Zane - Confessions of a lycan

Chapter 21

Zane

I thought I knew what it felt like to have your heart broken, to feel cold and alone.

But the three days that had passed since Lily fell to the ground had been by far the worst days I´d ever experienced.

Every night she broke my heart when she didn't wake up no matter how much I begged, and every morning she mended it again when I saw she was still breathing. I was exhausted, hadn't showered in 3 days and I couldn't even feel the nagging hunger anymore.

All I felt was despair, hope, loss, love all mixed together until my feelings for my wildflower were all I could focus on.

Nothing else mattered.

"Your Highness, I'm just coming to check on Lily and ask if there's anything you need?" My head snapped around towards the door and my Lycan growled at her to get lost. She ran of like the devil was chasing her. All I needed was for my wildflower to wake up.

"Zane, that wasn't very nice of you." I almost fell off my chair in sheer astonishment.

Then I did something I've never done before. I completely broke down.

I pulled Lily up into my arms as I sobbed until my shoulders shook. I felt her hand gently stroke my dirty hair, trying to comfort me. "Zane, I'm here. It's going to be all right.” Lily said with a hoarse voice.

“I was afraid I'd lost you my love. Please never scare me like that ever again.”

"I promise, my prince."

We continued to sit like that for a while. Just holding each other, feeling the sparks everywhere we touched.

"I would really appreciate a glass of water" Lily admitted after a while.

"Of course, wildflower." Stupid of me to completely forget that she had needs when she woke up after 3 days.

I looked around the room but saw no glass to use, so I pressed the alarm button hanging on the bed.

"How are you feeling?" I asked gently as I stroked her hair out of her face.

“I feel pretty good. Just a little tired even though I just slept. How long have I been in here?” She asked me sheepishly.

“For three days, wildflower. You gave all of us quite a scare.” She looked at me wide-eyed at my revelation.

She didn't have time to share her thoughts with me before a nurse came rushing in.

"Thank goddess you're awake. I will call Dr. Thompson right away."

“Bring my mate a glass of water afterwards” Lily gave me a hard stare. “Please”, I added. Which earned me a gentle smile from my wildflower. “Of course, your highness”. The nurse said before she curtsied and hurried out.

My little wildflower rearranged the hoses attached to her and crawled up into my arms.

I stroked her hair and kissed her forehead, amazed that she pulled through.

I knew the doctor was too scared of me to dare say anything. But I could see the worry in his eyes every time he checked the monitor Lily was connected to. So I knew the hope was small and the chance of pulling through slim.

Yet she was awake, cradled in my arms now.

"I probably don't smell very nice, and I need to brush my teeth. But I can't resist being close to you.” Lily whispered pressed against my chest. “I've been sitting by your side this whole time, so I probably smell just as bad” Lily giggled at my comment, which made me smile in return. “We still haven't gone on a single date. How about a spa date when they discharge you, baby?”

I could feel her smile against my chest. "I'd really like that, Zane." That a small sentence like that could bring me such joy was incredible.

I had never dated. I always reserved it for that special someone and the goddess should know that I intended to spoil my mate rotten with hundreds of romantic dates in the future. I could barely wait.

Unfortunately, my planning of dates was interrupted by the arrival of the Doctor, closely followed by Lucien.

“If you only knew how relieved I am to see you awake, Lily.” The doctor assured. Lily gave him a weak smile, causing my Lycan to growl. She just rolled her eyes at our possessive behavior. Lucien radiated such relief when he walked through the door that I could feel my heartstrings tighten.

"I'm sure the good doctor will want to examine me, Zane. You'll probably need to put me back on the bed.” My Lycan immediately started growling. While everyone else backed off, Lily started stroking my chest.

That she felt zero fear of a Lycan like mine was astounding. Which just proved that we were made for each other.

"Baby, go out with Lucien in the meantime. I'm sure you two will have a lot to talk about." She told me while still stroking my chest. I gave her a pleading look but to no avail.

I laid Lily back on the bed and gave the doctor one last annihilating look before turning and walking out of the room.

As we waited outside Lily's hospital room, Lucien updated me on the past three days of my absence.

I promised him to call my brother. Lucien seemed really fed up with him.

I also suggested that Lucien accompany Mason to the Blood Moon pack.

I remembered him well since my time here and some of my best memories were with him and Alpha Ronan while we sat drinking and having fun in front of the bonfire they used to have. He was a good man and a great warrior. He had even given me a run for my money at times. Before they left, I asked Luna Cora for a favor because I intended to surprise my mate.

It was time for her to know what it felt like to be truly pampered.

