Luckily her husband caught her before Grandmother Mila hit the floor.
Frantic and filled with worry Lithe ran over to Grandmother Mila's side with the smelling salts in hand.
He waved the salts around for a bit before Grandmother Mila's nose started to twitch.
Everyone in the room let out a sigh of relief.
"She'll be okay, Grandmother Mila is still breathing," said Grandfather James.
"Her pulse is fine and there is movement in her hands and feet," observed Estella.
It wasn't a stroke, Grandmother Mila was going to pull through just fine.
"We need to take Grandmother Mila back to the privacy of her room," said Christina.
Grandmother Mila did not dare open her eyes as Zen lifted her up into his arms.
"Lithe, show me the way," Zen ordered.
Ignoring those that were crowding around Grandmother Mila.
None of them had the strength to lift her and carry her to the room nor could they involve the servants.
Grandmother Mila felt herself being lifted by Zen.
She did not want to panic as he held her tightly against his chest.
Surprisingly he smelled of the woods, like pine and cool mountain mist.
Even though he was still suffering from a head injury the dominant alpha was in his prime.
Muscular and his body was well toned.
His stamina was unparalleled as he walked swiftly behind Lithe to Grandmother's private chambers.
Grandmother Mila felt the warmth radiating from him and it made her feel oddly safe and protected in his arms.
He placed her on the bed gently and said, "I know that you are awake."
"Thank you for assisting me in my hour of need young man," she whispered.
Grandmother Mila's wrinkled hands felt soft and frail clasped around Zen's right hand.
"I'm glad you are feeling better, I will be taking my leave now," he said courteously.
He gently gently detangled his hands from her own before performing an honorary deep bow and turned to leave the chambers.
"James be a dear and escort Lord Starke back to the room please," even on her deathbed the Matriarch of the family would still be bossing everyone around.
When the door closed behind the two, Grandmother Mila turned to the women and said, "Everyone please leave, I need to speak to Lithe alone."
Her daughter Maria gave her a look, opening her mouth like she was about to protest.
One look at Grandmother Mila's fierce facial expression silenced her and everyone went scurrying out of the room leaving Lithe behind.
"Lithe, I know you are not from the Allerdyce Continent. As the head of the Maximillian Tribe and since you are directly in my employ it falls on me to explain certain sensitive matters to you."
"I'm sure it can wait until later, Lady Mila, get some rest and I'll come back at another time.
Grandmother Mila coughed for a bit, then shouted, "No, it can't wait. You did something none of us ever expected from a foreigner, you opened a Starke's locket.
Now it was Lithe's turn to look at Grandmother Mila all dazed and confused.
He racked his brain but he couldn't come up with anything about the Starke's locket that would require Grandmother Mila to go to such lengths and theatrics.
Lithe put his hand into his pocket and pulled out the locket.
It was a bit worn being a family heirloom and a little on the plain side, so what was so special about it.
"I'm told that Vallance Continent may have a few alpha and omega's sprinkled around the land but you don't have any Dominant's, isn't that the case?"
"That's right I've never really heard about Dominant alpha's until I came to Allerdyce Continent and even so it was mostly idle gossip and rumors. Since a lot of what I heard is just speculation and could never be repeated in polite society."
Grandmother Mila said dryly, "Well…there is no need to speculate anymore since the proof of Dominant Alpha is right in front of you.
"Are you referring to Zen and what does being dominant have to do with the locket?"
"Yes…I was getting to that. Dominant Alpha's normally can't get pregnant with regular humans, alpha's or omega's. They can only get pregnant with those that carry the dominant genes whether male or female. So what exactly are you Lithe?"
"I'm a recessive omega. This still doesn't explain what a Starke's mating problems have to do with me?"
"How a Starke normally identifies their potential mate is through touch, the ability to open the sensory lockets is very unique. Some have died or been paralyzed trying to open a Starke's locket without permission."
"Are you implying that because I opened Zen's locket, he now sees me as a potential mate?"
Just the thought was ludicrous, Lithe hadn't even popped his cherry yet.
The last thing he wanted to contemplate was spending eternity with some stranger.
"Now we are both on the same level of understanding. Since finding potential mates for the Dominant's are rare. Many from Starke's Tribe have resulted to breaking the law and stealing brides if they must."
Even though the situation wasn't funny, Lithe could picture Zen like a bandit making off with a bride on her wedding day.
"Not every Starke is lucky to find a potential mate so many have resorted to unsavory methods to claim them, even committing adultery and breaking up marriages. So it's not hard to see why the Starke's are treated like outcasts on the Allerdyce Continent."
"Why do I get the feeling that you are buttering up the truth, Grandmother Mila?"
"I knew a few Starke's in my university days, they have feelings just like the rest of us, and when they hurt, they bleed red blood just the same. To mate with a Starke is to choose a hard road for yourself, you will have to live on the fringes of society and you won't be welcome in a lot of places. Most parents would rather hide their children than have them marry a Starke because it means they will never see them again. Yet many have willingly gone and married a Starke including a very good friend of mine, even though I lost touch with her. I can never forget the joy she expressed when claimed by a Starke. Love can be a drug that blinds you to future pitfalls. I just want you to see both the good and bad before you make any decisions concerning Zen Starke."