The Alpha's Broken Mate

Chapter 12: Lilies

Chapter 12 -

-Lacey-

I wake up with the sun blaring through the sheer white curtains in the room. I was slightly confused as this didn’t look like my old room, until I remembered that I moved into Alpha Elijah's packhouse because he thought it would be best. But why was I here? I don’t remember putting myself to bed last night. As I lean up a cold, wet towel falls on my lap. Was that on my head? Why? And right as that thought crosses my head I remember everything.

Elijah, gorgeous mystery lady, the kitchen, and then nothing. Sh*t. I must have had an episode from the stress of it all. Dammit! That was not how I wanted my first night to go. Great. Looks like I have some explaining to do. “Hey are you okay? I’m sorry there was nothing I could do. I couldn’t stop it. Oh I really hope that you're okay. Please say you're okay.” Emmy was speaking too fast for me to get a word in.

“Emmy, I’m fine. Weak, but better than nothing. You know you can’t control them, so why do you always freak out when they happen? It’s okay. Though that means Elijah brought me up here right?” I was slightly annoyed that Elijah probably was the one who brought me up here, which means that he saw what happened. Looks like I’m going to have some explaining to do.

She didn’t respond. Whatever. I roll my eyes and swing my legs over the bed. Fine, don’t answer. I get dressed in a light blue crop top with black skin tight jeans, throw my hair into a quick messy bun and quickly wash my face. Looks like I shouldn’t push this off. I walk over to the door and open it, where I find Beta Tristan about to knock on my door.

“Oh Hi. Beta Tristan right?” I said cautiously. I had only heard his name once, so I wasn’t 100% that I had it right. “Yes. That would be me.” He chuckled a bit and swept his hand through his hair. He had a nice smile I will admit. He was less uptight and more laid back when Elijah wasn’t around him. Huh, interesting. “Oh okay. Well, I can tell you are here for something, so what’s up?”

“Oh yeah! I came here for a reason. Can we talk? In private?” He kinda looked over both shoulders making sure that no one was at the end of either end. “Uh, sure?” I was confused but he hasn’t given me a reason to hate his guts yet, so I’ll give him the benefit. He began walking downstairs and towards the back door. He takes me to a beautiful garden and we sit down on one of the several marble benches in the center.

“So, last night… Are you okay?” I was shocked. Did he witness my episode? Was he gonna confront me and tell me that I needed to tell Elijah? There were so many questions going on, that he saw the concern wash across my face. “Hey, calm down.” He said while he put his hands on my arms to calm me down.

“I’m not going to make you tell Elijah if that’s what you’re worried about. I may not have known you for long, but I trust that you will tell him when you're ready.” Tristan’s response blew me away. He was going to let me go at my own pace. This is a completely different Tristan then I had met before.

“Oh good lord.” A breath of relief escapes my mouth. “To answer your question, yes I am okay. I suffer from seizures. I hit my head really hard when my brother and I were playing one time when I was younger. For some reason, I never healed and this is what I’m left with.” His eyes widened in disbelief.

It’s very uncommon that a wolf doesn’t heal from an injury. Especially one that occurred at a young age. We were all surprised. When the first one happened everyone was hysterical, scared. Including myself. When we got it checked out, they said that I should recover in a few days.

I never did. I had more as time went on. They had to create a special medicine for me to take daily to help manage my symptoms and make them less frequent. But I still have triggers that can cause me to have another one. Stress and over stimulation were the big ones. I’ve learned to live it. It has become part of my daily life, and I knew that it was going to be hard on my mate. But I might not have to worry about that. Since he has that other…

Tristan clearing his throat brings me back to look at him. “Well, can we discuss a plan or things that I can look out for so I can get you taken care of. Also let your staff be aware of the situation.” My staff. It just didn’t sound right. And what if one of them told Elijah. I couldn’t risk it.

“I take medicine daily that I keep in my room. I have triggers that could make it to where I have one but I can usually feel the beginnings of it before it happens.” I can tell that Tristan really wants to help. But I just met him. Why am I telling him all this? How can I trust him? There is something about Tristan that makes him easy to talk to.

