6. Longing

Delilah's POV

I wake up wanting more of his touch. This is what I've always longed for, this connection, this feeling, overwhelming, coursing through my body like an uncontrollable wave. Now all I can think of, is General Kane. I've lost all focus on everything else, including the sickness they say I have.

Nora trips over a metal container on the floor, and it draws my attention back to her and Dr Rogers in the room.

Just one night with him and now he's all I can think of. All my life, I thought I'd never meet my mate; I thought my wolf was gone. But she's here and he's here. It's like all my dreams came through in one single day. 

The mate bond heightens my senses and I'm aware of General Kane more than ever. It's strange because I've never thought of him in such a manner. I never even dreamed I would be this close to him, this connected. It frightens me to some extent. I mean, this is General Kane we're talking about, the executioner. He is unflinchingly ruthless, and how he touched me yesterday, though sweet, had some underlying detachment in it. A crease forms on my forehead. Does he hate me? This would only mean trouble.

"Anything the matter, Delilah?" Nora asks, noticing my frown. She has been more caring lately. I've also gotten used to her.

I open my mouth to ask her about General Kane but end up shaking my head instead.

The doctor continues with my treatment. Throughout, I wait expectantly for General Kane but he doesn't show up. When Doctor Rogers and Nora leave, I walk over to the windows and look outside. General Kane is with a group of sentinels, training them under the afternoon sun.

He stands aside, watching and giving orders while someone else moves around the sentinels, correcting their moves and repositioning them.

Just recently all I felt for him was fear. Now I'm not only scared but curious. Of all persons the moon goddess could designate for me, it's the right-hand man of the Ultima? Why?

General Kane turns around and looks in the direction of my window. I'm not sure if he can see me right now, but his gaze causes heat to spread over my body. How can one hold so much power? His gaze always made me shrink in fear, but this time it's different. A feeling takes over my whole being. Want? Need? Curiosity? They attack me all at once.

I take a step back and he looks away. I do not see him again for the next few days. As much as I try, I can't help the curiosity that consumes me. Why was he staying away? Why did he not want to meet me? Was he rejecting me already?

On the third night of not getting any sign of General Kane, I start to become restless. I can't sleep. Why is he keeping away after awakening this fire in me?

I hold the bed sheet tightly over my chest as I stare into the darkness of the room. Memories of General Kane's touch fill my mind. I can still see him sitting there, filling me with a joy I've never felt in my life.

I want to feel more than his fingers inside of me. My whole body aches for his touch, what he could do to my soul if he made love to me. His touch brought me back to life. His kiss revived my wolf. He was my antidote, the relief to my pain. Yet, tears brim in my eyes when I think of him. This is what I get for having a War general as my mate. It's a sweetness mixed with pain. A blessing that slaps me right in the face.

Of course, he has rejected me. He won't want anything to do with me. I will weaken his powers. I will only be a liability to him. But I find it hard to stop thinking about him. I want him to touch me, to take me to his bed and complete what he started.

I need to get better so I can meet him. I'm frightened by his kind of personality. But I can't back down until I get him to quench this flame.

Thankfully, Doctor Rogers is skilful enough to get me on my feet in no time. Staying locked in this room is torture. For over a week, I haven't been out in the sun or enjoyed fresh air. Back at Silver Crest, I was at least allowed to roam free, not locked away.

Doctor Rogers said today is my last day of treatment. He walks into my room with Nora following behind. Their faces reveal the same blank expression they carry whenever they come around.

I sit up on my bed as Doctor Rogers approaches me. "Good morning, Delilah."

"Good morning, Doctor," I tell him and watch closely as he checks my vitals.

"Silver is completely cleared from your system and you are strong enough to leave this bed."

"And this room?" I ask with my eyebrows raised.

Doctor Rogers and Nora exchange knowing glances but don't answer my question.

"Don't tell me you want to keep me in here. For how long? I need to leave this place for my own sanity. It's even beginning to smell like a hospital." I complain. Still, no one replies. "Nora?"

She stops packing up the medical tools on the table and turns to me. "General Kane will decide when you will leave. For now, just wait for him."

Right. Wait for him. Like that's not what I've been doing for the past four days. I can't even protest. I can't tell the war general what to do. Even getting him to notice me as his mate has been hard enough.

I reflect on what happened four nights ago. Was he just using me to satisfy his guilty pleasures? Was he touching me because I was weak and couldn't fight against him? No, it can't be. Everything was just so confusing and my questions keep multiplying each day.

"I need to get out of here," I say, standing up from the bed.

"Delilah, please wait. The General will decide."

"Nora, I need to leave. He doesn't even want to see me. He doesn't care."

"Delilah!" Nora scolds, as I walk to the door.

"What?" I shout back at her. "Do I stay here forever?"

Nora is about to say something else when her phone rings. A frown dominates her face as she picks it up and places it on her ear.

"General?" she says, and my eyes light up. "Yes, Sir."

She drops the call and looks at me. "The general wants to see you in his study."

My heart drops in my chest. This is it.