Chapter 44: The News

I woke up with someone's arms embracing me. When I opened my eyes, I was greeted by his exposed chest covered in bandages. I slowly raised my head to look at his face. Zackary's face was inches from me, eyes closed, still asleep.

I blinked, wrapping my head around the situation. How did I end up with the alpha sleeping beside me? Biting my lower lip, I tried to remember what happened last night.

The storm, treating Zackary, asking him to lay comfortably on the bed instead of the floor in the clinic. Him resting on my bed and pulling me beside him until we both fell asleep.

Muli akong sumulyap sa natutulog niyang mukha, saka dahan-dahan na lumayo mula sa kanya. But the arm embracing me pulled me closer, wrapping me completely and pulling me to chest while we remained on the bed.

"Zack..." I whispered, knowing he's already awake.

"Let's stay like this for a while."

I relaxed my shoulders and let myself rest beside him. I could hear his calm breathing, feel the silent beating from his chest. Last night,  Zackary told me he was in love with me. Zackary, the alpha of Van Zanth.

But is it okay for us to be like this? What would happen if the people knew about us?

"You're worrying again."

I stared up at Zackary. He reached for the strands of hair and brushed them off my face. "After I assess the damages in the village, I'll head back to town. I'll fix everything so when you come back we could be together."

"Together?"

"I need you to be by my side, Eleanor."

Hindi agad ako nakapagsalita. By the alpha's side? Umiling ako sa napagtanto. "I'm okay supporting you from afar. I don't think... I could..."

Before I could even finish my statement, Zackary lifted himself off the bed. He hovered over me, broad shoulders and bare chest covering my vision, his palms against the mattress, his restraint arm on either side of my face.

I averted my gaze away from his body. I couldn't think clearly with him so close to me. Zackary reached for my chin, gently directing me to  face him.

"Eleanor, I'd do everything to see you everyday. To be beside you like this. For you to be mine."

My eyes remained on him in a steady gaze until they closed on their own accord as Zackary's lips reached mine in a deep, drowning kiss. I  clasped the sheets with my fingers, slowly being consumed by the familiar sensation.

It was like taming wild fire. No matter how I see myself and the things I fear, I ended up wanting him. And it's a dangerous thing to want someone like Zackary.

Both breathless, Zackary nipped my lower lip, making me open my mouth in surprise. His mouth enveloped mine, taking over and  deepening the kiss.

Zackary... am I really worth the risk?

It was still early morning when both Zackary and I stepped out of the clinic. He planned to check the damages in the village before heading back to town and I needed to check the villagers for injuries caused by  the storm.

I opened the clinic door at the same moment Nari was about to knock. She stared at Zackary and I, a huge grin on her face, before lowering  her head to a bow.

"Alpha... Ms. Eleanor..."

She tried to hide the giddiness from her voice. Noong una nagtaka ako kung bakit until it realized how the situation might have looked. The alpha stepping out of my sleeping quarter with his hair slightly messy  and with the same coat from yesterday.

Before I could come up with an explanation, Nari told us the reason behind her early visit. There were several villagers injured because of  last night's storm.

I immediately faced Zackary to tell him I'd head first. Before I could even leave with Nari, hinawakan niya ako sa balikat. He told me to  keep still while he buttoned my coat all the way up to keep myself  warm.

"I could do it..." I insisted, but he didn't let me.

Nari was all smiles while we were walking to the village hall, the only wide enough space in the village where we could openly treat a large number of people.

"I didn't know the alpha's still here in the village," sabi ni Nari habang naglalakad sa tabi ko.

"He came back... last night," I stated, unsure if I should say it.

"For you, Ms. Eleanor?" nakangiting baling niya sa'kin. "You're in a mountain village being destructed by a storm. He must have been worried."

Hindi ko alam ang isasagot sa kanyang sinabi. Zackary admitted he  came back to the village for me... pero okay lang ba na malaman ito ng mga tao?

The effect of the storm was visible in the village. Scattered in the village were debris, fallen branches and trees. There were roofs that's been blown away by the strong wind and some facilities were destroyed including the vegetable farm. Good thing most of the houses in the village were made like cabins and most of the people were safe,  including Nari's family.

Some residents were injured from being exposed to the debris so I  started my work right after checking them. Madami ang nasirang mga kagamitan sa clinic, but luckily the remaining supplies were enough to provide initial treatment to the injured and Nari helped me prepare  things and clean their wounds.

By noon, I was almost done with treating most of the villagers with  minor injuries and wounds. I also advised those with more serious injuries to rest at their homes and let the medicines take effect.

Habang nagliligpit ng ilang gamit, napansin ko na tumahimik ang mga taong kasama ko sa hall. All of a sudden, they stood up and bent their heads low. When I followed their gaze, I saw Zackary walking towards my desk.

"Still busy?" Zackary asked me, placing himself against a post.

"May kailangan pa akong-"

"Ako na ang bahala, Ms. Eleanor," stated Nari who was helping me bandage the injured arm of a patient. "Just bandages, right and we're done?"

"Yes, but-"

My words faded, noticing how the villagers couldn't help but stare at Zackary who was patiently waiting for me, arms folded, one shoulder leaning against the post.

Lumapit ako sa kanya at marahan siyang hinila. "You don't have to wait for me," I whispered habang naglalakad kami palayo sa hall. "Akala ko nakaalis ka na."

