THE WEIGHT OF RESPONSIBILITY

My heart is heavy with the weight of responsibility as we exit the council room. The fate of the entire kingdom rests on our shoulders, and we know that failure is not an option. We have to find a way to stop the virus from spreading before it's too late.

I steal a quick glance at Mia, who is sitting twiddling her thumps in the corridor with the guard standing by her side. Despite her young age, she has already faced so many hardships, losing her father and having no one to turn to. It reminds me of my own experience, losing my father and being left with only Lexi to care for me. Though she wasn't my actual mother, Lexi gave me the love and support that I needed to overcome my grief. And that's what I want for Mia, to give her the same kind of love and support that Lexi gave to me.

I feel a sharp tap on my shoulder, and my heart jumps in my chest. I spin around to see Dr. Volkov standing before me, his face etched with the stress of the situation. "Alivia," he says, his voice tense. "I've arranged for a room to be set up for Mia next to yours. She'll be more comfortable there."
I exhale a sigh of relief, grateful for the small comfort. "Thank you, Dr. Volkov. That's very kind of you."

"But," he says, his tone serious, "we can't forget the importance of your blood tests. We must ensure you haven't been infected with the virus."
My heart sinks at the reminder of the danger lurking around us. "You're right," I reply, mustering up all the composure I can. "I'll find you in your workshop once Mia is settled in."

With a nod, Dr. Volkov turns to leave, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I stride over to Mia, who is sulking with a stone-faced guard by her side. As I approach, I take in his stern expression and try to appear calm and friendly. "Hey, Mia. Are you okay?" I ask, peering down at her.

"Nope," she pouts, crossing her arms.

I cannot help but stifle a laugh, and the guard glares at me disapprovingly.

"What's going on, kiddo?" I ask, feigning concern. "I'm bored," she whines, slumping in her chair.

"This guy won't let me go anywhere, and I miss Grandma Agatha" she grumbles, gesturing towards the guard.

The guard stands firm, his expression unchanged. "I'm just doing my job” he says, his voice gruff.

I flash him a reassuring grin before turning back to Mia. "Don't worry, sweetie. You will see Grandma Agatha soon. He is only trying to keep you safe," I say, winking at her.

Mia rolls her eyes, unimpressed. "Yeah, but this place is so boring! Can't we do something fun?" she pleads, bouncing in her seat.

The guard looks at me with a pleading expression, and I can't resist. "Fine, fine. How about I take you outside to hang out with the other kids and make some new friends?" I suggest.

Mia's eyes light up with excitement, and she jumps out of her chair. "Yes, please!" she exclaims, grabbing my hand.

The guard heaves a sigh of relief before following Mia and I towards garden. As we step outside, Mia inhales deeply, soaking up the fresh air. Her face beams as she takes in the lush greenery before her gaze locks onto a group of children playing in the distance. Without hesitation, she sprints towards them, leaving me and the guard in her wake.

The guard shakes his head with a small grin. "Kids," he chuckles before following Mia.

I walk towards the workshop, feeling a small grin spread across my face as I think about Mia. As I arrive at the door, I try the handle, but it does not budge. I furrow my brow, confused. Didn't I tell Dr. Volkov that I would meet him here? I wonder where he could be. Deciding to search for him inside the pack house, I turn around and head back out.

As I enter the pack house, I notice Adam and his fiancé, Isabella. My heart sinks as I see them, Isabella moving the fringe of Adam hair out of his face and laughing at something he said. I feel a twinge of jealousy as I remember the times I spent with Adam. I try to move pass them unnoticed.
"Alivia" Adam says with a smile.

I freeze in my tracks, unable to ignore his voice. I turn to face him, forcing a smile on my face. "Hi, Adam. Hey, Isabella, was it?" I say, trying to keep my voice steady.

Isabella nods with a warm smile. "Yes, that's me. It is nice to finally meet you, Alivia. Adam has told me so much about you," she says, extending her hand for a shake.

My mind begins to race with thoughts what could have Adam told her about me? He did not tell her that I confessed to him, I hope. I take her hand and give it a small shake. "Nice to meet you too, Isabella," I say trying to keep the forced smile on my face.

"Alivia” Adam replies, looking at me with a hint of concern in his eyes. "Is everything okay?"

I nod, not wanting to burden them with my problems. "Yeah, everything's fine. Just looking for Dr. Volkov”

“He is in his room, last floor the first door on your right” Adam says, “Listen, we were about to grab some lunch. Why don't you join us?” and Isabella nods.

I hesitate for a moment, but then I remind myself that Adam is engaged to Isabella, and I need to move on. "Actually, I think I'll pass. Maybe another time," I say, giving them both a small smile.

"Okay, no problem. Take care of yourself, Alivia," Adam says, giving me a small wave as they continue on their way.

I watch them go, feeling a mixture of emotions inside me. My heart aches as I see Isabella’s hand wrapped around Adams arm, and I can't help but wonder what it would have been like if that was me instead. But I know that I need to move on and focus on the problems at hand. With a deep breath, I make my way towards Dr. Volkov's room.

As I climb the stairs to the last floor, my mind is consumed by anxious thoughts about the upcoming blood test. I reach the door to Dr. Volkov's room and notice it is slightly ajar. Curiosity getting the better of me, I push it open just a crack and peek inside. My eyes widen at the sight before me. Dr. Volkov stands with his back to me, his bare muscles flexing and rippling as he moves around. The scars etched into his skin only add to the intensity of the scene. Feeling a sudden heat rising in my cheeks, I quickly avert my gaze and knock on the door to announce my presence. Dr. Volkov turns towards me, his piercing gaze locking onto mine as my eyes trail down to the intricate tattoo on his left pec. The design is a mesmerizing masterpiece, with delicate lines and curves that seem to hold a hidden story within. I can't help but feel curious about its meaning and significance. I continue to stare, and a sly smile begins to play on his lips, and I quickly avert my gaze, my face turning bright red with discomfort. But it's hard to focus on anything else when he's standing there, looking like a Greek god come to life.

I try to compose myself, but Dr. Volkov steps closer to me, his eyes locking onto mine. I can feel my heart racing as he leans in, his lips brushing against my ear. "Do you like what you see, Alivia?" he whispers, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine.

I feel a sudden surge of desire course through my veins. My body betrays me as I lean in closer, craving more of his touch. I can't help but notice the way his eyes darken with a primal hunger, the same hunger that's stirring within me. The tension between us is palpable, and I find myself wanting to give in to it, to let myself be consumed by the fire burning between us. My mind goes blank as I struggle to find the words to answer him, unsure if I should give in to the sudden attraction, I feel towards him or run out of the room as fast as I can.