In Reach?
A Touch of Raspberries

Liam’s POV

Ever since Aiden told me about her wolf being dormant, my wolf has been agitated to the point of not wanting to leave her alone. She had gone through something like that, and here I was still trying to kill her. Shit! I don’t even like to think of that.

She’s weak and delicate. I may just end up losing her before I can even get straight answers from her. I have to change up my strategy.

So I asked Aubrey if she should could set up one of the rooms here for her and give her some of her clothes. Aiden said he needs to keep an eye on her condition, but still needs to do a check up on the members from the eastern sector. I told him not to worry and that I’ll sort something out.

Walking up to my office, I already felt a tinge in my chest. I know it’s because I’m away from her. My wolf is worried about her. I am worried about her, but because of what she must have gone through. I can’t concentrate on my work and there is so much paper-work, I’m most likely going to sit through the whole night.

So I pick up the folders I’ll need and head downstairs to the infirmary. It’s already so late, most of the people have gone to bed. I find her still asleep. She looks exhausted. In just a matter of a day, she gained all these wounds, and all because of,…….me. The bump on her temple she got from us rolling down the river slope. The cut on her hand was from her holding the knife to hit me with its hilt. Her ankle, I can’t believe it looks so bad, I barely grabbed it last night at the river. And then there are the marks of my hands around her neck. They’re so faint, but my eyes can’t not see them. My palms are sweating from the guilt of doing that to her.

Shit! I can’t believe that she looks like this because of me. I can understand the concern from the other guys when they saw her. How could I do all this to such a frail little thing? She’s nothing like her.

I go and sit in the chair in the corner of the room and place the folders on the table in front of it. I better start catching up with pack-duties. Strangely, I feel more relaxed working here than I did in my office. It can’t be because of her, because my concern for her is still present. Maybe it’s the change of scenery.

I practically sit through the night working. By four o’clock I eventually start to doze off, and I don’t fight it. The chair is uncomfortable, but my body just seems too relaxed to care. Later however, I hear a thump. I shoot up looking around the room, to find the bed empty, but a confused looking brunette on the floor. Shit! She’s not supposed to be up yet.

I rush to her side, but she raises her hands and is shifting backwards into the corner. I don’t like this. But of course she wouldn’t want me getting near her, not after the hostile encounters we keep having.

I approach her more slowly and squat down to her level. “You shouldn’t be walking around on that foot”, I try to say gently, but my hoarse voice comes out rough.

I move in and pick her up, but she’s struggling against me. It’s annoying me and my wolf, the way she is trying to push us away. “Can you just try to not be so stubborn for a few seconds”.

She stops moving and I lift her to the bed, but she grips my shirt suddenly and I look down at her. She’s quiet for a few seconds, and then quietly says, “I have to pee”.

Her whole demeanor right now is so cute, and the tingles from me holding her is quite distracting, that I forget for a second what it is I’m doing.

I then walk her to the bathroom. But I can feel her eyes on me, I can’t help but clench my jaw. She’s making me nervous. I’m supposed to be all cold and authoritative, and here I am trying to give her my full attention and attending to her needs. None of my pack-members would believe their eyes if they saw me now. None of them even know I’m here. Luckily the bathroom isn’t that far.

I lay her on her feet, but she almost falls. Shit! I almost forgot about her foot. I immediately grab her against me. But she pushes against me and is leaning away from me like she doesn’t want me touching her, with that desperate look on her face. I don’t like this and my wolf is becoming angry……..at me. He’s blaming me for this. And the more she pushes the more his anger is growing, that I’m struggling to try and calm him down.

I loosen my hold on her, but slowly in case she falls again. She looks steady, and when I look up at her face, she’s just staring at me, me being all attentive to her right now. I just turn around, walk out and close the door.

Shit! I’m not focusing on what I’m doing. I need some coffee. I can leave her, right? It’s not she’ll be able to run anywhere right now. I have a weird feeling of guilt mixed with relief flowing through me.

I head up to the kitchen and brew some coffee. While I’m at it I realize it’s six in the morning and almost time for breakfast. I should probably get her something to eat, she hasn’t eaten in a while. I know she didn’t eat the whole of yesterday. I better make her a big breakfast. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

But I’m not much of a cook, I don’t even cook for myself. The only thing I trust myself with right now is making toast. But what can I make with the toast? I open the fridge and look around. I see a huge bowl of chopped fruit. Great. And then I spot the jug with orange juice and grab that out. But right behind it is a boxed packet of raspberries. Perfect. I’ll add them to the mixed fruit. She smells like raspberries and I can’t help but add them as a ‘special’ ingredient just for her. I hope she likes them.

