Fated To My Lycan Stepbrothers
Chapter 38

I carefully tended to Zeke's wounds, trying my best to maintain a professional demeanor despite the awkwardness of the situation. I had blatantly declined to have him closer to me. I couldn't look at him for fear of seeing his hurt face. Surprisingly, he remained silent, watching me closely as I worked. The atmosphere was tense, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that he was still upset with my earlier behavior. "Are you alright?" His low voice brought me out of my reverie. It was funny that he asked me such a personal question. Just last week, we were always at each other's necks.

"I can't understand." I rolled my eyes. "What changed between last week and today?"

He was quiet. Zeke wasn't much of a talker, but his silence scared me a little. I raised my eyes to meet his gaze. My eyes went down just as quickly as they came up. "Death." He simply said.

I stopped dabbing at his side. "Death?"

"My father's death. It made me realize I am Alpha. What Alpha would hate his subjects?" s**t, he thinks of me as his subject. I dabbed harder at his wound, which was beginning to close up. By morning, it would be a pink scar. But now, it was still open and oozing slowly. He winced at my harsh movements.

"Gently." He groaned in pain. Never. He was an alpha and would take it. How dare he? I wanted him to feel the pain in my heart whenever he thought of me as his subject. Who was I to complain about his attention to me in the first place? I dabbed harder, and when I was done, I wrapped his side with clean white clothes. He was cleaner than Kyle.

"You need a pain reliever." I narrowed my eyes on one. "Here," I said, popping the bottle open. "Have it. It will help with whatever you are going through. You are supposed to be healing by now." I muttered angrily as he threw the pills into his mouth. I stood there staring at him for who knows how long until he sighed heavily, catching my attention.

"You smell amazing. You are amazing." He said it sadly. His eyes were green but tired. He must be exhausted from all the fights. Poor Zeke. No matter how angry I was, he was my Alpha, and I was his subject.

"You need to rest. Should I make porridge for you?"

His head dangled to the side. The effect of the treatment must be taking its toll on him. His words were beginning to slur, and he seemed sleepy. His eyes fluttered open and closed. It was so fast and cute, too. I would have laughed unless his words haunted me. I am his pathetic subject. They reechoed in my head without mercy.

"You know, you don't need to hide from me. You are my friend, and I won't hurt you intentionally." He said it softly, throwing me off.

Friend? I thought I was his subject. I was tempted to ask the question Marley asked. "What about your mate? Is she going to be a good friend to you too?"

He gave a small laugh. I glanced up, surprised. This was the first time, and goodness, were his teeth dazzling. I kknewl loved his smile, but I hated not being able to predict his next action. "Do I smell jealousy in the air?" He grabbed my hands, dragging hmeback with him. I didn't even have the chance to hold my balance.

"What the..."

"I am dead serious, Naya. You are too serious for your own good."

I gasped, trying to release myself from his strong grip. "What are you talking about?" He was the one being serious. I meant ridiculous. What the f**k is he spewing out of his mouth? He must be drunk on drugs.

"See? And you overthink things too." He gently raised his hands to my face. He gently tucked my hair behind my ear. What's with the loving attitude? It was too overwhelming.

I tapped on his chest to let me out. "Let me go. This is so weird." By evening, he would return to his natural state. "It's the medicine talking." It was hard to tell sometimes when he was just playing around and when he was serious.

His gaze became serious again. "You are the first to truly care for me." He has flawlessly avoided the 'mate' question again. I have to give it to him. He was the master of changing topics. If I wasn't consistent myself, I would think he answered me. He never did. I raised an eyebrow. "Marley?"

He puffed out his breath. "The Luna?" He bit his inner cheeks as if in serious thought. "She cares for me as her next target." He began to close his eyes. Next target?

Does it mean he knew about it? The knife and the crocodile tears she shed at the fight scene. If he did, knowing Flame, he would have ripped Marley from the inside out. He can never know. "Hey," I tapped on his cheek to keep him awake. His strong hands still held me in place, keeping me from leaving.

"Hm." He hummed, snuggling into his sheets. Who knew at school that the great Alpha was such a big baby? He was vulnerable to me without knowing it. It was refreshing to see him in this state, even though it was completely the effect of the drug. "Stay." Thin drops of tears escaped from his eyes, and it melted my heart. I found myself laying on his chest.

"I understand why you feel this way." He did? He has humiliated me in the presence of my friend. By Monday, I dreaded seeing him act like we hadn't had this special moment alone in his room. "I haven't been your best friend. You already have Renée occupying that space in your life."

That caught my attention. Renee? "You know her name?"

He scoffed with his eyes closed. "I am the Alpha, of course I know everyone's name."

I rolled my eyes, inhaling his clean and antiseptic scent. "By morning, I will forget we had this conversation." I expected him to say something else. When he didn't, I raised my head to peer at him. His voice almost scared me. Most importantly, his tears made me sad. "Naya." He hummed, opening his eyes to reveal tired but beautiful ones. My heart skipped a beat at his touch and the way he called my name fondly and softly. It was my first. Bad Mr. Diego was the kindest, but seeing him kill the Alpha made me consider Zeke my second kindest soul. Kyle too.

"Yes, Alpha?" I answered. He said I was his subject, right?

His harsh grip made me pause. "Say my name."

"Ze-zeke." I stuttered in embarrassment. I prayed for nothing more than to disappear and never be found. I was embarrassed beyond relief.

He nodded in appreciation, closing his eyes. "Do you think a simple drug would knock me out?"

"The drugs are for wolves in severe pain." I deadpanned.

It made him sigh. "No wonder I am acting this way." Like I said, by morning, he would forget this cherished moment in my memories. "Your kind voice never leaves my mind. The way you moan out my name and beg me for more."

It was getting hot in here. "What are you saying?"

"And she's back to being shy again. You aren't when I kiss you."

I wanted to kiss him, but I would never take advantage of him in this state. "Let me go, Zeke. What if Kyle or someone else comes in and sees us this way?"

"Are you afraid? Was that why you hid in my closet, coating your scent with mine on purpose?" Dang it! He caught me. This moment felt surreal to me. It was as if I were in a fairy tale, and the heavens knew I wanted to wake up. Being close to him drove my senses crazy. "Thank you," I whispered, trying to hide the emotions welling up inside me.

Zeke sighed, opening his eyes to reveal dull ones again. Maybe he couldn't sleep with me so close by. "About what you overheard earlier... The elders-you need to stay away from them. It is a delicate situation, and I'm not entirely sure what to do."

I nodded, understanding the weight of the situation for an Alpha. He was the Alpha, and I was his subject. For the thousandth time, I repeated it. "Finding a mate is a significant responsibility, and it affects the entire pack. Take your time, Zeke, and trust your instincts." I only wanted to get in his pants; however, the thought of him just getting into my pants and leaving scared me.

He tilted his head to the right. "I will. I just hope it won't cause any complications within the pack."

Here we were, with me on his chest, having a normal conversation. If anyone walked in right now, it wouldn't end well. He would go back to his bullying attitude.

Again.