Chapter 32 Marriage
Rex
I had been here for over an hour waiting for her, and she hadn't shown up yet. I didn't have much time today; I had to go to Aetheria to see how things were going. I couldn't leave everything behind without constant check-ups, as I didn't know what my stepmother and her kids—or my father—had been planning. I had to see to that, and check on Nina as well.
I wasted some time walking around the area I had chosen. It was quiet and far away from the houses, the campus, and the nearby streets.
"I'm so sorry for coming late."
I turned at the sound of her voice. Her presence instantly calmed my mind. She looked so small and innocent—just like someone trying to cope with the harsh realities of life.
"I got these," she said, holding up two plastic bags, making me raise my brows. What was she doing? "I thought it was only fair to bring them, since you brought something for us last time."
I didn't have much to say to her. She probably thought we came here to eat. "That didn't warrant you bringing anything," I replied. Her face immediately fell at my words. My finger pointed to the black mat. I didn't come here to manage her emotions; I came here for work. "We have to be quick today, as I have somewhere else to be."
She was good at obedience and did everything exactly as she was told, even though she wasn't skilled yet. I gave her a few lessons on defense—how she could use certain parts of her body to block an opponent if she were ever in a fight.
After the lessons, we ended up eating the fruits she had brought. I ate the apples. She was wise to bring only fruits and not a full meal.
"Thank you for the fruits. It was kind of you." She nodded with a smile and proceeded to pack her things.
I offered her a ride and dropped her off at Dean's Diner. She told me she had something to do there before her night shift. I hurried to the house, changed into fresh clothes, and drove down to Aetheria.
When I arrived, the first thing I did was visit Nina at the hospital. I was told she had regained consciousness. She might be the only one who could give us information about what was done to her when she was taken to that lab. The nurses and doctors greeted me as I stepped into the room.
"Welcome, Alpha. It's been a long time since I saw you," Melanie greeted, that familiar blush on her face. It took me back to the time she had actually walked up to me to confess her feelings. She had promised not to stop, even after I told her about Xanthe. She told me she didn't mind being the second or even standing by the sidelines, as long as I gave her a little bit of attention. But I was not the type of man to do that.
However, she eventually stopped when Xanthe confronted her one morning with a kitchen knife and told her to stay away if she valued her life. Since then, she has only been able to look at me from a distance.
"I have been well, Melanie." I moved to stand next to Nina's bed. "How is she? Has she been able to say a thing?"
"She has been like that since she woke up."
My eyes moved down to her form on the bed. Her eyes were open and moving, but she wasn't talking.
"She still needs some time to adjust to everything," Melanie added.
I asked them to give her the medical care she needed and to keep her in a safe place. "Make sure to notify me if she ever says anything."
I left immediately, but just as I was about to walk out the door, I was apprehended by Xanthe. I knew she was going to nag me until I lost a brain cell; I should have gone to see her first.
"You're back!" she said, almost shouting. I had to put a hand over her mouth and pull her to where it was less crowded. Not everyone needed to know that I was not frequenting Aetheria. If I didn't stop her, she was going to spill it to anyone willing to listen.
"I was going to see you after this. Don't make a big deal out of it."
It actually surprised me that she wasn't saying much today.
"It's okay. I get it. You have to meet my father and mine. He asked me to tell you yesterday, but I forgot."
She didn't let me go anywhere else; I had to follow her. She took me to our house. But when I saw my father and hers together, I knew exactly what was going to happen. They were probably talking about Xanthe and me. I was certain I wasn't going to like what they had to say.
They were drinking and having fun. My father asked me to sit next to him, and Xanthe sat closer to her father. I stayed like that, waiting for someone to give me a hint. Although I knew it was about us, I decided to stay calm, waiting for someone to tell us the precise reason I was called.
Xanthe looked like she had an idea of what was going on. She had come right to the hospital to get me, which meant she was in on it.
"I really do not have time to waste here. Someone should tell me why I'm here."
It was not my father who spoke, but Xanthe's father. "You two are not getting any younger, and it's good that you start thinking about what to do." He looked between us, and nothing prepared me for what he said next. "You two should start thinking about marriage. I think it's time you two get married. It will help the pack."
It wasn't funny, but I had to laugh.