The Alpha Can’t Sense His Mate

ITHRA

I need water.

That was the only thing I could think of as my eyes fluttered open. I felt like I hadn’t drank water for a thousand years.

My eyes adjusted to my surroundings and I couldn’t tell where I was. White light, white covers, soft mattress, but no water.

I need to find water.

I forced myself up the bed, scanning the room for any transparent liquid that could quench my parched throat.

Instead, I feel a prickly pain in my wrist. An IV drip was placed on my hand, hindering my free movement.

I tried to remember how I got here but came up blank. The last thing I remembered was pledging my life to Zadok.

With that opened up memories that flooded my consciousness.

I was set up. And then, strangled.

My hands instinctively go around my neck. And immediately, the doors open.

Zadok walks in and our eyes connect. A paralyzing chill spreads through my body as I remember how he tried to kill me.

He put me in this condition.

I disconnected the IV drip on my wrist and prepared to flee when he raised his hands in surrender.

“Calm down. I mean no harm.” His voice was soft, and soothing.

For some reason, I felt secure, like he wouldn’t hurt me. Like he was incapable of hurting me.

The memory of him strangling me flashes before my eyes and I wasn’t sure anymore. He had tried to kill me. And not once.

I was just lucky to be alive.

“I want to go.” My voice was shaky and parched,

Zadok looked around, and muttered a silent ‘shit’ before returning to me.

“I promise I will not hurt you.” His voice sounds pained, as though it hurts him that I thought he could hurt me.

The door opens again and a female walks in with a tray of water.

Finally! I thought, counting the seconds till she got to me.

I took the water without precaution. Even if it was poisoned, the results would be the same.

I’ll either die of thirst or from the poison in this water. At least I got to choose my poison.

After dropping the second glass, I feel more alive.

“How do you feel?” The lady with a white coat says with a smile.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I contemplate talking to her for a few seconds before I speak. “Better.”

It seemed like she expected more, but I wasn’t planning on saying anything more.

She quickly realized that and continued, “My name is Aurora. I am the pack doctor.” She explained, holding up a friendly smile, “Do you feel pain anywhere? Anything out of the ordinary?”

I shook my head. I felt fine. Too fine even.

“Good.” She took some notes on her pad, then turned to Zadok who, although quiet, seemed to occupy the room with his presence. “She’s good to go. Proper rest and proper care will leave her good as new.”

“And the other thing?” He asked, and I couldn’t help but notice his ticking jaws.

“Good as new.” The doctor replied and I wondered what they were talking about.

It was uncomfortable knowing they were talking about me like I wasn’t in the room.

“I’ll be on my way, Alpha. Contact me if there is anything else.” She said with a bow, then turned to me, “see you around, Ithra.”

Her smile made me almost as uncomfortable as my name on her lips.

The doctor left, and the room felt two times smaller with Zadok stationed by the walls, watching me like a hawk.

“I am sorry.”

My head swerves to the side, not sure I heard him right.

“W-what?”

“I promise I will never hurt you. Please, forgive my foolishness this once.”

He sounded broken. My eyes narrowed in wonder. What happened to my big bad alpha?

“Is this because you strangled me?” I asked in a firm tone.

A brief pause, “That… and many others.”

Now I was getting entertained. “Care to enlighten me, Alpha?”

Zadok rolled his eyes at my sarcastic use of his title. Unfortunately for him, he was not done groveling so he couldn’t do much.

“I am sorry for everything. For not believing you and letting them…” He clenched his teeth, “I promise to make everyone who thought to lay their hands on you or lie against you, pay dearly for it.”

“Does that include you?”

I don’t know what came over me, but I was pushing it. And to my greatest surprise, he was humoring me.

“Yes, Amore, that includes me. You’re a part of my pack now, and no one, not even me, holds the right to do you wrong.”

That shut me up fast. The intensity of his gaze brought sweet chills down my spine. And his voice? What in the world?

“I assure that no one who thought to make a fool of me will be left alone. Every single one that thought to defy me or my orders will pay. I swear on my honour.”

I adjusted on my bed, having nothing to say to that. I could feel anger roll off him in waves and I honestly felt bad for whoever would be at the receiving end of that anger.

“Have your rest. Gatria will be here in a second to take you home.” His eyes rummaged through my frame, “I’ll see you at dinner.”

Did he just call this prison home? I scoffed. If only he knew.

As soon as he left, the door opened again and I fought the urge to roll my eyes. I couldn’t catch a breather around here.

“Good to see you’re still alive.” Gatria said with a smirk.

“It takes more than a measly alpha to get rid of me.” I fired back, suddenly feeling bold.

“Tut, tut.” She hushed, “Werewolves have heightened hearing, more so for an Alpha, which by the way, is not quite far from us.”

I slapped my palm on my mouth at the implication of her statement.

Surely he didn’t hear me. Or did he?