Chapter 60 060
Danica's POV
"Do you have a wish?" Alexander asked after several minutes of lying in silence, still beneath the stars.
"Hmmm, I don't think so... You made all my desperate wishes come true" I murmured softly, my eyes growing a bit heavy as he held me against his bare chest protectively.
"You have nothing left?" He asked, sounding amused but then something came to mind.
Something I've always wanted ever since I was old enough to differentiate my right hand from my left.
The snow.
I've always wanted to see the snow. But it was like pouring water in a basket with an expectation for it to be filled eventually.
The snow came only once in three decades... So I heard. And it was nearly impossible to alter that arrangement. The last time it snowed was the day I was born... according to my mom. So I wouldn't be seeing it anytime soon, obviously.
"I do" I answered and his fingers stilled at the dip of my waist.
"What is it?"
"I've always wanted to see the snow. And I also know it's a wish that's far-fetched, but it can still be considered a wish, right?" I muttered and he hummed low in his chest as his finger dragged up my back again in those slow stroking movements.
Maybe it was the momentary pause he did just a moment ago, but that one drag sent a shiver up my spine.
"You're shivering, Dani. Are you sure you're not cold?" He asked in concern and I bit my lips in embarrassment.
I wasn't cold. The cold had never bothered me. Even as a child, my mom always said she didn't have to worry about her daughter catching a cold or anything. Maybe it wasn't a coincidence that I was born right in time for the last snowfall, but I've never had a problem going through winter seasons with or without proper warming.
"I'm not. I've never really felt the cold ever since I was born" I told him and his hand stilled again.
"What?!" He literally exclaimed and I let out a short laugh.
"Although, I have no idea why it's like that, but I'd never lie to anyone about it" I added and he sat up quickly but carefully enough not to hurt me in the process.
"You don't feel cold? Like your body is immune to the cold?" He asked and I nodded once.
Still not believing that I was saying the truth, he took my hands in his, feeling them up before narrowing his gaze at me.
"But your hands have remained cold ever since I led you out of dinner..." He trailed off, as if recalling something else entirely.
"My hands have always been cold" I told him meekly and he squinted, his lips parting in disbelief.
"God, I've always noticed it but I just thought it was the cold weather and everything gets warm eventually" he said and I shook my head.
"No. It has always been like this, for years" I clarified and he just stared at me for long minutes before his gaze finally softened with the corner of his lips curving up in a smirk.
"You really are full of surprises, little Doc" he mumbled, his hand tightening around my cold ones.
"Tell me something else I don't know about you, Dani" he muttered lazily, his eyes boring into me like I might just disappear.
"I... I can't think of anything if you're looking at me like that" I said, my voice barely above a whisper as a familiar warmth flooded my cheeks.
"Like what?" He asked, feigning ignorance and clearly enjoying seeing me squirm beneath his gaze.
"Like you're about to chew me whole and never let go?" I blurted and he laughed.
That actual, rare, full-blown, hearty laugh I'd gotten one too many times in the past few weeks. I could never get enough of it even if I heard it everyday.
Now, he was doing it again and I couldn't help myself from staring.
"Maybe I want to, but I'm just holding back because the Pack would be short of talented minds like you" he said and I felt the annoying heat rise to my cheeks again.
Great.
The rate at which I get flushed and embarrassed these past few days is seriously alarming.
"A wish is a wish, little Doc. You don't have to wonder if yours is the weirdest wish around as long as it's what you really want. Besides, the stars came up today. One of those pretty tiny lights might just decide to take your wish to someone who might make it come true." He said after a beat of silence and I smiled.
"So you believe in the fact that making a wish under the stars makes it come true?" I asked and he grinned slowly.
"I don't"
"Then..."
"I just really want to believe in it this one time, because it concerns you." He added and I felt my heart swell with pride and the genuine love I might have begun to develop for this man without my own permission.
"Thanks for that, Alexander... I mean it" I muttered before crawling into his chest again.
Several beats of silence passed before I decided to ask one question that has bothered me ever since the evening I searched everywhere for news relating to that mysterious genius Doctor. Hezekiah Brown.
"Alexander..." I trailed off, hesitating. But then again, if anyone would know more about the doctor, it would be one of those who'd lived a long time with strong connections around here.
"What is it?" He asked, stroking my back soothingly.
"Do you know anything about a Doctor named Hezekiah? Hezekiah Brown" I asked and the silence that followed was blinding.
"I've heard of him. He worked for my father" he finally said and I tilted my head to meet his eyes.
"Then do you know how he died?" I asked but he simply sighed, shaking his head.
"I don't"
"Do you also think he might have just died due to old age or stress, whatnot?" I asked and he looked me straight in the eye.
"Don't you?"
"I don't" I responded plainly and he gave me a look that said 'tell-me-more'
"Personally, I think Doctor Hezekiah wasn't just a random genius. I think he might have had special powers that made him who he became" I explained and thankfully he didn't give me the weird look anyone else would have given me if they were in his shoes.
He simply stared... And listened. Without malice.
I couldn't feel more heard at this point.
"And I think he might have died trying to protect that power... From whoever it was that was after it. He wasn't even a full-blooded wolf" I continued, blinking up at him when he said nothing.
"How do you know he isn't a full-blooded wolf?" Alexander asked and I shrugged.
"I don't know that. It's just my assumptions and gut feeling combined in one, together with a few things I saw on the Internet" I told him and he nodded once, a proud smirk forming at the corner of his lips.
"And then there was that surgery he did. I learned from him, you know. Seventy percent of my knowledge was from his books and it felt unfair that someone that great might have died an unnatural death... Would you let me investigate this in my own way?" I muttered the last part silently, the initial enthusiasm out of the window, replaced by the soft puppy gaze he couldn't possibly ignore.
"It could be dangerous..." He trailed off and I smiled, melting into his body, if that was in any way possible.
"Investigating a death that happened centuries ago couldn't be dangerous. Besides, you'd be here to protect me if it gets rough... Wouldn't you?"
"Fine. Do whatever you want, Dani. Just don't get hurt, or it'll be the last time I'll let you do it" he said after a beat of silence and I wrapped my arms around him impulsively, feeling impossibly thrilled for something that might eventually turn out pointless.
But that wasn't even important right now...
The smile was washed off my face when I heard the rate of Alexander's heartbeat thrumming beneath my ear.
I snuggled closer, wondering if I heard wrong. But I didn't.
"Why is your heart beating this fast, Alexander?" I asked, concern lacing my tone as I stared up at him.
His expression faltered for a millisecond, almost going unnoticed but I saw it.
"It's nothing, little Doc. You worry too much" he said dismissively and I frowned, placing my ear against his heart again.
"No, this is not nothing..." I argued, my own heart falling in a helpless chaos.
What if he'd fallen sick?
What if something happens to him and I'm right here by his side, completely oblivious?
"Hey, hey," his hand found my chin, tilting my head up until I was staring right into his eyes.
"I'm fine, Dani. The darn organ is racing because of you. Because you're right here, this close to me. This is just my wolf and I, getting seriously restless because of a certain someone" he explained and I bit my lips to actually stop my tears from falling.
I had no idea if it was the words or the relief from the fact that I got it all wrong but I teared up.
"I couldn't possibly fall sick when I have you by my side" he added, his thumb catching the stray tear that rolled down my eyes.
I nodded once, taking inaudible deep breaths to calm the helpless heart of mine as he wrapped his arms around me.