Chapter 17 - His Wolf.

-Alaric-

I stepped out of the bath pool in my bathing chamber, the door cracked opened slightly and Ilan stretched in my undergarments.

I took them and put them on after drying my body. My mind hasn't stopped thinking about Aurelia… I smiled at the thought of her.

Even when I was in the pool, her thoughts kept coming and it was heating up my body even though I was in cool water … I had to start thinking about my ever annoying ministers in council.

It won't be appropriate to think about her during my bath right?

“You are smiling?” Ilan mentioned immediately I stepped out through the door, I rolled my eyes as he ushered me to the bed.

“It been a long time I saw you smile without sharing any good news with you.” He pointed out, “Most good news doesn't make you smile, Leon.” He went to my closet and fished out my sleeping garment.

I took my garment from him and wore them, I left my bandage chest bare, “Should I stop smiling then?”

“No…no. That's not what I mean. I mean….” I looked up at him as I laid on the bed, “This is different. A good different. It is like you woke up happy.”

Happy?

I can't remember the last time, I and that single word was used together… I have never been happy and I certainly prefer this feeling way too much.

‘Because of her?’ My mind questioned.

“Why are you this happy?” Ilan asked as he passed me the papers I had requested for earlier, “I would love to share in this joy too.”

“Maybe sleeping for days will help.” Or having to wake up to the prettiest eyes you have ever seen, the eyes that brought calmness to your mind, soul and body?

Ilan smiled and said nothing as he took his seat some distance away from me, also checking some paperworks.

“Why does Alpha King Eryndor wants the land at the border of both the East and the western kingdoms?” I frowned as I stared up from the papers.

Alpha King Eryndor, the Alpha King of the East, My first chosen mate’s father. The male seems to be asking for more favours than is expected of him.

The mating to his daughter was also a favour that I had to grant because they had supplied some of the the Packs under me, food and crops.

The council also thought it was wise so as to form an alliance but in the space of two years of mating his first daughter, Zena, he seems to want more each passing time.

“The male seems to always want something. It's looking greedy to me, if you ask me.” Ilan said, “And most of the ministers agreed to giving him but I had to put them off until you are able to attend meetings.”

I nodded, “I am not approving that.” I put the paper away and picked up another when the door opened, two soldiers stepped in.

“Greetings your Majesty.” They chorused as they bowed, I waved at them, they were about stepping forward to drop the parcel they were holding when Ilan stood up.

“Hold on.” Ilan walked up to them, took the parcel from them, “What's this?” He asked looking from them to me.

“The Alpha King sent for us to buy some pieces of veils, my lord.” One of them answered bowing.

I looked as Ilan's face mirrored his confusion, “Veils?”

They nodded, he stared at me, his gaze still confused, “You needed veils?”

I waved the soldiers off, they bowed again before taking their leave.

“Since when do you need-”

“It's not for me.” I said cutting him short, his brows shot up, his face slowly formed his realization and he stared at me with a questioning gaze, “Is it for her? Aurelia? Your caregiver?”

I nodded and averted my gaze from his.

“Hmmmm.” He hummed as he set them down by the edge of the bed, he looked from me to the parcel and then the parcel to me, his eyes narrowing.

“Keep off whatever thoughts are springing in that head of yours, I am only giving her a reward since you told me she fought off rogues.”

He only stared at me, saying nothing.

“She is wolfless, an Omega. She is not even powerful enough to do that but she did anyways. She could have hidden herself, ran away but she stayed and kept my unconscious self safe.”

I could feel the corner of my lips curled up. If it had been someone else that had narrated this, I wouldn't have believed but as Ilan did, I couldn't just keep the fascination and gratitude that grew in me.

“You do know I would have been taken away or wounded the second time if not for her.” I stated, “You said so yourself.”

I began to loosen the parcel, “And I am sure you didn't reward her for that.”

My eyes scanned the different beautiful colours of veils that I brought out, they were eight in total, these were veils made from breathable fine clothes and linens.

I smiled on seeing them, a warm feeling spread in my chest and I longed to her her smile when she sees them.

Oh… I can't see her smile since she is veiled… my smile dropped a little but they pulled back on when I remembered I was going to see her eyes instead.

“That escaped my mind. We are indeed grateful to her.” Ilan said, the question in his gaze gone.

A string of knocks sounded on the door and it sent my heart thudding.

She is here.

“Come in.” Ilan answered, the door was pushed opened and she stepped in, covered from head to toe, her head bowed over the tray she was holding.

The soldiers closed the door behind her.

“Greetings your Majesty,” She bowed to me but I didn't want her to, I want her to grace me with her gaze.

She turned to Ilan and bowed to him too, “My lord, greetings.”

She set the tray on my stool and several aroma of different herbs greeted my nostrils, strong smell and faint ones and I am here wishing I could smell her.

I wonder what she did smell like… would she smell like calmness?

Alaric, does calmness have a scent? I have gone crazy.

“Your herbal teas are here.” She said, her voice soft, gentle and quiet, “the healer said you have to take it all.”

Her voice…. Damn! Moon! Hearing it this close was so satisfying.

I don't want her to stop talking. Never.

“But they are very bitter,” She met my gaze and the thudding in my chest increased, she batted her eyes lashes and I couldn't but notice how long and thick they were.

I nodded, still holding her gaze… I didn't want her to look away but she did and I just had to resist the groan that stood on the tip of my tongue.

Damn! It felt like punishment to have her look away.

She was about to take one of the cups and offer it to me when I pointed to the parcels on the edge of the bed, I stared as her eyes expressed her confusion.

I smiled, “A gift of gratitude.”

“A gift? Gratitude?”

I nodded, her gaze went to Ilan who nodded at her before returning his focus to the paper he was reading.

“For holding off the rogues.”

She met my gaze again, “I am grateful. Thank you.”

I watched as her eyes widened a little in surprise… it was as if she wasn't expecting to be rewarded for her good deed.

She bowed, “I am honoured your majesty.”

‘The honour is mine.’ I thought… and shook my head… since when do I say things like this?

She took one of the cups, I tried to sit up but I suddenly fell back because I had put too much pressure on my elbow and then a softer, small hand held my arm.

And since I pulled back, she fell right into me, against my chest.

And then it hit me…

It was faint, almost lost in the strong fragrance of the herbs she must have brewed with the healer but I could smell it.

Hibiscus and lavender.

The scent was soft and soothing, and before I could stop myself, I found myself drawing in breaths after breaths of these fragrance

And …

For the first time with her, my wolf stirred.