There was a knock at my office door at the infirmary, and I raised my head up from reading to Theo on the mat on the floor, to answer. The door opened and Sonia’s head popped in. “I’m sorry, Ms. Danika, for disturbing you. The King is here to see you… with your mate!” Her eyes twinkled with delight, apparently knowing the news about my supposed mate’s return was supposed to excite me.
And it did.
No sooner is the news out of her mouth, than I’m letting out a screech, jumping off the mat and bounding straight for the door. She was laughing, when I rushed past her, heading to the reception when I heard her say, “They are in Doctor Salem’s office.”
Yea, right. They should.
I changed course to Doctor Salem’s office, only stopping when I reached the front door, to take in steady breathing. This moment cannot be dispatched the way I want it because I wouldn’t want to hurt my mate, and at the same time, the way I respond would cement any thought these people have about me to Lance. I mean he is my supposed mate and I’m supposed to be all over the cloud in joy at his return, right?
I was still contemplating when the door snapped open and there he stood; the first friend I had, the man that took my hands, looked into my eyes, and encouraged me to be strong, the first man to say he loved me and whom I couldn’t return his feelings, my fake mate. I couldn’t hold it back even if I wanted to. I leaped straight into his arms.
He was chuckling, his body reverberating from his laughter as his huge arms encircled me. He laid a quick peck on my neck and held onto me for a while until we heard someone clear their throat- someone I know would be Alonso.
Slowly, I retracted from his arms to brush my hair to my right ear, thereafter reaching up to wipe a tear that had escaped my eyes. “Lance…” I said breathlessly.
“And I thought you didn’t miss me,” he jested, his thumb coming to my face to wipe more tears that are falling unrestrained. It’s been so long.
I swapped his shoulder playfully, while my body shook with sobs. “How could you say that?” I said in between tears. My eyes flicked around in embarrassment, to meet Alonso. To my surprise, he wasn’t nursing any irate facade as I expected him to, instead, he had an unreadable expression but definitely not anger.
The other was Dr. Salem. He seemed very amused, standing small behind the King with his fingers laced in front of him. He smiled at me and then said, “They told me everything.” I went white, my ears flaming up. “It’s okay. I’m glad that we treated you kindly here at the infirmary and I can boldly say, there is no better Luna Queen than you. You are just the best.”
My heart beat soared, only realizing then that my hand was still engulfed in Lance’s hand. His right hand came up and poked my ear. “It appears you were doing me proud right here…” he quipped and we all busted out laughing including the King.
What a moment.
“C’mon, let’s go to the cafeteria. I hear it’s lunchtime,” the King announced and came to hold me around the waist, pushing me towards the cafe while the others walked behind. From time to time, my eyes wandered back to Lance, still finding it unbelievable that he is here in flesh and blood.
“What? You have to stop staring at him like that or I might have to send him back,” Alonso threatened in my ear. My heart lurched in fear. I spared him a glare and caught the mischief in his eyes. “I’m just kidding. I know you mean well.” He kissed my cheek which grew hot.
All through the lunch, Lance gave us a narrative of his experiences in his place of mission. He told us the people there were very receptive and were happy to now have a pack of their own. They couldn’t wait for the full moon when their ordained Alpha would come to pay the King his respect as well as show his subordination to his rule. After that, the King could decide to go and return his visit, which showed he was in support of his leadership as well as to see what the Alpha was doing for his people to know if he was the right one for the job. It also showed acceptance.
While Lance spoke, I noticed this certain glint in his eyes when he talked about the pack members. It looked like he had a particular liking for them. I wouldn’t blame him. He had spent a long time with them not to develop a soft spot for them, or was it something else?
He now looks more handsome, his muscles seemed to have boosted and his… his haircut changed! Wow, Lance loved his former haircut so much. What could have made him change it? I really have a lot to ask him, but not now, I would wait. We still had a lot of time moving forward. I hope so.
“So how have you been coping here at the infirmary, Danika?” he asked me suddenly. I paled, my eyes flickering up to meet him first before going to Alonso and back at Dr. Salem.
I knew why he asked. Knowing the circumstance that surrounded my coming to work here and coming back to still see me here, he might think Alonso was still maltreating me. But that was not the case. So I cleared my throat, and maintained a little smile, and said, “It’s been amazing, Lance. This is one of the best things to have happened in my life. I have come to grow here, with the people, my job, and the environment. Everything. So, yeah, I can safely say I’m enjoying myself.”
“Really?” He dropped his spoon, his eyes that used to unstable me, digging into me as if trying to discern if I was covering up something. Why would he think that? Well, he always cared about me.
“She is right, Beta,” Dr. Salem spoke up with a snicker. “Within two months of working with us, Ms. Danika proved to be very efficient and highly competent for the job. She got her promotion within the next four months and I can dauntlessly tell you that no one would have done better.”
I was moved to tears hearing him say that on my behalf. “Thanks, Dr. Salem. That meant a lot to me.”
“No, I say the truth. Thank you… if after the ceremony you leave us, we will truly miss you,” he said.
I smiled broadly. “Well, thank goodness, I’m not going anywhere. I’m so used to this place I can’t imagine being away from it-”
“Ms. Danika?” A very tiny familiar voice interrupted me. I snapped around with a smile and wagged Theo to us. “And here comes the major reason I can’t be able to leave even if I decide to.”
He reached me in fast strides, his baby blue eyes flashing around in distrust at the men. “Theo, you know the Alpha King and Beta? The one’s I told you about?” He shook his head slowly, and then his eyes suddenly glowed in recognition. “Yes!” He bounced his head, his curls scattering.
“Good, well, you are lucky today to meet them. Here is King Alonso, and Beta Lancelot.” I gestured toward each of them.
His childish wonder was a thing to frame for posterity. “You mean the strong men you talk about exist?” he asked quietly, made to touch Alonso, then withdrew, probably of double mind. “Whoo!” he breathes out.
“Of course they do! Doesn’t Dr. Salem do? I told you he is also a strong man!” I squealed and he nodded, his eyes wandering around the men, not knowing which to focus on.
It was fun time with him and soon, he was nestled in Alonso’s lap, a wonderful sight to behold, while the latter fed him burger and juice.
By the time they were ready to leave, he was asleep and I had to pick him up to take him into the nursery because the King insisted I left with them. When I was coming out of my office, I nearly collided with Sonia whose eyes were wide as she asked, “Is it true that you are the King’s true mate and not the Beta?”
I opened and shut my mouth like a fish. I don’t know how I should respond to it. Are they mad at me? Do they think I’m a liar and not worthy of the position?
But my haze was cut short when in the next minute, she flung herself at me. “Everyone is excited! We were all going crazy with the thought of that lady as our new Luna Queen. It would have been a nightmare with her.”
I was in lack of words, all I could do was stare.
On our way home, I was partially exuberant about the way this thing was going. Not how I anticipated it. I was thinking they were going to hate me, but from the reaction I got from Dr. Salem and then Sonia today, it wasn’t that bad. Though, I didn’t want to have my hopes up that everyone would respond kindly.
How would I feel going to work tomorrow? The people around me, how would they look at me? In the pack, the infirmary, anywhere I go henceforth when the news finally spreads. Oh, Gad!
And tonight I would have to face Theresa once more. I know she would surely cause a fracas with Lancelot back. I have to be prepared.
…