“Okay, so what are some things that I can look out for? Or environments where I should be extra attentive?” He responds. “Stress and overstimulation. Typical situations for example would be, a crowd area I’m not familiar with, a sudden or drastic event, or extreme fatigue.” I told him.

“Thank you for trusting me with this. I appreciate it.” He sounds so sincere and honest. I somehow feel better knowing that he is aware of my situation. “I’m not sure why I told you. But somehow you’re easy to talk to. But I don't want my staff to know. I don’t want to risk Elijah finding out.” I was serious. Elijah already seemed like he was seconds from sending me packing, this would be just the piece he needs.

“Ms. Carter, if you tell your staff not to notify Elijah, then I can promise you, he will never find out. Our staff is good. They aim to please.” He is settling down my anxiety. I agree with Tristan that he can notify the staff about my episodes. We set an action plan in place in case there is a time where I have one. We even made a code word. “Lilies.” My favorite flower and easy to drop in a conversation.

Tristan walks me back to my room and turns to leave. I grab his arm lightly and he turns back around. “I- uh. I just wanted to say thank you for listening. It really means a lot. I feel better that someone knows.” I tell him quietly. “Ms. Carter-“

“Please, call me Lacey.”

“Oh. Okay. Lacey, I can’t imagine the kind of things you must be feeling. Just know if you need something all you gotta do is ask.” He left the hallway and I turned to go back to my room. I flip on the bed and let out a big sigh. I’m exhausted. So much has happened in less than 24 hours.

I lay with my head on the pillows and I begin scrolling through Instapack. My eyes are drifting open and close and suddenly the phone becomes too heavy to hold. I fall asleep in less than 30 minutes. I feel calmer. Knowing someone is aware of my condition.

I roll over and squint my eyes to look around the room. Last I remember there was light peering in from the windows, but now it’s dark and I can’t see anything. It takes a minute for my eyes to adjust and I find my phone laying under the pillow. I click the power button and the time reads 10:30 pm. How did I sleep for so long?

I click the phone off and my stomach growls. I haven’t eaten anything today. I threw on the nearest oversized hoodie and opened the door. The floor was cold on my feet and a small shiver came over my body. I reach the kitchen door and suddenly I can’t bring myself to open the door.

What if he was on the other side? With that girl. That amazingly attractive, makes me hate her, already knowing we aren’t gonna be friends, woman. My stomach begins to sink and I take a deep breath and hold it in. I gather all my courage and swing open the door.

Nothing. There is no one here. Just me and this empty room. I look through the fridge and find some Greek yogurt and some strawberries. I cut them into small pieces and assembled a small yogurt parfait. Minus the granola. I begin the open drawer after drawer just trying to look for a spoon and of course it’s in the last drawer that I open.

I sit on the bar and begin thinking about the situation I encountered yesterday. If Tristan was the one that found me, why did I feel tingles on my arm? There has to be some sort of explanation. I could have sworn that Elijah was there. But then again maybe he was just walking by and took “her” upstairs for a good time.

It made my blood boil to think about. I shake it off and begin to think of other things that don’t involve Elijah. I’m so lost in thought that I don’t hear the door open and someone comes into the kitchen. I’m messing with my parfait and staring into the abyss of thoughts when suddenly that scent takes over my senses.

I jolt up as I’m startled and taken back by the sudden appearance of someone else, but more specifically him. I look up and he is standing right in front of me on the other side of the bar. He’s staring at me and I stare back. No way that I’m looking away first. He leans in closer and I dare to do the same. We are now so close that I can feel his breath.

“Oh come on Lace. Give in. Be a good girl.” I resist the urge to blush at his words yet somehow I’m also disgusted. “Tell that to the woman you had in here last night.” Anger flashes across his eyes and in the blink of a moment I walk across the kitchen floor to the door. I leave with those sour words still lingering in the air. I walk upstairs to my room and I close the door.

This is why I shouldn’t leave my room.

——-END OF CHAPTER——-