Chapter 13 - Something Odd

-Alaric-

“We agreed that she should continue her care. Do you want that, or should your mates take over?” Elder Sage asked.

Yes.

Before he even finished speaking, my mind had already given me an answer, one that almost slipped from my lips without me even thinking.

I frowned slightly.

Since when did I take decisions without thinking? This was someone I didn't even know, worse still, someone whose face I hadn't even seen.

Her face. I wished I could see.

I was staring at her. Again.

The last time, I had struggled to pull my gaze away from her, but now, I was staring again.

My eyes seemed to have grown a will of their own. No matter how hard I tried to stay focused on the discussion happening in the room, which was obviously about me, both my mind and eyes seemed determined to work against me.

They kept betraying me, drifting back to her.

And strangely enough, a warmth spread across my chest whenever my gaze rested on her. My body seemed to enjoy the calmness that came with staring at this veiled she-wolf.

I had tried countless times to catch her scent, but I couldn't. At first I thought it was because I was injured and just recovering but even when she was closer to me, when I had opened my eyes, I didn't perceive any scent…

She didn't have one, and that could mean two things…

She was an Omega with no wolf or one with a very weak wolf.

For some reason, it bothered me that I wasn't able to smell her at all, maybe just a little… I wonder what she smelled like?

Maybe calmness just as her gaze had?

Again. I was thinking about her… What was going on with me?

I pushed the invading thought aside yet here am I trying to have her hold my gaze, but she kept looking at every corner of the room. Her gaze shifted from one person to another, but whenever it came to me, she looked away.

And that wasn't sitting well with me at all.

I took a deep sigh. I was going crazy.

Did all this come with the injury from the battlefield?

Instead of giving the burning answer on my lips, I replied, “Ilan?” I adjusted my gaze to my Beta.

Ilan nodded his approval and bowed. “I agree, Your Majesty.”

I nodded my approval to the healer. I was about to relax my back when I recalled something.

There had been something in Ilan's voice. It was subtle, but it was there.

I stared up at him, but he averted his gaze.

From the way his shoulders had tensed and how he seemed to avoid my gaze…

Ilan was feeling guilty.

“My lord, are you feeling well?” Zena asked, as she brushed her fingers against my arm. Her fingers trailed down to mine, but before she could hook hers with mine, Yani had already intertwined hers with mine.

They both glared at each other.

I slowly slipped my hand from theirs without sparing them a glance. I wasn't ready for their constant drama at all. Not now, not ever.

Garvin cleared his throat.

“The Alpha King needs his rest.”

He must have noticed them almost about to pull each other's hair out.

I shot a smile his way, and he gave me a slight nod.

And with that, they all turned to leave.

Again, my gaze went to the veiled girl, who already had her eyes on me.

I met her gaze.

She turned away quickly, as if she had been caught in the act, and I felt a twitch at the corner of my lips.

I found her act adorable.

What? I thought, a slight frown settling on my face.

I really couldn't tell what was going on with me, but all I knew was that in the short time we had been in the same room, I had caught myself staring at her more than anyone would consider as normal.

I shook my head, pushing the thought aside.

I saw that Ilan was almost at the door.

“Ilan, stay.”

I noticed the brief tension in his shoulders before they relaxed. Slowly, he turned to me. He didn't come closer, only stood at the edge of the bed.

I stared at him, but he didn't return my gaze.

I let out a little sigh.

Ilan Yonimas was at it again.

“What's wrong?”

He bowed slightly, and I almost laughed.

“You do know you aren't all that respectful and formal.”

Still, he bowed without raising his head.

I rolled my eyes.

“Ilan, please spare me the formalities you don't even care about.”

Ilan had always been the one to call me to order bluntly. He had been doing so since we were kids. Not even when I became the Alpha King did he stop.

Man has been such a pain in my behind for as long as I could remember, but I indeed do appreciate it.

He was the one who would be honest when something was going wrong or when I was doing something I shouldn't.

“Is this because of the injury?” I asked. “It's war, Ilan. You don't have to feel guilty about it. This won't be the first time, and besides, this is nothing—”

“It's—”

He cut me off, snapping his head up immediately.

He took in a deep breath, closing his eyes. Then he breathed out and opened them again.

“Leon, this is not nothing. You almost died!” He half-yelled as he moved toward me.

My lips curled up.

Yeah.

Now that's the Ilan I know.

“Oh, Goddess! Were you not thinking at all?” His forehead had folded over as his frown deepened, “and why are you smiling? You almost made the whole of the west, a place without a leader.”

“Ilan.” I called as I shrugged my shoulders non-chalantly, “It's war. It is natural that I see to the well being of my men, “you” I pointed at him “inclusive.”

He gave me a pointed look and I know he wasn't having it at all, “You almost died, Leo. You almost–” He paused and forced out a chuckle, “What am I saying? You died, Leo!”

Dramatic much?

Died… Well, not yet.

“I didn't.”

He sighed and moved closer. He stood right beside me, and I could smell his frustration rolling off him.

“It's our job to protect you with our lives, not the other way around, Leo. Please don't ever do that again.”

“Is that worry I hear?” I squinted my eyes at him while he frowned at me.

“Yes,” he replied, his voice filled with concern.

Oh.

I was taken aback, not expecting his reply at all.

It wasn't strange that he cared… hell, he had been the only one that cared since we were little… but maybe sometimes..

Just, maybe I forget.

Or maybe I am undeserving of it.