Alpha Victoria

Crave-2

Alexander's P.O.V.

Victoria grew increasingly fatigued with each strike she aimed at me, but it wore me down as well. Her prowess in combat surprised me; vampires typically boast more about their elemental abilities than their physical strength.

Each touch of our skin was electric, tantalizing me with desire, yet I couldn't let it weaken my resolve to win. Frustrated with myself, I growled, my stoic facade barely concealing my turmoil. She smirked at me and let loose her ponytail, an act that, I must admit, was strangely alluring.

Suddenly, Natalie appeared, clinging to Victoria's back like a parasite, catching me off guard. Victoria turned, and all I saw was blood – her blood – staining Natalie's claws.

In a flash, I hurled Natalie against a nearby tree, my concern for Victoria eclipsing any rational thought about Natalie's fate. I rushed to Victoria's side, horrified by the sight of blood trickling down her neck. She scoffed and turned away defiantly, but in the next moment, she collapsed.

Instinctively, I cradled her in my arms and sprinted to the infirmary beside the pack house, cursing myself for pushing her so hard.

Gently placing her on a bed, I implored Lady Diona, the pack's elder doctor, to attend to her. Exiled to the corridor outside, I sat, consumed with worry, until voices drew me back to reality. Approaching a group of girls, they bowed respectfully, and I inquired about their day's training. Stacy, one of the girls, beamed with excitement, reporting that Victoria had trained all the ladies except Natalie.

Astonished, I realized it was nearly midnight – Victoria had managed to train them in less than seventeen hours. She had pushed herself to her limits, and I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride about her dedication to the pack.

Lady Diona summoned me into her office, her expression grave as she delivered her diagnosis. Victoria had experienced severe chest pain, likely triggered by emotional distress – the kind that grips you when your other half is distant. She had been near collapse, her stomach empty, and a deep claw wound marked her neck. Lady Diona administered a strengthening injection, and stated that Victoria would need rest and nourishment to recover fully.

Her words shook me; I had driven Victoria to this state of physical and emotional vulnerability. Guilt gnawed at me as I returned to her bedside, where she lay pale and fragile, her long lashes resting against her cheeks, a stark contrast to the fierce warrior I knew her to be.

I stood by her side throughout the night, gently holding her hand as guilt tore at my conscience. Near dawn, as exhaustion threatened to overtake me, Victoria stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, red-rimmed from pain and fatigue. I rushed to offer her water, and as she drank, she uttered words that pierced through me like a blade.

"You've hurt me deeply," she said softly, her gaze steady and accusing.

Her words ignited a fury within me, ready to defend against any threat to our bond. Before I could unleash my anger, Lady Diona intervened, suggesting that physical closeness – mating – would aid Victoria's healing process. Shocked and embarrassed, we exchanged stolen glances, but at that moment, all anger dissolved. I pleaded with Victoria through my eyes, silently begging for another chance as I pulled her into a tentative embrace. Relief washed over me when she hesitantly returned the embrace, my heart finding solace in her warmth.

It's said that happiness arrives fleetingly, like a scent so tantalizing you'd risk everything to savor it, yet so elusive you must navigate treacherous waters to grasp it without drowning.