Chapter 3

She stopped mid-sentence, as if just noticing me in the hospital bed, covering her mouth in feigned surprise.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Luna Isobel. I didn't know you were here too. I didn't mean to interrupt."

Kellan frowned, his tone turning cold: "Who told you to come in? Get out."

"I was just worried about you." Lia set down the thermos and took two steps forward,

pretending to help organize the gauze, but deliberately pressing her fingertips hard against my still-bleeding wound.

Searing pain instantly overwhelmed me. I let out a muffled groan, my fingers clutching the bedsheet.

Kellan exploded with rage, shoving her violently out of the way. She crashed into the metal door frame behind her with a loud clang.

"Are you insane? Get out! If you dare come near her again, I'll banish you from Shadowreach Pack!"

Lia's eyes instantly turned red, but Kellan didn't even glance at her. He turned back and pressed down hard on my wound,

his voice full of panic and guilt, his eyes never once straying toward the door.

Kellan arranged the highest-grade recovery room for me, filling it with my favorite white roses.

"We need to observe you for a few days. Wounds that touch silver are prone to infection. With the full moon approaching, your healing ability will be compromised. We can't be careless."

He handed me warm water and medication, fussing over me with endless instructions, his tone full of caution.

When I ignored him, he softened his voice further: "I'll go buy you those macarons and berries you love, okay?"

When he left and returned, he was carrying pastries and cut berries, cold air from outside still clinging to him.

He hung his head, his ears burning red, not daring to look at me.

He looked exactly like he did when he confessed to me all those years ago.

Back then, things were so good.

I closed my eyes and burrowed under the blanket, unwilling to look at him anymore.

He didn't disturb me, just quietly kept watch nearby.

Just as I was drifting off to sleep, the door opened and Lia's sickeningly sweet voice drifted in.

"Alpha Kellan, I came to apologize to Luna Isobel.

I was so clumsy yesterday, accidentally hurting Luna Isobel. I've felt terrible about it and came specially to make amends."

I lifted a corner of the blanket, just in time to see her deliberately press close to Kellan.

Her chest was practically pressed against his arm, her fingertips tracing over the buttons of his shirt,

her sweet scent wrapping around his wrist.

"Alpha Kellan, please don't be mad at me anymore, okay? I really know I was wrong."

"Lia." Kellan's voice dropped low. "This isn't a place you should be. Leave."

"Hmm?" She moved even closer, her lips almost touching his ear as she spoke in a breathy whisper,

"Alpha Kellan, your heart is beating so fast. Don't you miss me, even a little?"

I propped myself up to sit, my tone as cold as an ice-covered lake in winter.

"Why don't you two go outside to talk? Or I can leave and give you the space to properly 'make amends'?"

Kellan shoved her away violently. Lia stumbled and fell to the floor, her eyes instantly filling with tears.

"Get out." Kellan's voice was ice-cold, devoid of any warmth.

Lia scrambled to her feet, shot me a vicious glare, then ran out sobbing with her hands over her face.

"Isobel, I..."

"Sorry for interrupting you and your little lover's flirtation." I lay back down, turning my back to him and pulling the blanket up again.

He stood there for a long time without speaking.

He stood there for a long while, saying nothing more. Just then, his phone suddenly started vibrating.

By the fourth ring, he finally answered.

Lia's shrill crying came through the speaker:

"Alpha Kellan, rogues have cornered me at the back entrance. They're going to hurt me. I'm so scared. Please come..."