Chapter Nine

LORI’S POV 

I watched him carefully, trying to ascertain if he was any harm. “Look, I don’t even know who you are but honestly, I don’t think I care.” I said, “All I’m going to ask for is that you don’t let yourself into my room like that. Ever.”

The corner of one side of his lips tugged upward. “We’re getting off on the wrong foot. How about we do this all over again?” He asked. He walked towards me, stopping a few feet away. He held out his hand, “Hi, I’m Caleb. I’m Elijah’s Beta.”

Caleb. I studied his eyes and then stepped forward, taking his hand firmly in mine and shaking him. “Nice to meet you, Caleb.” I said, even though I wasn’t so sure.

“I know you might have painted a picture of me in your head but I can assure you that I’m just a friendly face.” He replied.

“Why do you keep saying Elijah?” I asked the one question bothering me.

“Ah, that. You probably know him as Damon, the Lycan King. But when you grow up next to him, like me, it’s hard to forget what you’re used to. Although, he does hates when I call him that in public.” Caleb explained. “Pretend like you didn’t hear it from me.”

“If you’re done bothering Lorenza, Caleb, can we leave? It’s almost time for the Browns meeting.” The Lycan King said as he walked into the room, adjusting the sleeve of his dark shirt.

This was the first time that he was entering the room since I moved in. The two of them were like tall towers just standing there.

Caleb looked down at his wrist watch and tsked. “Here I was thinking that was in an hour’s time.” He replied.

“Well, it’s now. Some assistant you are.” The Lycan King said. I swear, it took everything in him not to roll his eyes.

“You don’t pay me enough for all the roles I play: Beta, assistant, best friend, mentor, guardian angel, the list goes on and on.” Caleb said. The way he talked now made my first impression of him feel so strange. It was so different.

The Lycan King scowled at him. “I don’t think you even know what a mentor is.” He replied.

I bit back a laughter. This was truly the Lycan King's friend. There was just some way that friends bring out this part of you. I felt a painful pang in my heart.

All the people I called friends back in Agerna didn’t even stand up for me when I was to be executed. It made me realize that I was truly always alone. I wished I had something like Caleb and the Lycan King.

Caleb placed his hand over his chest, dramatically. “I’ve always known you were a terrible person.” He replied.

It hit me then. Some kind of feeling that settled in my throat and in my stomach. I swayed a bit on my feet. 

The Lycan King noticed and he looked in my direction, his eyes furrowing. “Is everything alright?” He asked.

I nodded, pushing down the feeling of vomitting as heat prickled down my arms and legs. “Yes, I’m fine. I just think I need to lay down.” I replied. I forced a smile in both their directions.

“It was nice finally meeting you, Lorenza. I hope we can get along.” Caleb said.

They both turned and walked out of my room. I closed the door after them, making sure to lock it. I placed my hand over my forehead. Was I running a fever?

Not thinking much about it, I decided that I was going to sleep it off. That was always the best choice. I climbed into bed, pulling the covers over my body despite the heat I felt.

I was going to sweat this fever out of my body. And, when I wake up, I’ll be fine. I forced myself into falling asleep.

The next time I woke up, Emilia was fussing over me and I felt like I was on fire. The Lycan King was standing next to her, watching me with furrowed brows.

I felt another wave of whatever this was, crash on me. I tried to sit up but I suddenly had no strength in my arms of legs.

“What’s happening to me?” I gasped out, pulling at the collar of my shirt. “It’s so hot, I can’t breathe.”

The Lycan King took one look at me and asked, “Shit. You’ve been surpressing the feelings of the mate bond, haven’t you?”

“What does that have to do with what’s happening?” I asked, still gasping and trying to drink air. I was sweaty and hot. I was going to burn.

“Get Doctor Suresh on the line. Now.” The Alpha King told Emilia. She nodded, walking out of the room to make the call.

“You have a non dorminant wolf that has refused to awaken, making you weak and everything else complicated. Your body is reacting to how you’ve been fighting against the bond.” The Lycan King touched my forehead so gently that it felt like I’d imagined it. “It’s tearing you down, it’s trying to kill you.” He explained. He ran his fingers through his hair. “If we don’t do something, you’re going to die.”

I knew that there would be consequences for ignoring one of the mosf powerful bonds in the world but, I didn't think that it was going to try to kill me.

“Help me,” I croaked out, my throat dry. I would rather be indebted to the Lycan King than for me to die from my stupidity.

“Take off your clothes.” he instructed.