The Code Of The Alpha

“So what else do you do besides build houses and run a pack of over five thousand people?” I asked, backing away from both his gaze and the awkward tension.

“I don’t have time for much else, I’m afraid.”

We were both quiet for a moment before Luca cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Speaking of the pack, I have a few things I need to see to. You’re more than welcome to look around. If you need me, I’ll be in the apartment that’s over the garage. I typically utilize that space as an office.”

I nodded quickly, glad that I would get some time to myself.

Luca walked back into the house and disappeared.

Immediately, I felt like I could breathe normally again. I slumped into the couch that was beside me, trying to figure out what to do next.

It wasn’t long before I felt my eyelids begin to get heavy. As I tried to wake myself up, it occurred to me that I had been awake for over twenty-four hours. I hadn’t slept since our only night in Vegas.

As soon as I came to this realization, I felt a wave of drowsiness rush over me. I managed to drag myself off the couch and back inside the house. Searching for a few minutes, I finally found a guest bedroom that was attached to the third-floor loft.

I took my shoes off and pulled my hair out of a ponytail before laying my head against the pillow.

Only a few minutes had passed before I fell asleep.

When I finally woke up, I felt even worse than I had before I slept. The sun had begun to set, leaving very little light to come through the bedroom windows.

I sat up on the bed, unable to remember getting under the blanket that I was now covered by. A headache pounded behind my eyes, leaving me to regret the nap I had taken. I couldn’t tell if this had been the reason I’d woken up, or if it was because of the hunger that rumbled in my stomach.

I pushed back the blanket to swing my legs over the side of the bed. I walked over to the door to walk downstairs, running into Luca on the staircase.

“You’re awake,” he said, seeming surprised.

“I was just coming to wake you. I went and picked up dinner.”

My stomach rumbled again as he said this.

“I’m starving,” I admitted, beginning to follow him back down the staircase.

He led me into the kitchen where a white bag was sitting on the countertop.

“I hope you like barbecue.”

Nodding, I took a seat behind the counter as Luca pulled out two styrofoam trays and a white paper bag.

He placed one tray in front of me and the other tray in front of the chair next to me. “I hope you’re okay with potatoes and green beans,” he said.

“I didn’t know what sides you would like so I let the woman at the restaurant make your plate.”

“No, that’s fine,” I assured him quickly.

“Thank you.”

Luca opened the drawer behind him and pulled out two forks. Placing them down beside me, he walked to the refrigerator.

“Drink?” He asked.

“Water is fine.”

Luca reached in the cabinet next to the refrigerator and pulled out two glasses. He filled them each with ice and water from the refrigerator before walking back over to the counter.

I thanked him for the drink as he handed me my glass and took a seat next to me.

What began as a small sip of water turned into a gulp and then, before I realized it, I had finished the entire glass in one go.

Luca looked at me warily as I placed the empty glass on the counter.

“I didn’t realize how thirsty I was,” I said sheepishly, getting out of my chair to refill the cup. Once I had done so, I drank the entire glass again and refilled it

before returning to my seat.

“Did you sleep well upstairs?” He asked me.

“Yeah,” I lied, shoveling a forkful of green beans in my mouth.

When Luca didn’t say anything, I wondered if he saw right through it.

I hadn’t slept well.

I was sure I looked like garbage with my dark

under-eye circles and messy hair. My voice was groggy and shallow. I was terribly sleep-deprived and there was no denying it.

I could feel myself getting sick from it, too.

My body was overly warm and shaky. The back of my throat was so dry that I knew it would take several more glasses of water to aid the scratchiness.

With the added stress of the past two days, I knew I was getting sick. I glanced down at the food in front of me. I desperately wanted to eat it. It looked delicious and smelt divine.

But I suddenly felt like I was going to throw up.

“You okay?” Luca asked.

I shook my head slowly.

“I don’t feel very good,” I said honestly.

“I think I need to go back to bed.”

I got out of my chair slowly and closed the styrofoam plate. Placing it in the refrigerator, I thanked Luca for getting it before heading back towards the staircase.

“Let me know if you need anything,” he said, watching me with concern.

I nodded before walking upstairs, back to bed

Falling asleep the second time wasn’t nearly as easy as it had been the first time. I found myself sweating. I got out of the bed to turn on the ceiling fan. When that didn’t help, I resorted to sleeping on top of

the blankets.

