21

Chapter 21 – Comfort
“Lucy, no one is telling Ranger anything. You’re safe here. There’s still a lot more we need to talk about and sort out but it’s getting late. You need to eat something and get some rest; I know you’re exhausted. I’ll have Helga bring you some dinner from the kitchen.” Alpha Knox assured me as he stood to leave.
“My bedroom is at the opposite end of this hall Lucy, if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to come over.” Payton said and left.
“I’ll leave you two to talk.” Alpha Knox closed the door behind him. “Sounds good to me,” Lia purred in my head. I did a mental eye roll.
Diesel was still sitting on the bed, facing me. “I don’t know everything that happened at Dark Moon, but I know there’s more. I’m not going to force you to tell me everything, but I do want to know. When you’re ready, I’m here to listen.” Diesel told me.
I nodded my head. I felt anxiety growing, if he finds out I was used and tainted he wouldn’t want me. I was too weak to protect a pup.
He interrupted my thoughts, “how’s your shoulder feeling?” “It’s getting better,” I said.
My heart was racing, I wasn’t sure what to think or say to him. This is what they call a second chance mate, I was given a second chance mate.
He placed his hand below my chin and lifted my head, his blue eyes softened. “Lucy, please try to relax, no one is going to hurt you here. I will never let Ranger hurt you again. Max sent you here because he trusted me, I need you to trust me too.”
“Max never told me you were Ranger’s brother.”
“He probably understood if Ranger was treating you badly, that you would be too afraid to seek help from his brother. He may be my brother, but we are nothing alike.” He said to me. This much I knew was true. Ranger always made me feel nervous and Diesel had a calming effect.
I looked down at the beautiful blanket and wondered if this was his room. His scent filled the air and it was so comforting. When he held me and stroked my hair moments ago, it was the safest I’ve ever felt. His Alpha aura was pure power and I wasn’t even afraid.
There was a knock at the door and Diesel answered it, he returned with a tray of food and set it on the table next to the bed. He leaned over and reached across my body for another pillow, Goddess he smelled wonderful.
“He sure does!” Lia purred in my head.
“Lean forward a bit,” he requested, and I complied. He propped the pillow behind me so that I could sit up with ease.
He sat on the left side of the bed facing me and brought the food plate over from the tray. It smelled delicious, carved turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, mixed vegetables and a bread roll. He gave me a heart fluttering smile and brought a fork full of food to my mouth. I didn’t even bother to resist; my right shoulder was still healing, and my arm was still in a sling. I was right-handed and would surely have embarrassed myself trying to eat with my left hand.
“How’s your wolf doing?” Diesel asked me.
“Lia is doing good, just resting up.” I answered and Lia howled with joy in my head because her mate was worried about her.
“Lia,” he grinned at me. “Duke is looking forward to spending some time with her.”
I smiled back and took another delicious bite from the fork in front of me. If he meets Lia, he’s going to know she’s a golden wolf. I wasn’t sure I was ready to tell anyone about Lia yet. Besides, what kind of golden wolf am I? I can’t even fight.
Diesel is the Alpha of the strongest pack in the world and I’m, well, I’m a rejected weakling. The only thing I can do well is his laundry. As soon as he figures this out, he’s going to reject me too.
“I’d give anything to know what you’re thinking right now.” His husky voice broke my thoughts.
I smiled for a moment before I responded. “There’s just so much going on, it’s a bit overwhelming.” I took another bite of food.
“If there’s anything you need or want, I will move heaven and earth for you little one,” he said.
“How about that bread roll? I want that delicious looking roll.”
“This roll?” He laughed and brought the roll to my mouth; I took a bite. “I will get you a mountain of rolls my queen,” he joked.
I didn’t know exactly what to say, I had so many questions. “Is this an actual castle?” I asked and took another bite of the roll; it was so warm and soft.
“It is. It was built in the early eighteen hundreds by my great ancestors and it’s surrounded by beautiful mountains. Our family comes from Crescent Moon. My father was the second son of my grandparents, which meant that my uncle Titus was the heir of this pack. Dark Moon had a bad reputation and a cruel Alpha, so my father challenged him to the death and won. He became Alpha of that pack and built it up to one of the strongest in the states.”
