verb ~ perform duties or services for another person

I woke to someone gently shaking me and calling my name. I groaned and rolled over, which in turn caused said person to climb from the comfort of the bed, the mattress dipping as they left. I kept slightly awake as they shuffled around the room. I was too tired to open my mouth and question what was going on, deciding on just falling back asleep.

Once again, however, I was woken. "Nova."

I muttered a go-away and pulled the duvet tighter around me. Whoever it was laughed as I tried to lull myself back into the peace of sleep.

"Nova, I know you can hear me." Phoenix chuckled. "I woke you so you didn't wonder where I am when you wake. I have to go speak to the King, I won't be long. I will come to get you at lunchtime."

Too many words rambled through my ears so I gave him a quiet grunt and listened as he left the room, the door locking with a gentle click. I sighed, happy to no longer be disturbed and fell back asleep.

***

I woke to the sounds of metal clattering against each other.

With a small sigh, I began to roll myself over in the direction of the noise. I was surprised to see Phoenix at the door, holding it as a small maid carted a trolley through. She left it at the foot of the bed before turning and bowing, leaving the room. Phoenix caught my sleepy gaze and gave me a small smile.

"Morning Nova." He spoke softly.

I pulled myself to a sitting position, feeling my shoulder ache. I looked down at it to see it had pretty much closed now, and the stitches would be ready to be taken out. I could only assume my neck was in the same condition.

I gave Phoenix a small smile, crossing my legs. "What time is it?"

"Two o'clock in the afternoon. I had food brought to our room so you could sleep longer." He smiled, uncovering trays of steaming food.

I eyed the dishes hungrily, seeing one full of potatoes and green vegetables and another with a whole roasted chicken. There was a boat of gravy and what looked like a glass of iced orange juice. Phoenix noticed my line of sight and chuckled before grabbing the iced glass. He brought it round to my side of the bed and handed me it gently. I took it greedily, my parched throat eager to have its fix, even if it was orange juice.

I watched him make a plate of food as I took a large gulp. Downing half the juice, I placed the glass on my bedside and watched him curiously.

"Have you eaten? Has everyone else been attended to?" I wondered.

He nodded his head and concentrated as he poured gravy onto the dish. "I ate with the warriors and the saved. They all had good appetites and appear to be a lot more relaxed. They have been given medication to heal and we are figuring out an antidote; Raven is helping conjure one. We can go visit them later, but I am afraid after you've eaten and gotten ready we have to speak with the King and Queen."

I frowned, "What for?"

He walked around towards me, pulling a lap tray out from under the bed. I expected him to place it on my lap but he put it at the foot of the bed. I paused in my movements to grab it, wondering what was going on. Was this not my food?

Phoenix pulled himself to sit in front of me, one of his long legs hanging over the edge of the bed. He grabbed the tray and placed it on his own lap, his other hand setting the hot plate on top. He pulled the cutlery out from underneath and unwrapped the napkin that secured him.

"They wish to meet my mate. I told them you were to rest and heal before undergoing such torture." He shrugged, cutting up a large potato.

"You said that?" I wondered, with wide eyes.

He chuckled, raising the forkful of food towards me. "I did."

I eyed the fork near my face, looking back to see Phoenix expectantly waiting. At my confusion, he pressed the fork against my sealed lips. I blushed at the realisation he wished to feed me. His eyes darkened to deep treacle and Ares made himself known at my hesitance of the food. It was a wolf's nature to provide for their mate, no matter how awkward it appeared.

I opened my mouth and allowed him to feed me, taking in the amazing tastes of the salty gravy and fluffy potatoes. A small grumble left his lips at my acceptance and he began to feed me more in silence. I was happy for the quiet since I wasn't to speak whilst constantly having forkfuls of the best food I ever tasted. How could vegetables and chicken taste so good? The chicken had herby, buttery seasoning, and I was more than eager to eat everything Phoenix offered me.

Cel was prancing in my mind, the bond fluttering between us. She was ecstatic to be treated so highly, so happy she had her mate before her. I couldn't help but begin to feel the same. Ever since we found out about my blood history and that I have survived the mate bond thanks to my brother, he was more than happy to make his emotions known. I sucked them dry, eager to have something other than the cold steel front he gave everyone else.

As he fed me, I felt entranced by his every movement. The way his eyes were focused hard on the tasks he set himself, to the way his arm and shoulders bunched as he raised the fork to my mouth. Then there were his fingers, long and thick and doing something to me I know they shouldn't be considering he was just cutting up food. They made the cutlery look so small. I was just glad he was shirtless.

'I'm not.' Cel whined. 'When I had dreamed about this before, I pictured us naked.'

I tried my best to hide my emotions on the outside, but Phoenix noticed the shocked emotion from me immediately and paused from lifting the fork. He scrutinised my face, his eyebrows furrowing as he glanced between me and the remains on the dinner plate.

"Was that bit not nice?" His gruff voice filled the silence.

"No-no! I mean yes-Its nice! I just-Celimene said something that shocked me." I rambled.

He relaxed his features instantly and let a smirk gracing his features. "Good."

He placed another forkful into my mouth and I chewed it with squinted eyes. Once I swallowed, I went to ask him a question but more food was placed into my mouth. I frowned at him as I chewed but he grinned at me, as though he didn't do such a thing to annoy me.

