The Alpha’s Broken Healer (The Alpha and The Princess 1)

Zander’s day

The day after the ceremony to join the pack, Ash woke to find Zander in control of Micahs body, the eyes gave him away, Zander’s eyes glow, he was sat on the bottom of her bed, despite the fact that she had been alone in her room when she went to sleep, clearly he must have been sneaky. He looked like he hadn't slept much all night. Ash sat up slowly, she didn't have much experience with Zander on his own, Micah was usually around too, she wasn't sure how this was going to go. “I smell Greyson” Zander growled before Ash could even say good morning. Clearly not impressed with someone. “Well good morning to you too Zander. I don’t know who Greyson is, so I’m going to go to the bathroom, maybe Micah can help me understand when I get back?” Ash replied. Pushing her covers off her body and starting to climb out of the bed. Zander growled lightly again as she stood on the fluffy black rug at the side of her bed, she was wearing one of the Victoria secrets nightshirts, it was short and only just covered her backside. “Bad wolf. No. You don't growl at me for no reason” Ash tapped Zander, well Micahs nose, to tell Zander off and flounced from the room with a huff. She could hear Zander following close behind her, grumbling to himself. She let herself into Micahs room and marched straight to the bathroom, only realising her mistake when Zander opened the door to follow her in. “Out Zander!” Ash growled. 

Zander shook his head “mate smells like Greyson” he replied, as if this was the most reasonable explanation for him being in the bathroom in the world.

“Zander, I mean it! Get out of the bathroom now or I will go and find this Greyson and invite him into my bedroom” she knew it would wind him up, but she was angry with him right now.

Zander growled loudly “MINE!” He cried. Pulling Ash into his chest and holding her tight. He was stroking her hair and nuzzling into it gently, careful not to hurt her in his anger.

Ash pushed futilely against his chest, as she realised what he was doing, trying to scent mark her, she began to hit his chest, her hands starting to glow. She was sure that her eyes would be purple by now. “Zander! Get off me right now! And give Micah back control!” 

The next thing either of them know, Zander was on the floor by the door. His eyes wide and glowing even brighter. He dived to his feet, grinning slightly manically at Ash, who was now dancing around, desperate to use the toilet. Zander could see the dancing but he didn't understand it really. “Zander, out now! I have to pee!” Zander gave a groan, but it was a sound unlike any Ash had heard before. His eyes were slightly unfocused clearly he was talking with Micah, it didn't seem to be a pleasant conversation judging by the way his fists were screwed up. When he turned back to Ash, he had a distinctly wolffish and self satisfied grin on his face. Sitting himself on the side of the bath, he turned slightly away from the toilet “mate want a bath? I run Mate a bath” Zander didn't wait for her answer before turning the taps on, making Ashlyn groan in discomfort.

“Please Zander, I really need to go. Wait outside for me then I’ll have your bath, ok?” 

Zander shook his head and pointed towards the toilet. “No. Protect mate. I protect Ash always”

Ash didn't have the time to argue any more. “Cover your ears and close your eyes then” she spat at him, her own eyes flashing angrily purple at him. Zander complied, though Ash suspected he could probably still hear her. It was a semblance of privacy, that would have to do for now. Her face was bright red as she lifted her nightdress and sat on the toilet, she covered her own face to try and convince herself that she was alone. It took her long time to relax her bladder. When she was done and finally looked up, it was to see a grinning Zander watching her, engrossed in her face “thank you” he mumbled, Ash wasn't sure what he was thanking her for and right now she wasn't going to ask him. She might talk to Micah later. She quickly stood and flushed, brushing her teeth silently before heading back to her room.

Zander tilted his head, watching in disappointment as his mate left the room. He wasn’t sure what he had done wrong and he couldn't let Micah know how badly he was messing up. He turned the water off in the bath and left, going to his mate. He didn't bother to knock on her door, didn't see the point. She was sat on the bed looking sad. No. Not sad, it was one of those human emotions that he didn’t understand properly. Micah would be better at this, but he wanted time with his mate. He crouched down between her feet, dropping to his knees and laying his head on her thigh, his hands resting on her hips. Blinking up at her, he reached out to her mentally, Zander knew he wasn't very good with words. He tried to project his feelings to her, how he was sorry he made her mad and feel bad. How he didn't mean too. How guarding a mate while they use the bathroom is part of the job for a wolf. He was just trying to be a good mate. He wasn't trying to upset her. Zander shows her his guilt and his remorse. His desire to do better and get to know her. After a few minutes he speaks “can we have a day…. Me and Ash? No Micah?” Zander asked. 

Ash took a few minutes to think before she answered. “I have friends coming round later, I need Micah back then or you can go to his office while I’m with them. And we need ground rules. You don't get to follow me inside the bathroom, you can wait outside. You don't touch my skin where I have clothes. No messing up my hair” 

Zander nodded eagerly, nuzzling his head into her stomach harder. “Bath? For mate? Let me run a bath for my mate?”

Longer sentences seem to be more of a struggle for Zander, but clearly he’s trying, trying to make it easier for Ash to understand him. “Um… I dunno Zander… not even Micah has seen me undressed. Is it the smell of someone else thats bothering you?” At Zander’s nod Ash c****d her head “do you know who it is? I don't know Greyson”

“Loki” was Zander’s growled response

“Ahh… ok… Greyson is Loki’s wolf… I understand now. Sorry Zander I didnt realise I would still smell like him, it didnt bother Micah as much, but he didnt share my bed. I thought because he’s your brother… how about I get a shower and get dressed while you get me some juice? Orange juice? And maybe some cereal? Those chocolate hoops?”

Zander nodded his head eagerly, grinning brightly up at Ash, when he looked at her like this, Ash could easily tell the difference between the personalities. This was clearly Zander. He was much more excitable, childlike almost, impulsive at times. Everything made Zander happy, he never seemed to be sad, nothing could bring him down, though he was just as possessive as Micah apparently.