After what felt like hours of tossing and turning, I finally fell asleep.

When I woke up a few hours later, I could have sworn I was on fire. My throat and stomach burned like I had swallowed hot coals.

I was drenched in sweat. My clothes were stuck to my body. I felt my stomach lurch and I jumped off the bed, rushing to make it to the toilet in time. Once in the bathroom, I fell to my knees and puked.

Placing my hand over my forehead, I winced. I was burning up. Something wasn’t right. When I was sure I wouldn’t throw up again, I crawled from the

bathroom-unable to find the strength to stand up.

I was gasping for air as I pulled myself up to my feet, using the staircase railing to lean on.

“Luca.”

I knew there was no way he heard my whisper from his bedroom, but I couldn’t find the breath in my lungs to yell.

“Luca.”

I was slightly louder that time.

A few moments passed and I shook my head, feeling tears coming to my eyes. If I needed help, I was going to have to find a way down the stairs to get it.

My body was shaking from the pain as I gingerly took a step down the staircase. I was so weak. I knew my knees would buckle under at any given second.

Just as I was building up the strength to take another step, I heard a door open.

“Luca?”

Footsteps bounded towards the staircase.

I could have cried when I saw him making his way up the stairs. Concern etched on his face, he immediately reached out to hold me. I felt my whole body go completely weak and I fell into his arms.

“Jesus, you’re burning up,” he said, placing a hand on the side of my face.

“I feel like I’m dying,” I whispered.

I laid my head against his chest, unable to hold it up any longer.

“C’mon,” he said, “I’Il run you a cold bath, that will help.”

I mourned his body when it pulled away. He tried to usher me forward on the staircase but I just shook my head.

“I can’t take another step.”

Without any hesitation, Luca reached back out and lifted me off the stairs and into his arms. I immediately felt better as his strong arms wrapped around me. I closed my eyes, resting my head against his shoulder and lingering in the feeling of being held.

He carried me into his bedroom and then through his bathroom door. Setting me down on the countertop of one of the two vanities, he walked over to start running the water in the large clawfoot tub that sat between them.

Luca helped me down off the counter and walked me over to the tub.

“I’m not taking my clothes off if that’s what you’re waiting for,” I said.

He let out a quiet laugh before picking me up and lifting me over the side of the tub to place me in the water. I gasped and pulled myself back into his arms as he tried to lower me into the cold water.

“It’s freezing.”

“It’ll help,” he assured, lowering me back down into the water.

I gulped and gently let go, feeling the water rushing over my feet.

After a moment, I began to feel a little better but not as good as I did while Luca held me.

“And?” He asked, gauging my reaction carefully.

I nodded slowly, splashing the cold water on my legs and face. Another hot flash rolled over me and I whimpered, feeling all satisfaction of the cold water disappear.

“I’ll be right back,” Luca said, standing from beside me and leaving the bathroom.

When he came back a few moments later, he carried a large cup filled with ice water. Luca handed me the cup and I drank the water quickly.

He took the empty cup from my hands and began to pour the bathwater over my head, soaking my hair.

With the next hot flash came a twist of my stomach and I doubled over.

“I think I’m going to puke,” I warned.

Luca stood up, grabbed me from the tub, and carried me over to the toilet where I threw up again, a puddle of bathwater pooling under my knees.

He held my hair back out of my face as I puked.

A few minutes went by and with them, came more hot flashes. Each one made me feel progressively worse.

I was on fire but chill bumps erupted across my skin and caused shivers. Luca carried me back over to the bath and laid me down in the water. Wordlessly, he sat next to me for what felt like forever.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Finally the sensations passed and I felt a little better.

When I went to stand from the tub, Luca stood as well.

He grabbed a towel and began to dry me off.

I wanted to tell him that I was more than capable of doing this myself, but I couldn’t find the energy to.

“Turn around,” I told him, taking the towel from his hands.

Luca did as I told him and I stripped out of my clothes and wrapped myself in the towel.

“Do you want something to change into?” He asked me, turning back around.

I nodded and followed him out to his room.

When he went inside his closet, I laid down on his bed. I had already fallen asleep by the time he came out of the closet with something for me to wear.