Chapter 6: You're Really Pretty, Lyrien...

"This young lady took care of you, Alpha, and thanks to her, you had a speedy recovery," The doctor said, packing away the last of his instruments with a satisfied nod. He glanced between us, oblivious to the storm brewing in the room. "The fever broke faster than I expected. Keep up the fluids, rest, and monitor that scar. If anything changes, please give me a call!

I stood awkwardly near the window, arms wrapped around myself.

Dimitri sat propped against the headboard now, looking less like death and more like the powerful alpha he was. Sweat had dried on his skin, his dark blond hair tousled and damp. The black t-shirt clung to his broad chest, the silver scar visible where the fabric rode up. His blue eyes flicked to me, unreadable at first, then narrowed with irritation.

"Speedy recovery?" he echoed, voice still hoarse but gaining strength. A bitter scoff escaped him. "Don't paint her as some saint, doc. The stray probably just wanted to make sure her meal ticket didn't die before she could spread her legs for the precious Romanov heir."

My wolf whimpered and tucked her tail, but I kept my head high. He is doing this to put me down, and in front of the doctor... I'm not going to let him put me down again.

The doctor cleared his throat, sensing the tension. He gave Dimitri a few more instructions, handed over a prescription bottle, and left with a polite nod, promising to check back in a couple of days. The apartment door clicked shut behind him.

Sasha has been staying in the apartment, but hasn't talked to me since that day.

Dimitri stared at me across the room. His gaze raked over my rumpled sleep clothes, my messy hair, and the way I shifted nervously on my feet. "Come here," he ordered.

I hesitated, then obeyed, moving to the side of the bed. He hates repeating himself.

“You can cook some more if you want to,” he said, making me gasp. His eyes stayed locked on mine, cold and assessing. “Since you’re so eager to play housewife.”

I swallowed hard. “I… I can make something light. For your recovery.”

He leaned back slightly, the movement pulling the shirt tighter across his chest, and those pecs... “Good. At least you’re useful for something.” His lips curved into a mocking smirk. “Try not to poison me, stray. I’d hate to explain to my father how his expensive breeder managed to kill me with mashed potatoes.”

“I’ll get started,” I whispered, not daring to look him in the eye.

As I left the room, I felt his gaze burning into my back. Still, I did what he asked.

"Not bad," He said, which made me question my hearing. "Would you like to take some..." He stopped himself.

Of course, my breath hitched as well.

"Return to your room," he ordered, and I bolted immediately.

Once I was in my room, I clutched my chest.

Dimitri was acting... weird.

Really, really weird.

It didn't take him long to recover physically. Within a week, Dimitri had gone from barely being able to stand to walking around the apartment as if the three months he'd spent in a coma had been nothing more than an inconvenient nap.

It was a miracle to everyone, except Alexi.

"He was always stubborn enough to bully death itself," I'd overheard him mutter one afternoon.

Unfortunately for me, that same stubbornness was now directed entirely at making my life miserable. Not that he yelled anymore. Instead, Dimitri had developed a new hobby.

He ignored me.

He was gone the moment I woke up, and returned when I was already asleep.

"Stop biting your nails." My wolf scolded me.

My fingers were raw. "If we don't get pregnant soon, Alexi will screw our family over," I reminded her.

"Then make our mate fuck you!" She growled, as if that were the easiest thing ever.

After what I did... I couldn't bring the subject up.

"Cleaning?" I jumped the moment I heard Sasha's voice. He was supposed to be out with Dimitri.

"Yes, it... clears my head," I explained.

He quirked an eyebrow. "I thought you liked cooking?" I nodded. "Then? You could do that."

"I don't want to make a mess. If I break something, the Alpha might get mad."

"The Alpha is not like that. You can do whatever you want, Lyrien. As long as you don't get in his way." Little does he know that I already did that.

"Sasha, what's taking so long?" Dimitri asked, annoyed.

His mask slipped in. "You told me to wait for you, sir. I was only following your orders."

Dimitri huffed. I immediately lowered my gaze, although I wanted to stare some more. He was wearing a three-piece suit, and it looked amazing on him.

For a brief moment, I forgot to breathe. Then he noticed me looking.

"So?" His voice was as sharp as ever. "Do I have something on my face?"

"N-No."

"Then stop staring."

"I wasn't staring."

One eyebrow rose.

"You've got exactly three seconds to come up with a better lie."

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

"I was just..." I searched desperately for an excuse. "...wondering if you're feeling better."

The room fell quiet. His blue eyes studied me. "I am. I wouldn't have gone to work if I was sick, would I?"

"Oh."

Brilliant, Lyrien.

I looked back down at the towels. I wanted him to leave, but I couldn't exactly kick him out of the room. This is his home.

"You iron?"

My head lifted in surprise. "What?"

"The shirts."

He nodded toward the basket.

"You iron them?"

"I do."

"Hm."

"She does all the house chores, in case you haven't noticed; you don't have as many maids as you did before," Sasha commented.

I wanted the floor to swallow me, and couldn't understand why Sasha would say something like that.

"You're defending her?"

"I'm stating the obvious." I don't understand how Sasha isn't afraid of Dimitri. He glanced at his watch. "Didn't you come for me because we were late?"

"I did, so move it. Stop defending the maid."

"You've become pleasant after your coma."

"I've always been pleasant."

Sasha laughed. "No."

Dimitri rolled his eyes.

I watched the interaction quietly. It was... strange. I'd never seen him act so normally around anyone. He wasn't smiling exactly. But there was familiarity. As if Sasha were a good friend of his.

"Please to see you again, Mrs. Romanov."

Before I could answer—

"Don't."

Sasha frowned. "What?"

"Don't call her that."

I thought we had made some progress, but it seems like I was wrong. Sasha looked between us.

"...She is."

"I know what the paperwork says." Dimitri grabbed the briefcase from his friend. "I'm talking about reality."

Everyone was uncomfortable after that, but if he didn't dismiss me, it wouldn't be wise to run. I would only anger him further. I suddenly found the folded towels fascinating. Eventually, Sasha cleared his throat, saving me once more.

"We should leave."

Dimitri nodded. "Let's go."

He headed toward the entrance.

Halfway there, he stopped. Without turning around, he spoke.

"I'll be back late." It took me a second to realize he was talking to me.

"Oh..." I nodded. "O-Okay."

"Don't wait up."

Then why tell me he is coming late?

The front door closed behind them. I remained standing in the middle of the living room. Confused. Very confused.

Later that evening, Sasha returned alone. He looked exhausted. His tie was loosened, and there were dark circles beneath his eyes.

"Long day?" I asked while handing him a cup of coffee.

He accepted it gratefully. "You have no idea."

"Work?"

He snorted. "Dimitri."

"Oh."

"He fired three executives."

I nearly dropped my own cup.

"Today?"

"In the first hour."

My eyes widened.

"He also terrified two investors."

"I..."

"He made one department head cry."

I blinked.

"...Seriously?"

Sasha took a long sip of coffee.

"Actually, that might have been me."

Despite myself, I laughed. Sasha smiled slightly. "You're beautiful, Lyrien. You should laugh some more."

I blushed. Really, really blushed. I felt how all the blood from my face went to my cheeks. This might be the first compliment I've heard in a while.

"T- T- Thank you."

"You're also really cute when you stutter."

I quickly tried to hide my face away, but then Sasha leaned closer. With his fingers, he put a lock of my hair behind my ear. The blush intensified, and my breathing became ragged. I couldn't believe what was happening.

"You're really pretty..." He whispered, closing the distance even more, but then...

"Sasha?! Where the hell are you?"