Alethea
Like a deranged woman about to lose her mate, I rush out of the room, as my heart slams against my chest.
I can feel the guards’ eyes on me, with confusion-probably wondering if I’ve finally lost my mind.
My mate is dying. Hanging on by a thread.
And they expect me to be calm?
Hell no.
Then I see him-Dr. Parker, walking towards me. Relief floods my chest as I sprint toward him, barely catching my breath.
“Are you okay?” he asks, his brows furrowed as he takes in my disheveled state.
“No, doctor! He’s not okay!” I cry out, as my voice breaks with desperation. “He’s burning up-his body won’t stop trembling! It’s like his life is slipping away!”
The words spill out all at once, as my hands grip his arms tightly, as if he’s the only lifeline I have left.
Then I remember-the vial.
I frantically pull it out from my pocket, as I shove it toward him.
“Look, doctor! I found this on the floor in his room! Did you use this on him?” My voice shakes as I push the bottle into his hand.
Dr. Parker’s brows knit together as he studies the bottle, but the moment his eyes land on the label, his face pales in shock.
My stomach drops.
Something isn’t right.
Without a word, he suddenly takes off running toward Asher’s room.
My breath catches in my throat, as my feet move on their own as I chase after him, as fear claws at my chest.
“Doctor, what is it?!” I shout, my pulse pounding as I struggle to keep up.
He doesn’t answer.
He just keeps running, his pace quick, his movements frantic.
Then-he yanks open the door and rushes inside.
Asher’s chest rises and falls erratically, his breathing shallow and uneven. His body shifts restlessly, even though his eyes remain tightly shut.
Oh, Goddess…
My hand clamps over my mouth, my entire body shaking violently.
He has to be fine. He must be fine.
Dr. Parker rushes to his IV, his eyes scanning the bag. Then, without hesitation, he yanks it out, cutting off the flow of whatever was seeping into Asher’s bloodstream.
I gasp, as my heart lodges in my throat as he presses his fingers to Asher’s wrist. His jaw tightens with an unreadable expression before his gaze glazes over, and I realize he’s mind-linking someone.
Within seconds, the door bursts open, and several doctors rush in, carrying vials and equipment.
Everything moves in a blur.
One doctor prepares another IV, while Dr. Parker snatches a syringe from the tray and injects it into the new bag. They work in perfect sync, exchanging quick words and silent nods as they attach the new IV and reconnect it to Asher’s vein.
Tears pour down my face, unstoppable.
Asher looks deathly pale, his complexion almost ghostly white.
Whatever was in that vial-whatever poison had tainted his blood-it nearly took him from me.
I clutch my chest, my body trembling as I watch, helpless, while they continue working in desperate succession.
Minutes stretch into eternity.
Then-finally-I noticed something.
His breathing, once erratic, slows. His tense muscles relax.
His skin, though still pale, regains the faintest hint of warmth.
A sigh of relief escapes my lips. My legs suddenly give out, and I collapse onto the couch beside his bed, my body drained of every ounce of strength.
My mate is alive.
The room feels heavy, the air thick with tension as the last of the doctors step out, leaving just me and Dr. Parker.
For a moment, all I hear is the steady beeping of the monitors and Asher’s shallow breathing.
But I can’t stand the silence. I need answers.
I turn to the doctor, my voice shaky but firm. “What happened?”
Dr. Parker exhales, his face drawn with exhaustion. “This isn’t good, Ally. Someone tried to poison the Alpha.”
My breath catches, and my heart tightens painfully.
“Oh my Goddess…” I whisper, my legs nearly giving out beneath me.
“Is… is it from the bottle I showed you earlier?” My voice wavers, my hands clenching at my sides.
He nods slowly.
A shudder runs through me. This is bad. This is bad.
“It contained yew,” Dr. Parker explains gravely. “Someone introduced it directly into his bloodstream. That’s why he was so restless. In his current state, it could have triggered a heart attack. His body is already weak, and with his wolf still unable to heal him, he might have…”
“Don’t say it!” I cut him off, shaking my head fiercely. “Don’t even finish that sentence!”
I can’t hear those words.
I clutch the edge of the bed, as my nails dig into the fabric. Asher won’t die. He can’t.
Dr. Parker sighs, rubbing a hand over his face. “This wasn’t just an attempt to weaken him, Ally. They wanted him dead.”
A chill runs down my spine.
“But how?” I demand. “Who was here? There were guards at the door! How did someone get in?”
The doctor doesn’t answer right away, but the look in his eyes says it all.
It was an inside job.
My stomach twists painfully.
“People in this pack can’t be trusted,” I whisper.
“The Alpha is fighting for his life, and someone still dared to sneak in and try to finish him off. Does that make any sense to you, Doctor?”
Dr. Parker clenches his jaw and shakes his head. “I know, Ally… but what do we do? I can’t just stand here and watch the Alpha slip away.”
Tears stream down my face, hot and relentless.
I grab Asher’s arm, my fingers tighten around his wrist as if my touch alone could keep him here.
“No,” I whisper, then louder, “No. He won’t die, Doctor. My mate won’t die. I won’t lose him-not now, not like this!”
The pain in my chest feels unbearable, an ache so deep I can hardly breathe.
I haven’t even had a chance to love him fully, to have him completely.
And now… someone wants to take him away from me.
I won’t let them.
Dr. Josh looks at me with pity, and I hate it. I don’t need his sympathy, I need his help.
But I hold my tongue, knowing that getting him on my side is more important than my pride.
If anyone can help me pull off the plan forming in my head, it’s him.
“Doctor, can’t you see? This was all planned to end Asher’s life. We have to protect him.”
I take a deep breath, steadying my voice.
“I know you care about him,” I say gently.
“You’ve been working tirelessly to save him. I can see it in your eyes, in the way you fight to keep him alive.”
Dr. Josh exhales sharply, his expression pained, as if I’ve struck a nerve.
That’s when I realized Asher must have helped him before. Somewhere, at some point, Asher did something for him, something that made him loyal.
I press on.
“We have to do something, Doctor. If Asher dies, his blood will be on our hands. Because we should have saved him, and we didn’t.”
I search his face, with hope to break through his doubt. He looks conflicted, thinking hard.
Then, suddenly, our eyes meet. A silent understanding passes between us. He knows exactly what I’m asking.
His eyes widened. “No way.” His voice is barely above a whisper, but there’s panic in it.
I grip his wrist, holding him in place. “I’m sorry, Doctor, but this is the only way.”
He shakes his head. “Ally, I understand your desperation, but do you realize what you’re asking? This will save Alpha Asher, but it will put me in danger. I don’t think I can do it.”
His shoulders slump in defeat, and for a moment, I think he’s going to refuse.