Chapter 166

Maeve’s POV

“There has to be something more we can do,” Xaden demanded, and I could hear the anguish in his voice. “She’s been asleep for almost a week.”

“Whatever happened to her, it took a lot of her strength.” I recognized the voice of the capital doctor. He was close by, as was Xaden. My eyes remained shut and my body was limp as I lay in whatever bed I was in. I knew it wasn’t mine; if I were to guess, I would say I was in the hospital. Or maybe I was the palace. I couldn’t tell based on the scent alone; everything around me just smelled like pack. It was strange having this sense of smell; I hadn’t had it before I passed out. But now it seemed as if my senses were stronger than ever.

I felt my baby kicking inside of me and relief flooded me knowing that he was okay. For a moment, I feared the worst.

“She was glowing when I found her,” Xaden said, sounding so defeated that it hurt.

“Could be her true powers finally being unlocked,” the doctor told him.

My true powers? Glowing? What were they talking about?

I wiggled my fingers, trying to get a true feel of my body. The very moment made their voices fall silent and I knew with certainty that Xaden had noticed my movements.

“Maeve?” I heard his soft shaken voice from beside me. I felt his warm and callous fingers on my cheek, gently rubbing down the side of my cheekbone, sending warmth to spread across my body. “Are you awake?”

“Hmm…” was all I managed to say. I heard him exhaling a breath that he had probably been holding for a while. I wasn’t sure I could find words, even if I wanted to.

“Baby, come on. Open your eyes,” Xaden whispered, his lips close to my ear. His scent was almost overpowering, making me weak in the knees. Thank goodness I was already lying down or else I would have fallen over from his close proximity.

As if my body wanted to obey his gentle command, my eyes fluttered open. It wasn’t bright in the room, so my eyes adjusted almost right away. I was staring up at the relieved face of my mate along with the doctor who stood behind him. A small smile played on his lips as he fixed his glasses.

“Welcome back, Maeve,” he said brightly. “You had us all scared.”

I wanted to ask what had happened and how I got here, but the words failed me. I glanced back up at Xaden who seemed to be studying my face, like he was looking for injuries.

“Are you truly back to me?” He asked, his voice coming out as a breathy whisper.

I forced a smile on my lips, though every movement pained me. I wasn’t sure why I was suddenly in so much pain, but it felt like I hadn’t used my body in my ears, and everything was so stuff. I touched his fingers that sat beside mine, hoping that it was enough to soothe away his fears.

He lowered himself down to me and brushed his lips carefully against mine like he was afraid of hurting me even further. He closed his eyes and melted into the kiss as I opened my mouth for him, wanting and needing to taste him. Even before everything went down with Alpha Kenneth, I desperately missed him, and I just wanted to be with my mate again. Running away was stupid and careless, I shouldn’t have done it. He came and rescued me, which meant he still cared about me.

He ran his fingers up the side of my face, his tongue tangling with mine. With every second of his kiss, my strength started to return to me, and I could feel the pain subsiding. It made me want to be even closer to him. I found myself lifting off the bed as I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling myself even closer to him, flesh against his body. I could feel his rock-hard abs as I ran my fingers down his shirt. A shudder ran through me as I peeked up at him, breathless from his bruising kiss. His eyes were dark and filled with so much lust that I felt desires pooling between my legs at the sight of him.

I wasn’t sure at what point the doctor had left, but when I glanced over at him, he was gone. As predicted, I was in the infirmary. As I glanced at the infirmary door, I wondered briefly who was out there waiting for me to wake up.

“Xaden…” I whispered, peeking up at him through my lashes.

His eyes were dark and filled with lust as he nipped at my bottom lip.

“Lie down,” he ordered.

“But—”

“We’ll talk after… but for now, lie down,” he repeated, his tone sultry and sending my heart into a rapid beat of flutters. I did as he said, the pain in my body was almost completely gone, or maybe just forgotten.

He ran his lips down the nape of my neck, inhaling deeply, taking in my scent, and releasing a shuddering breath as his tongue slipped out of his mouth and licked where I knew he wanted to mark me. He kissed down my shoulders, and across my chest, and I gasped when I felt his teeth tugging my nipples, teasing me. I let out a whimper of helplessness, wanting to reach out and touch him but when I tried to move, he tightened his hold around my wrists, moving them above my head and keeping me pinned beneath him. I hadn’t noticed I was naked until he started teasing my breasts and I wondered who had gotten me undressed. How long had I been naked?

Had I been this entire time?

He ran his lips down my torso, kissing my sides and positioning himself between my legs as he gazed at my soaked core, a hunger I had never seen in his eyes. He licked his lips like he was about to devour me, and I wiggled beneath him, anticipating that very thing. He kissed my inner thighs, and I let out a panty breath as I felt him nearing my center.

He swiped his tongue between my folds, running it up and twirling it around my clit. I whimpered, trying to rub myself against him, itching for satisfaction. He let out a throaty growl and I took it as a warning to stay still. He wanted to be in charge of my pleasure, not the other way around. He wanted to give me an orgasm, not have me chase after it. I relaxed back into the bed as he sucked my clit into my mouth and teased it until I was practically screaming out his name. I wasn’t sure if the doctor was still nearby or if anyone was in the waiting room, but if they were, I didn’t really care. All I cared about at that moment was Xaden and me… it felt so good being with him again and I hated that I had run away from this.

I felt my orgasm rising to the top. I curled my toes, feeling tingles coursing up my legs across my body. I yelled out his name and he finally released my wrists so I could wrap my arms around him. I exploded all over him and he lapped me up like a hungry dog. When I was finished with nothing more but twitches of aftershock, he placed a gentle kiss on my clit before kissing up my body and pressing his lips against mine, letting me taste myself on him. I hungrily kissed him, unable to get enough of the taste. I sucked his lips into my mouth, tasting all he had to offer and all he had taken from me.

“Goddess, I’ve missed you,” he said in a deep growl, and I knew at that moment he was more wolf than man. He nuzzled his face in the nape of my neck, and I couldn’t help but chuckle as he blew his scent onto my body, marking me in any way that he could. I ran my fingers down his back and tugged at the waistline of his pants.

“What are you doing?” He asked, a teasing hint in his tone.

“It’s your turn,” I replied, wanting so badly to get his pants off.

He laughed lightly and kissed the side of my face before he lifted off me. I pouted at him as he slid off the bed and adjusted himself.

“As much as I’d love to continue this, there’s a waiting room of people who want to see you,” he surprised me by saying.

“A waiting room full of them?” I asked, my mouth hanging open and color attacking my cheeks as embarrassment flooded me. Had they heard us? I wasn’t exactly quiet in here. How could he not warn me beforehand?

He nodded.

“A lot of people have been worried. We barely slept in a week and have been here the whole time,” he explained.

I felt my heart expanding at the sound of that; I had people who truly cared about me… and they were all here to see me.

I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips.

“Okay,” I breathed. “Can you grab me some clothes? Then, I will see everyone.”