Chapter 14

Danica's POV

“A… Alpha” The doctor stammered, her face paling many shades whiter as she cowered in fear and I didn't understand why she was even that scared.

Like she said, I was the one that just got hit several times for butting in when it wasn't in my place to do so. I was the one that violated the normal rule of manners but right now, I could swear she was more terrified than I am.

“What the fuck do you think you're doing, Renee?” Alpha Alexander thundered and I flinched inwardly at the sound of his voice. He sounded mad— No! He wasn't just mad. His beast got involved. I could see it in how his eyes flickered from amber to blue and how the air became almost suffocating.

“Alpha… This maid…”

“Danica!” He corrected almost immediately, his eyes a piercing hue of amber.

“What?!”

“Her name is Danica Grayson. Is that so hard to understand?” He repeated and she quickly corrected herself, the fear written over her face concealing her shock. While mine remained plastered on my face inevitably.

Renee calling me maid doesn't sit well with him. Was that supposed to be reassuring? Because right now, I would be shitting my pants if it wasn't for the anger and pain that ripped through my chest and my bruised cheek.

“I have never seen Danica around here, Alpha. It was obvious this is her first time at the palace but she just had to butt into an operation when it's not in her place to do so. She's not a doctor. Nor is she anyone of importance. She is only a mere omega but she didn't know her place. I'm only trying to let her know the repercussions of her arrogance and how…”

“Did she or did she not save the patient, Renee?” Alpha Alexander asked, interrupting her condescending explanation.

“I have no idea, Alpha. She did claim the surgery was successful but the patient is still unconscious” Renee spat almost immediately, her spiteful glare sweeping over me.

The slap still fucking stings.

“I asked you a straightforward question, Renee and I expect a fucking straight answer from you, not some beating around the corners kind of response. You have the exact answer to the question I asked, Renee— and you do know how much I hate lies, don't you?” His voice came again… deeper than anything I've ever heard.

“Y… yes Alpha. She saved him” the doctor responded, her once defiant voice that was laced with irritation soon melted into one of fear.

“Was it or was it not the same patient you almost killed before she came in… or butt in like you said?” He asked again, his tone commanding the authority he already fucking had.

“It… was” the doctor replied again, straightforwardly, just like he wanted.

“Didn't you tell me that surgery had a ten percent success rate out of a hundred before you started it? But you were willing to try no matter how little the chances were?” Alpha Alexander questioned and the air became even more tense than it already was.

“Then why the fuck! did you have to take her help for granted after she bestowed it to you for free?! Why in hell's name would you hit her for going through the surgery successfully without asking a dime from you?! Why were you being such an ungrateful bitch when she all but risked her life to help a dying patient?” He asked all at once and I couldn't help the flutter that spread through my chest.

Alpha Alexander was defending my humiliated ass. It felt wrong but the fuck did I not like it?

No one has ever defended me or stood up for me in any situation at all… but he was doing it right now and even went as far as reprimanding his Pack's Doctor… just for me.

When he'd first barged in, threatening to have her head and tongue cut off, I thought he was simply mad that she let a liability like me into the royal clinic… but right now, I knew he didn't think the same way a supposed ruthless Alpha was meant to think.

He thinks Renee was wrong for hitting me and the fact that it was the reason he'd gotten this mad… was something I could never really understand.

“I… it was only right…” Renee trailed off, her words interrupted by a deep, low growl from Alpha Alexander.

“You still think hitting her was the best you could do as your grand appreciation when I'm standing right here, telling you I expected better from you?!”

“No… no Alpha. I apologize. I didn't mean to get on your nerves” she quickly fell to her knees, apologizing to him like she really meant it but he wasn't in any way done with her.

“I'm not the one you slapped with those filthy hands, Renee. It was Danica. And now you're going to face her, and extend that apology to her like you really mean it” he muttered sternly and I saw her jaw ticking with anger as she tried to stand to face me.

“I want you to do it, On. Your. Knees. Renee” he said simply and I watched her eyes twitch in humiliation. She was fisting her hands so hard that I almost felt sorry for her. Almost!

She was a woman of honor. A respected doctor. But she had to kneel for a mere ‘omega’ and she didn't have a choice because this was Alexander. The one man who could decide if her entire generation gets to live one more day or not.

“I apologize for hitting you, Danica. I didn't mean anything I said to you” she muttered, her voice calm and apologetic but the dark vengeful part of my mind couldn't help but think it was acted out, and that she wasn't being sincere.

However, for the first time since Mom's death, I got an apology. Sincere or not. And Maybe I am a terrible person for liking that a woman almost twice my age was apologizing for the wrong she did to me, but I did like it. And I didn't mind being a terrible person for as long as that apology soothed me.

“It's okay” I muttered silently— but deep down, I knew it wasn't okay. My scalp and cheek still stings from the hit, my self worth was bashed like I wasn't a mere statue with no emotion. But it will pass. And that apology was more than enough to help me get past this… as I've always done without one.

“She might be okay with your apology, Ivan. But I'm sure you know I don't do well with apologies. You get on my wrong side, you face the penalty of your crime” Alpha Alexander’s predator voice boomed through the air and I didn't miss the look of dread that crossed the doctor's face.

He wasn't going to kill her… was he?

“You got me involved in a trivial mess you created for the fun of it, and now, you're going to slap yourself repeatedly until I tell you to stop. You can always let me know if it's too much for you to handle” he muttered and she shook her head quickly, raising her hand to give herself the first hit.

“Harder, Ivan. That's not nearly worth the hit you pack on someone else's face” he pressed, his tone giving off his displeasure.

Another hit resounded… by her hand, colliding with her own face and I couldn't help but wince inwardly.

“Fucking do it better, Ivan. Or I'll make you the first woman I'll ever hit with my hands because I'll assist you with packing a really good slap” he growled angrily, pushing her to slap herself even harder.

Just as I was beginning to feel sorry for her, I felt his vice like grip on my hand as he pulled me along with him towards the door.

“You, come with me!” His silent order was enough to kill the protest that was about to escape my throat as I struggled to keep up with his angry, long strides.