"But I am already mostly recuperated. Teacher just mentioned my wounds are closed and almost healed. I can recuperate further in my own room at the Academy. There is no need ..." Celia tried to explain, she could not be so close to Salas. The strange feelings that invaded her heart felt foreign and confusing. Her calm and solemn face felt like it was starting to crumble and if she did not leave it would only crumble some more each time she would see him. One would be able to read all her feelings clearly in her eyes and face if her mask broke apart.

What if the king realized her shyness and loss of breath was not because of the same sentiments as other people, it was not because she respected and feared his alpha aura?

"This is the protocol for the people who have been injured in the premises of the castle. I am sorry, but you will have to remain here at least a week more. We will make sure all your needs are taken care of. Please understand us at this time. It would also help us with the investigations of the attack if your are near while we need further information." He told her with an apologetic look.

Hearing Salas's honest words she could not insist more. He was a king, he did not need to explain so much to her, he would only have to order and she, as his subordinate, could only comply. But he had said "I am sorry" and "please". Moreover it was a protocol for all the people, who was she to be the exception.

She nodded her head in understanding, albeit a little reluctant.. It was only a week she should be alright. Anyway it was a huge castle. At most she might see him once the following day when she would answer the questions. He was the king, it was not like he would cater to all her needs himself. Her thoughts had gone too far.

Watching the conversation before him, Gabriel was trying to maintain a solemn look, but inside he wanted to burst out at his friend. What protocol? He had never heard such rules before and he would know, he was teaching general knowledge at the Academy which included the laws of the kingdom and of course all protocols of the palace and its executive members. He was also an executive member of the royal palace himself. Lies, nothing but lies, Gabriel thought.

Well but it was all good to him, wait until they left the room. He would ask Salas why he was not notified of the changes to the protocols.

"Hohoho!" He was laughing inside his mind mischievously.

She sighed relieved when the two men left. Her teacher aside, his highness had quite the presence, she felt like she was losing a bit of air each time he was near. He was the king of all wolves, such sentiments were not appropriate. As a daughter of a beta of a mediocre pack, she was thinking too much of his actions and was being too self-conscious.

Helping her up and handing a glass of water, even arranging her pillow, not to mention, telling her when he left that he would return to check up on her and even living at the palace to recuperate, could be just normal actions that the king did.

It could also be because he had interacted with a lot of women in his life and so was generally accustomed to act in this way. Thus he did not mind the small distance between them, and even closed that distance even more. Or it was because he had felt guilty that the incident was inside his personal territory, and she was just over thinking.

She had never been close to men in her life, never had a boyfriend and she did not know what the appropriate distance between women and men should be. With the guys from the pack it was much easier to interact, she sighed. Either way a wider distance was better than the opposite, she  finally decided.

Lest he sensed her blush, her heartbeat and her slight tremble at his touch were for a reason other than shyness. It would be embarrassing if he noticed her turmoil. She really did not understand why he had such an effect on her. Even if she had rejected her mate, he most certainly would have a beautiful and strong mate, she was nothing compared to that. Wait... why was she comparing?

She massaged her head bewildered of her thoughts, and tried to push these ideas out of her mind. A few seconds later,  she removed her legs from the warm blanket, and tried to move to get up, she really needed to use the bathroom. They had told her she had a landline phone near the bed and should use it each time she wanted something, but she could do it herself. It only took a few steps until the bathroom.

She slowly positioned herself, with her legs dangling on the side of the bed, and propped her hands for support, but it was more difficult than she thought. She finally got up when the dizziness went away and steadied her feet. 

She took one, two, three steps. The door of the bathroom was in sight, but she suddenly felt a numbing pain, before her feet gave out under her weight.

Her only reflex was to close her eyes tightly and wait for the pain caused by the fall. There was nothing to hold on to, even if she wanted to stop herself from falling. The expected pain did not come as she bumped into something and it was not the floor as she was still on her feet.

Her face was pressed into a hard chest, strong hands surrounded her waist holding her from falling and, as she felt the warmth of the other person, Salas's strong natural scent hit her nose.

"Why did you not use the landline? Your injuries are almost healed, but you are still frail, you could still get hurt." The soothing gentle voice scolded, but even his reproach of her actions held a tinge of endearment.

She looked up to see him gazing straight down at her, really this man was too beautiful for words. Realizing the closeness, one even more evident than before, she quickly lowered her eyes and tried to steady her feet for him to let her go.

"I am sorry. I thought I could manage to walk. I am alright now. Thank you your highness." Celia apologized, but even though she slightly pushed her hands against his chest and tried to back away, he was like a stone wall.

"Where were you going?" He asked again, ignoring her attempts to create distance between them.

She could not openly push him away and could only reply hoping he would let go. He was the king... how could she dare be rude.

