Chapter 6

The moment Kael left, Morvienne exhaled deeply, a quiet hum slipping from her lips as her shoulders dropped. 

The tension she had been carrying, eased away as she looked around the room. 

It was... nice, spacious, clean, and warm. 

Then, her eyes fell to the neat bandage wrapped around her arm and a small smile formed on her lips. He had done a good job, and she had taken something much much earlier even before she woke up from that nightmare to slow her healing. She couldn't have her wounds closing overnight and raising suspicion.

With a soft sigh, she stood up from the bed so gracefully, her movement unhurried as she rolled one shoulder, and massaged the other which wasn't injured gently while she crossed the room. At the wall, she reached for the light switch and flicked it off.

Turning back, she padded quietly to the bed and laid down, covering herself with the covers.

"I might as well just have a good night's sleep," she murmured to herself, smiling faintly. "Everything is going perfectly well."

Meanwhile, Kael was preparing to take another shower. 

He let out a slow exhale and rolled his shoulders, while unbuttoning his shirt. And while he did that, he noticed the faint traces of Morvienne's scent that lingered near his collar.

He didn't know why he noticed it or why it had stayed with him this long, but all he knew was that he needed a good shower. But still, when he closed his eyes while showering, the image of her looking up at him, scared and innocent, crossed his mind.

The way she had whispered please and clung to him, it was...

"What is this?" He asked himself and quickly shook off the thoughts. 

"I have better things to think about," he told himself. "An injured stranger at the border is nothing new or to be surprised about." 

He had dealt with all kinds before, but still, something about this one...

Turning off the water, he let go of the thought and grabbed a towel, rubbing his hair dry before slipping into a black shirt and loose pants.

Afterwards, he walked to the bed and laid down, preparing to sleep. 

Kael exhaled, long and slow, then reached for the control switch on his bedside table and turned off the main lights.

 

With his eyes now closed, he listened to the sound of his own heartbeat, letting sleep take him.

The next morning, a soft knock woke Morvienne up. 

Her eyes fluttered open and she groaned quietly, a small sound coming out of her mouth as she shifted slightly against the pillow.

"Come in," she said in a weak and sleepy voice.

Getting permission, the door opened, and Kael stepped inside. 

He was already dressed for the day and looked really good. He was putting on a black shirt, its top two buttons left undone, paired with a neatly pressed black trousers and a black polished shoe.

"Good morning," he said, his dark shoulder-length hair tied back neatly with just a few loose strands framing the sharp angles of his face. "How are you feeling?"

Morvienne blinked a few times, slowly pushing herself up with one hand as she took him in. There was something composed and commanding about him that she could not quite explain, her face tightening slightly and her lips parting in a quiet wince from pain.

Before she could struggle too much to get up, Kael stepped forward.

"It's okay," he said, stopping beside the bed. "Lay down."

Morvienne nodded and eased herself back against the pillow gently, giving him a small, tired smile. "Thank you, and I feel much better today." 

 

"That's good," he replied, his tone approving. 

Morvienne's gaze lifted to his face, studying him quietly for a moment before she spoke again. 

"I'm sorry," she said softly. "I didn't know who you were earlier. I sensed you were an Alpha, but I didn't think you would actually be the Alpha of the Varyn Pack. I am really sorry for causing you trouble."

After she spoke, a soft and heavy silence stretched between them. It was long enough for her to start wondering if she had said something wrong.

"Is that what you have been thinking about all night?" he asked finally, his tone dry but not cold or unkind. 

"W-" she blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

"How to apologize first thing in the morning?" He questioned, finding it amusing. "Morvienne, you don't have to apologize for not recognizing me. And you haven't caused me any trouble either. So, try not to let these wrong thoughts get to you. Understood?"

Smiling faintly as her cheeks warmed up, she looked down and nodded quickly. "Understood," she murmured with a small voice.

"Good," he straightened a little. "And also, someone will come to help you clean up," he informed her, his tone going back to its calm and composed cadence. Then, he paused there, something coming to mind. 

"I almost forgot. Are you okay having people around now?" he asked. "Do you feel more calm?"

"Yes," Morvienne answered, nodding as she lifted her eyes to his. "I feel more relaxed and not... jumpy anymore. Thank you very much for everything," she said, smiling softly, the expression tender and genuine.

"No problem," Kael said simply and turned to leave. But when he got to the door, he paused briefly and faced her. "I have to leave now. Expect the person who's coming. You don't have to worry about anything at all."

"Okay," Morvienne said ever so gently, watching him leave again.

Immediately he left, she exhaled slowly and sat up, her gaze still lingering on the door.

He was... different. Very different from what she had expected.

He was composed, cold and distant sometimes, something she had also noticed, but not unkind. And for a moment, she found herself replaying the way he had spoken and taken care of her, but still... that wouldn't change her mind or anything at all.

She hadn't come this far to be swayed by kindness,  especially not his. And who knows? It could all be a farce.

"Hmm," she hummed and looked down at her bandaged arm, then to her side, adjusting the torn fabric out of curiosity to take a peek of how her injury looked, but what her eyes met made her lift her left brow.

"Well that's... Oh," she murmured, her tone thoughtful rather than shocked.