~Daliah's POV~
I woke up shaky, wet… and coddled up in the arms of Alpha Zarek.
My eyes were as round as saucers when I noticed this, and with a thoughtless jump, I sprung out of his hold, almost falling face first to the floor in the process and again, his sturdy arms darted out to catch me.
I gulped. From here, I could feel his rock hard body pressing against me. Could hear the steady thrumming of his heart as he breathed in and out rapidly. My body trembled as several watts of electricity scattered across the surface of my skin and as if in a daze, I froze.
"Master, I feel fine now… I think I can stand on my own." I said slowly. My voice sounded foreign even to me.
Alpha Zarek paused for a brief moment. The conflict in his eyes showed just how reluctant he was to let go of me. His eyes darkened as it came to rest on my face… then on my lips; and suddenly, as if cursed, my mouth went dry. My lips felt like they were chapped and hurt uncomfortably. To ease myself of the discomfort, I darted out my tongue to lick it... to wet it… until I heard the low grumble from Alpha Zarek's throat.
I jumped.
"Dahlia…"
His voice was gentle yet cold. It washed over me in a way that I could never explain. Now, I could feel my core trembling and I couldn't help but wonder why I always felt this way around him… why I was always so wanton in his presence.
The thought made me flustered as a faint blush coloured my cheeks, burning my face and the tips of my ears. He finally mumbled; "Are you alright?"
For a moment, I was stunned into silence, my eyes never leaving his face. This man confused and aroused me in the worst possible ways, and right now, I was royally confused.
"I am fine, Alpha. Thank you for asking."
Silence..
"Can I go now?" I whispered, whilst glaring pointedly at his arms still wrapped around my torso. Alpha Zarek's eyes widened when he realized he was still holding me close, and with an uncomfortable cough, took a step back, releasing me.
"You cannot. I want you to be examined by the pack's doctor first. My beta, Orion, will soon be here with her."
It took me a moment to understand what he was talking about and when I remembered the events that had occurred shortly before my fainting, I began to hyperventilate. My body spasmed uncontrollably as beads of sweat began to form on my forehead and along my arms.
Silvermoon pack…
They'd sent a message.
The Alpha had sent a message.
Why?
Does he know of Amara's and my presence in this pack?
Does he still want me dead?
What about Amara?
What does he want to do with—
"You don't seem good to me." When he spoke this time, his voice carried an undertone of worry. His intense eyes scrutinised my face as if searching for a slip… a crack, anything to hold against me. A reason to send me off to the pack's hospital, but I was not having it. I shook my head.
"I am… I think I-I just need to rest for a while then I would return to my duties." I stuttered, causing his eyes to thin even more as he regarded me.
"Nonsense!" He snapped, causing me to jump in fright. "I forbid you from doing any chores for the remainder of the week. Rest, if that's what will make you feel better. But I'll still send the pack's doctor to you as soon as she arrives with Orion." He finished with a tinge of authority to his voice.
His stance was regal… authoritative but instead of being afraid of him, I wasn't. I was drawn to him.
"Thank you, Alpha." I bowed.
I noticed how his eyes trailed down the length of my body for a breathtakingly long moment, and how he watched me carefully, as if afraid that I would break. When it probably dawned on him that I would be fine, he nodded. "You can leave now."
I nodded, desperate to be far from his presence.
I couldn't shake off the way his eyes watched me. And couldn't ignore the way my body responded to it either. Bowing quickly, I rushed out of the room and as soon as I arrived at the door, I let out the breath I didn't even know I was holding.
Alpha Zarek was like a drug… addictive yet calming. Soothing but nerve damaging.
My body shook as thoughts of his hands against my skin swarmed my mind but I shook it off. I needed to concentrate. I had to concentrate. For myself… for Amara.
The incoming sound of heels hitting the marble floors snapped me out of my trance and when I looked up, my heart stuttered when I realized that it was Ms Jennifer. My nemesis. She walked with precision… grace and something else… regalia, if I must say. And as soon as she saw me, her beautiful face hardened.
She strutted over. But this time, I was smart. This time, I was more prepared than the last time and instantly dropped my head, bowing.
"Good evening, your highness." I greeted with so much respect, whilst expecting her to ignore me as there was nothing to pick on. But she didn't. If anything, my words seemed to infuriate her even more. She frowned even more.
"Slave." She spat and I bristled. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to serve the Alpha and his Beta some food. That's all." I quickly replied, unsure as to why I was answering at all, or why I sounded like I was pacifying her.
She gave me a once over, her eyes trailing along my body with contempt so deep, it made shivers run up my spine. She snorted. "If you say so… you can leave anyway."
I bowed once more. "Thank you, your highness." I said and with that, I turned to leave.
However, before I could take steps away from her, her voice rang through the quiet hallway, momentarily halting my movements. She walked over to round me and from this vantage, I couldn't help but notice how she sized me, how her dark eyes roved my skin.
"What can I do to get you off the Alpha? My Zarek? What do I do to send you back to whatever purgatory you came from?"
Her words cut through me like shards of glass but I didn't respond. I couldn't bring myself to as I was scared. I gulped instead, studying the designs on the floor and praying to the heavens that she leaves me be.
She didn't.
"Ever since your arrival here, Zarek has been distracted…" she drawled and for a split second, I almost smiled. It almost felt good to know that she feared I had that much power over her relationship with Alpha Zarek, but before the idea could even fester, she continued;
"But not for long… I'll do something about this… about you and your mutt of a daughter. If you won't leave yourself, then I have no choice but to help you disappear… For. Good."
The threat was clear as day. It made tremors envelop me.
Truth be told, I didn't care much for myself but Amara? I hoped to the gods that this woman doesn't make do with her threat.
I gulped. "I understand."
"Now, get lost!" She thundered, causing me to scramble away from her as more panic surged through me.
Alpha was the one thing I've ever wanted in the past few years… and the one thing I knew I could never have— and that was fine.
However, what wasn't fine was putting Amara in danger because of him. In my entire life, I never had a parent figure and there was no way I would expose my daughter to a life remotely similar to the one I was forced to live.
She needed me. And she needed me alive, so for that reason, I pledged to avoid Alpha. To be as far away from him as possible. Even if it was the last thing I did.