LIKE EDEN. Princes of Anon (3)

BATHED IN THE STENTCH OF DEATH

Time was ticking by. As fast as the water left the shower. Just a few hours, King Eldridge thought to himself. Compared to the morning after June’s beak down, he was calmer. No longer agitated. No longer drowning in nervousness and on edge. The king walked out of his bathroom with a clean set of clothes on whilst toweling his shoulder-length hair dry.

He cast a glance at the still sleeping female on his bed. He couldn’t afford to mess up his chance with his mate, and hurting June wasn’t a pleasant feeling. But it had to be done.

The King’s eyes zoomed in on the door when a hesitant knock made June whimper and turn on her stomach before going back to sleep.   

“What is it?”

“Sorry for the interruption, sire. But You weren’t in for lunch so Delta Vox asked me to bring your food to you.”

Eldridge took the tray from the girl’s hands and dismissed her. The scent of the tender steak wafted into the room but he had no appetite, instead, he took it to the bedroom and placed it on the bedside for when June woke up. The young female was curled up on the bed with her nose in his pillow. She looked defeated, he thought.

Leaving her alone in the bedroom, Eldridge strode into his kitchen – the one he rarely used- He let out a grunt and let his brothers in his head whilst he gulped down a bottle of water.

“Any changes?” Alec asked, his voice, curious as he tried not to intrude on his brother who liked to keep his mouth shut most of the time.

“Nothing” Eldridge swallowed. Just a few more hours, he thought, then he would know if the Goddess was only making fun of him or not. Although he doubted it. She wouldn’t do such a thing in front of her children. She wouldn’t do that at all. At least that was what he thought.

“How are you, Eldridge?” Adrien questioned his little brother, careful and with many worries. He had enough going on in his home, with his mate stressing about having a pup and all. But he worried immensely about his quiet brother.

“As good as I can be for now.”

“What about June?” Alec asked the question that rang loud in Adrien’s head. The mention of the female caused Eldridge’s eyes to drift to the door where said female slept soundly in his bed.

“I told her.” He whispered, the guilt of causing such a good, and kind-hearted woman so much pain, caused his chest to constrict. “She took it bad.”

They expected that much. It was okay. And they knew that it was meant to be. She would cope. They would help in any way that they could.

Not wanting to talk much, Eldridge told his brothers that he would get in touch with them if anything changed. He didn’t have much to do save for a few paper works. The King left his room and headed for his office right opposite his room. There, he sunk into work. Giving himself over to the documents and the complaints that his pack members were making. He forced himself not to think of anything and instead, focus on his pack.

The hours ticked by without his notice. The sun slowly moved towards the horizon. And the King discerned none of it. When he lifted his eyes off his laptop for the first time in hours, they landed outside the window. They grew wide with alarm when they snapped to the clock. His heart pounded in his chest. And his hands got sweaty. How had he not noticed?!

“s**t”

He cursed underneath. The second hand of the clock moved for the last time... ending the day. 

He blinked. The King frantically studied his surroundings. His sense of smell flooded with the many scents around him. It was almost difficult to breathe and he started wheezing, clutching onto his chest as he fell to his knees. His ears rung with too many sounds; hundreds of feet rushing by, the honking of cars, too many voices. 

Breathe. Breathe.

He kept muttering to himself. Over and over again until he had his breathing under control. Until he could focus his hearing and separate the attacks on his senses. That was when he opened his eyes. That was when he allowed himself to take everything in. The thin air. The many buildings. He noticed the absence of the sweet scent of nature that surrounded his pack. Instead, the scent of nature was lost. Not even a whiff. He couldn’t smell any of his pack members. Eldridge’s heart skipped a beat at the implication of the scent he recognized from having been around Lucien’s mates one too many times.

“Excuse me, mister.”

His head whipped behind him to see a young female looking up worriedly at him.

“Are you okay?”

She continued to ask him when he didn’t answer. Was he okay?

No. of course he wasn’t. If Lucien hadn’t been there before, he wouldn’t even let the thought of the possibility of the name of where he was cross his mind. But that was the thing, Lucien had been there.

“Yes. Thank you.” He voiced out.

The woman looked at him with much concern for a moment before nodding her head, leaving him behind to go her way. That was when he caught her scent.

Human.

There was no doubt about it.

How did he get there?

The question sounded stupid when he felt the star on his wrist sting and warm up slightly, and saw the ring on his finger.

He couldn’t panic. Wouldn’t panic. Maybe that was the Goddess’s doing. But why send him to earth and in the street too?

The king started moving when he felt one too many eyes on him. He didn’t know where he was going. But moving was better than drawing attention to himself. It was bad enough that he was taller than everyone he came across. With the questioning look people cast on him, he knew they could sense that he was ...unusual.

