Chapter 41

**Alexander POV**

I held her in my arms like my life depended on it.
Glancing down, I looked into her sleeping face, thinking to myself how beautiful she is.
Cole was sitting in the front, shielding her from the cold as I did from the back, pressing her close into my body to give her enough warmth while we traveled back to our home.
It was a quiet journey and I couldn’t tear away my eyes off of her.
Damn, I missed her so much! I said more to myself than out loud.
Ryder slowly started to lower down towards the ground as we reached our pack territory and soon as he steadied himself, Cole and I jumped off of Ryder’s back and I rushed inside towards the packhouse, searching for Dr. Reed.
A few of my pack members went out to greet us, but were fast to move aside as I rushed past them asking one of them, “Where is Kiara?”
The one I asked stuttered a little as he answered, “I-I don’t know, Alpha.”
Moving past him as all the way I was holding in my arms, unconscious Nerissa, I decided to go straight to the clinic.
Cole was close by, following after me as we reached the doors to the clinic. He reached over and opened the door as slowly and carefully as possible, carried Nerissa inside, and placed her gently on the bed in the room.
Gently I caressed her cheek with my hand, seeing a slight smile appear on her lips, making my heart flutter at the sight.
The door opened, making both Cole and I turn and look towards it, seeing it was Ryder.
“Is everything ok?” Ryder asked as he saw me next to Nerissa, who was still unconscious laying down on the bed.
“Find Dr. Reed,” I told him without wasting any time and he was gone in a second, leaving me and Cole alone with Nerissa.
“Thank you.” I heard Cole say, making me look up towards him, seeing him sitting on a chair, holding on to his rib cage as his eyes showed gratitude.
“For what?” I asked him, feeling confused.
“For giving me a chance and for believing in me. No one ever did, and for that, I am grateful to you.” He spoke and I could see he was telling the truth but before I had a chance to answer him, the door opened revealing two people walking inside as one stood for a second, saying, “Alpha.”
She lowered her head, showing me her submission to which I nodded my head and said, “Kiara, this is my mate, and yes I know she is familiar and before you give me a lecture, I know all you will say and I don’t care that she is a Phoenix shifter, she is mine and I want to know what happened to her because she is not waking up, please.” I said the last part softly as I looked at the doctor who was listening to my rambling and at the same time having her eyes set on my mate.
“I am glad that you two have finally accepted each other.” She said as she walked towards Nerissa and started to examine her.
I was speechless by her words, standing there looking at her, asking her, “Wait, what?”
She chuckled as she inspected Nerissa, leaning closer to her, saying so I could hear it to, “You, my dear, are going to have hands full with this one.”
I rolled my eyes as I heard her teasing. I walked closer to the bed, standing near the end, watching as Kiara was examining Nerissa when suddenly I remembered Cole was in the room with us with Ryder.
I turned around and looked at the two, saying, “Can you both wait outside?” I tried to sound polite but was annoyed as to how the hell did I forget they were there.
They both nodded their heads, about to leave when Kiara spoke out, “No need to leave I have finished with her, and from the look at you there I would have to guess you are not really well, so sit down and let me take a look.” She said pointing to Cole who without a word did as she instructed.
While she was examining Cole, making him hiss now and then, I called her name, “Kiara?”
She glanced at me, continuing her work without stopping, “Yes?”
Raking a hand through my hair, feeling irritated by her careless approach, I forced myself to speak politely, “Is she ok?”
She knew well she was irritating me as she gave me a sly smile, answering my question, “Yes, she is ok. The markings look like a marking used in dark magic rituals, but what type of ritual I can’t say. She seems to be exhausted and her body needs rest. It is quite possible she will feel disoriented when she wakes up.”
Hearing Kiara say that Nerissa was ok, and she is going to wake up, made me take a long time needed a deep breath.
“The markings need to be cleaned off and I’ll do it soon as I finish here.” She said, pressing a little to the side of Cole’s chest, making him hiss out in pain. She said, “What happened to you?”
Ryder and Cole both silently looked at me, making Kiara turn around and look at me too, saying, “O, figures.”
I could see Cole was feeling uncomfortable for a little while Ryder snickered, making me shoot him a glare.
“There, now you are all patched up, and try not to have anymore one on one with him again.” Winking, she said to Cole, who gave her a cracked smile.
Kiara rushed to the other room bringing a sponge and a bucket, turning to us all, saying, “Now you three shoo outside and wait until I call you in again.”
Cole was surprised while Ryder and I shook our heads, smiling as we all went outside.
