Alexander POV
“Urgh!” I moaned under my breath. The smell of disinfectant burned my nose.
My head was pounding uncontrollably, and my eyelids felt heavy and welded shut.
Where the hell was I?
What the f*ck happened?
Why does everything smell like the infirmary?
I tried to lift my hand to my face, yet I noticed that something warm was preventing me from lifting my hand.
I slowly forced my eyes open, blinking a couple of times against the bright white light, before I could get my eyes to focus.
I moved my confused gaze, confirming that I was in the infirmary, and then down, seeing a girl sleeping and holding my hand.
What the f*ck? How dare she!
“Morning, Alpha.” Luke’s voice rang in my ears, cutting my wrath short.
“Morning?” I answered, narrowing my eyes. I was pretty sure it was just after midnight.
Luke got closer to the bed, careful not to disturb the sleeping girl. He gave her one small glance, and a soft smile followed on his lips.
What the hell is going on?
Why isn’t Luke removing the girl from my room?
Who the hell is she?
“What time is it?” I growled, annoyed.
“Five a. m., Sunday morning,” Luke said.
My eyes widened, and then I frowned. I was unable to process what Luke was saying.
It should be Saturday morning at the latest!
Did I lose a day? Or is Luke playing the fool with me?
“How are you feeling?” Luke asked, keeping his voice as low as possible.
Was he trying not to wake the girl?
Does he know her?
“Fine,” I hissed, annoyed at his lack of duties. “Why would you ask that? And why am I in the infirmary? Who is that?”
“You can’t remember?” Luke asked, and worry crossed his eyes.
“Remember what exactly?” I snapped, staring down at the girl holding my hand. She had her face turned away from me, and I couldn’t make out her features.
“Friday night? Rogue attack? You, slipping on a puddle of water in your office?” Luke said.
“I slipped?” I asked, startled. That might explain why I have a headache!
My hand reached the back of my head, feeling the huge, tender bump under my fingertips.
“Yeah,” Luke said, and a teasing smile followed on his lips. “You forgot to take your towel again.”
“Towel…” I repeated the simple word, but as soon as the word escaped my lips, memories of that night flashed before my eyes.
“F*ck,” I muttered to myself. “How f*cking embarrassing!”
Luke usually came to my rescue when I forgot to take one, saving me from embarrassment, yet I kept on forgetting to take the damn thing. It serves me right. Hopefully, I will remember to take one from now on.
“I assume you can now recall the occurrence of that night,” Luke asked, and his smile broadened at the corner of his lips.
“Yes,” I growled, feeling embarrassed. “That was my one and only opportunity to be able to claim Emily as mine. Now I have screwed it up! F*ck!”
“You haven’t completely screwed it up,” Luke said, chuckling. “Luna has been by your side, ever since you passed out.”
“Luna?” I asked, bewildered. “Are you referring to the girl?”
“Yes,” Luke said, gesturing to the girl. “She hasn’t left your side. She seems to care about you more than you have bargained for!”
My eyes widened in disbelief while my heart leaped out of my chest and warmed.
“Emily stayed?” I muttered in disbelief. “She didn’t leave?”
“She barely left the room,” Luke said. “Maybe you will have a shot with Emily after all.”
My gaze landed on Emily, and a smile tickled at the corners of my lips. I need to find ways to court my mate into staying.
I need her by my side; she must become my Luna. I need her to take her rightful place by my side.
It is her destiny! We belong together!
“Alpha,” Luke linked, and I narrowed my eyes at him-usually he wouldn’t link me when we were alone. I guess he wanted to discuss something that’s been bothering him.
“Yes?” I replied.
“We had a little situation on our hands while you were, uh, sleeping,” Luke linked.
Something in the way Luke said those words sent a cold chill down my spine, and my gaze snapped toward him.
“What kind of situation?” I growled. “Does it involve Emily?”
Luke nodded, and my heart started to race.
“What happened?” I roared over the link, extending my claws.
Luke’s eyes widened, and he gestured to Emily.
“Calm down, Alpha,” Luke said, looking at my hands. “You are going to wake up or maybe even hurt your mate.”
I took a deep breath and retracted my claws, then sought Luke’s gaze.
“You better tell me,” I ordered. “Or else-”
“Everything is already arranged.”
“What is arranged?” I cut him off.
Luke sighed.
“Maybe I should have waited until you were out of the infirmary.”
“Luke,” I said, giving him a warning glare. He knew very well that I didn’t like secrets. “You had better tell me what the f*ck is going on, or I will rearrange the infirmary room while she is sleeping!”
“Very well,” Luke said, taking a step away from the bed, ensuring there was some distance between us. “Two warriors saw Luna with you.”
“So?” I snapped.
“Uhm.” Luke hesitated, and it was starting to work on my last nerve. He never hesitated-except.
Did the warriors threaten Emily?
“Which two?” I barked.
“Sam and-”
Luke hesitated, and my right eye started twitching-whoever’s name Luke was about to say would leave me pissed.
“Michael…”
Michael’s name caught me off guard-he was the youngest wolf to obtain senior warrior status, and was well respected by the pack.
Why did he do it to piss Luke off?
“Did he hurt Emily?” I asked, and my gaze shifted back to her.
I will certainly rip him apart if he dares touch her.
Luke swallowed hard and shifted his weight between his legs, then pulled his hand through his blond hair. Before he looked at me, he certainly looked uncomfortable.
“Luna has bruises on her arms,” Luke admitted, yet he could read in his body language that there were more. Luke’s gaze shifted toward the window, trying hard to ignore my gaze.
“Why are you investigating him?” I asked, and silence followed. Whatever had happened must have upset Luke a lot.
I knew my beta and best friend well. Luke and I grew up together; I have known him my whole life. We were born on the same day, at the same time, in the same hospital, and our mothers happened to be best friends. We did everything together, and we were inseparable from the age of three. If it wasn’t for our looks, we might have passed as twins.
“He threatened Luna,” Luke said, waiting for me to lose control.
“Threatened how?” I growled darkly.
What happened next gave me the breakthrough I so desperately wanted.
****