Alethea
“This is the only viable option right now,” I say, my voice urgent. “They want him dead, Doctor. We have to make them believe they’ve succeeded while we work in secret to save him.”
I speak quickly, hoping that he will see reason. But I can tell he’s conflicted, torn between duty and fear.
Dr. Josh runs a hand over his face, rubbing hard, like he’s trying to clear away the fog of my absurd suggestion.
But is it absurd?
His mouth opens, but then he closes it again, weighing the risks and the consequences.
“This doesn’t look good, Ally,” he mutters in a hushed tone.
And he’s right. It doesn’t. Not when heightened wolf hearing makes it impossible to trust anyone, not even the guards at the door.
I step closer, lowering my voice. “Doctor, someone walked in here while the guards were stationed at the door and injected a deadly substance into his bloodstream. This, after he was already fighting to survive from the first poisoning.” I swallow, my desperation bleeding through my words. “Don’t you want to help him?”
I don’t care that I’m begging.
Then, suddenly, it clicks.
I saw Shirley before I came in here. And something about her felt… off.
Could she be the one responsible?
My breath catches as I replay the way she moved, the way she looked at Xavier. The silent conversation between them. Was she the one who slipped poison into Asher’s IV?
A violent urge rushes through me. If Shirley did this, I would claw her face so deeply that she would carry the scars for the rest of her miserable life.
No. I shake my head, rejecting the thought.
It can’t be her.
Can it?
Then I turn my gaze back to the doctor, my heart pounds as I force myself to speak with conviction.
“First things first, we need to move Asher out of this hospital. They can’t see him like this,” I say quickly, even though I know he hasn’t agreed to my plan yet.
Dr. Josh looks at me like he wants to argue, but I don’t give him the chance. I can’t afford for him to hesitate.
He’s a man in his late forties, experienced, someone who has seen more in life than I have.
If I can reach the human side of him-the part that understands pain, loss, and loyalty-then maybe, he’ll help me.
“Please, doctor,” I plead, my voice breaking with my emotions.
“I can’t lose Asher now. I’ve already been away from him for too long. I haven’t even had the chance to be with my mate the way I was meant to, and now that he’s so close within reach, I refuse to let him slip away.”
My chest tightens, but I push forward. “I need you, doctor. I swear nothing will go wrong. He will recover. I know he will.”
I don’t know where this faith is coming from, but I cling to it like my life depends on it because it does.
“There’s a private room,” I continue, lowering my voice. “No one knows about it except me, Kayla, and Liam. I know it’s safe because I-”
I stop myself before saying too much, but the memory flashes through my mind. The first time I found that hidden room, drawn there by Asher’s scent when I was in heat. The way he had made love to me there, away from everyone else.
“We move him there in the dead of night,” I say firmly. “I’ll take care of the guards. They’ll be asleep before they even realize what’s happening.”
Dr. Josh’s eyes widened slightly, clearly disturbed by my suggestion. I can already hear his protest, so I rush to reassure him.
“Not poison. Nothing dangerous. Just a temporary fix to make sure they don’t interfere while we get him out.”
He stays quiet, watching me carefully, the gears turning in his head. I can see the internal battle on his face, the conflict between logic and duty, between fear and faith. But deep down, I know the answer.
Dr. Josh has been a witness to Asher’s kindness. He has been the recipient of his trust. And now, for the first time, Asher needs him just as much as I do.
And I won’t take no for an answer.
Dr. Josh lets out a heavy sigh, his eyes filled with memories I can’t begin to understand.
“Ally, I’m only doing this because I know what it feels like to lose a mate,” he says quietly. “It’s the most painful experience a werewolf can go through.”
My heart clenches at his words. He’s speaking from experience, and I can see it in the way his gaze turns distant, lost in a memory that still haunts him.
I reach out and squeeze his hand gently. “Thank you, Doctor. I mean it. Thank you for doing this.” My voice is raw with emotion, but I don’t let myself break down now.
“Now, let’s figure out a plan,” I say, straightening up as we focus on what needs to be done.
Without wasting any more time, I rush out of the room, my eyes immediately landing on Liam. He’s standing in the corridor, staring down at the arena below, lost in his thoughts.
I know exactly what’s going through his mind. He’s blaming himself for what happened to Asher.
He senses my presence and turns to look at me. His sharp gaze studies me carefully, as if searching for cracks in my composure.
“You seem too calm for someone who’s about to lose her mate,” he says, with skepticism.
I let out a slow sigh. “Should I throw a tantrum? Will that help anything?” I ask, shaking my head before I motion for him to come closer.
He hesitates, looking around as if trying to gauge if it’s safe. I don’t have time for his doubts. I need him to do one crucial thing-convince Xavier that Asher’s condition is worse than it is.
When he finally steps forward, I grab his arm and pull him toward Asher’s room.
Dr. Josh is still standing there, waiting for my cue.
Liam looks between the two of us with a furrowed brow. He can already tell we’re up to something.
Taking a deep breath, I lay out the plan for him, explaining every detail alongside Dr. Josh.
At first, he’s skeptical. His jaw tightens, his hands clenched into fists, and I can see the conflict warring inside him. But as I keep talking, his resistance wavers.
Finally, after a long moment, he exhales sharply and nods.
“Fine. I’ll help.”
Relief floods through me. This is a huge step forward. Now, we just have to pull it off. From miles away, I can sense a presence so familiar that even without looking, I know exactly who it is.
Xavier.
A chill runs down my spine. He’s coming this way. I need to act fast. If he sees me here, if he even suspects my connection to Asher, everything will fall apart.
Heart pounding, I turn to Dr. Josh and Liam. “Tell Xavier that if Asher doesn’t recover within two days, you’ll have to pull the lifeline,” I whisper urgently.
They both nod in understanding, their faces grim.
Without wasting another second, I dart into the small bathroom attached to the room, closing the door just as Xavier steps inside.
I press my back against the cold wall, forcing myself to breathe as quietly as possible. My hands clenched into fists.
Then, his voice cuts through the tense silence.
And what he asks next makes my stomach drop, my heart leaping to my throat.
Shit. This isn’t good.