're…Zayne…”
"I know,” he said, interrupting me. "I'm going to be careful, I promise.” I nodded softly, snuggling closer to him.
We remained like that without saying anything, it was a comfortable silence. He played with my hair, placing kisses on it at intervals. It felt like he was trying to distract me from thinking about the fact that he was going to be out all night…and unfortunately, it was working.
Tristan entered, his eyes landing on us. He murmured a quiet greeting before placing the report in his hand on the table.
“Where's Xavier?" Zayne asked.
“He said something about research…I'm not sure but he'll be here soon.”
Zayne nodded, reading through the report and a frown appeared on his face. "How did he manage to get the poison?”
"I'm still trying to figure that out…he was doing just fine yesterday, he was gone by the time I got to the dungeon this morning.” Tristan explained, not meeting Zayne's eyes.
Zayne sat upright, his frown deepened. “What about the other warriors? They didn't see anything?” He asked and Tristan shook his head. "They said they didn't.”
I read through the report, and it turns out one of the rogues that had been caught a few weeks ago had taken his life. According to the report, it said the type of poison wasn't known.
Even though I wasn't a warrior of any sort, it felt all too convenient, considering how Zayne was also shot with poison that nearly killed him…maybe I was thinking too much into it, but it feels like someone was trying to make sure he doesn't talk.
This was one of the times I missed Nira's remarks, I'm certain she would've said something about it.
“I need to take care of this, Red." He said, helping me up. "Wait here for me.”
I simply nodded as he took his leave with Tristan behind him. But I couldn't push away the nagging feeling that something big was coming.
But the question was…what exactly was it? Or better still, would we be able to survive it?