It was all different. The atmosphere and everything felt, and were different from Anon. 

He didn’t know how far he walked but he wasn’t tired. He tried to mind link his brothers but came through with nothing. He tried his betas and deltas and even his nephews but still nothing. It made him frown harder. He shouldn’t have been surprised. After all, no one could contact Lucien when he got stuck on earth. But it still felt …empty. From being able to feel them all to feeling no one in his head but his wolf who was suddenly overcome with curiosity and was too quiet for the king’s liking made him jittery.

But, One step. That was all it took for a soft rosy scent tinted with the fragrance of lilies to waft into his nose, halting him.

His heart picked up its beat. He looked to his left to where the scent was coming from. An ally. Barely lit. but he could see a woman on her knees, her hands trembling as she picked up things on the ground into her bag. He could hear her softly sniffles and he found himself walking towards her. Not because he felt tugged in her direction. It was more of concern. The same kind he felt when either of his brothers or family members was hurt.

“God” She sniffled, her fingers working fast to pick them up. She was trembling, but she kept at it.

Eldridge smelt soup and meat before he saw the spilled food on the dirtied ground.

“This is not enough. The rest is not enough.” She murmured to herself, wiping her eyes with the back of her hands. Her short red hair pulled up into a low ponytail.

Eldridge quietly knelt beside her and started picking up the food from the ground. He ignored her momentary surprise but didn’t raise his eyes to look at her either.

That scent.

Like lilies in bloom. Sweet and enticing. It didn’t belong to her. It clung to her as if she was in a room with the person to who it belonged. He took in a long inhale. A shiver ran down his spine.

More. He mused to himself. Notwithstanding, the thought completely vanished when he caught the smallest whiff of death. It brought a scowl onto his lips. And his wolf whimpered.

“Thank you.”

The king finally lifted his head when he heard her voice. She was beautiful, there was no doubt. Although her skin was plagued with worry and traces of aging, she was still lovely.

“I’m glad to help.” He offered a smile and received one back. He stood to his feet and with his clean hand helped her onto her feet. He wanted to ask what happened, wanted to ask what she was going to do with the spilled food, but kept quiet not wanting to intrude.

“I’m sorry. Your hands are dirty.”

Her eyes were wet with the remnants of her salty tears.

“My home is around here. I can get you water and something to clean up with.” She offered. Her smile was warm and motherly. The king wordlessly nodded and followed her out of the ally.

“Where are we?”

Eldridge wasn’t sure if it was his question or voice that startled her, but she looked surprised. It turned to confusion at his question as she had to crane her neck to look at him.

“What planet?” He clarified making her chuckle.

“That’s a silly question. Which planet do human beings live on?” She questioned, verifying the King’s suspicions.

“Come in.” She unlocked the door, walked in, and looked back at him expectantly. He nodded and entered. 

“Thank you.” He said.

He felt oddly calm. However, he didn’t complain. He followed her to the kitchen, heeded her directions, and washed his hands in the sink, then dried them with a tissue. His huge build made the already small apartment smaller.

“thank you…” she looked expectantly at him after offering him a seat in the kitchen as she filled another container with some more soup.

“Eldridge.” He provided.

“That’s an odd name.” she remarked, “Well, it’s not as if I did a great job in naming my daughter.” She chuckled.

So, she has a child. He thought to himself. It wasn’t surprising. She was not too old, but she looked old enough. The king didn’t wonder why she so easily let a stranger in her house. He didn’t question why he followed her. He just felt like he needed to.

“I’m going back out.” She closed the soup and put it in a small basket and held it, ready to depart. The King nodded and followed her out. His actions were out of character for him, but he didn’t question it.

“if I may know, where are you going to?”

 He asked when they stepped out and she locked the door.

“I was taking soup to Kita before I was mugged.” She sighed.

So that’s what happened, he thought. Kita. He had no idea why the name made his skin tingle and his wolf whimper.

“She needs to eat more.” She whispered sadly with her eyes on the food. “I guess I’ll have to walk now. They took my money.” She breathed.

Eldridge looked up at the sky and smiled when the shape of the moon matched the one on his wrist. It was too late to be walking out alone. That’s what he thought. He glanced back at the woman who had a solemn look on her face. He could almost taste the fear and worry that rolled off of her.

“I’ll walk with you.” He said. No questions. No room for refusal. And she wouldn’t have even if she wanted to. 

“Thank you.” She smiled softly at him. “I’m rose.” She added, her smile, welcoming. So much that the king smiled too with a nod.