I carry everything down, and when I reach the room I can’t help but give myself a proper look right now. I’m carrying a tray with food I ‘prepared’ and trying to set it up for her next to the bed. Since when do I serve people? Especially breakfast in bed? I’m not going to ponder on this for too long.

I go back to my seat and have a sip of coffee.

I have this warm feeling washing over my body making it relax. It’s definitely not this coffee. But I have a feeling I know where it’s coming from. I look to my side and catch those hazel eyes. Is she looking for me? Without a second thought I get up and make my way to her. But she immediately lifts her hand and says, “ It’s okay. I got it”. I feel disappointed by her sudden response. She slowly makes her way to the bed and I start getting the food ready. I dished quite a big bowl of fruit for her. I hope she likes fruit.

“Eat up, you should be hungry”. She stares at it and I get nervous.

“Thank you”.

My head moves up and I look at her. She said ‘thank you’, that should be a good sign, right?

I make my way to the chair as she looks back at the bowl. I’m staring at her now with my hand on my lips, trying to see her next move. I want to know what she’ll pick to eat first. Is she the type to eat what she likes first, or to leave the best for last? She looks mesmerized by the fruit, it makes me wonder whether I should stock up on fruit.

She grabs a raspberry, puts it in her mouth and chews with a smile on her face. I can’t help but feel a little victory from this. I feel like I’m the one that put that smile on her face. That smile belongs to me. And what a beautiful smile it is.

She looks up at me still chewing. I can’t help but wonder if she tastes like raspberries too. I want to lick my lips out of response from my train of thought, but luckily my hand is still on my lips. I look back down to the folder in my hands and try to distract myself from her actions. She still has a whole bowl of fruits to go through.

“You hungry?” I hear her say and immediately look up at her. She’s biting her lower lip. F#%k me! My mind is still running wild, and her asking me if I’m hungry when she’s biting her lip like that is not helping me right now. Dare I say it, I’m hungry for her. I really want to know if she tastes like raspberries, or chocolate, if her scent is any indication of it.

“I won’t be able to finish all of this, and I don’t want it to go to waste.” She interrupts my thoughts. She looks down again and I look back at the folder in my hands. That’s when I realize that I’m holding the bloody thing upside down. Shit! If I flip it now she’ll see. Should I just go join her? I’m not much of a breakfast person, but maybe the break will do me good.

“If you don’t mind”. I put the folder down and make my way to sit at her feet. She just nods and continues chewing the fruit.

She pouts her bottom lip looking at the bowl like she can’t make-up her mind what to pick next. So adorable. I take the closest thing my way, making sure it’s not a raspberry. I added those for her.

We sit there in silence and eat. I’m really enjoying this. It’s relaxing. Sitting with someone and eating, and not feeling the obligation to talk.

When she eats the last raspberry, I sit back and wait for her to finish the rest of the fruit. When she’s done, she looks up at me almost surprised that I’m looking at her.

It’s time we get back to reality again. “There are a few things that we still need to discuss. But I think I should at least give you a chance to make yourself comfortable. So that we can have a proper conversation with each other.”

I don’t know if she’s on the same page as me. I don’t want her to lash out at me again. But instead, she just gives me a gentle nod.

“We have a room set up for you. Let me take you there”. I move to pick her up and she just gives me an annoyed look.

Walking up the stairs I notice her relaxing a bit more in my arms, and she leans into me. I try to hold her closer, hoping to get my scent on her. I know, this doesn’t make sense. But I’m annoyed with her still wearing this forsaken shirt. And right now, in this moment, it is just us, and we both seem to not be bothered by our proximity.

In no time at all, I reached the room I asked Aubrey to prepare. That was quick. I went in and laid her gently on the edge of the bed.

“There’s a bathroom through that door”, I point to her left. “You can get freshened up in there. We put some clothes for you over here”, I point to the clothes next to her. “I’ll be waiting for you in the room.”

Okay, I know I’m pushing it. But I don’t know how long I should give her to get ready. What if she does try something? What if something happens and she needs help? I’m definitely not going to sit outside the room waiting like a lost puppy.

I need to keep an eye on her. I’m not letting her out of my reach.

Surprisingly, she just nods. She takes the clothes and tries to make her way to the bathroom. I try to help her, but before I can even make my way to her, she lifts her hand at me, again.

Seriously?! I don’t just offer my help to anyone and she dared to decline my offer. Oh……she’s going to be so much trouble. I can already tell. Just as she closes the bathroom door, I can’t help but notice a smirk on her face.

Damn!. Women really do play dangerously. I’m starting to understand my father now.

Then I a hear a click. Did she just lock the door? What? Does she think I’m going to do something? Is this the image she has of me? F#%k! This woman is making me want to prove myself to her. I shouldn’t care what she thinks of me. I need my coffee.

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