ARTEMISIA
Blowing my cheeks, I tap my fingers on my blanket.
It’s already past midnight, and the last nurse came in hours ago to apply my last cool compression for my head.
I feel so human, and I hate it!
I also finally understand how they always use to say that a doctor is the worst patient someone could actually treat.
Dr. Davies and also the nurses showed so much patience with me that they deserve a medal.
They took their time to explain everything to me, or better, didn’t give up convincing me about the fact that the treatment they were performing on me was actually the best way to go.
I love the fact that they were all so nice, and hate it that it might just be because I’m mated to the aggressive idiot.
He surely would tear them apart if he heard they were mean.
But that wouldn’t keep them from talking badly about me behind my back.
I take a mental note to come back after my discharge to bring some chocolates or something, and I get new hopes about my stay in this pack.
Imagine if it really became my home?
I smile to myself as I think back to Cayden’s words, and am more determined than ever to make my new pack accept me.
Even if I’m not their favourite person, they will see that I’m trying my best as the future Beta’s wife.
Or Gamma’s wife.
Or the lead warrior’s wife.
Goddess, this is such a mess.
Sitting up, I stretch and sigh.
‘Are you happy now?’ I ask Cassy scoffing, not getting any answer, only a strange mumbling.
She feels heavy in my mind and makes me feel anxious.
Strangely enough, after her giggling she went silent, and has been mumbling occasionally ever since.
Often she sounds like she is drunk, or feeling dizzy.
Rolling my eyes, I at least have to praise her creativity in showing her disdain for me.
‘Maybe you would be happy if they were to execute me, because this way you would get another human that you can be happy with. Is that how it works?’
Cassy yawps in the back of my head, and I shake my head.
‘Fine, then.’
Getting out of my bed angrily, I flinch as my feet touch the cold surface of the floor.
I shake myself and make my way to the door. Peeping out to check that I’m not seen by anyone, I pitpat over the floor looking for a snack machine as I would definitely need some chocolate.
But I have barely made a few steps as I halt in my tracks, a wonderful scent invading my nose. My muscles relax instantly before I stiffen at realising who the scent belongs to.
“What are you doing outside of bed?”
Turning towards Fynn, my heart stops as I see him. He is standing in the door of what looks like a waiting room, and he looks absolutely crushed.
Has he been there the entire time?
“I was looking for some candy…” I say lowly, my voice trembling more than I would like her to.
He takes a step towards me, and I hate his look as I take one back instinctively.
“Sorry,” he grumbles, scratching his head. “I just wanted to… I’m glad that you are alright.”
I nod, linking my fingers into each other. “What are you doing here, Fynn?”
“I… I was just… I was waiting because the nurse said she would look after you in a bit and I wanted to see what she said.”
Shaking my head, I look through the glass walls of the waiting room, seeing that they had brought him a pillow and a blanket that he didn’t seem to have used though.
“Erm… Fynn? How long have you been here?” He looks back over his shoulders to follow my gaze before he chuckles.
“What do you mean? I have been here since I brought you here. What kind of mate do you think I am?”
I shrug, lifting my hands. “A mate that would mark his mate against her will?”
He laughs, and I hate how the mate bond makes my heart hurt at how he distorts his face painfully. “I’m sorry. You obviously don’t want me here, so I will go.”
I follow him as he steps back into the waiting room, to take his things, and my pathetic affection bubbles out before I can stop it. “No, wait. That’s not true.”
He straightens his spine with a deep sigh. Waiting for him to turn back to me, I knead my fingers watching his t-shirt stretching over his muscular back. “I’m sorry that I nearly rejected you, but you have to stop treating me like a doll.”
“A doll.” He repeats with a scoff as he starts moving again.
“I’m being serious, Fynn. You have been nothing but condescending to me. Why did you come and fetch me in the first place?” I ask him, regretting the question the moment I have uttered it.
“What do you mean? You are my mate. I had to get you.” He groans, now acting as if he would need to fold the blanket anew just to avoid my gaze.
“So, was it just some alpha-male behaviour to follow a custom? Just for the sake of traditions or pride?” I ask, my poor heart sinking into my stomach, as he clicks his tongue.
“Why? Ever heard of someone that went to grab his mate just for the love of it?”
Actually…
I nod, the coldness of his answer hitting me deeply. “Okay. Very well, then.”
He is still turned away from me as I clear my throat. “I’m going to look for some chocolate now.”
Clapping my hands, I feel so desperately awkward for him to acknowledge me.
“Would you at least look at me?” I ask, but he just ignores me, scoffing again.
“Okay,” I whisper, my heart cracking once again, and always because of him.
As soon as I have turned around, the air shifts, and I’m suddenly wrapped in his embrace.
My breath hitches in my throat as his arms wrap around my waist, pressing me to his front. I lay my hands on his forearms as I inhale, filling my lungs with his scent.
“I’m not like Matthew or like Logan,” he growls, his head buried in my hair. “I’m neither tender nor flirtatious like them. I’m an arrogant asshole, and I only took females in to satisfy my needs. This is all new to me, and I still don’t know how to act this way, but the last thing I want to be with you is being condescending.”
He hugs me closer, my heartbeat speeding up as he presses a kiss on my neck. “I know that you hate me. And my wolf is even worse. So, I actually understand yours not wanting to communicate with us. But, don’t think that I’m not feeling this mate bond. And that it isn’t driving me absolutely crazy.”
I gasp for air as he takes another deep breath. “Especially since you are so fucking beautiful. And so stunningly strong-willed.”
His chuckle vibrates through me while I feel tears welling up in my eyes. I turn my head to look at him, locking my eyes with his dark ones.
“I don’t hate you,” I whisper, making him smile. I lose myself in his intense gaze and feel a tear rolling down my cheek.
He catches it with his thumb, and he tilts his head at me as if he were checking my face for more to get. “I can’t… Even if I wanted to. You are such an idiot. Stupid mate bond.”
I laugh with teary eyes, and he flashes me his wolfish smile. “Sorry that I scared you. And I can never forgive myself for hurting you.”
Taking my face into his hands, he gets me to turn around fully. “But trust me when I say that I would never have marked you, or done anything against your will.”
“You did take my shirt off though.” He shrugs, smirking slyly. “I was teasing you.”
Shaking my head, I laugh and unfortunately, get him to let go. “You are something else.”
“As if you weren’t teasing me all the time, little mate.”
And here we are, back to the mocking pet names.
But it makes me smile as I actually grew fond of it.
“Touche,” I say, scrunching my nose.
He clears his throat as we get enveloped by silence and asks the question I have been fearing to get all along. “Why didn’t your wolf help you as you bumped your head? It was something minor that shouldn’t be any problem to heal. Was it because she wanted to punish you for rejecting me?”
“Erm…” I nearly feel bad for breaking his heart as she surely wasn’t thinking about her mate. “Not exactly… But I don’t want to talk about it here. Could we talk about this in private?”
He nods with a worried expression as I lower my head.
“Okay,” I say in a whisper about to walk back to my room, but instead I squeal as he lifts me into his arms to carry me back to it.
“Oh, you have to stop doing this.” I hiss as my heartbeat goes crazy.
“Why? You are a princess, aren’t you?”
Smart ass.