36
1346 Words
Charlotte Sanguinite
I don’t like depending on others or leaning on people for support. It’s a habit formed out of necessity. But Robert is like a force of nature, taking charge of the entire situation, taking care of me.
It’s been a long time since someone took care of me, and I don’t know what to do about it.
My desire to push Robert away keeps getting weaker and weaker as he barges his way into my life like a bulldozer, crushing the shields I erected around me for my own self-preservation. Perhaps the breaking point for me was when he held me in his arms, telling me that if anything had happened to me, he would have looked after Mano.
It’s foolish, but those words pierced my heart, and now I can’t look at him the same way.
It frightens me how safe I find his arms and how reassuring his presence is. I know I’m lashing out at him at the moment, and it’s immature of me, but I can’t help myself. I’m scared. I’m scared of how I feel about him. I’m scared of the position I’ve put myself in by letting my heart be vulnerable around him. He’s an Alpha. I can’t understand his intentions in wanting to get to know me, to get so close to me.
My mind keeps jumping to the worst possible conclusion. Logic dictates it to be the truth. And yet, the part of my soul that aches to taste love whispers that maybe he really does want me. That maybe he simply likes me for me. That there doesn’t have to be another meaning behind his attraction to me.
Life wasn’t supposed to be this complicated. I wasn’t supposed to develop feelings for my clan’s enemy. Granted, I don’t belong to that clan anymore. However, things can’t get any more star-crossed than this, and if the plethora of tragic novels I’ve read are any indication, I shouldn’t be expecting a happy ending.
Seeing Ricky waiting for me in the lobby of my apartment building has me relaxing.
However, Robert’s reaction surprises me.
“That’s Ricky,” I tell him as he glowers at the man approaching us now. Robert’s expression changes, and he gives me a quick look as if studying my face for something. His grip on my arm eases.
“Sorry, I’m just a little bit on edge right now.”
“I’m sorry,” I sigh. “This has all been such a hassle for you—”
“That’s not it.” He takes my bag from me and wraps his hand around mine, looking down at me. “I’m just concerned. If you think your sister can find you here, I don’t know if staying in your apartment is the best idea.”
I swallow, meeting his gaze. “But it’s my home. I don’t want to leave my home.”
His eyes are gentle. “I’m not saying you should. But until things settle down, maybe you can relocate for a bit. I can make sure somebody keeps an eye on your apartment in the meantime. Or I could help you find a temporary renter so it’s maintained while you’re not there. I just don’t want you to come home to a nasty surprise waiting for you.”
The thought of Arabella figuring out where I live was already present in my mind. There was something about the way she was behaving that unsettled me. Almost as if she had to get me out of the way, as if she needed to get rid of me. I don’t think she’s done with me.
But leave my home? I don’t want to do that.
Fortunately, I’m spared the discussion as Ricky reaches us. “This isn’t a small cut, Charlotte! You said you had slipped and fallen and cut yourself.”
“Well,” I reply, giving him a wan smile, “I did cut myself. And you can’t even see it yet, under the bandage, so how do you know how big the cut is?”
“Because half your face is swollen!” Ricky retorts, his eyes worried. “And nobody uses that big a piece of gauze for a tiny, inconsequential cut.”
“Sorry,” I apologize. “I know you were at the shelter.”
“Don’t worry,” he mutters. “I have a friend who’s watching it now. Let’s go. I brought my medical kit.”
Robert is watching Ricky with a little more suspicion than I’d like, but I can feel the wounds in my cheek, and I want them looked at. We head upstairs, and once we’re in my apartment, Mano runs toward me, crying loudly. After sniffing me, she can clearly sense something is off, because she decides to sit in my lap as Ricky gives me a once-over. I change into a long bathrobe so that he can examine the bruises on my legs and arms. There are more on my back, and Robert begins to growl when I turn around to show them to the vet.
I blink when Robert steps in front of me, holding me against him as Ricky lowers the bathrobe from behind.
“That’s far enough,” he snarls, making Ricky freeze.
“I’m just trying to help her,” Ricky says tightly.
“Looking at her ass isn’t helping anyone,” Robert scowls.
“Robert,” I begin, but he shakes his head.
“Your ass is off limits.”
“Will you stop saying ass!” I hiss at him. “Call it a butt. It’s a butt. Everybody has one.”
He raises a brow and eventually says to Ricky, “Fine. Charlotte’s perfectly formed butt is off limits, got it?”
I groan.
Ricky makes a sound. “It’s fine. I’ve got a good idea of what’s going on.”
He tries to help me pull the robe back up only for Robert to snarl, “I’ll do it. You don’t have to touch her so excessively.”
“I’m so sorry, Ricky.” I wonder why I’m being tested like this right now. “Please excuse my friend—”
“We’re involved.” Robert decides to throw that statement out there. “Very involved.”
I close my eyes, wondering if it’s possible to self-combust on the spot.
“No, we’re not,” I finally say.
“She doesn’t know it yet,” Robert counters.
“Robert!”
“Okay.” Ricky holds up his hands as I turn around, struggling against Robert’s steel-like grip. “I don’t need to know the details of y’all’s relationship. Lucky for you, the bruises aren’t so bad. I’m going to prescribe you pain meds and heat therapy. Since you’ve got contusions from head to toe, get a heated blanket and wrap it around you for an hour daily. Try not to wear thick clothing because the heat needs to seep into your body. Now, let’s take a look at the cut on your cheek.”
He removes the gauze, and his expression instantly changes. “Were you mauled by an animal?!”
The situation being what it is, I can’t help but snort. “Something like that.”
When Ricky’s eyes flit toward Robert, he scowls. “It wasn’t me.”
My tiny smile fades. That was odd. “Why would you think Robert did this?”
Ricky chooses not to answer and instead says, “No stitches necessary, Charlotte, but these could very easily get infected. You’re going to have to take antibiotics to make sure they don’t. I would say keep doing rounds of antibiotics until the wounds close. Clean them three times a day with alcohol and saline, and then bandage them securely. If you need help, I can do the cleaning and bandaging in the mornings and at night. I’m asleep during the daytime, so you’ll have to manage that one on your own.”
“I’ll do it,” Robert says, his hand still around my waist.
- Writer
