Chapter 95 095
Danica’s POV
I had only fifteen hours until my next important surgery and I've never been more engrossed in the preparation than I am right now. Maybe it was just my way of shutting out the doubts that lingered for the past few days.
Whatever this unwavering focus means, it doesn't matter as long as I save my patient. As long as Alexander gets to smile genuinely again. As long as I get to help him get over that obvious guilt that was always present in his piercing orbs. As long as I don't let him down.
And that was why, even when my lids grew heavy with exhaustion, I still pushed at my limits countless times until an inevitable migraine grew.
I squeezed my eyes shut and pried them open again with more force than required. “Get it together, Dani. Nothing must go wrong” I scolded myself mentally and tried to focus my heavy eyes onto the screen of my laptop. But then I caught the unmistakable hem of Alexander's coat and those majestic shoes.
My gaze slowly trailed up and I didn't miss the disapproving look he had plastered on his face.
“What? I'm not going to mess things up, Alexander. Can't you just trust me a little bit more?” I drawled, my voice coming out more tired than I intended.
“How can I trust you when you can't even speak properly right now, little vixen?” he asked and I frowned slightly.
“What?! Are you seriously saying that to me?” I asked and he shrugged once.
“Maybe I'll take it back when you decide to have a good rest before you pass out on me” he responded and I forced out a proud laugh.
“Are you underestimating this Doctor, Alpha? No one can match my enduring spirit across all clans in this Pack, you know?” I muttered, raising my chin to prove a point but Alexander simply flicked my forehead with his thumb and forefinger.
Before I could even gather the strength to protest, he was already seated beside me, guiding my head to rest on his wide shoulders.
“There, little vixen. Don't try to resist a perfect resting aid like this one. An offer like this comes only once in a blue moon” he muttered and I snuggled closer into his shoulders, eyes drifting close almost immediately.
When I woke up again, I woke to the feel of his strong shoulder against my face and the feel of his finger tracing my nose line.
“What is this? A public display of affection? What would your people say when they see their Alpha in this position?” I teased, trying to sound less groggy.
“I doubt they would even mind watching me fuck you right here while they watch” he retorted and my eyes snapped wide open, every leftover sleep in my eyes vanishing in an instant.
“You're so impossible, Alexander.” I groaned and he smiled. It was a small smile, but a smile that makes your eyes lit up is still a smile nonetheless.
“Do you feel better now?” He asked and I nodded once, smiling like a lovesick fool.
“You definitely should. You slept for five straight hours anyway” he muttered and the smile immediately vanished into thin air.
“Five what?!!!” I exclaimed, bolting to my feet. But he simply dragged me back to the space beside him.
“Hours, vixen. Not minutes.” he repeated, his eyes glinting with mischief.
And even at that moment, while he was having fun teasing me, I could only stare at his shoulder with a worried expression.
“That must have hurt a lot. Do you feel numb over here?” I murmured, poking at his shoulder blade. He winced and my eyes widened.
I quickly moved to check it out by pulling his coat and shirt aside to reveal his bare shoulders. There was no physical wound visible but I still stared hard in case I might catch something that hints at an internal wound.
“Are you that desperate to see me naked? How about I do a strip show instead? All for you?” He muttered and I immediately pushed him off by his shoulder, retracting my hands like I was scalded before shooting him a hard glare.
“Alexander, do you ever get tired of tricking me into doing so many ridiculous things?” I questioned, frowning. But he only smirked.
“I didn't trick you into doing anything, Vixen. You made those decisions on your own. No one did it for you” he muttered and I scoffed.
“Your sneaky lies stimulated that part of my brain that made those decisi…” I argued and he planted a kiss on my lips, immediately shutting me up.
“Alexan…” I tried to scold him but another kiss cut me off.
“You'll be fine, little Vixen. The only energy boost you need now is to kiss me back and get this over with” he murmured and I found myself leaning in for a kiss even when my brain thought of giving him a smug smack at the back of his head.
I kissed him like he was my very last hope and he kissed me back like his life depended on that one kiss. He officially screwed me over with one kiss and I couldn't even wish for anything less.
When he finally broke the kiss, I caught the flicker of changes in his eyes as he tilted my neck to sniff me in.
His nose tip moved against my neckline and I shivered involuntarily, my body instantly alarmed of his presence and the fact that he was going for the most sensitive part of me that responds to him. The mark spot.
When his lips brushed the spot, I arched into him instinctively, moaning as fear and anticipation mixed in equal proportions.
But that was it. That was where it ended. Just a move to remind me that my dear mate, the same man I loved with my entirety is refusing to mark me for reasons unknown to me.
“I'll leave you to your preparations now, Vixen” he murmured, his voice darker than normal as he stood and walked away without another glance back.
I returned to my office at the clinic and I met Anabel at the entrance.
“What’s wrong? Why are you here, Ana? Is something wrong?” I asked, pushing my personal doubts aside strongly. Because, somehow, I still believed deep down that Alexander would never hurt me in the same way I dreaded the most. He promised me. And he doesn't ever go back on his word.
“Not at all, Danica. I was just… worried” she muttered and I smiled sadly.
“Worried?” I repeated and she nodded once.
“You seemed troubled during our last date and you even drank a whole cup of alcohol, knowing fully well you had zero tolerance for one” she muttered and I blinked, wondering how she could have returned to visit just because she thinks I looked troubled despite all the motivation they'd given me the other day.
“I'm fine, Anabel. I'm really okay. You don't have to worry about me” I muttered and she nodded once, her eyes subtly drifting to my neckline.
“I can smell him on you” she suddenly said and I raised a questioning brow at her. “Alpha Alexander, I mean” she added and I let out a strong sigh of relief.
“I… yeah, I guess” I muttered and a small frown crossed her features.
“Then why hasn't he marked you, yet? Is he just being cautious or is he simply respecting your decisions to mourn your previous mates?” She asked and I frowned, staring at her deeply because I hadn't expected her to ever ask me such a question. And she probably won't give up until I gave her a response.
“Well… he's been too busy with keeping the palace in place and sorting out trips like his daily manna. Why are you suddenly asking me these questions, Anabel?” I asked but she simply smiled., shaking her head in response.
“I'm just worried about you, Dani. That's all” she muttered and I gave her a sweet hug. Because she truly deserved it. But then the next question she threw me off balance.
“Is there a chance that you still have lingering feelings for your ex-mates?”