I leaned away from the next one. "What do you mean good?"

He shrugged, smiling down at the dish. "I'm glad you are enjoying your food."

"You seem like you're enjoying yourself just as much." I hummed.

He blinked lazily at me, his eyes brightening to a lighter hazel. "I take great pleasure in providing for you, Nova."

I blushed and dropped the subject as soon as not-so-innocent thoughts ran through my mind. Images of him providing for me in more sexual ways were tempting me. The memory of him naked flashed through my mind and I chewed on my lip once the last piece of food was swallowed. His large hands roaming my body, running along my skin were the only thoughts in my mind now. The things his body could do to me set my nerves alive at just the thought of them.

"Nova..." Phoenix mumbled.

I blinked back into the present to find him with his hands clasped firmly on the lap tray. His jaw clenched and his eyes were darkening, and I wondered how he knew. But then I realised, the mate bond was open, and all my emotions were seeping into his brain.

I licked my lips as a breathy laugh escaped me out of nerves. The tray was discarded as he stood and I followed his movements as he took a couple of steps away. I couldn't help but pout at the distance, feeling partially sad he backed away from my ravenous thoughts.

"It's not that I don't want to devour you, Nova, I don't want to do it until you are ready." He kept his gaze on my face, holding my gaze. "With your heat approaching, it leads to impure thoughts driven by pure instinct. After the things we've been through in our relationship so far, I don't want to-"

I had to cut him off when it felt like a bucket of ice water was tipped over my head.

"Heat?"

He paused, the air growing thick with unsure tension. "Yes?"

"What's that?" I wondered.

His eyes flashed with anger and I watched as his fists began to clench at his sides as his whole body tensed up. His jaw clenched impossibly harder, and the sound of his teeth smashing together met my ears.

"They seriously didn't even teach you about this? Nothing about what you go through as a female wolf?" He spat.

I knew his anger wasn't directed at me but I couldn't help but flinch at his harsh tone. I looked away to my lap embarrassed that I had even asked. He sighed at my reaction and came back to sit in front of me. His hand cupped my jaw and he stared down at my face but made no move to lift my gaze to his; I was thankful for that.

"Goddess, how do I even explain this..." He muttered.

I swallowed and glanced up to see him deep in thought. He turned back to look down at me and gave a small smile which I hesitantly returned.

"I'm sorry if I frightened you, I just wish I had declared war on that entire pack when I found out." He sighed.

My eyes widened, "War?"

"The whole pack has been responsible for your treatment, any of them could've stopped it."

"But none of them would go against their Alpha. He had strong boundaries and they respected that." I shook my head. "The Omega were treated the same too, they weren't allowed to attend school when it was their work day."

"Yet you didn't attend at all Nova, not even your days off work. They took that from you, did your parents ever not confront him?"

I paused and thought about it. "I don't know. They taught me the basics, mainly about mates, but they all treated me like I was human and they seemed...restricted I guess. We had limited resources and little pay."

"You shouldn't have to be paid to clean Nova, not against your will. A great leader makes the pack all work together, only egotistical bastards make Omega work for crap. In fact, in most modern adapted packs, Omega status has been wiped out entirely." He grunted, dropping his hands from my face.

A small oh left my lips and we sat in a moment of silence as I began to think about how harsh my upbringing truly was. I didn't find it any different, almost normal to me. I enjoyed waking up and cleaning, it became habitual and instinctual to clean and aid the cooks with dinner. It was bred into me, and it became normal. Just like how Phoenix was bred to be an Alpha, he was strong, smart and quick-witted because that is how he was raised. Despite it all, I didn't find it so bad.

"Want me to explain what heat is?" He eventually asked.

I nodded silently, wringing my fingers together as I watched him contemplate his next words.

"It's hard for me to say, as wolves only go through it once they are marked... It is nature's way of forcing two wolves to mate physically. The claiming bond sets off something in each wolf's pheromones that eventually leads to heat." He explained. "For males, it's usually just a case of short temper and horniness."

I stifled a chuckle and he smiled down at me. "What?"

"Not much different then," I smirked.

His eyes flickered with amusement and he shook his head in return. "Not wrong there."

He cleared his throat and began again, "For women, from what I have been told by my Mother... It can be intense depending on nature's desire for the mate-ship. Involves abdominal cramping, nausea, and of course hot and cold flashes."

"So a period," I stated.

He smirked. "Kind of. Do you get ravenously horny and unable to resist temptation on your bleed?"

I blushed and shook my head in agreement, but he just laughed.

"Nova, there is nothing to be ashamed of. It is a natural bodily thing to do, bleeding every month is just your body refreshing so it can prepare for a child." He took my hand. "Heat... will literally consume you. Your every growing thought will be to mate, worse for you than me, and you will fall victim to instinct if you resist. I would be able to resist if I was unable to smell you, but I can already tell now with it being so close that things are changing."

I sighed, not liking the fact this was up and coming and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I wasn't sure how it would go down. It didn't sound very nice to me considering the most I have ever done is be kissed. I would find Phoenix irresistible, drawn to him through nature and unable to cure my desire. Part of it enthralled me, the other part was scared it was so soon. What have I done?

•••

Hello everyone!
How was your weekend? Once again feels like forever since I've updated haha!

Question of the Day:
Do you prefer heat or cooler weather?

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