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I sighed as I stepped away from him to get an ointment. “I didn’t take your calls because I didn’t want to talk to you.”
It was a good thing I wasn’t looking at his face when I said that. I didn’t want to see his reaction.
I got what I wanted and returned to him. I was almost done. Just a few more applications…
The door opened and Evans strolled in, holding an extra saline in one hand and a clipboard in the other. His ever–present grin was plastered across his face.
“Greetings, Alpha Jaris,” he said with a slight bow, then turned to me. “How’s it going? I was told you might need this.” He showed the saline he’d come in with.
“Actually, no. I’m almost done.” I returned my gaze to Jaris‘ chest.
“I can see. Doctor Lyric working her magis as usual.”
I laughed. “Evans, it’s just standard procedure. No magic involved.”
Evans was one of the nice ones. Over the month, you could say we’ve become friends.
“By the way, when you’re done here, could you check on Mrs. Lockwood for me? She’s convinced her cough is a sign of impending doom. Besides, I think she could really use your magic right now.”
Oh, not again.
“Evans, come on,” I rolled my eyes. “I’m just like the rest of you.”
Evans was one of the doctors that had watched me the day I did my first ever test and successfully treated a rare condition –which was Zarek’s father. Since then, he’s been insisting I was special.
Although he said it as a joke most of the time.
“Whatever. Will you help me check on her?”
“Sure thing. But only if you promise to stop calling me a magician.”
He placed a hand over his heart, feigning sincerity. “I solemnly swear to only refer to you as the ‘Sorceress of Sutures‘ from now on.”
I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled from my chest.
“I didn’t ask for a second doctor in here,” Jaris suddenly said, killing our laughter.
I turned to find his mean look back on. The mean look everyone always wanted to avoid.
“Right. Um-”
“You should get out this instant, Dr. Evans,” he cut Evans off from talking. “Besides, I don’t think your supervisor would be happy to know you were joking around with a colleague while she was working.”
What the hell? I took my hands off his chest.
The look on Evans‘ face was glum. “You’re right. I’ll go now.”
“What was that for?!” I asked soon as the door went closed behind Evans.
“I could ask you the same question.” He angrily stood up. What? I wasn’t even done dressing the wound.
“What do you think you’re doing, Lyric? Flirting with a colleague right in front of me?”
Woah! “Flirting is a big word. Evans and I are just friends.”
“Well, tell me. Did you come here to make friends or just work?”
I closed my eyes to take in a deep breath. “You should stop it, Alpha Jaris. You’re starting to do that thing again. Accusing me when you know I’m innocent.”
I angrily walked to the tray to dispose of my gloves.
“You know,” I turned back to him, my voice up a notch. “If only you trusted me, it’d have been a lot better!”
I turned around again, and for sometime, I didn’t hear anything. I was about to turn to face him again when I heard him speak.
“I’m sorry, Lyric.”
I froze.
Successfully unlocked!
“Fuck, I was wrong, okay? I have these anger issues that make me act peiore I think most of the time, and I did so in your case. I didn’t know you were attacked that night. You don’t–You don’t understand how hard it was to see you with Zarek. I hated that you were near him. I thought you liked him and let him touch you.”
The more he talked, the more I got confused.
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“I was too blinded by rage I didn’t notice you were in pain. I shouldn’t have said those hurtful things to you. I promise you, I didn’t mean them.”
My heart was racing too fast. But this time, it wasn’t from fear. It was from how shocked I was that Jaris Dreadmoor just apologized to me. He was feeling regretful about what he did to me.
It was the most I’d heard him say at a time. I could never have imagined Jaris explaining himself to me. I was beyond stunned.
I turned slowly around to face him and his face was just like his words. He really looked regretful.
Oh, gods. Jaris apologized to me?!
It took me a moment to gather my thoughts and think of something to say to him.
“Wh–Why would you ever think I liked Alpha Zarek?” I couldn’t help my face from twisting as I asked.
I’d been completely shocked and unsettled when he made mention of it. Zarek was not even a friend. From all I know, he was a shady man who I never wanted to have anything to do with.
“I got the wrong information,” he sighed, like he was exhausted.
Well, he just explained himself to me–something he rarely did. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was stressed out.
His apology didn’t change anything from that night, b
I didn’t know, my heart wasn’t so strong around him anymore. It
was as if the strong walls I’d built around it had suddenly been brought down.
“Why would you ever think I’m a slut?” My voice wasn’t scolding in any way. It was soft, coming from someone that only wanted to understand.
“I know you didn’t know me before we got mated, but I’ve never slept around, Alpha Jaris. I’m not trying to brag, but no man can come out and boast of ever taking me to bed.” I held his gaze as I said the words. I needed him to see how serious!
was.
He scoffed. “Lyric Harper, you told me you’re not a virgin.”
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