“How did you end up back at Crescent Moon?” I asked and drank the water he held to my lips.
“Just after the rogue attack that killed my mother Luna Clair and your father, we discovered that my uncle Titus was behind the attack. Ranger became Alpha of Dark Moon on his twenty first birthday and had no interest in confronting my powerful uncle. I had the water element on my side and a hunger to punish my uncle. I came back to Crescent Moon at
nineteen to challenge him and avenge my mother. I won and became Alpha of the largest and strongest pack.”
“Why did your uncle attack the pack?”
“I’ll let my father explain that, if that’s okay with you?” I nodded, “okay.”
“Would you like me to run you a hot bath?” He asked. “Your legs must be sore from all that running.”
“Yes please! Mate is so thoughtful.” Lia chimed. “That sounds wonderful, thank you.” I told him.
He disappeared behind a door and I heard water filling up a tub.
“Lucy, the fireplace is double sided between the bedroom and bathroom by the tub. Would you like me to light a fire in it to keep both rooms warm?”
There was a little chill in the air, and I nodded, “Yes please.”
He moved quick and placed a stack of wood in the fireplace. Then he reached for a match and lit the small kindling to start the fire. “The fire should be full in just a bit.”
I reached my hand out and felt the power of the small flame. I imagined a full crackling fire and the flames grew instantly filling the room with warmth. Diesel smiled proudly at me and said, “Thank you.”
He walked back to the bed and carried me bridal style into the bathroom. Talk about a grand chamber. Wow! It had a massive rock shower, double sink vanity, a water closet for the toilet, a lounge chaise in the corner by the huge claw foot bathtub and of course the beautiful double sided fireplace protruding from the stone wall.
He set me down on the chaise and turned off the water. “I added bath salts and bubbles to help relax your muscles.”
“Thank you.” I smiled; he really was so thoughtful.
He stood for a moment as if debating on what to do next. “Stand up, I’ll help you get in.”
My breath hitched in my throat and the butterflies in my stomach took flight. I hesitated.
“I’ve seen you naked already.” He flashed me a sheepish grin. “Besides, you’ve only got the use of one arm and the tub is really big. I don’t want my mate drowning again.” His smile widened.
“Fine.” I rolled my eyes and stood up.
He chuckled and started to carefully remove my sling. Then he slowly lifted the large shirt up over my head. The glow from the fireplace was the only light in the chamber and I saw his eyes darken. His hands moved slowly down my sides and trailed tingles in their wake. He gently lifted me up and slowly lowered me in the water.
His arms and shirt got soaked from the bubbles and water when he set me in the tub. The warmth from the water instantly soothed and relaxed me. Diesel pulled his wet shirt off and knelt beside the tub.
“Oh, sweet Moon Goddess!” Lia panted in my head and I almost laughed out loud at her. “Down girl,” I told her. I turned to look at the fireplace on the other side hoping he didn’t see the blush creeping up my face.
I tried to lean back on the tub to relax, but my body floated up and I got a mouth full of water trying to sit up again. “Oops, too much water, I suppose.” Diesel chuckled again. “I could come in and be your lifeguard.”
“The pool is big enough,” I jokingly said. Before I realized what I had actually said, he was naked and sliding in behind me.
Diesel pulled my back into his chest and the sparks were flying. He put his head in my shoulder and inhaled. “Relax, I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do, except maybe wash your hair.”
I let out a nervous giggle and took a deep breath. His scent washed over me, and I laid back into him. I felt a low purr in his chest, and I knew his wolf was happy to have us close. I couldn’t believe how comfortable I was around him. How natural this felt.
I looked towards the other side of the chamber at the window and watched the snow falling. Diesel started massaging the shampoo into my hair and then on my scalp. Everything seems so surreal. A week ago, I was in the hole, cold and starving. Now, I’m in a castle with prince charming, warm, fed and safe.
The crackling sounds from the fire were relaxing, the warm water was soothing, and Diesel’s touch lulled me. I continued to watch the snow fall and my eyes became heavy. I was so relaxed and comfortable, I drifted to sleep.