The Alpha's Omega Mate-Chapter 130: Amara has favorites.

~Dahlia’s POV~

I slowly peeled my heavy eyelids open, squinting at the dim room which I now found myself in. My heart raced as a gazillion thoughts struck my mind but before I could ponder over all of them, a voice, as if from my memory whispered; "I’m sorry but I need to have your injuries looked at."

Alpha Kai.

The name alone sent jolts of electricity running through my spine and I shivered as if reliving the feel of his fingers brushing against my skin.

And that is when I noticed it, the smell—sharp antiseptic mixed with something warmer, like pine needles and smoke.

I was in a hospital... or maybe not a hospital, but a place where he’d had ’my injuries looked at’.

My body felt heavy, like stone. Every limb leaden, every breath an effort.

I blinked slowly, the ceiling above me coming into focus. It was pale and unfamiliar, but for some reason, I didn’t feel afraid. I wasn’t on edge like I should.

However, my throat was dry and patched. My skin felt clammy casting my clothes to stick to my body in weird spots... and my heart... raced.

Where is this place?

Where is Amara?

A soft sound to my side drew my attention and I instantly turned in the direction, wincing as a searing pain cut through my ribs due to that action but I didn’t get to dwell on it as something else caught my eye instead.

I gasped. There was a man slumped over the edge of the bed, his head spotting a mass of curly black hair resting on the mattress just inches from my hand.

"Who is..?" I began to say but stopped when I leaned forward to take a closer look at him. It wasn’t until that moment that I noticed that he was fast asleep, his dark lashes fanning over sharp cheekbones, lips slightly parted, breathing deep and steady.

I stilled.

Even before I recognized him, my heart knew. My body knew Him.

Alpha Kai.

My mate.

He’d been the one to find Amara and me in that dark frozen cave where I’d almost thought I would die.

He’d saved me one more time and I still do not know what he wants.

A strange warmth flickered in my chest; wild and confused and uninvited. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t bring myself to look away from him. From his peaceful looking face, from his parted lips and sharp pointy nose.

His hand was close to mine, fingers half-curled like he’d been holding mine.

Had he stayed here this whole time?

Did he watch me sleep?

The memories of the last time I was awake came in fragments. The cave. Amara’s fierceness but barely concealed worry. The cold floor pressing in from beneath me, numbing my injured body but in a painful way.

Then his voice—ragged and desperate, calling my name like it was the only word that mattered.

I shifted, trying to sit up, but as soon as I did, a sharp pain lanced through my side, and a groan slipped from my lips before I could stop it.

The sound of me groaning probably woke him up because next thing I knew, Alpha kai had jerked upright instantly. His eyes met mine—piercing red, wide with disbelief.

"You’re awake," he breathed, like he couldn’t believe it, and I nodded slowly.

I opened my mouth to speak, but my voice came out rough. "Where... where are we?" I asked quietly, and then looking around, I tried again; "Where is my daughter."

"You’re safe." He answered, standing abruptly and towering over me. His eyes raked over my face for a moment before he dropped his gaze and continued; "Amara is fine too. She should be here any minute."

"Thank—"

"You’ve been out for two days." He supplied, interrupting me, and my mouth instantly snapped shut as I turned to glare at him.

"Your injuries were severe. It took some time to heal but the doctor says they’re fully healed now."

I stared at him quietly, not trusting myself to say the right words. He looked tired, like he hadn’t slept properly in all that time. His dark hair was messy, his jaw dusted with stubble; but still, he was heartbreakingly handsome. Still impossibly familiar.

Still someone that my subconscious screamed at me to run from.

Because I was tired of all of these games the moon goddess was trying to play. I was tired of being her pawn. Tired of being mated to men who were worlds apart from me.

"Did Amara worry too much?" I couldn’t help but ask, and I noticed the way he smiled at that before shaking his head at me.

"No, I guess. Or maybe I just tried my best to make sure she didn’t have to. Though you still need to see her soon because she’s been shooting tons of questions at me since the past two days."

I exhaled, the tension in my chest loosening—just enough to let something else in. Something more dangerous.

I looked at him again, really looked. "Why did you stay?"

He nodded. "I couldn’t leave you. Not again."

The way he said it... soft but raw, like it hurt to admit made something deep inside of me curl and uncurl. The air between us suddenly shifted. It felt charged. Raw. Daunting. I could feel it crackling over my skin, pulling me toward him.

But I dared not move. Not when this felt like a sin against Zarek.

Not when it felt as though I was cheating on him by just being here.

’But he’s our mate too," my wolf whimpered within me but I shook my head, pushing her to the deepest darkest part of my mind.

’Don’t start.’

However, I was snapped out of my daze when I noticed that his eyes had dropped to my mouth, lingering a second too long before finding my eyes again.

"You should go back to rest," he said, his voice lower now. Rougher.

But he didn’t move. Neither did I.

Because even though my head was still foggy and everything still felt like a dream... his presence here was the only thing that made sense. It was the only thing that managed to make me feel alive— that and my wolf prancing about like a horny teenager.

His eyes dropped to my lips again, and this time they stayed, but just as he leaned closer, to brush those plump pink lips against mine, someone bounded into the room, and the next thing I saw was a mane of ginger.

"Amara!"

"Mommy!"

She jumped into the bed, wrapping her arms around me, and surprisingly, this time, I didn’t feel that sharp pain tearing through me. This time, it didn’t feel as though her weight against mine was knocking the breath out of me.

A smile tugged at my face as I pulled her impossibly closer and I sighed when she nuzzled her head against the curve of my neck.

"I missed you mommy." Amara whispered, her voice thick with tears.

"And I missed you too, my baby." I responded, kissing the top of her hair.

I had almost forgotten about the presence of Alpha Kai in the room until he cleared his throat dramatically, causing Amara and I to turn in his direction.

She smiled brightly at him— but not as bright as she did with Alpha Zarek. And then she muttered; "Thank you, Alpha Kai."

Alpha Kai.

Not Kai.

Not like the way she squeals; "Zareeeq!"