To Rose, it was odd behavior for her to even bring a stranger into her home not to talk of walk through the night with him. But somehow, someway, she didn’t mind. No alarms were blaring in her head. It felt like she was walking down the street with her child. Maybe she was being foolish or naive. But she couldn’t see an ounce of wickedness in the huge male who knelt beside her on the dirtied ground to pick up spilled food. Besides, she had nothing to give if this was all an act and he wanted something. She didn’t have any money because of all the procedures her daughter was going through. And Bambi’s schooling.

So, she decided to leave it all in fate’s hand.

“Miss Rose?” The nurse whispered in surprise when she saw the woman walk towards her. It was too early for visiting hours.

“It’s not yet visiting hours.” She voiced her thoughts. Her heart nearly failed her when she saw Eldridge beside the older woman. It wasn’t always that her tummy fluttered with need just at the sight of a man. And it did just that even though he paid her no mind. Her heart pumped blood to her cheeks and heat pooled between her legs.

“I know. But she didn’t eat much all day. She threw it all up. And it’s the first time in weeks that she’s craving something.” Rose clutched the food basket in her hands. Her eyes Pleading with Catherine. The young nurse sighed out loud and with a final glance at Eldridge, she allowed them entrance.

“Who are you going to see?” Eldridge asked when his heartbeat started picking up and his nerves were set ablaze.

“My daughter… She has been here for a while.” Rose answered. They stood in front of one of the many rooms in the hospital. Eldridge ignored the scents of chemicals and death that lingered in the hospital. He paid no mind to the chaotic sensations that bombarded him and instead tried to make sense of his sudden nervousness and frenzy.

He watched Rose put on a wide smile before opening the door. Forced. It was a forced smile and he was saddened by it. The King stepped in after her. His breath caught. His heart drummed in his chest. And his lungs filled themselves with the overwhelming scent of lilies. As if he was suddenly thrown in a field of lilies under the warm sun.

In the middle of the room, his eyes found the source of the all-consuming smell.

Her hair was shaved completely. He could see how thin and frail she looked from the side as she spoke with her mother. Just the act of speaking seemed hard for her. He didn’t hear what they were talking about. Didn’t hear Rose call for him. It was like time sped up when the woman in the bed turned to look at him.

Clear emerald eyes. 

Captivating. 

He found himself locked in her gaze. Her eyes were completely dull, but it was still so beautiful to him. Her face, void of all emotions. 

Everything in his world fell into place and he was filled with a calmness that both thrilled and astounded him. Like finally finding that one key to a lock amongst the many keys that surrounded him. For the first time, he felt like his life was simply just beginning. He had found her.

However, he noticed how lean she looked. Her eyes had dark circles under them. She looked sick. She was sick... he noticed. 

With needles poking her skin and the scent of medication so pungent. She looked as if her life was being drained from her slowly. Her eyes held no hope. Nothing. He saw no reaction from her whilst he found himself drowning in everything he felt.

“Who is this?”

Her voice was groggy like she hadn’t said a word in days. Eldridge didn’t hear anything that Rose said. He stepped inside. But Goddess he couldn’t bring himself to get too close to her. As if he would taint her in some way.

His throat bobbed. She was stunning. Even with not a single strand of hair on her head. She was striking in her beauty. So much that he could barely breathe. Her red brows were smooth and unbothered. But then he wondered what was wrong with her? What was wrong with his mate? He could smell the faint stench of death waiting on her. Waiting on the very second that it would snatch her from his hands. The king couldn’t take it. His chest was aching, heaving. His hands clenched beside him. It was too much.

He just found her!

Couldn’t the universe be the least bit sympathetic?!

He had waited on her for so long, only to have this situation thrown in his face?!

“would it be alright to come back in the morning?”

He asked Rose, speaking for the first time since he got there. Rose was confused at his reaction and his question but she nodded with a hesitant smile, suddenly worried about what was wrong with him. The King couldn’t bring himself to stay for any longer. He felt like he was going to jump out of his skin. Like his chest was going to split.

Without another word, he rushed out of the room and out of the hospital, his hands finding the ring on his fingers. He could feel a howl bubbling from his throat, desperate to announce that he found her. Despairing to let some of his confusion and pain out through his wolf’s cry.

Thankfully he knew how the ring worked. 

Just like how he found himself on earth, he blinked after tapping on the gem on the ring. He found himself on familiar grounds again. And this time, he didn’t hold back. Couldn’t hold back. A loud howl erupted from his throat as he once again found himself in his fur. His mate was human. He hadn’t expected that, but he wasn’t going to deny her because of that. 

On the other hand, she was certainly unwell. If Selene knew this, why didn’t she do something about it?! Why didn’t she let him meet her sooner? Maybe if he had, he could have helped her somehow.

Still, he had found her, and the King was determined to know what was wrong with her and find a cure for her even if he had to do it without the Goddess’s help. He was determined and ready to have her in every way that she would allow. He wasn't going to let her drown in in death. He couldn't afford that.