Little Red

Chapter 12

Samuel's POV (cont.)

I can't help but feel as though I'm intruding on this private moment.

Goddess, why am I still here?

Demitri sits besides Ara, her hand folded between both of his, and his eyes rove over her face as he leans over her unconscious form.  He's been like this since we arrived an hour ago.  My anger over the situation wars with my loyalty to him.

"What happened?" He questions softly, but his eyes don't stray from her face.

"I brought her dinner, as you asked, and she invited me in."  I decide to tell him the whole truth.  He won't like it, but I'm not going to hide anything from him.

"Go on."  A muscle feathers in his jaw.

"She was pale and exhausted, but when I asked if she was okay, she insisted that she was." 

His head dips.

"I got up to leave - she started swaying, then she passed out.  I caught her before she hit the ground.  Finally, I rushed her here.  You know the rest."  I finish.

He nods once again, absorbing my words.  As the Beta of the Dark Night, I want them to live happily together.   As Ara's assigned protector, I want her to be well; however, Demitri's current antics don't qualify him as a good mate.  Which means as his best friend, I want to throttle him.  

But I don't want to overstep, because it's their relationship at the end of the day and the decision it's ultimately up to him.  Yet, after spending the past few days observing her and spending time with her...I really should go.

Demitri's voice interrupts me.

"Thank you."

I begin to tell him not to thank me, that this wouldn't have happened if he wasn't being such a coward, but the doctor's entrance stops me.

"Alpha. Beta."  She nods, looking to each of us in turn.

"Tell me, what's wrong with her?"  Demitri pleads.  He looks almost desperate.

"Yes, Alpha."  She looks to Ara's unconscious form.  "To be honest, we're not sure what happened - her body simply shut down."

Demitri shoots her a stern look, and she quickly continues.

"We're still looking into it; however, we've given her a sedative to ensure her body will rest, so she will be out for a day or two until it wears off.  When she awakens, she will be disoriented and potentially sluggish and forgetful, but it too will wear off after a few hours.  I advise that she be excused from heavy activities for at least 24 hours when she wakes up."  The doctor finishes, eyes darting between us both.

I respond, seeing as Demitri is too caught up in his thoughts.

"Thank you, doctor."

She nods and turns to go, but I stop her.

"And no one is to know about this."  I warn. 

"Of course, Beta."  She smiles sheepishly as she exits.

The pack is already suspicious of Ara, and there's no need to stir up more drama.

"I'm so sorry."  Demitri whispers.

I whip my head to look at him, surprised by his honest apology, only to realize he's not talking to me.

He stares down at her, as if willing her to wake up, although we know the sedatives are strong.

My anger gets the best of me.

"This is all your fault."

He closes his eyes, as if in pain.