The King's Gamma (#Wattys2024)

Fifteen

Nathaniel Connor

With Lisa in my arms I felt restless, as though I was needed to be elsewhere. This feeling was one that I frequently felt, especially in the past four years.

I had just started with my mission back then when I felt the intense urge to be elsewhere. Where exactly I needed to be, I was unsure. The feeling came suddenly, overwhelmingly and sickeningly. I was in bed for almost a week, unable to go on with my duties.

I stepped out towards the balcony, lighting a cigarette. Leaning onto the rails, I had a clear view of the moonlit  palace grounds. To the far side of the grounds I could barely make out a camp of rouges who were seemingly having a blast, completely unaware of my eyes on them. They were peaceful, as the King had said they would be.

Taking in a deep breath of smoke, I turned my eyes upward, watching the moon and stars slowly creeping across the sky. It was strange, the feeling of a presence beside me when nothing was there to be seen. It was as though it was watching the sky with me. Sighing and nipping the cigarette, my eyes found the forestry near us and I could nearly make out the vampires who lurked there, watching their prey, which happened to be a herd of deer.

Their eyes found me the moment I moaned at a sudden stabbing pain in my heart. My wolf went berserk, as though his skin was being torn from his body. I collapsed in on myself at that moment, my body unable to stand the unbearable pain in my whole being. In and out of consciousness I was aware of the burning pain that came with Lisa's touch.

I was carried at some point, the lights of the hallways drifting past me, blurring my eyes as I was moved beneath them until a bright light continuously shined upon me. My every nerve was aware of the female nurses that came near me, my skin crawling at their touch as well.

Hours passed as I was unable to respond to them, until it came crashing onto me. My wolf let out a whimper, that softly escaped my own lips, when I opened my eyes to see Lisa sitting beside me. Seeing her first thing irritated me endlessly, my wolf even more so. I snapped at her, growling as I told her to stay the fuck away. She complied, in tears as she rushed out.

The doctor checked my pulse, and then my breathing. Every part of my body was checked, but my altered irritation levels had them standing back to about five feet away.

The doctor looked at me strangely as he delivered the news.

"Your sudden anxiety attack... It may have to do with your mate more than it has to do with you."

"Meaning?"

"Your mate might have been claimed by another." I growled deeply, my chest shivering under the force that it came through. "Or she might have died." I showed my teeth, glaring at him. "Or she had gotten hurt."

"Why am I reacting so badly then?"

"It may be that one of you might have caught a glimpse of the other in the past few years. She might have smelt your scent and discerned who you are. She might even harbor feelings for you. This all means that there is an already existing and growing bond with your mate and for whatever reason, she did not reveal herself as of yet."

"So my mate may know who I am already but I have no clue as to who she is. How is that a bond?"

"If she knows who you are and accepts you, then if you might have caught a glimpse of her or even a whiff, or you might have heard her voice somehow, your wolf might recognize her before you do and accept her already. This is the only reason I think you may have a strong bond between you."

He sighed as he looked at me. "You will need to ask your wolf about it."

The doctor left soon after and I was alone. And in this moment, being alone felt worse than it had in the past decade.