Chapter 138: Not Flirting
He barked out, flustered, a flush crawling up his neck. His voice even cracked a little towards the end of his sentence, turning an octave higher due to the rapid change of his emotions.
Cassian moved a little further away, trying to position himself in a way that shielded his own body as though he was a Victorian woman whose dress had been lifted by a little bit of breeze.
"Nothing in particular!" I yelled back. Then, I grumbled, "Not like there was much to see anyway."
The flustered expression almost made me laugh in disbelief. I never knew that Cassian could make such a face. If I didn’t already have such a bad impression of him, I might’ve even thought it looked cute.
Not in a handsome way, but rather, the same sentiments as watching a small kitten fluff up and hiss at an obviously bigger predator. Even though Cassian was much more dangerous than I was, he still gave off the same impression as a helpless little baby animal.
It was almost endearing.
"Hey!" he exclaimed, sounding mightily offended by my words. "I have plenty much to look at."
Then, as if filled with nothing but spite, he stood up and planted himself right in front of me. With the fact that I was still on the couch, the height difference put me at eye level with his low-hanging waistband. His shirt rode up, and I could see the lines of his V-cut abs leading down to the band of his sweatpants.
I quickly looked away, frowning. Despite shifting my line of sight, I could still picture the look of his lower half. The image was practically seared into my brain, and I cursed this stupid gated bond for putting such feral thoughts into my mind.
A quick cough disrupted the argument. Both of us turned to see Samuel raising an eyebrow, looking at us in an unamused manner.
"If you’re going to flirt―" Samuel started to say, only to be abruptly cut off by both of us screaming at the same time.
"We’re not flirting!"
"This is not flirting!"
We glared at each other once we realized our voices had synced, and Samuel merely rolled his eyes.
"As I was saying, if you’re going to do whatever you’re doing, find a different time and place."
He pulled out his notepad and made his way over. Then, with a firm shove, he pushed Cassian back down onto the couch.
Clicking his pen, Samuel asked, "I assume you’re feeling better now, Alpha?"
"Just peachy," Cassian grumbled. "I’m in the peak of health."
Samuel quickly scribbled something down.
"That means that treatment is working. I’ll need you to come into the infirmary so that I can get the specific data, but I’m guessing that the kiss probably helped purge a lot of the toxins out of you," Samuel said. "Maybe after one more hot and steamy make-out session―"
"Why do I get the feeling that you’re getting quite the kick out of this?" I asked, cutting him off as I crossed my arms grouchily.
Samuel merely shrugged. "Books are boring once you’ve already read everything, and I have no choice but to find entertainment elsewhere. This incident would make an incredible case study and research topic."
"So glad to help," I said sarcastically. Now that Cassian was no longer coughing out blood, I could leave with my conscience intact. "I’m guessing I can finally leave?"
"Leave? Where are you going?" Cassian demanded, shooting me a vaguely panicked expression. "You’re trying to escape from the pack?"
"...I meant to leave this room," I said, rolling my eyes heavily. "I’m going to brush my teeth." I needed to scrub the taste of Cassian’s lips and tongue from my mouth, since there was probably no way to wash that memory from my mind. My tongue darted out instinctively, swiping at my lower lip to wipe it clean.
Cassian’s eyes darkened, and he scowled at me, seeing incredibly offended by my words. "What’s with that disgusted expression on your face? Do you know how many girls would kill to be in your position? My lips are a priceless treasure that’s out of this world!"
"So is your ego," I couldn’t help but retort. The disgusted expression on my face grew stronger. "If aliens were real, they would be able to spot it from space."
"You―" Cassian strode forward and leaned down so that our faces were once again only a hair’s breadth apart. This time, his eyes were wide open, and heat was practically radiating off his body like a furnace. Even without Samuel’s examination, I felt that he was back to full health.
I tensed up, ready for a possible fight.
Since I healed him, I suppose I had every right to send him back into the infirmary. I held up my balled fists, and Cassian let out a snort.
"Are you picking a fight with me after I’ve already fully recovered?" Cassian asked mockingly. "Kissing me must have really made you lose your mind."
"What can I say? Stupidity is contagious, and you’re the proof," I retorted. "Besides, since I did save your life, I can take it away too."
A guffawing laugh erupted from Cassian’s lips, and he smirked. "Whatever you say. I’ll even let you get the first hit in." He turned his face to the side, gesturing to his cheek. "Look, you can slap it if you want―"
I raised my hand, ready to punch the living daylights out of this infuriating man. But before I could strike, a hand reached in between the tiny space left between our bodies and shoved us apart.
Samuel squeezed himself between both of us, shooting me a vaguely disappointed expression, before turning to fix a moody glare at Cassian’s face.
"Enough, I can’t watch this any longer. The both of you are utter children," Samuel scolded. "That kiss must have fried both of your minds."
"It didn’t―"
"Of course not―"
Both of us protested hotly, but Samuel was unmoved. He pushed us further apart and sighed.
"Alpha Cassian, this is no attitude to give to your savior. Where is your gratitude?" Samuel lectured. While his voice was mild, the censure and judgement in it was scalding. "Especially after you have treated her appallingly all these years. You were not raised in a barn, so I’m sure you still have your manners, Alpha Cassian. You should know what the right words are in this situation."
Come to think of it, Samuel was right. I hadn’t gotten a single word of thanks after I saved his sorry life.
"Yeah, Cassian, where’s my gratitude?" I asked, delighting in the way Cassian’s face seemed to oscillate between pink, red, and purple like a bouquet in spring.
"Not telling my brothers the truth about this incident is all the thanks you’ll get," Cassian said with a huff. "What more do you want?"
"A thank you would be nice," I pointed out. "If you can’t find the words, let me help you. ’Thank you very much, Briar, for saving my life, even though you didn’t need to and it was all my fault to begin with for eating random leaves―’"
"Fine!" Cassian exclaimed, exasperated. He threw his hands up in the air. "Thank you, Briar, for being willing to kiss the lowly me! Your lips are the elixir of life! Better than the Moon Goddess’s blessing! Is that what you want to hear?"
I spluttered at his words.
Before I could form a legible reply, a knock on the door interrupted the moment. Our eyes widened in surprise before Cassian and I sprang apart like we were repelling magnets. He went back to lie on the sofa, while I hovered further away.
Suddenly, I hoped that the door was soundproof, and whoever was on the other side of the door didn’t hear Cassian’s last sentence.
It would be hell to explain without context.
"I’ll get it," Samuel said, a faint smile on his lips as he stared at us.
However, the smile faded as he opened the door to reveal an unfamiliar person. From her attire, she was clearly one of the many omega maids that worked in the pack. However, I couldn’t recognize her― she wasn’t any of the girls who served me the meal that made me puke my guts out the first time.
"Who are you looking for?" Samuel asked warily.
"I’m looking for Alpha Cassian," the maid said hesitantly as her eyes darted from Samuel to me, and finally, to Cassian, who was still lying on the couch.
Upon hearing that someone was looking for him, Cassian sat up and raised an eyebrow.
"For me? Whatever for?" he asked curiously. "If it’s about work, go look for Rowan or Soren. I’m technically still a patient."
I snorted inwardly. He had declared that he was fully recovered not five minutes ago when it came to fighting me. Now when it was about work, he was clearly trying to slack off!
"It’s not about work, Alpha Cassian." The maid bit her lip worryingly as she shook her head. "It’s about Luna Violet! You need to visit her― she’s very sick!"