Chapter 5: A Moment To Remember

Isadora’s POV.

The room was quiet except for the soft sound of my own breathing.

I stood by the bed, staring down at Caelen’s unconscious, naked body. His mother had left me alone with him, insisting I started caring for him immediately. The servants had brought in fresh water, a clean cloth and a basin.

I was supposed to clean him.

My face burned at the thought.

I’d never done this before. I’d never touched a man like this. The only time I’d ever been this close to a man was that one night years ago, and that was in the darkness where I couldn’t see anything.

But this was different. This was just a necessary duty.

I could do it.

His chest was broad and sculpted, muscles defined beneath his smooth skin. A thin line of dark hair trailed down his stomach, disappearing beneath the thin sheet covering his thighs.

I swallowed hard and looked away.

This was a bad idea. I shouldn’t be doing this. I should ask for a maid or anyone else.

But if I refused, his mother would be suspicious. And I couldn’t afford that.

I took a deep breath and pressed my hands to his chest.

Slowly I began to massage his shoulders, working the tension out of his muscles. He’d been lying in the same position for over a year. His body must be stiff and sore.

My fingers worked into the tight flesh, kneading gently.

I worked my way down his arms, then his chest. His skin felt warm and alive beneath my fingers.

“Massaging him?” A feminine voice called out and I looked up sharply to find Caelen’s mother standing at the doorway, watching me.

I nodded quickly. “He’s been lying still for so long. His muscles need to be stimulated to prevent atrophy.”

A small smile crossed her face. “You’ve very thoughtful.”

I didn’t respond. I just kept working, my hands moving over his chest and stomach.

“Keep it up, I’ll check on you later.” She said,

As expected, she didn’t wait for my response before she walked out of the room, closing the door gently behind her.

His entire body was clean now except for one area. The area covered by the sheet.

I hesitated. I should leave it. It wasn’t my place to do that. It wasn’t necessary.

But I was already here. I was already cleaning him. I might as well be thorough.

I reached for the sheet and a sharp voice cut through the silence.

“Don’t touch me.”

“This area needs to be cleaned.” I responded absentmindedly. “Otherwise, there will be a smell…”

I stopped mid-sentence. My eyes shot up and my heart stopped when I saw a pair of breathtakingly blue eyes staring back at me, burning with fury.

“You—“ I stumbled back, my face flooding with heat and panic. “You’re awake.”

He didn’t respond. He just kept staring at me with that murderous gaze.

I opened my mouth to say something but before the words made it out, the door opened and a maid walked in with a tray.

As soon as her eyes rested on him, the tray slipped out of her hands and crashed to the ground, loudly.

“He’s awake!” She screamed on top of her lungs. “The Alpha is awake!”

Within seconds, the room was flooded with people. The lady with the auburn hair was the first to arrive, along with the other family members.

“Caelen!” She cried out, throwing herself at him. “You’re awake! You’re finally awake!”

Caelen’s eyes never left mine.

“Everyone,” he growled, his voice cold and commanding. “Get out.”  

No one moved.

“Did you not hear me?” His voice rose. “I said get out!”

“You’ve been unconscious for a year, Caelen. You need rest—“

“I don’t need rest. I need everyone to get out.” He snarled, looking at me again, his eyes narrowed. “Especially her.”

Caelen’s mother stepped forward almost immediately, rushing to his side, her face twisted with concern. “Caelen. Caelen, can you hear me?”

He didn’t respond.

“Who is this woman?” He demanded.

She turned around to look at me before turning back to him.

“Caelen, this is Isadora, your Luna. She saved your life. She is the reason you’re awake.”

His brows furrowed just as the elder from earlier stepped out from behind the small crowd of people in the room.

“Alpha Caelen,” he began slowly with a serious expression on his face. “Your condition is still unstable. Whatever is in your system has left your body, but your strength clearly hasn’t returned seeing how you haven’t moved. Especially your legs.”

Caelen’s eyes narrowed.

“What does that mean?” His mother asked, her voice trembling.

“He won’t be able to walk for a while. Perhaps longer than that. His nerves had suffered a serious blow. It will take time to heal.” The elder replied.

A sharp gasp went through the room.

“You’re telling me I’m paralyzed?” Caelen asked, his face hard and his eyes burning with rage.

“Not permanently,” he added quickly.

Caelen’s mother stepped closer, her face pale. “But… he will get better, won’t he?”

The elder hesitated. “With proper treatment, yes. But it will take time.”

A woman who had been standing isolated from everyone else, stepped forward with a serious expression on her face.

“Then,” she began slowly, “can he still have children?”

The room fell silent.

Everyone turned to the elder sharply but he had an unreadable expression on his face.

“After treatment,” he continued carefully, “I believe it should not be a problem.”

Her face turned pale. She swayed dramatically on her feet, clutching onto the nearest servant for support.

“Children,” she whispered. “He can’t have children.” She nearly collapsed if the servant hadn’t held onto her tightly.

“Calm down, the elder said it won’t be a problem.” Someone pointed out.

“He was just being polite!” She hissed, her voice hysterical. “I know what that meant. He’s lost the ability.”

I looked at Caelen and I could see the muscles jumping in his neck, his face was drawn tight and he looked like he was about to snap someone’s neck.

The elders' words didn’t sit well with me.

When I was cleaning him earlier, I felt the reaction when my hand touched his skin. His body had responded instinctively.

He could definitely still have children. I was certain of it.

But I remained silent.

Caelen’s harsh gaze slid from one face to the other. His aura dominated the room and it exploded before any of us could react.

The pressure was suffocating. It pressed down on everyone in the room, forcing us to bow our heads. I couldn’t breathe or move, my knees wobbled slightly, forced to bend under the pressure of his domineering Alpha’s aura.

I forced my eyes up, stunned at how overwhelming the power radiating from him was.

“Who,” he let out a low growl, “is this woman?”

I dared to glance up at him and my heart dropped to my stomach when I saw that he was pointing directly at me.