CHAPTER FIFTY
ALEX DAVALO
Some days are like this!
“Are you not coming with me?” I asked Sandro, taken aback by his sudden change of heart. The previous night, I had managed to persuade him to join me in visiting Nadia at the hospital.
Sandro, lounging on his bed with his arms behind his head, looked at me with an air of defiance. “It doesn’t mean we will stop making her life a living hell,” he said, sounding reluctant. “She must continue to feel our shadows hunting her even in her dream,” he had added.
“I know,” I replied, feeling a mix of frustration and concern.
“Fine then, we’ll go see her,” he said.
I had woken up early that morning, eager to get things moving. I thought Sandro was on the same page, but as I walked into his room, hoping to find him already dressed up, I was shocked to find him still in bed, though he was awake.
“Why aren’t you getting ready?” I asked, puzzled.
“I changed my mind,” Sandro said, his voice flat.
“Changed your mind?” I echoed, stunned. “We both agreed to this. You can’t just back out now. Go freshen up so we can leave.” Even though I knew he always took an age to bathe and get ready for anything, I had no choice. I was determined to go with him.
Sandro sat up in bed, his expression hardened. “Like I said, I changed my mind. I’m not going, and you can’t force me to come with you. It was your idea all along, not mine, so you should go without me.”
“Why? Why did you change your mind?” I pressed, feeling my patience wear thin. “We talked about this. What’s changed?”
“Fine, if you must know!” Sandro’s frustration was clear. “I cannot stoop so low as to visit her. She is nothing but a puppet in our hands, and going over to the hospital will make me feel less. I can’t do that; I can’t even think of it.”
“Enough!” I cut him off, my anger bubbling to the surface. But he continued…
“I don’t give a damn what you think of me; I don’t even want to know.”
Sandro’s defiant stance only fueled my disappointment. A part of me suspected he was hiding something, and I wanted him to know how I felt about his attitude. “You’re only covering up something. You cannot fight it forever, Alex.”
“A true alpha never falls in love with an omega. Imagine what Father would think of you if he finds out you’re gradually losing your ruthlessness because of an ordinary girl who can’t even change into her wolf form!” he said, his tone mocking.
“Now I know what this is all about. You’re too scared, Sandro” I said, smiling.
“I’m not!” he protested.
“Come on, admit it, Sandro! You feel something towards her!”
“I don’t!” he said, trying to push it away.
Our eyes locked for a brief moment, and I saw a flicker of something in his gaze, but it was gone before I could decipher it.
“You can’t run away forever,” I said to him. Without saying another word, I turned on my heel and walked out of his room, slamming the door behind me. I headed downstairs, grabbed my car keys, and drove off to the hospital.
As I drove, my mind was racing. I couldn’t help but think about the implications of this visit. Sandro’s attitude had left me shaken. I knew he was putting up a front, but I had my struggle to contend with. Despite my resolve to go see Nadia, a part of me was conflicted.
I had been thinking about her more than I cared to admit, especially since I learned she was in the hospital. The guilt and unease about our past behavior had been gnawing at me.
I found myself questioning whether this visit was just about checking off a box or if there was something more to it. To my surprise, I had even bought her some gifts-her favorite fruits, which I had learned about through her friend Samantha. I had given these gifts to one of the nurses at the hospital, ensuring that both Nadia and the nurse did not know it was me who sent them.
“Who are you to her, and why don’t you wanna see her?” the nurse had asked one of those days.
“Just tell her I’ll come see her,” I said and walked away.
I tried to dismiss these feelings as mere guilt or a desire to ease my conscience. I kept telling myself that I was doing this for the sake of making amends, not because I cared about her more than I was willing to admit. But the truth was, as much as I tried to deny it, I wanted Nadia to get well. I wanted to believe that I could do something good, even if it was a small gesture.
Before heading to the hospital, I made a quick stop at the grocery store. I picked up some fresh fruits-Nadia’s favorites-and paid for them. My mind was still tangled with thoughts about her as I exited the store. I was about to get into my car when something across the road caught my eye.
My heart sank as I saw my girlfriend, Bethany, passionately kissing another guy as his hands pressed her ass tightly through the thin clothes she had on.
It was as if time had slowed down, and all I could focus on was the painful sight before me. The image was seared into my mind, and I felt an intense wave of betrayal and confusion.
I stood there for a moment, rooted to the spot, unable to process what I was seeing. The fruits in my hand felt suddenly heavy, and I almost dropped them. I could feel the color drain from my face, and my heart pounded in my chest. The frustration I felt about Sandro’s behavior seemed to melt away, replaced by a searing pain.
I wasn’t innocent as I randomly had my way with other girls and my recent actions even pushed Bethany away.
But still, seeing her that way caused an ache in my heart that almost made it tear up. Who was that son of a bitch that dared touch my girl?
My wolf almost went loose, but I held back.
If I had moved, I knew my wolf would take over, and I might end up killing both of them!
Not that I care!
I can almost get away from it!
Eventually, Bethany and the guy parted ways, and she walked down the street, unaware of my presence. I watched her go, feeling a deep sense of anger and betrayal.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. The fruits in my hand felt like a cruel reminder of everything wrong. I had intended them as a gesture of goodwill for Nadia, but now they felt hollow and insignificant.
As I got back into my car, I tried to push away the image of Bethany with another guy. I needed to focus on what I had come to do. I had to see Nadia, even if it felt like my whole world was crumbling around me.
I drove to the hospital with a heavy heart, the sight of Bethany still fresh in my mind.
When I finally arrived at the hospital, I parked the car and took a deep breath. The weight of the day seemed to press down on me, and I had to muster all my strength to face Nadia. I walked into the hospital, clutching the fruits tightly, and made my way to the reception.
The receptionist greeted me with a polite smile, and I gave her Nadia’s name, asking for her room number.
“Are you not the one who brought her fruits the other day?” she suddenly asked, looking up to catch a glimpse of me.
“Maybe,” I said, giving nothing away.
“She can’t wait to see you. You are Jack, right?” she said, smiling.
“Jack?” I whispered to myself. Did she mistake me for him? Nadia was still thinking about that small boy even after he left our school.
“Where can I find her?” I simply asked.
“Go that way,” she said, pointing me to a corridor. “Her’s is the third door by your left,” she added.
“Thank you,” I said and walked away.
I approached Nadia’s room, my hand trembling slightly as I raised it to knock on the door. I paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and then knocked softly.
“Come in,” I heard Nadia’s voice from inside.
I pushed open the door and stepped into the room. Nadia was lying in bed, looking stressed but awake. Her eyes met mine, and I saw a flicker of surprise and curiosity.
“You?”
“Hi, Nadia,” I said, trying to sound casual but feeling far from it. “I brought you some fruits.”
That was too fast!