***

Lily

I couldn't believe three days had passed. I felt dirty and hungry to be honest, but otherwise I felt perfectly fine.

“You gave us all quite a scare, Lily,” The Doctor exclaimed. My first thought was shame of being a bother.

But I knew Zane would be upset that the thought even popped up, so I tried to suppress it.

The doctor took blood samples, checked the EKG and asked questions about my well-being.

When he was done, he gave me a piece of paper with instructions for continued rehabilitation and treatment.

“I think it would be good if Zane heard my instructions as well, Lily. So lie down and rest for a while and I’ll go get him.“

It felt unnecessary, I could just tell Zane later. But I didn’t want to cause problems for the doctor. He was a kind wolf, but an unmarked mate drove a wolf insane, never mind a Lycan. So challenging Zane’s possessiveness for any length of time felt unwise at the moment and, to be honest, I'd rather be around him all the time too.

A few minutes later, a nurse peeked in through the door, closely followed by the doctor and Zane.

She handed over a plate with a juicy BLT sandwich and a glass of water. Which made my stomach start to rumble right away.

Zane had his own sandwich in his hand, which he devoured in a few gulps.

“Your test results look good Lily. But I still want to keep you under observation for a few days. Which means I want you to come here 2 times a day for another 3 days so we can monitor you, all right? Under no circumstances should you expose yourself to heavy physical exertion or take any long walks. It´s rest and eating that applies to you. I have also written a timetable for when you need to eat. Because you have lost a lot of weight and need to put on a few pounds to be healthy, okay. Any questions?” The doctor advised.

"I only have one. When will her wolf surface?” Zane asked.

"Since her body shut down it will take time for her to fully recover. Her internal organs were damaged. So my guess is that it will be another week before she is completely healed, and her wolf is strong enough to surface. You being close to her, Zane, will help the process.” Doctor Thompson replied.

“Thank you for the information, Dr. Thompson. I'd like to bring my mate to the packhouse now if that's all right?”

“Sure. I'll have a nurse come in and disconnect the IV. I'll go and discharge Lily in the meantime.” The doctor said his goodbye and soon after a nurse came in and helped me. When everything was finished and good to go, Zane lifted me up into his arms and carried me to the packhouse. Today, unfortunately, there was a lot of life everywhere.

I tried to curl up and make myself as small as possible in front of everyone's staring eyes.

Luna Cora met us at the door. She must have seen how uncomfortable I was because she started looking around and gave everyone who was staring a disapproving look. “Go on with what you all were doing, there's nothing interesting to see here!” Luna Cora instructed. I gave her a thankful smile.

"I'm so glad you're feeling better now, Your Highness. It's sad that we had to meet under these circumstances. But I'm happy we were able to help you.” Luna Cora said while looking straight at me.

“I´m sorry, I´m a little confused. Where you sick Zane as well?” I asked. Luna Cora looked baffled at my question.

Looking up at Zane, he gave me a sly smile. “No wildflower. She meant you.” I tried to think with my still foggy brain.

“She said your highness?” Luna Cora giggled at my question.

“I´m sorry if I confused you. You two have just meet and not marked each other yet but it is still custom to address with the proper title from the beginning.” Ohh my goddess, it hadn't even hit me yet that I was going to be royal.

My poor head, this was all too much.

Luna Cora showed us up some stairs and down a corridor. "Here is the guest suite. There is a phone connected to the kitchen if you prefer to eat by yourself. Otherwise we serve breakfast and dinner in the main dining room. I hope everything is to your satisfaction. Please don't hesitate to ask anything if necessary." Luna Cora explained with an inviting smile.

"Thank you so much for your help and for letting us stay here, Luna Cora. I am deeply grateful." I assured her.

I wanted her to know how I felt because no one had ever shown me so much kindness before except for my friend Cassie and her family and I didn´t take that for granted.

Luna Cora blushed and gave me a shy smile. “ The pleasure was all mine, your highness, and please call me Cora.”

“I appreciate your help, Cora, and please call me Lily. Your Highness sounds very pompous. I don't think I'm ready for it.” I told her with a smile of my own. Cora giggled at me “I understand, I think we will be good friends. See you guys later.” Cora left us and Zane gave me a seductive smile. "Now it's just you and me, wildflower."

He opened the door to the suite, and I was greeted by hundreds of lit candles with a king-sized bed against the opposite wall.

There were rose petals scattered on the floor in a winding path that lead through the room and further into another.

Holy goddess… When I looked up, I saw Zane studying me intently. "For a first date you will never forget my love."