Ella’s POV
“What are you thinking?”
“Uh?” I replied absent-mindedly, dragged out of my thoughts. I was grateful for his presence after the nonsense I’ve been through in the past few minutes.
“What are you thinking?” He repeated, moving closer to pull me into his arms.
I sighed as I placed my head on his chest, feeling his arms wrap around me and the comfort seeping through my tired bones. Luke was a crazy man. I couldn’t believe he would dare to do that to me.
What was he thinking? He was more deluded than I thought if he assumed I was going to leave Kevin for him.
“Thank you for being here.” I said, shivering in his arms. I couldn’t bear to think of what Luke would have done if Kevin hadn’t been here.
He growled, the sound reverberating through my body. “Don’t remind me of that episode. I still want to rip out that bastard when I think of what he could have done to you.”
“I’m glad you came at the right time.”
“You should know I wouldn’t stay away from you. I planned to be with you all day even Luke hadn’t ruffled you.”
“I’m glad he is now on house arrest. Do you know what that means?”
“What?” His lips curled up in a smile. “We get to go on dates while we are here without any disturbance?”
I shook my head, laughing at him. His thoughts were always in one direction. “No, silly. That isn’t what I was thinking of.”
He groaned, looking away from me. “Something tells me I’m not going to like what you want to say.”
“You will.” I said with certainty though I knew he wouldn’t agree. He probably wanted to leave here and go home as soon as he could but I couldn’t go home now, knowing that there was a problem that needed my attention.
“Luke being on a house arrest means that I can walk freely in this place without feeling hunted or having you worry.”
“What do you want to do?” He asked.
I smiled at his question. His tone of voice suggested that he already suspected what I wanted to say. He knew me too well to not have known.
“I want to help out the blue river pack with the plague that has broken out.” I said, looking at him and waiting for his reaction. I wouldn’t do anything or hold it against him if he didn’t give his permission but I hoped he wouldn’t tell me not to do anything.
He sighed. “I knew you would be interested the moment I heard the guard tell Oscar Nelson about the plague. You were like that with the people of utopia town. How could I expect you to be any different?”
Tears spring up in my eyes and I embraced him, thankful to him for understanding me.
“Don’t I get a kiss for being the best mate you know?”
“You are the best mate in the world.”
He chuckled. “Easy with the compliment, my love. I might not let you go again.”
I smiled. “I don’t want you to ever let you go.”
“I don’t plan to.” He said as he pulled me into a warm kiss that tingled me from my toes upwards.
I left Kevin afterwards, to go meet Oscar Nelson. I asked to see him and the guard at the front door looked worried as he heard my request. The rumors must have traveled across the palace about what Luka tried to do to me and he thought I was here to give the alpha more hell about it.
I smiled at him to relieve his worries, wishing I could tell him that I wasn’t here for that but I couldn’t. He wasn’t who I was here for and he didn’t tell me what his thoughts were so it would be wrong of me to assume.
He finally left to inform the alpha and got back, telling me the alpha would like to see me.
Oscar Nelson looked surprised to see me but he waved me forward. “I was shocked when I was told that you wanted to see me.”
“Yes, my lord. I wanted to see you for something important.”
He sighed. “If this is about Luke, I’m sorry about that. I would like to apologize once again on his behalf. I promise you that I raised him better than that.”
I shook my head. “You don’t have to apologize to me. We should let bygones be bygones. I’m here for something else.”
He shifted forward in his throne, looking interested. “What is that?”
“What is the report on the plague?”
He sighed. “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Five wolves have died and the physicians are confused on what the disease is but they are working on it.”
“I would like to help out. I was a physician before I left here and have gained more medical expertise since I left. I would like to work with the physicians to find the cure if it’s okay with you, my lord.”
He was silent, studying me. “Have you spoken to your mate about this? I thought you would all like to go home soon.”
I smiled as I nodded. “He gave his permission already.”
He nodded. “Okay. You can join the physicians if you want to. Thank you for your help.”
I bowed and left his courtroom. I ran all the way to Camilla’s house, excited about breaking the news to her.
“What are you doing here, girl?” She asked as she saw me.
“Can I work with you to stop the plague?” I asked, breathless.
She stared at me, looking at me. She got the answers she needed in my eyes. Her lips curled into a slow smile and it gradually became a full blown one.
“It’s a pleasure to work with you again, my dear.”