#Chapter 16 The New Doctor

Olivia’s POV
I thought when giving Eugene the new job at the pack hospital, it meant he would see more of Reese. In fact, I’ve seen Eugene Opal everyday for weeks since he transferred packs. He doesn’t make himself scarce around the palace either, the maids always swooning through the hallways when he walks past.
The sight of blatant cooing over the new doctor makes me sick.
He has kept my secret though, so I can’t be too upset with his presence, but that doesn’t mean Gabriel has the same impression of him. At first they got along great, Gabriel asking Eugene to be the new physician in the palace. That newfound admiration of the new doctor didn’t last long, Eugene always trying to pull me aside for conversation and catching up.
“My dear,” Gabriel calls across the bedroom, the King Alpha ready to reside in bed for the night while I take to my computer and notes, trying to get this new charity up and running. “My Luna, please,” he hums. “Come to bed with me.”
I wave him off, my eyes never leaving the screen. “I’m working, Gabriel. I will soon.”
“I feel restless, my dear.”
“Call Eugene,” I breathe. “His room isn’t far. I’m sure he is still awake to tend to whatever you need, Alpha.”
He speaks through his locked jaw and gritted teeth. “It’s the physician that makes me restless.” He crosses the room, pushing my laptop screen all the way done, shutting me out from my work. I give a lowly growl, his brows pinched in surprise. “I don’t want him working so closely to us in the palace anymore.”
“That was your idea,” I remind him, sitting back leisurely in my desk chair. “Why are you even upset with him? He just took a look at that warrior with the migraine. I hear he’s doing much better now.”
“I have also seen how he acts around my Luna. It’s like he is strutting around for your attention, my dear. I don’t want another male in this household who wants to beg for your admiration. It’s hard enough trying to do it myself.”
“Then sign the divorce papers and stop,” I plead.
I gather my work, and a set of silk pajamas on my way from the bedroom. There’s dozens of rooms in this palace, I will find another easily and without the pestering of the Alpha King. He follows me of course, arms folded over his chest while I settle into my pajamas and stretch out in bed, my laptop on my thighs while I anticipate a long night ahead of me.
“I’m not going to divorce you,” he says, speaking in a low, husky murmur. “I even spoke with my council. They’re the only ones that would think to entertain your headstrong belief about leaving me and they agree with me; you won’t be granted a divorce, my dear.”
I roll my eyes, my wolf moaning softly in my head. She likes Gabriel, even though I have to face facts that the Queen Luna wanted to divorce him before. Their matehood wasn’t perfect by any means and even if I don’t know what led to their current stance to file for divorce, I don’t need to know when a she-wolf is upset in her marriage.
She took her life to escape the shame and hurt of her marriage.
Gabriel is beside me suddenly, moving my laptop away so he can climb into bed with me. He hikes a leg over both of mine, settling to sit down on my hips, keeping me pinned under his gentle weight. I cross my arms over my chest, trying to wiggle free but it’s impossible.
“Please, Gabriel, just leave me alone tonight.”
He gives me a mocking pout. “I want to be with my Queen tonight, why do you deny me like this, my dear? Is it not natural to be together in a bed, in our shared home, doing what married couples do?”
I grumble under my breath. “Please leave my room,” I say simply.
He abides, his eyes wide as he stays in the doorway for a moment, his longing apparent.
I sleep well for the first time in forever, sleeping alone so familiar to my prior life. I spend the next few nights alone in the spare room as well, watching Gabriel grumble anytime he passed Eugene in the halls of the palace. The tension is thick and uncomfortable.
It doesn’t help that my past life comes creeping up more and more nowadays. Today would have been my birthday if it weren’t for my early departure. I can’t even tell Gabriel about it, blowing the cover on my real identity.
For now, I indulge alone at the bar in the living room, not familiar enough with these pack grounds to go find a drink elsewhere. Plus, he has several bottles of perfectly good wine here. I down the first one, shivering in warmth that brushes across my face.
After the second bottle, I stumble to the floor, knowing that if I were Olivia this charade would be fine but I’m not Olivia. I’m not me anymore and for the first time in a long time, I’m faced with that truth and it hurts.
Steps near the bar where I lay behind the cabinet on the floor, clutching the second wine bottle like it has anything left inside of it for me to gulp down.
“My dear, what is going on here?”
I turn, trying to crawl out of Gabriel’s sights but he grabs for me gently, his hands working to hike me over his broad shoulder. I press my hands into his back, dropping the bottle as I watch the living room trail behind us in retreat.
The world is spinning until he lays me in a bed, the world turning quick as I cough at the aftertaste of alcohol in my throat. I just wanted the night to myself, so I could wallow in my pity and my past aches, but I get the feeling that isn’t going to be taking place tonight.
“Gabriel,” I groan, feeling ill with alcohol.
“Relax, my dear. Why would you do this to yourself?”
I want to explain my many reasons to be upset but my wolf stops me. Even in my stupor, she calms my racing thoughts and assures me it will be okay; Gabriel can’t know the truth on why I’m upset. It will blow the cover on my true identity.
I watch Gabriel toy with the buttons on his shirt, tauntingly so. His fingers dance down the part in his shirt where is has flicked the buttons undone, his masculine chest coming into view now. I almost choke at the sight of his chest, unbothered by scars or obscenities.
He is beautiful.
It doesn’t negate the way I feel though.
He leans forward, planting gentle kisses across my throat while his fingers toy with my shirt strap, willing to peel it off of me much like the way he did his own shirt. “We should be a real couple in this bed,” he pants, kissing me all over.
I moan slightly, the heat climbing through us both, pressed together in bed.
“Please, my dear. Let’s be in love tonight.”