Ava’s POV
"Miss Ava." As I clocked out from work, I found Joseph’s Beta Jared waiting for near the exit.
"Hello, Jared. How are you?" I smiled warmly at him. He was always a kind young man, professional but friendly.
"I’m well, thank you. And you, miss?" His tone was polite as always, but there was sothing in his expression that made pause.
"I’m fine, thanks. Is there sothing you need?" I adjusted my bag on my shoulder, wondering why Joseph had sent his Beta instead of coming himself.
"Ah, I’ve been assigned the honor of driving you ho today. It seems Alpha Joseph isn’t feeling well."
My heart skipped a beat. "Oh? What happened?" It was strange; he’d seed tense this morning but otherwise fine. What concerned more was that I hadn’t received a single text from him all day, which was highly unusual.
"I don’t know the details. Shall we go?" Beta Jared held the car door open for .
"Of course." I slid into the passenger seat.
The drive was peaceful enough; Beta Jared maintained easy conversation, telling about pack business and so of the projects Joseph was working on. When we arrived at the apartnt, he handed the keys, explaining that Joseph had asked him to deliver them.
I made my way past security and into the apartnt. The mont I stepped inside, I spotted Joseph lying on a pile of cushions in the living room, covered with a blanket. I hurried over to him.
"Joseph? Are you okay?" I knelt beside him, examining him carefully. He looked absolutely terrible. "What happened?"
"Nothing serious, Ava, just a little cold." His voice was hoarse, and he sneezed imdiately after speaking.
My concern deepened as I took in his appearance. His eyes were watery, dark circles prominent beneath them. His nose was running, and the tissue box beside him was already half-empty. I could sll the nthol from a decongestant balm sitting next to the tissues. When I touched his forehead, I flinched at the heat radiating from his skin.
"Joseph, you’re burning up with fever." My voice was tight with worry.
"A little, but I’ve already taken the dicine the doctor prescribed." He gestured weakly toward the coffee table, which was covered with an array of dications: fever reducers, antihistamines, throat lozenges, nasal spray, anti-inflammatories, and pain relievers. Everything needed for a severe cold or flu.
"You seed fine this morning," I said, sorting through the dications to see what he’d already taken.
"I had a headache, and it just got worse throughout the day." He sneezed again, his whole body shaking with it.
"Why didn’t you tell ?" I asked, stroking his hair gently.
"It’s nothing serious, Ava. I’ve already seen the doctor. He said I should recover in seven days if it doesn’t develop into pneumonia."
"Pneumonia?" I repeated, worry shooting through . "Joseph, don’t joke about that. You’re a strong, healthy Alpha."
"The doctor said it’s possible if I’m not careful," he replied, his voice raspy and weak. Dean, his wolf, must be working overti to heal him, but even wolf healing had its limits with illnesses.
"Yes, but you will be careful. This must be from that cold shower you took in the middle of the night." I stroked his cheek gently. "Have you eaten anything?"
"I can’t keep anything down, Ava!" He looked miserable, his usually commanding presence diminished by illness.
"I’ll make you so soup. You need to eat sothing. You can’t starve yourself." I stood up, determined to care for him.
"Ava, don’t worry. You just got here and must be tired. The housekeeper already prepared dinner."
"It’s fine. I’m going to take care of you. If the fever doesn’t break, I’m taking you to the hospital." He nodded weakly.
It was heartbreaking to see such a powerful Alpha brought down by the flu, but his condition must be severe because he looked absolutely wretched.
"Co on, let help you to bed. You shouldn’t be sleeping on the floor." I reached for his arm.
"No, Ava. I don’t want to give you my flu." His concern for my wellbeing even while sick made my heart lt.
"Oh baby, I don’t care. I just want to take care of you."
He looked at , his expression almost like a pout.
"I don’t deserve your care." His voice was soft, vulnerable in a way I’d never heard before. My heart lted completely at his words.
"Either you co to bed with , or I’ll lie on the floor with you." I stood my ground, and he sighed.
"Alright, let’s go to bed." He finally surrendered.
After settling Joseph into bed, I took a quick shower and went downstairs to make him so soup. While the soup was simring, I seized the opportunity to call Elle—she should have told he was sick earlier.
"Ava, I’m sorry, I’ve been stuck in the archives all day. The last ti I saw Joseph, he was taking dicine for a headache," Eleanor explained, sounding genuinely surprised.
"Elle, he’s really sick. I even feel guilty because I think he might have gotten sick from that cold shower."
"Yeah, Ava, we might have gone too far this ti," Eleanor conceded with a sigh. "But take good care of him, give him so tender loving care, and he’ll be fine by the weekend."
I said goodbye to Eleanor and prepared a tray to take upstairs. When I entered the bedroom, Joseph was curled up under the blankets.
"Joseph, I made you so soup," I said gently. "Let’s remove so of these covers to help bring your fever down."
I pulled back the blankets and discovered Joseph was completely naked. He was breathtaking when clothed, but naked, his body was a work of art that stole my breath away. I’d been craving him since last night, so seeing him naked and shifting position on the bed had practically salivating.
The defined muscles of his chest glead with a light sheen of sweat from the fever. My eyes traced the ridges of his abs down to the V of his hips, and lower still. Even in his weakened state, his length was impressive.
I bit my lip, trying to focus on the task at hand rather than the rush of heat pooling between my legs.
"What is it, Ava?" he asked weakly, noticing my lingering gaze.
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