Leilani.<\/p>\n
I woke up to pounding in my head and an intense pain at my back that reminded me of the eighty strokes I\u2019d suffered not so long ago.<\/p>\n
I winced in pain, closing my eyes and willing myself to fall back asleep but my eyes soon snapped open when at that same time, the door creaked open. I jerked upright but as soon as I saw who it was, the walls I had up came crashing slowly. I sighed;<\/p>\n
\u201cFrostclaw.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre we regressing to last name basis now?\u201d Jarek teased, flashing me a small smile. However, I didn\u2019t get to respond to that when he pushed a tray of mouthwatering dishes onto my lap.<\/p>\n
My mouth instantly watered at the sight in front of me, but because I didn\u2019t want to seem \u2018so hungry\u2019, I held back and bit my lips.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre we having a feast?\u201d I asked instead.<\/p>\n
Jarek chuckled, \u201cNo,\u201d but the doctors say you\u2019re malnourished\u2026 extremely malnourished. So I had to bring a bit of everything. If we stick to this kind of meal plan for a while, I\u2019m sure your health will bounce back pretty soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
His tone held an undertone of something that made me curious and a little bit scared. And as if noticing this, he glanced away, his voice turning stiff as he said;<\/p>\n
\u201cYour injuries are not healing, sweetcakes. And it\u2019s not because you do not have a wolf\u2026 you do\u2026 it\u2019s only because you\u2019re terribly undernourished.\u201d<\/p>\n
For a moment, I was stunned into silence. Shocked down to my bones\u2014 but no, I wasn\u2019t surprised that I was undernourished. Fuck, I expected that, given the number of times I was forced to donate my fucking blood to my fragile sister, Chalice, and the bizarre amount of times I was left starving for no reason at all back at my pack.<\/p>\n
I\u2019d have been surprised if I was well nourished.<\/p>\n
However, what stood out more to me was the idea that I had a wolf. A freaking wolf. Me, Leilani? The pack\u2019s runt?!<\/p>\n
That was impossible!<\/p>\n
I shook my head, chuckling. \u201cI have a wolf?\u201d<\/p>\n
My question seemed to shock Jarek who turned to me with wide eyes. His deep seeing eyes bore into mine for a moment too long, and when they landed on my lips\u2026 they became darker\u2014 if that was even possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d He breathed out, \u201cI know you told me a long time ago that you didn\u2019t, so when I rushed you in, I made sure to inform the doctors who as soon as they checked you said that info was wrong. I even thought you lied to me about\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a wolf?\u201d I couldn\u2019t help but ask again, my voice coming out shaky. And goddess, I couldn\u2019t help the smile curling up my lips.<\/p>\n
Jarek nodded once, his eyes trailing along my face, but said nothing, and then suddenly, he came to sit by the bed, picked up a spoonful of my rice and muttered; \u201csay ahhh.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAhhh,\u201d I answered in confusion, wringing my eyebrows together as I opened my mouth.<\/p>\n
However, shock hit me like a freight train when he pushed the spoon into my mouth, filling it up with yummy buttery rice. I moaned.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, don\u2019t be too loud,\u201d Jarek cautioned me with a smile, his head turning towards the door, \u201c\u2026or one would think I have my hands on your body, and not on your plate.\u201d<\/p>\n
It took Silly me more than a minute to grasp his words but when they finally settled, my face colored brightly. But surprisingly, I didn\u2019t shy away, I simply smiled. \u201cIt\u2019s delicious.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy friend only makes delicious meals.\u201d<\/p>\n
I wanted to ask him who this friend was when suddenly, he brought up some sauced chicken to my mouth and asked; \u201cYou didn\u2019t know you had a wolf?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never felt it before.\u201d I answered amidst chewing. And that was true. \u201cI still have a hard time believing I have one.\u201d<\/p>\n
A knowing look flashed across his face before it disappeared. He mused under his breath;\u201dSomething is indeed strange about that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
But I heard him. I heard him clearly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndeed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deciding not to get my hopes too high, I shrugged off the topic altogether, but that didn\u2019t stop the tingling in my fingertips, or the way my heart seemed to flutter at every interval.<\/p>\n
I wish it was true\u2026 oh moon goddess, make it real. Make it real. Maybe that way, my family and mates would want me.<\/p>\n
Maybe\u2026<\/p>\n