"I just wanted to walk a little. I am fine now, I can go back to the bed myself. Thank you!" She said trying to tell him with words that he should let her go, but he still ignored her attempts.

He looked behind him to the direction she was heading to and realized that she was too embarrassed to tell him she was going to the bathroom. He looked again at her and smiled a little although she could not see it, as she was still looking down averting his eyes.

He did not say anything more, just bent a little, put one hand under her knees and another on her back lifting her up.

With her legs swept from the floor, it felt like she was about to fall, so in a startle she extended her hands and quickly grabbed his neck.

"Y-Your highness I ..." she wanted to say she could walk on her own, but there was no chance to. He walked fast and in seconds he had already closed the distance she was from the bathroom. With the door to it already opened, he went inside and gently sat her on the bathtub's edge, before he exited and closed the door behind him. Celia could not even utter a word of thanks or deny needing to use the bathroom. The embarrassment was too much by this point.

His highness had realized she needed to use the bathroom. He had also personally helped her there... She couldn't be more ashamed than she was just now. Feeling all the blood from her body travelling to her cheeks, staining them a bright crimson color, she helplessly raised her hands to cover her whole face. But this action only had the opposite affect, instead of calming her, it had brought about more unrest. 

The hands that had been around his highness's neck were utterly infused with his wonderful smell. No, no... not wonderful, she immediately denied to herself, before again realizing her rudeness.

How could the highest werewolf not be wonderful? Of course he was... wait why did it sound like her thought meant something else? She pondered again... Her thoughts changing rapidly, that even the need to use the bathroom was forgotten.

Ten minutes later she slowly opened the door and poked her head out a little through the crack of the opening, hoping he had left. She had stayed a little more time in the bathroom for this exact reason.

There was no movement in the room, though it still smelled like him inside the bedroom. She sighed relieved, he smelled so strong that the smell must have lingered and that was why she could still feel his scent, but a man as busy as him would surely not wait until she exited.

But to her bewilderment, she did not even fully exit the door, when he appeared and gently grabbed her arm. She gasped at the sense of his touch, but still tried to keep her face as calm and as collected as it could be.

"Has your dizziness gone away?" He asked gently to not startle her further.

"Yes, it has." She whispered back, no other words besides those three. The shock had made her forget to use the right appellative for the king, but of course the man wouldn't point it out to her. Without the appellative, he did not feel a distance because of their positions.

"Alright, that is good. I will only hold your arm until we reach the table. You should have some dinner." He said still as tenderly as before.

She nodded pleased, her relieved mood projecting on her fair face. She felt happy that he was a gentleman, he explained his actions and, perhaps seeing that it had made her uncomfortable before, did not carry her again.

The table in the bedroom was filled with all kind of different foods, one could find at least one or two things to eat no matter how picky one was, but it wouldn't have been a problem either way. She was not one to be selective about her food.

Though she did not understand why there were two plates set on the table. At least she was confused only for a little while because, after he led her to one of the chairs, and helped her sit near the table, he took the one opposite to her and plopped down.

He was planning to eat with her, but why she did not know. Wouldn't his highness eat in the dining room with his family or something? Why would he eat with her? Of course these questions would remain unsaid, she could not ask him directly. It would be rude to ask the owner of the castle why he was eating in a particular room.

He also did not say anything about the situation, only nimbly took some different kind of foods and placed it on her plate and on his as well, then started to eat.

When she still did not begin eating, he raised his eyes to look at her. He did not say anything, but she felt like his eyes were saying what he did not say with his mouth, so she took the fork and knife that were placed in front of her and slowly started to eat the food.

He was calm and while eating only made a little bit of conversation, he only asked her about the university and things like that, he did not intrude on her privacy. Never in her life had she imagined that she would have dinner with the king of all werewolves much less in a private setting with only the two of them. The rumors about him being stern and ruthless were entirely wrong.

He was every bit of a gentleman a man should be and, although she felt awkward at first, the atmosphere slowly relaxed.

Finishing their dinner he did not accompany her further. He left after making sure one of the maids that collected the plates and leftover food remained behind with her to help and also after telling her they would see each other the following day at breakfast.

She said her goodbye greetings, but inside her mind was chaos. Sure she felt a bit more relaxed in his presence, the atmosphere was not as awkward as it was at first, but she still averted her eyes each time he tried to look directly at her and her pulse still beat with force each time his face came in her vision.

And now followed breakfast? It could not be that each meal she would have here would be in his presence right? And what would happen if it was necessary for her to stay more than a week? She was a werewolf watcher student, she was stronger than most werewolves. Why was it a need for her to stay and face him each day considering the fact that just meeting him two - three times before, and she was already feeling helpless?