Nadine

7. Still Exist

Tre doesn't chase me and by the time I get back to the medical area, I have the gloves and veil on.

Dr. Cruor looks at me. "You're still off."

"Paperwork." I shut myself in my office.

6 hours later someone knocks on my door.

"WHAT?"

My dad opens it. "Just wanted to verify you still exist. Carry on." Then he shuts it.

2 hours later, Mary knocks on my door. "You hungry?"

"NO."

An hour later, Tre brings me food.

"I said I wasn't hungry." I can tell he's worried. I don't know why though.

"I know you said you're not a child but you are surly acting like one."

"GET OUT!"

"Fine."

"All I wanted to do was kiss you. I'm so sorry you were kissed by a child. But don't worry, it will never happen again." I can feel the tears running down my face. "Just get out."

He stares at me for a minute then leaves.

I drop to my knees and then to the floor. I can't hold the tears back at all. Nothing matters.

Dorseti comes in after a few minutes. "I know this all hurts." She makes me get off the floor and sit at my desk. "I was attacked by someone that was supposed to love me a long time ago. I know it hurts. You'll do anything to feel normal again."

"I was kissing him. I thought he was enjoying it. Then all of a sudden he wasn't and he called me a child. I wanted to feel close to him."

She dishes out some of the food Tre brought in.

"I feel like I have no one. My own brother tried to kill me. What am I supposed to do? I wanted to feel close to someone."

"Eat."

"All my life. He always wanted me to get hurt and die. He never cared about me. Now I know Tre doesn't either. My life is a lie." I shove some food in my mouth.

"It's not a lie. You have a lot of people who care about you. You feel alone right now. You found out the truth about your brother and you're really hurting about it."

"I lost Tre too."

"No you didn't. He'll be back. That man is in love with you."

"He thinks I'm a child now. He says I'm to young for everything."

"He's using that as an excuse to avoid telling you his real feelings."

I shove more food in my mouth. "I should stay away from him. He obviously doesn't want anything to do with a child. Hopefully, he can find a grown woman that wants to kiss him. Then he can forget all about me."

Elkie runs in my door. "Another convoy attacked. They are coming in now."

I stand up and grab a gown. "Time to work."

Dorseti and Elkie run out.

I use my hands to dry my face off and throw the veil over my head. I go to the first room and Gunner is sitting there. "Hello Gunner. What are you doing here?"

"I got bit by a damn werewolf because your boyfriend is pissed off."

"What?" I clean his arm up.

"We got word that a convoy close to the castle had werewolves on it. Tre grabbed a damn sword and took off. So we took off after him."

"He's not my boyfriend but is everyone ok?"

"Yea. Dipak threw a damn werewolf at me. I wasn't ready."

I roll my eyes and put the antidote in.

"There you go Gunner. Good as new. Don't fight again until the pinkness goes away."

"Thank you doctor." He smiles and winks at me. "You ok? Seems like something is wrong."

"I'm fine and I have other patients. I'll see you later."

"Yell if you need me to stand guard for another night."

I smile. "I will. Thank you."

I go to get my next patient and there are no more patients. Cruor is in with someone and the girls are at the desk.

"That's all?"

"Yes. Sorry they said convoy and I kind of panicked."

"No problem Elkie. I'm going to go finish eating."

I go back in my office and sit down. I put one bit of food in my mouth and the door flies open again. This time Tre walks in. I stand up and go towards him. I'm going to tell him to get out but I need to swallow first. I'm chewing fast.

He slams the door behind him and grabs me by my legs and lifts me up. He drops me on my desk and it hurts my butt. "Owe."

"Listen woman."

I still want to throw him out but my butt hurts now and he seems mad.

He tears the veil off my head and throws it. "You are not a child. You have a woman's body that makes me crazy, but you're not old enough to know who your mate is yet. That mate might not be me. I can't take your true mate away from you because I love you. It's not fair to you."

I swallow.

"I love you with all of my heart. You can push me to my limit all you want. I don't care. But when you look at me and ask for more, my heart breaks to tell you no. How am I supposed to deny you anything? It destroys me to say no more." He shakes his head. "I love you. I don't know how else to say this."

"You seem to like me kissing you today. Then you stopped liking it and called me a child. I just wanted to kiss you more."

He sighs and it seems like he's picking words very carefully.

"Princess. I am so turned on by you. Not only this morning. But always. Even now." He pulls my butt to the edge of desk and pushes it against me.

I gasp and throw my arms around his neck. It is hard. He feels different against me like this.

"I want you more than you can understand. But sometimes it goes to far and I have to stop and get control of myself. Can you understand? If I don't get control, I will mark you. I can't let that happen, princess."

I press my lips to his. He opens his mouth and lets me in right away. I press my hips towards him and he backs off my lips and smiles.

"I understand, but maybe next time tell me you need a minute. It makes me feel like you don't like me when you stop enjoying me or you start telling me I'm to young."

"Yes. I'm sorry I made you feel like that princess." He lays his forehead on mine. "I love you."

"I love you too."