Chapter 4

• Mia's point of view.
• "What gave you the audacity to spend my money?" King Derulo's angry voice vibrated from the other side of the phone.
• Since everyone around me was werewolves, they heard King Derulo's voice as clearly as I did. A few people turned towards my direction and gave me pitiful looks. It was almost as if they could feel the heat of King Derulo's anger too.
• "Are you deaf or mute?!" he asked.
• I shook my head, then quickly cleared my throat when I remembered he couldn't see me shaking my head. "I... I... didn't..."
• "Where the hell are you?" he cut me off. He was obviously getting impatient with my stuttering. "Tell me where you are this instant, and don't you think of leaving there before my arrival or I swear to the Moon Goddess, I'll have you locked away in the dungeon for the rest of your life!"
• Knowing his words weren't empty threats, I quickly told him where I was. "I'm at a clinic near the pack's border..."
• "Wait for me there." Then he hung up.
• I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. I threw my head back and leaned against the wall behind me, wondering how I managed to have King Derulo's credit card inside my bag. Then I recalled that he gave it to me about nine months ago when I was accompanying him on a walk in the woods and we ran into some malicious rogues—he had to give me his card while he was transforming.
• I couldn't help but imagine what his reaction would be once he arrived.
• "So..." Nurse Joy's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "Doctor Victor is done with your prescription." She handed a note to me and a very small package, which I assumed contained my medication. "Here's your medication too. Please, take the drugs according to the prescription on the note."
• My lips curved in an appreciative smile. "Thank you very much."
• Nurse Joy rushed to my aid as I tried to get up but fell back on the bench.
• "Do you need help getting outside?" she asked, ready to assist me.
• I nodded as I flashed her another appreciative smile, but before she could help me up, the entrance door burst open and a livid King Derulo appeared. How did he manage to get here so fast? I wondered mentally. His angry eyes searched the place until they landed on me, and he took long strides towards me.
• "Where is my credit card?" he asked as soon as he stopped in front of me.
• Without trying to explain myself or plead for his forgiveness, I pulled out the card from my bag and stretched it towards him. He reached out to collect it but suddenly narrowed his eyes, deep frown lines forming on his forehead, as though he was just taking in my appearance.
• "What is going on? Why is your head wrapped in bandages?" he asked, crouching down to my level.
• "I'm fine," I replied.
• He raised his left brow. "You're fine?" He looked around briefly. "Then what are you doing here?"
• "I came for... I came for..." I tried to lie, but words failed me.
• He saw the prescription note and snatched it from me. His brows furrowed deeply as he read through it. Even though he was the Alpha King, he was familiar with every word on the note because he had studied medicine back in school.
• "I came for a normal body checkup," I lied smoothly. Unfortunately, my words couldn't fool King Derulo.
• "How did you end up with so many injuries? Where is Stone? Aren't you supposed to have your dress fitting yesterday?"
• Ignoring his questions, I stood up, not minding that my whole body was aching at the moment, and tried to leave.
• "Where are you going?" He quickly grabbed my shoulder and held me in place. "Stop trying to be strong every damn time!" he scolded me.
• "Leave me alone." I tried to move away from him, but I lost the struggle immediately I locked gazes with him.
• My heartbeat accelerated and my wolf wouldn't stop howling in excitement. It had been so long since we were this close to each other. After I was switched by that careless omega, I was brought to King Derulo's pack and was raised here. King Derulo and I had always been close since childhood, but since I turned eighteen and we discovered we were mates, he began distancing himself from me.
• Having him this close to me now reminded me that my heart was still very much alive and would beat for him no matter how long we'd been separated... Maybe it was just our mate bond working here.
• "Mia?!" He shook my shoulder as he called my name desperately. "Are you listening to me?"
• I pushed him away from me but fell back on the bench. "I'm fine. Just take your card and leave."
• He stared at me for a while. I didn't know if my mind was playing tricks on me, but his gaze softened and I saw a flash of sympathy, guilt, and... love in his eyes. Could it be that he had feelings for me aside from our mate bond?
• He turned away from me and faced Nurse Joy. "What happened to her?" he asked.
• I tried to signal her not to say anything to him, but she wasn't looking my way. She told him everything, and he threw me a glare, but underneath the glare was... worry and concern? He was definitely confusing my feelings and messing with my head.
• "Does she have any unsettled bills?"
• Nurse Joy shook her head. "She's paid for everything using..." her gaze lowered to King Derulo's card that was still tightly clenched in my hand. "...your card," she smiled.
• King Derulo nodded and turned back to me. "Let's go home," he said. He scooped me in his arms before I could resist, then rushed out.
• > >
• While we were outside the clinic, King Derulo carefully helped me get into the passenger seat and put on my seatbelt. He quickly rounded the car and got into the driver's seat.
• "Why are you helping me?" I couldn't keep my surprise bottled up.
• "You're my mate," he replied casually.
• My brows furrowed as I stared at him. Is he indirectly acknowledging me to be his mate? Is this an indirect acceptance?
• "Stop staring at me or I'll make you walk home!" he threatened me, but it was enough to make me look away.
• Right at that moment, my phone beeped. Reaching for it, I realized it was another text from Jessica. Can she just let me be?! I almost screamed out loud.
• *I know you won't last long after this accident, so I'll make sure I collect everything from you before your miserable death!*
• What?!