The Alpha's Luna in a Strange Land

CHAPTER 28: MY WORRIES

**ALEXANDER'S POV**

I felt a hand latch onto mine. "Natasha," my mind echoed. She was here - she stayed.

I groaned as the pain in my head intensified. What kind of painkiller had Desmond given me? It was doing nothing for my current pain.

The hand in mine tightened and on instinct, I squeezed it back. But when I didn't feel the familiar warmth I expected to feel, I was confused.

I tried to open my eyes fully, but my eyelid was too heavy. The light in the room wasn't as harsh as I was expecting it to be.

"Alexander? Alexander, do you need anything?" a familiar voice said from beside me.

This wasn't who I wanted to wake up to. I slowly turned my head and saw Cynthia sitting beside me with a concerned face. My eyes scanned over her face.

"Cynthia?" I croaked out. My throat felt hoarse from the lack of moisture.

"Here," she said as she reached out for a bottle of Eva-water and poured some into a glass. She helped me sit up and brought the glass to my lips, and I drank to my satisfaction. Although she wasn't the one I wanted to see, I was grateful for her assistance.

When I was done, I cleared my throat and looked at her again. A small smile graced her face, and I could see the relief swimming in her eyes.

I had met Cynthia briefly in person before. We attended galas and events together, but not once after did our paths cross. According to many Black Vampires, her beauty was loud and so attractive, and seeing her in front of me, I could understand why they said that. Cynthia was the true definition of African beauty. There was no secrecy in her loveliness.

A few months ago, I would have been drawn to a woman like Cynthia. But now, having met Natasha, Cynthia's beauty paled in comparison. In my mind, there could never be a woman more beautiful than Natasha.

"What are you still doing here?" I asked.

I could tell that my question didn't please her as her face frowned. I didn't mean to sound rude, but there was no reason for her to be in my room. She was scheduled to arrive in a few weeks, yet not only had she come early, but now she was not giving me my privacy.

"I heard you got hurt, and I came running like any reasonable mate would do, Alexander," she bit out. "Instead of sitting there and asking stupid questions like that, you could just be thanking me now. I stayed with you for hours while you were out."

Shit. I could tell she was getting angry. I needed to fix this, and I needed to fix it now.

"I appreciate that, Cynthia, believe me, I do. I'm just shocked that you are still here. I was expecting you to be in your room by now. I wasn't even prepared for your arrival."

"Arrival?" I tried to make my face look as sincere as possible. "I mean, take a look at the state I met you in."

The world felt wrong being placed on her. I didn't want her as my mate, but I was caught between a rock and a hard place. I had taken an oath and made a promise to Lord Cyrus. If I backed out now, my integrity would be called into question, and other lords would break alliances over it.

Even with all this weighing on me, I was willing to take the risk. Natasha is what I wanted and what I intended to get. She was mine and mine alone. I had called for her when I first woke, and I expected her to be by my side when I woke up. However, with Cynthia here, she may have run off again and thought the worst.

"Cynthia, did a woman come in here while I was out?"

I saw the flares of anger flash across her eyes. I squeezed her hand in false reassurance. She had no reason to worry about Natasha because there was never a choice between her and Natasha. Natasha was my only pick.

"Ugly fair girl with weird-looking eyes?"

I could taste the bitterness oozing from her pores. I didn't like the way she spoke about Natasha, but I held my tongue.

I nodded. "Yes."

"She was so annoying, so I sent her out. Poor thing looked like she wanted to cry when I told her to get the f**k out," she laughed weirdly.

"Why did you do that?" I barked at her.

"Excuse me. You do not talk to me like that."

I could feel my vampire stirring within me. He was not happy. Cynthia made our mate cry. Natasha must be long gone away from my kingdom. Had Desmond kept an eye on her like I asked him? Had he made sure that she stayed?

Screw this. I was going to find out for myself. I tried to sit up in my bed, but the stitches on my side felt like they were ripping apart. I pushed past the pain, trying to get up. I could brave whatever I needed to when it came to Natasha. If she left the kingdom, I would move heaven and hell to find her.

"Alexander!" Cynthia stood from her seat to push me back on the bed. "You will rip out your stitches. Your vampire is still healing. The wolves' claws were laced with garlic. You can't exert yourself."

"I need to get to her," I struggled against her.

Normally, I would have easily overpowered someone of Cynthia's size, but my vampire was weak and the pain meds Desmond gave me were doing nothing to ease the pain.

"Get to who?" Cynthia pushed against me. "Help! I need help!"

My eyes snapped to her in a blazing rage. "Natasha! I need to find her."

Cynthia froze at my outburst. I hadn't meant for any of that to come out so harshly, but she was the cause of my mind being frantic. I didn't know the state of my mate. I didn't know if she was still safe inside my lands or if she had run off across the border. Did she think I wanted Cynthia?

"Lord!" A healer ran through the door, looking panicked. I knew her. She was one of the senior healers, one of the best according to Desmond. Her name was Monica, and she had always been devoted to her work.

Cynthia snapped out of whatever daze she had been in and resumed trying to hold me back. I struggled against her, but Monica came to the other side of my bed and helped restrain me.

My eyes snapped to Monica. "I order you, as your Lord, to let me go. I need to find Natasha."

Realization dawned on Monica's face.

"Lord, she's with Desmond," she explained. "I saw him with her in the cafeteria. They are having dinner as we speak."

Relief washed over me like a tidal wave. She was safe. She was in the kingdom. She was in this very building.

"She's still here?"

Monica smiled a gentle smile. "Yes, my lord. I can send for her if you want."

I shook my head. "No. I don't want her to see me like this. Just tell Desmond that he mustn't let her out of his sight at any cost. It was a direct order from his Lord."

I could see that Monica was curious, but she didn't say anything further. She just nodded her head and removed her hands from my shoulder. She checked over my vitals and then exited the room.

It was only when I felt the weight of Cynthia's gaze that I then remembered that I was not alone. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and only then did I notice that her shirt was cut a little too low in the breast area. It was crazy to think that a few weeks ago, my mouth would have salivated at the sight, but not now. I loved Natasha now. Everything changed overnight.

"Who the hell is this girl to you, Alexander?" I could tell she was at her boiling point.

"She's a friend."

She was more than that. She was my everything.

"Bullshit. I know you belong to me, Alexander, and I don't like to be made a fool of. So it would be best if you told me the truth right now before I have to find out in a not-so-pleasant way."

She was challenging me. My vampire doesn't like to be challenged. She may have been a Lord's daughter, but this is my own kingdom, and she needs to learn her place.

"Are you threatening me, Cynthia?"

I could see a momentary hesitation flicker, but she masked it expertly. Lord Cyrus taught her well, but she inherited her father's pride. I could only tell within this short interaction we had.

"Alexander, I will only ask you once more," she bit out, "who is she to you?"

"A friend."

I was lying. She was my soul, my entire world.

Cynthia looked over my face, hoping to catch my lie, but I was good at concealing myself. As a Lord, I learned the art of lying and manipulation only so they could never be used against me.

She huffed and stomped her foot like a child.

She stormed out of my room without another word.

The adrenaline drained from my body, and fatigue was catching up to me. With Natasha safe with Desmond, I allowed the darkness to swallow me.

I knew that when I opened my eyes again, there would be a mountain of problems left to solve, but I also knew that as long as I had Natasha by my side, I could brave anything that came my way.