Tears pooled in my eyes when Jarek wouldn\u2019t stop feeding me with practically everything in the tray, and I couldn\u2019t help but wonder how I\u2019d never experienced anything like this before. How I\u2019ve never been cared for this way before.<\/p>\n
In fact, this food in front of me right now was a luxury, one I had never experienced in about ten years now.<\/p>\n
However, suddenly, he dropped the fork in his hands and leaned impossibly closer to me, his breath fanning my face. I\u2019d been very chill since the start of this meeting, but when he brought his fingers up to my lips to wipe the broth there, butterflies erupted like dragons in my belly. I shrieked, recoiling, and earning myself a deep rich laughter that floated around me, engulfing me like wild fire.<\/p>\n
Now, my face did heat up. I squirmed; \u201cget away from me, you perv!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re the perv here!\u201d He retorted with a smile. \u201cI was only trying to get broth off your lips!\u201d<\/p>\n
And then he made a point to lick that same broth off his fingers.<\/p>\n
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. \u201cYou fucking psychopat\u2014\u201d I began to curse, but almost immediately his phone suddenly rang.<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
He picked it up without hesitation, a frown forming on his face as he drawled; \u201cSpeak.\u201d<\/p>\n
Suddenly, I was reminded that he was an Alpha, and if I didn\u2019t know before, his sudden stiff posture and intimidating voice were more than sufficient to enlighten me. I do not know what the other person said to him on the phone, but by the time the call came to an end, his face was stony, his expression dark.<\/p>\n
He turned to me; \u201cYour family is asking me to bring you back.\u201d<\/p>\n
I froze mid bite. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re pressing charges against me. They say I kidnapped you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, I was dumbstruck. My mouth fell open. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s not all.\u201d Jarek mused with a smile. \u201cThey believe you\u2019ve stolen something from your sister and think that you\u2019ve come to pitch it to my company\u2026 So I ask you now, Leilani, what can you steal from Chalice besides common sense?\u201d<\/p>\n
I was too stunned to speak. Too shaken by the craziness of this all to form sentences. My mouth hung open in shock, only to be snapped back closed when Jarek leaned closer and stuck a slice of watermelon into my mouth.<\/p>\n
I gave him a pointed look.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t steal anything from her. I didn\u2019t even come here with anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe you,\u201d he answered quickly\u2014 too quickly, \u201c\u2026but now, me believing you isn\u2019t all that you need. You need proof\u2026 evidence. Alpha Zevran is on his way here to come get you as we speak and I fear that this is the part where they try to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? Zevran is on his way? Why?\u201d I rushed out, forgetting to chew. In fact, I totally forgot all about the food. \u201cWhat for?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you belong to me. You\u2019re a member of my pack, and you cannot simply leave because you felt like it.\u201d A voice came from the door, and as soon as I heard it, a tingling sensation ran down my spine.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t need to check. I didn\u2019t need to look, I already knew it was Zevran.<\/p>\n
My heart plummeted.<\/p>\n
However, what I didn\u2019t know was why he would go to this length just to come get me. I didn\u2019t understand why he didn\u2019t just send a guard, or the police. Hell, he could\u2019ve sent my father if he wanted to.<\/p>\n
But no, he was here.<\/p>\n
Smiling at me like we were long time spa buddies, when in truth, all he\u2019s ever done was hurt me.<\/p>\n
I frowned instantly at him but he didn\u2019t seem bothered. Instead, he stalked even closer, his gaze intense. \u201cI think this is where I take charge of her.\u201d He said, turning to Jarek, then to me, he drawled; \u201cHello mate.\u201d<\/p>\n
I gulped.<\/p>\n
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland\u2019s breathtaking cold.<\/p>\n
Healing Slowly But Surely By R. Joseph 12 Cap\u00edtulo 12: Hello mate. Leilani. I woke up to pounding in my […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23215","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chosen-by-none-feared-by-all"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23215","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23215"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23215\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23215"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23215"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23215"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}