The man’s upper body was completely bare, revealing broad shoulders and a muscular chest.
Water streamed down his dark hair and traveled along his pale skin as he stood waist-deep in the lake.
Athissa’s mouth hung open.
Her brain suddenly stopped working.
‘Oh, my goddess!’ Athissa thought and immediately looked away.
But after a second, her eyes betrayed her.
Athissa slowly glanced back, and the Alpha was already staring at her.
The Alpha caught her staring.
A slow smile then appeared on his lips.
“Well.”
Athissa swiftly looked at the ground.
“I wasn’t looking!”
“I didn’t say you were.”
“You were thinking it.”
“Because you were looking.”
Athissa’s brow furrowed together.
“I am not looking!
I was just trying to see if you’re drowning.”
The Alpha glanced down at himself.
“While I’m standing waist-deep in water?”
Athissa cleared her throat.
“Exactly.
Like I did.”
The Alpha chuckled.
“This part of the lake isn’t deep.
You can take a bath with me if you want.”
Athissa’s ears turned red.
She ignored the Alpha’s invitation and acted as if she didn’t hear anything.
“I came here to thank you.”
The Alpha crossed his arms.
“Are you, really?”
“Yes.”
“Is that a proper way to say thank you?
You can’t even look at me.”
“That’s because you’re naked!” Athissa’s brow furrowed exclaimed.
She immediately covered her mouth in embarrassment.
The Alpha chuckled.
He walked out of the water and wrapped a towel around his waist.
“Now I’m not naked.”
“That’s not helping at all.”
The Alpha laughed.
It was deep and warm, making Athissa’s stomach flutter unexpectedly.
She pressed a hand against her chest.
‘What is this?’ Athissa thought.
There was a strange tingling sensation running through her body.
It wasn’t pleasant.
If anything, it was disturbingly pleasant.
The Alpha noticed her expression.
“Are you feeling sick?”
He tried to get closer, but Athissa stepped back.
“I’m fine…” Athissa replied.
However, she also noticed how her headache was gone when she saw him.
“You should get some rest first.
It’s cold out here,” the Alpha said out of concern.
“Wait, I have something to discuss with you,” Athissa turned around, afraid the Alpha would leave.
The moment she faced him.
There he was in all his glory.
He was trying to dry himself with a towel.
“AHHH!” Athissa screamed in horror as her blush turned red.
She turned back and tried to run away, but he held her wrist.
“Wait!” He said.
When their skin came into contact, there was an electrifying feeling that shocked both of them.
“Ouch!” Athissa pulled back and rubbed her wrist.
The Alpha looked at his hand in confusion.
“Wait for me.
I’ll get dressed up, and we’ll talk,” the Alpha said and hurriedly got dressed.
After a minute, he was done.
“Come to my tent,” the Alpha said.
Athissa was stunned.
“We can talk outside,” she said.
“Are you sure?
They might hear what you’ll say,” the Alpha replied, shrugging.
Athissa gulped and thought about it.
“Alright.”
The Alpha nodded and opened his tent, gesturing for Athissa to come first, which she did.
The tent didn’t look fancy at all; it was simple, with a bed made of animal skin and a few pillows.
There was a small table and a few more animal skins on the ground to sit on.
Athissa settled herself and waited for the Alpha.
“Let me introduce myself.
I’m Athissa Viremont from the Eclipse Pack,” she said.
However, the Alpha remained silent and continued staring at her.
That made Athissa nervous.
“I’m… uhh… I’m actually the doctor that you requested,” she continued.
The Alpha rubbed his chin.
“Yes, we did request medical aid, but I meant it as supplies,” he replied.
“What!” Athissa exclaimed loudly.
She didn’t expect the Alpha King and her father to lie in her face like that.
“I guess they told you otherwise.”
“They told me your pack needed a doctor!”
“It’s either they’re dumb, or they want to discard you,” the Alpha shook his head in amusement.
“I think it’s the latter,” Athissa sighed.
The Alpha leaned back and thought for a few seconds.
“Mary did told us about the ambush, but what seemed suspicious was that I received a letter yesterday about the ‘supplies’ we requested were robbed along the way and it might take a while for them to send another batch.”
Athissa scoffed.
“So they already planned it out.
I guess they already expected us dead.”
The Alpha raised his brow.
“You’re always welcome in my pack.
That is, if you want to stay.
Besides, Mary will surely follow Edward since they’re mates.”
Athissa became silent.
‘They lied to me and sent me to another pack with the thought that I’ll die along the way.
Why would I go back there?
It’s better to start a new life in a new pack,’ Athissa thought.
“Do you want to think about it first?
I can give you a job since you’re a doctor, correct?” The Alpha said calmly.
Athissa’s eyes widened in surprise as she didn’t expect how fast it was for the Alpha to accept them into his pack.
“Really!
I’ll gladly accept it!” Athissa exclaimed with sparkling eyes.
It felt as if the burden on her shoulders lessened a bit.
“That’s good to know.
You’ll be staying in the pack house, and I’ll prepare the room for you.
It is also my way of repaying you,” the Alpha said, trying not to smile.
“What do you mean by that?” Athissa asked in confusion.
The Alpha smirked and leaned forwards.
“Didn’t I steal your first kiss?”
Athissa’s eyes widened in shock.
“How… How did you know that!?”
The Alpha laughed.
“While you were unconscious.
You kept mumbling about your stolen first kiss.”
Athissa placed both hands over her face.
She was too embarrassed to look at him.
“I—I know you’re just saving me from drowning.
I don’t think that counts as a first kiss!”
“If that’s what you think,” the Alpha shrugged.
However, Athissa surely thought he had stolen her first kiss, but didn’t want to admit it.
“I’m Caelus, Alpha of the Ravenfort pack.
I welcome you, Doctor Athissa.”
Kyahhh!