Page 53 of Alpha's Embrace
Maybe it was best that Geo didn’t come. I realized if I saw him I would not be able to control myself. I wanted him so badly I feared I would tackle him. I’d throw my arms around him. I’d yell. I’d weep.
I had no more control.
Would he hate me for it?
But my questions were a waste of energy. He didn’t come to see me and he probably never would.
I hated him for staying away. I loved him and it hurt.
Everything hurt. The sounds of the castle were no longer comforting. Tracy’s thumps and Cedric’s cries made my ears ache. The food smelled rotten. My bed was lumpy. Every touch to my skin flamed and stung. Light stabbed my eyes. My sleep was invaded by Geo, good dreams and nightmares both.
I stopped going for exercise. When my guards came by to take me to overlook my realm, I told them to go away. I told them I didn’t feel well. That brought the nurses. Eventually, it brought a visit from Doctor Prim, who’d already given me a clean bill of health the week before, and had set up appointments with the resident therapist.
That therapist did nothing much more than give me tests. Lots of computer tests that required answers to difficult and very personal questions.
When Doctor Prim entered my room, I got a whiff of Geo, faint, then gone. Had they been together? Talking? More?
I was instantly jealous before I realized, smelling the doctor, that his bond was strong and his pheromones normal. He had the peaceful scent and content nature of all the bonded doctors, nurses and guards who came into contact with me. Tory had been the only one who’d smelled different. And, of course, my king, Geo.
“Misha. How are you feeling?”
I wasn’t feeling well but I didn’t want him to know. So I lied.
“Fine.”
Doctor Prim came forward. He reached out with his gloved hands and lifted my chin. “The bruising is nearly gone. Any pain?”
“No.”
“Good. How’s the wrist?”
“Fine.”
The doctor held up a tablet. “I have some test results from your therapist. Instead of having him go over them, I thought I would, since I needed to clarify some things.”
I nodded, unsure his reasoning made any sense but unwilling to question him on it.
“Good.” He went to the door and spoke.
A guard brought in a chair and Doctor Prim sat, motioning for me to sit on my bed.
“Did I do something wrong on the tests?” I asked.
“No. Not at all.” He scrolled through some pages on his tablet. “Let’s see. Here, I just want to make sure about this, when you were asked if any impropriety has ever occurred toward you in this institution, you answered no. I’m double checking on that, because obviously you suffered an Alpha attack.”
“I wasn’t thinking about that when I answered.”
“But the attack had just occurred. Surely that would be fresh on your mind.”
“When I saw the word impropriety, I thought it meant sexual misconduct.”
Prim nodded. “I see. And so you were answering that nothing like that has ever happened to you?”
“Yes.”
Prim was silent a moment. I realized he was looking for another answer. Or perhaps an admission from me that I was lying.
“If you’re asking if I’m a virgin, then my answer is yes. I am,” I added.
