NUMBING MY PAIN.  

LIAM’S POV

I sigh as I settle on the edge of my bed. I had left her in the other room with the Doctor to come to mine to care for my wound.

A soft knock lands on the door, and I mutter out a “Come in” after pulling my shirt down to cover the wound on my stomach, even though I know it’s impossible due to its tear.

Rivers walks in, dressed in a casual shirt and jean trousers. He is my Beta and an old childhood friend of mine. He is practically more like my twin because he knows everything about me, even things I didn’t think he took note of.

“Good day, Alpha.” He greets me with a slight bow of his head.

I nod in response, then put on my lower lip to relieve my pain.

I have repeatedly corrected him not to call me Alpha and to stick with Liam, but he refuses.

“You are my Master, so I must respect you.” He would say countless times, and soon I just let it slide. I find myself getting used to it.

“To what do I owe this visit?” I say playfully as I wonder if Diana told him anything. I know her to be the type that gets worried about me so quickly. I know she cares, but I’m not a little child anymore.

Yes, before my Father’s death. He told her to care for me and watch me like her own, which she has been doing since I was Fifteen.

“I have news from the Elders.” He informs, and my eyes spark up with curiosity.

Do they know? Did they maybe find out about her existence?

“What’s that?” I ask, trying not to jump into conclusions.

“The Elders want a meeting with you. They want to discuss the threatening issues in the kingdom.” He responds.

I nod slightly, then pin my lips together to relieve my pain.

“Okay,” I respond, my voice, however, coming with a slight crack.

“Okay, Master.” He replies, then turns around to leave when he pauses to look back at me. “You good? You don’t look okay.” He asks, his eyes running over me.

Rivers is the type to always notice any little thing off about me or anyone. This is the reason why he is mostly on bad terms with nearly everyone. He suspects most wolves around me. ‘I don’t like him’ ‘He doesn’t look like you can be trustworthy’ ‘I think he has something he is hiding’ These are his words every single time, it got to a point that I always expect him to say something ill about whoever we meet.

Now I’m starting to hate that he has that superpower.

“I’m fine.” I lie and squeeze my eyes shut briefly.

But that don’t make him leave or go outside. He stays still there, his huge form overshadowing mine as I sit. His eagle eyes running over me.

“No, you’re not. You’re bleeding.” He responds and runs forward to pull my shirt up, revealing my wound.

Ouch!

I bit on my lip again, and let out a soft groan inside.

“How did you get this?” He asks, worries and curiosity filling his voice.

“I...It was nothing serious.” I reply, not wanting to fill him in on the details. I plan to keep it to myself forever.

“This doesn’t look like it.” He says, and raises his eyes to give me an angry stare.

Rivers never gives up.

I roll my eyes.

“Seriously, it’s nothing, Rivers,” I respond and snatch my shirt back from him, pulling it down.

He gives me a long hard stare and stands up.

“Stay right there, and I will get the Doctor.” He informs me and steps out of the room before I can protest against it.

****

The Doctor walks in alongside Rivers. I’m glad that Mrs. Diana didn’t follow. He drops his bag on the bed beside me.

“Pull off your shirt.” He says, and I do as instructed.

I’m glad we were all males here, and my Doctor was a male. I wonder what thought would have gone through my head if my Doctorwass female.

‘Pull off your shirt’ will have sounded like an attempt to seduce me.

He pulls his bag closer and picks up something to apply to my wound. He cleans the blood off first. Luckily I’m not bleeding that much. He then places a bandage on it.

“It’s not deep. It will heal with time.” He says, then adds. “I will give you some pills to numb the pain.” He informs.

I nod, biting on my lower lip.

He nods, too, in return, and stands up on his feet.

“I guess that’s all for today.” He says, and I nod again. “Well then, I have dropped her drugs in her room, so that should sustain her before I come for my next checkup.” He informs.

I can see Rivers’s questioning glare, but I ignore it.

“Okay, Doctor. Thank you.” I responded.

He smiles before picking up his bag and walking out of the room.

“What was he talking about?” Rivers ask, but I choose to ignore him. That might be the best way to get him to shut up and stop talking.

“Fix the meeting with the Elders to the next three days,” I instruct, and he nods.

He keeps quiet for a while as though he is thinking of the best thing to say before he finally responds.

“Okay, Master.” He replies.

Good!

No questions.

I like this new Rivers better.

“Good. Also, tell the warriors to take a day off tomorrow. I need to rest.” I inform him, and he nods again. For a weird unknown reason, he is being obedient, and that alone is suspicious.

I’m supposed to train with them tomorrow, but I doubt I can do so in this state. I don’t feel that much pain from it, but I feel a bit weak. I know all I need is some rest to regain my lost strength.

“Okay, Master.” He responds again.

I can see the questioning expression he has on. But I know I have no answer for him until I know who this stranger is. I need to keep her a secret. I need to keep her real identity a secret.

Who knows if she is a significant threat to us?

Plus, bringing home a stranger might raise questions from people. So until then, I need to keep lying that she is an old-time friend.

I know that will work.

“Leave me,” I order.

He nods in response and walks out of the room after giving me a slight bow.

I sigh the second the door closes and slump on the bed—the thought of the day's event running through my mind.

What would have happened if I had ignored Olcan and refused to help her? Would that have made me a murderer?

I wonder.

****

I got off the bed, my body better, but I could still feel the wound. The pain has reduced a bit, but I can deal with pain. I have faced sadder hurt after all.

Should I talk about Father’s death, or was it Mother’s?

Yes, My Mother died trying to give me life, so I barely knew her, never knew her likes and dislikes. The things I knew were the ones Diana, the head servant, told me. She told me how good, friendly, and beautiful my Mother was and even showed me countless of her pictures and why they were taken.

Father?

Well, he died right before me while lying on the bed. His voice breaks as he groans in pain. He beckoned me to come over, and I did. My head bowed right in front of him.

“Take care of him like your own.” Is the last thing he says to Mrs. Diana before picking up my left hand to squeeze into her palm.

He squeezes his eyes shut.

That was the last time I stared at his deep Green eyes. The very last time I saw those lashes flutter.

After that time, I didn’t care anymore. It’s just like my heart had darkened.

I push the thought aside, change into clean cloth comfortable and suitable for the meeting, and head out of the room.

I know that the Elders will already be waiting.