Cole turned to us and asked me, “You are not mad at her when she speaks with you this way?”
I looked at him answering, “No, of course not. How could I be mad at her, she is my cousin. ”
“Oh, I see. She is truly amazing.” Cole said, looking towards the door that we just walked through.
Ryder snickered, saying, “Be careful, she bites.”
Cole’s eyes widened as I snapped my head and gave Ryder a staredown.
Ryder rolled his eyes seeing my look and said, “Oh, come on, not only would she kick both of our asses but you have to admit she can be scary.”
I kept my eyes on him, but I couldn’t hold in the serious look as I burst into laughter followed by Ryder while Cole looked at us amused.
The door opened behind us, making Ryder and I both stop laughing as we looked at Kiara who was silently watching us, when she finally said, “You may come in now.”
I rushed inside and went straight to Nerissa and could see that the markings are gone now.
“I have noticed one thing but again I couldn’t be so sure if that is new or not but looks a little new…” Kiara spoke as she was at the same time trying to decide if she was right or wrong making me look at her and ask, “What did you notice?”
She took Nerissa’s wrist and held it up, making me look down at it but I couldn’t figure out what she wanted me to see so I looked back up at her, feeling confused as she pointed at three dots on her wrist, saying, “I don’t know if she had these before but I can’t help but to find them interesting as they are the same level and in the same line, plus this one looks new.”
I leaned down to look at the marking she was pointing out and could see two visible. But the third one seems like it’s catching up to the other two.
I looked up at her, asking, “What do you think that could be?”
She was silent for a moment, thinking, then she looked at me and said, “I can’t be fully sure. I would like to make some tests just in case since we don’t know the type of ritual that was performed and what for unless she wakes up and remembers enough to tell me so I can have a better understanding and can approach the issue better.”
I nodded my head, taking Nerissa’s hand in mine, saying, “Do whatever you need to do.”
Kiara jumped up and rushed to her cabinet, taking out needed instruments, placing them on a tray as she rushed back, ready to take out Nerissa’s blood for testing.
Soon as Kiara was done, I picked Nerissa up in my arms and carried her to my room.
Gently I placed her in my bed, covering her up, I leaned down and pressed my lips on her forehead, kissing it gently as she smiled letting out a content breath out making me smile down at her looking at her with adoration and love.
‘Goddess, I hope she can forgive me for my mistakes and give us a chance.’ I silently prayed when Ryder and Cole knocked on the door, making me look at them.
“Do you need me to do anything?” Ryder asked me as I remembered and said, “Yes, give Cole a room and some clothes and prepare everything for his initiation tomorrow.”
Ryder looked at me surprised hearing what I was planning to do as Cole was equally shocked, silently taking in my words. Ryder said, “Initiation?” he glanced towards Cole and I couldn’t blame him, but I trusted my feeling that was telling me that this was a right decision so I nodded my head and repeated, “Yes, initiation.”
Ryder nodded his head, and I could see approval in his eyes as Cole jumped in and said, “You don’t need to do that. I am grateful for you spearing my life and saving me back there and stitching me up. I know packs and most do not like and are not comfortable with Wayern around them and I don’t wish to make troubles for you so do not worry, I can leave and will not make any troubles for you and your pack.”
Ryder was silently looking at him, the same as I was, making me even more determined to hear his words as I said, “Well, we are not as others now are we. I for example have a phoenix for a mate, the same as my Beta Ryder does, so why not add Wayern to the picture and break down all the beliefs and show everyone that not all Wayern’s are bad as we thought they are?”
He was silent for a moment, looking at Ryder and me, thinking about our proposition when he smiled and extended his arm, saying, “If you both are sure, then why not? I would be honored.”
We all shook hands when Ryder said to him, “Let’s find you some free room since from tomorrow you are, after all, a new member of Draconis.”
They both rushed out of my room, leaving me all alone with sound asleep, Nerissa.
I walked closer to her, seeing she is sleeping peacefully, so I decided I will go to the bathroom and have a shower before she wakes up.
Rushing to the bathroom, I took a fast shower, feeling my muscles relax under the hot stream of water, wrapping the towel around my hips, I slowly walked out of the bathroom, trying to make as little noise as possible so I didn't wake her up as I reached my closet.
I heard her stir as her breathing started to grow faster, making me leave what I was planning to do as I rushed to her side. Sitting on the bed, I gently caressed her cheek, trying to soothe her.
Soon as she felt my presence close to her, she calmed down, and I saw her eyes flutter open, blinking a few times before they rested on me.
She looked at me confused, saying, “Alex?”