"Without saying goodbye?" His voice almost sounded sulking. The alpha... sulking? The idea made me bit my lip, trying to prevent a  smile.

Nang makalayo sa village hall, humarap ako sa kanya. "Are your  injuries okay?"

Tumango siya habang nanatiling nakatitig sa'kin. "I was thinking of sending orders here to look after you."

Agad akong umiling sa sinabi niya. "Hindi 'yon kailangan, Zack..."

Napangiti siya, tila inaasahan ang naging reaction ko. "I know you'd  hate the idea. But if I won't be able to see you for days, I needed the assurance that you're gonna be okay."

"I'll be okay," I told him.

"Come here."

His arms wrapped around me, pulling me close to his chest in a hug. Zackary didn't struck me as someone who preferred physical touch, considering the way he was treated by people. With distance and  respect.

But it was a side of him I was starting to get used to.

The villagers watched us from a distance and I worry of what they  might think. But I remained in Zackary's arms because I didn't know when I'd be able to see him again.

"Zack?" I mumbled, face still buried on his chest. "You can tell me if it gets tiring, okay? Promise me you would tell me if choosing me  becomes too painful. I would understand."

I felt him kissed the top of my head while still being wrapped in his  arms.

"I would never get tired of choosing you."

I stared up at his face and gently, he left a soft kiss on my forehead. "I'll see you in a few days."

Zackary left the village by afternoon. I was left worried about him. I knew once he's back in town, he would have to face the effect of his decision... our decision.

I didn't know if I was still doing the right thing.

I spent the rest of the day at the clinic, cleaning up and making an inventory of the destroyed equipment and the remaining supplies to  make sure it could last until the residences' recovery.

Nari was also with me, helping me clean up the clinic. She also told me what she heard from their village leader, that the alpha would send supplies to rebuilt the damages in the village and additional medical supplies for the clinic.

"Bagay na bagay talaga kayo, Ms. Eleanor."

Huminto ako sa ginagawa at napalingon kay Nari.

"You treat people's health and he's the leader of the town. You're like a power couple. Binabalanse niyo ang isa't-isa. At hindi lang ako ang  nakakapansin. Even the people in the village were thinking the same  thing."

Hindi naalis ang ngiti sa labi ni Nari. I remained silent while doing my task. The villagers didn't know about the council and Rebecca kaya nasasabi nila ito. Once they knew the truth... would they still think of me the same way?

For the next days, the residents were busy rebuilding the damages in the village. I was supposed to be preparing for the next village in the  program, but because of the effect of the storm and the residents  needing medical assistance, the village leader sent a request to the apothecary for me to stay longer. I also got close to the people at the village in a span of a week. I couldn't imagine leaving them in this situation.

After checking the homes of the residence recovering from their  injuries, the village leader announced the arrival of a group of people from the town proper with the supplies the alpha had promised to the village.

Sumama ako sa village leader para salubungin sila. Pero nabigla ako  nang makita ang isang pamilyar na mukha sa gitna ng grupo ng mga orders.

Callahan?

The village leader became busy greeting and welcoming the orders,  while the residents helped them carry the supplies to the center of the village.

Why is Callahan here... all the way in this village?

Lumapit ako sa kanya para batiin siya bago kinuha ang mga boxes ng  gamot para dalhin sa clinic. There were three large boxes of it and Callahan ended up carrying most of them to help me.

"You look too surprised to see me here," he muttered while walking  beside me to the clinic.

"Hindi ko lang inaasahan..." I mumbled. He wasn't someone who would voluntarily climb a mountain to help a village.

He matched my strides on the uneven ground. "Programs like this is part of being an elite."

I couldn't counter his statement. I've been part of a program with a  group of elites before and it wasn't exactly a good experience. But Callahan... was the only elite in here. And he looked a bit out of place too.

Unlike the orders who were always prepared for this kind of task and knew how to navigate mountains and different terrains. Callahan barely had the proper clothing to climb a mountain. He was wearing a white jacket and shoes.

Binaba namin ang mga boxes sa loob ng clinic.

"So this is where you're hiding." Nilibot niya ang tingin sa maliit na kwarto, sinisita ang bawat detalye.

"Hiding?"

"Didn't you escape town and hide in here after the party at the Van  Zanth mansion?"

Natulala ako ng ilang segundo. I didn't think of it that way. But part of what he said was true. I was here... to escape. But it wasn't the entire reason. I like what I do here. In here I could be of used and people  didn't judge me base on where I came from.

"I'm not... hiding. I'm here to work," I told him.

"I guess you have no idea what's happening in town for the past few days."

I paused from checking content of the boxes. "Ano'ng ibig mong sabihin?"

"You've been out of the radar for almost two weeks, no?" he confirmed. "Do you even know what's happening with Zackary in those past weeks?"

Hindi ko siya maintindihan. Zackary was here... in the village just two days ago.

Callahan noticed the confusion in my eyes. He shrugged, sat on one of the stool in the clinic and crossed his leg in a carefree manner. But somehow, I could see it. The distress in his eyes. He's here to let me know something.

"I guess he didn't want you to know about it."

"Is there something wrong? What are you saying Callahan?"

Mariin niya akong tinitigan, the confidence in his face, the carefree smile was gone. Sa sumunod niyang sinabi, tuluyang bumagsak ang hawak kong bote ng gamot sa sahig.

"He's being engaged to Rebecca."

***