My tour lasted longer than it should have and by the time I made it back to Xander's office, whooo!!! I felt as tired as one who ran a marathon. It took me a little longer to make it to Xander's office too due to the fact that I stopped by the library on the lycan floor instead of just heading straight to his office just as I itched to do.
When I finally knocked and walked into his office, I found him seated behind his table reading through a file with such focus, I envied the file. The minute I walked in he closed the file and put it in one of the drawers to the left side of the table and then all that focus was turned on me.
His office was neat and had little furniture like he wanted to remind himself that only a table and chairs and shelves of books are required in an office. The same theme of the lycan floor continued in his office, only difference is the hardwood floors, while his walls though were a mix of black and white and there were at least three huge shelves filled with books to his right in the office.
His office was brightly lit with a beautiful chandelier above and small light bulbs on the walls bathing the room with such beautiful light you'd think you were standing in the sun. I guess it made sense though since I couldn't spot one window in the office.
"Hey, took you a while", he said with a small smile. "I was almost getting worried that Nat had kidnapped you or something". I laughed at that and moved to take a seat on the only extra furniture in his office that wasn't currently in use, the white couch to the left side of his table facing the library.
"She didn't", I replied softly suddenly feeling drained. He rose up from his chair and with small steps made his way to sit beside me on the sofa, taking up more than half of the space due to his size. He looked at me for a few seconds before saying softly, "I think you did more than you should have with that tour, you look drained."
I gave him a small smile before replying in the same tone, ��Tell me something I don't already know". "Okay", he replied immediately. "How about this, I'm not sure you'll be able to do anything in terms of research or history lessons today."
"Why do you say that?" I asked weakly, suddenly feeling like my strength was seeping out my body through massive holes. Too much too fast. "I'm sure you must be feeling it right now", he replied gently. "Feeling what?" I asked, my voice lower this time than before. "What the heck is wrong with me?" I asked again.
"I do believe you pushed yourself too far, too soon", he responded softly. I'm sure anytime now I would be passing out again, I thought irately. What kinda wolf or lycan passes out at the drop of a hat every single time? I thought I was supposed to be getting better and stronger at least.
As if he could read my thoughts on my face, he held my hands in his and reprimanded me immediately, "don't blame yourself Asha, there's so much you need to learn and you are not at fault for not knowing how to go about things okay". If only I found that comforting but as usual I missed the point.
All I could think was why the heck was my life not as simple as the life I envied. A simple family, a few good friends and dreams and aspirations of college, future husbands and kids, but no, my life has to be a soap opera, a different twist each day.
"Trust me you're doing great", he reinforced and I wanted so bad to believe him. I guess the past few days have had a stronger effect on me than I thought it did, since I went from a believer to a doubter.
He shook me gently by my arms and turned me to face him when he realized I was lost in my head, "Hey, look at me" I did and the look he gave me almost turned me believer right away. "I'm here for you, whatever you need. You can always talk to me. I know I might not have been the easiest one to talk to before but I want you to know that you can tell me anything, ask me anything."
I gave a quick nod at that and he placed one hand on mine and the other on my face, his thumb on my chin and his fingers in my hair, tracing softly. "You are not alone in this, Asha. You have every one of us including Nat no matter how angry you may be with her right now, but most of all you'll always have me."
We stayed like that for a few seconds, his eyes on mine, my hand tingling in his and my face bristling with currents beneath his hand. It was one of the most intense few seconds in my life but I could feel my body slowing down continuously and I had a feeling it was only a matter of time before I would be out like a light.
"I'm tired X", I whispered gently, my eyes struggling to stay open. I know you are, he replied just as gently. "Come on let's get you to a bed so you can sleep comfortably". I had a feeling he might just put me in a room somewhere and come back here to resume his work. I didn't want that and I definitely didn't want him leaving me anywhere and so with what little strength I had left I told him, "Here's good. Just don't… leave me… alone."
*******Xander's POV*******
I stayed seated right there on the couch with Asha sleeping right in my arms. She had barely been able to finish her last sentence before she passed out with a soft sigh. I wouldn't have heard her completely sentence if not for my sharp hearing and she might have fallen off the couch too were it not for my quick reflexes.
I had managed to hold her weight when she finally gave in to the weariness that had seeped into her body after the tour, managing to adjust her so her head was on my lap and her body stretched out on the couch as best as possible.
From this new vantage point I could see her in a new light literally. She was beautiful beyond anything I could have conjured up when I thought of a mate. Her black hair was shining most brightly under the light pouring out into the room, her face at peace was a work of art. She had full brows, long lashes, sharp cheek bones and luscious pink lips. Goddess, I could barely hold off my hunger to taste those lips.
I would have stopped her earlier when Nat had pulled her away from me but I also didn't want to stop her from doing what she wanted even though I had a feeling things would turn out this way.
Since her change was not yet complete, her strength would still be wavering and it would be worse for her since this was her first shift coupled with the fact that she's different. I still find it difficult to believe, my mate is the niveum lupa. Crazier things have happened in my life but nothing tops this.
Lost in my thoughts I almost didn't hear the knock until a soft voice came through the door, "Xander, its Lilith". 'Ahh, finally' I thought, then replied aloud, "Come in". I heard the door open shortly after.
Since leaving Asha's place, I had given Lilith a call and told her to come see me. She was different, though not like Asha but she was the one with powers closest to the goddess and I was certain she would be able to help Asha in ways even I couldn't, since we barely knew anything about the she-wolf.
Lilith was one of the most respected members of my pack and that did not come based on the fact that she's my sister. She was respected because she was the closest thing to the goddess any wolf would see apart from the full moon, that and the fact that she could whoop any warriors arse in a fight and that includes some of the lycans.
She also had some features that separated her from others, from her red flames of hair, to her silver eyes that and the fact that her height was 5 feet 1, she was short even for a wolf, a lithe but deadly creature.
She walked into my view soon enough, dressed in black yoga pants, black sneakers and a black t-shirt, her red hair pulled high in a ponytail. She smiled at me when she walked in only to suddenly pause, inhale deeply and then whisper in awe, "She's beautiful Ander."
Of all the nicknames she could have chosen for me, Ander was her final decision and no matter how many times I insisted I hated the name, it stuck due to consistent and unrelenting use of it. Overtime I got over it.
"That she is", I responded proudly, turning to look at my mate all over again. She walked further into the room, carried one of the chairs opposite my table and sat beside me. "So she's your mate", she said smiling.
"Yes she is", I replied defensively already knowing the reason for her smile. "Calm down, Ander", she said smirking. "I haven't said anything…yet". I didn't for one second drop my guard. "Don't think I didn't hear the 'yet' you whispered at the end of that sentence, Lil. You should try taking acting class's sis you suck at pretense."
"Only when I'm really enjoying myself", she fired right back. I could only shake my head. I knew she would still gloat when she got her chance. She had been arguing with me since the day I brought Asha's notebook to the cafeteria to return it.
Saying crazy but now true things like, 'what if she's your mate?' 'Are you sure you're just friends, I mean I see the way you look at her Ander' 'what if she's the one for you'. I had completely shut down every of her arguments back then but right now, I could smell the 'I told you so' dancing just right at the tip of her tongue.
Better to admit it than have her rub it in my face, I thought resignedly. "Okay, fine you told me so and I should've known better than to argue with the greatest Sybil to ever walk this earth". "Aww… Thank you Xander", she visibly glowed from the smug smile she had on her face.
"Anyway, now that you're finally agreeing with me", she began all serious now. "What do you need my help with?"