Steven’s POV
The hot water poured over my skin, scalding yet grounding. Each drop seemed to strip away the blood and the night’s chaos, but not the weight I carried. Steam curled around me, suffocating, as if trying to trap the metallic tang of blood still clinging to me. My hands scrubbed harder, raw and desperate. No matter how much I cleaned, the stains weren’t just on my skin-they were inside me.
When I finally stepped out, a towel secured around my waist, I found Ashley pacing the room. Her movements were restless, her bare feet sinking soundlessly into the thick carpet. Her fingers fidgeted with her shirt, her gaze darting to me and away like she was caught in a storm of nerves.
“Aren’t you supposed to be in bed?” My voice was calm, yet commanding. The tension in the room thickened instantly.
“BBed? What do you mean?” she stammered, freezing mid-step. Her wide eyes were wary, almost pleading.
“I meant sleep. What else could I possibly mean?” My tone sharpened, but the flicker of fear in her expression pulled at something buried deep within me.
Her laugh was awkward, forced. “Of course, sleep! That’s what you meant.”
“Did you think I was going to-”
“I didn’t think anything!” she blurted, cutting me off too fast, too loud. Her panic spilled into every word, and she took a step back as if my mere presence was suffocating her.
“Of course, you didn’t.” I moved toward her deliberately, my steps slow, calculated. She shrank back until her body met the wall, her breaths shallow and erratic.
“What… what are you doing?” she whispered, her voice trembling.
I reached out, brushing a few damp strands of hair from her face. Her skin was cold under my touch, her fear radiating like a pulse. I could feel it-the way she tensed, the way her gaze darted for an escape that didn’t exist.
“If I wanted you,” I murmured, my voice low and lethal, “I would’ve taken you long ago. And you wouldn’t have been able to stop me.” I let the words sink in before leaning closer, just enough to let her feel the weight of my disdain. “But rest assured, someone like you doesn’t deserve me in your bed.”
Her shoulders sagged in relief, her exhale shaky and uneven.
“I know that was meant to insult me,” she said, attempting to steady her voice. “But I’m actually glad to hear it. I totally agree-I’m too feeble for you. So keep your word and don’t touch me.”
I ignored her weak attempt at defiance, sitting on the edge of the bed. The silence stretched between us, heavy and unbroken. It was a silence I controlled, one that spoke louder than words.
When she spoke again, her voice was hesitant. “I feel more comfortable now that we’ve… cleared things up.”
I turned my head, my gaze pinning her to the spot. “Comfortable?” The single word was ice, freezing the air between us. “I know I said it would be my loss if you suffocated, but I’m sure you’d survive just fine without a tongue.”
Her eyes widened in alarm, and she scrambled onto the bed, yanking the duvet over her trembling frame. “Goodnight!” she blurted, her voice muffled as if the covers could shield her from me.
*****
Freja’s POV
I woke with a gasp, clutching my neck. My heart raced as though it wanted to escape the nightmare that clung to me like a shadow. The room was dark, quiet, but the image of his piercing gaze wouldn’t fade.
Why him? Why now?
Dragging myself out of bed, I stumbled into the bathroom. The cold water shocked my skin, grounding me in reality, but my reflection showed the turmoil I couldn’t shake.
By the time I reached the dining room, I forced a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “Good morning,” I greeted, slipping into a chair.
Freya’s sharp eyes narrowed. “Are you okay, Freja? Your eyes are swollen. Did you get any sleep?”
“Not really.” My voice was flat, my chin propped on my hand. “That jerk somehow crept into my dreams. He tried to bite me with his stupid fangs!”
The room went still, the silence deafening.
“Are you okay, Freja?” Liam asked carefully, his concern etched on his face.
“Sure, Liam. I’m fine.”
The tension shattered when Luna entered, her aura of authority drawing all attention.
“Good morning,” she said, her voice calm yet commanding.
Seeing her reminded me of something-or rather, someone. “Did Steven make it home last night?”
Freya raised an eyebrow, her tone sharp. “So you forgot to check on your brother who went on a murder spree? That’s considerate of you, Freja.”
“Don’t guilt-trip me, Freya. Steven can handle himself. He’s an Alpha.”
Ashley’s soft voice broke in. “He came back covered in blood. Nearly gave me a heart attack.”
A smile tugged at my lips. “That’s my brother-always protecting the pack.”
Ashley looked at me as if I’d grown a second head.
“What? It’s true. An Alpha should protect his pack,” I said, shrugging.
Freya didn’t get the chance to retort because Steven entered, his presence filling the room like a storm.
He was dressed sharply, his suit immaculate, and his gaze cut through the room.
“You’re all dressed,” Ashley said, her voice nervous, her hands twisting in her lap.
“Yes. Unless you plan to visit the hospital in your nightgown, I suggest you get ready,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Ashley’s eyes widened. “Wait-did you just say hospital?”
Steven’s voice softened, but his authority remained. “I promised to try waking your mother. Even if it’s only temporary. An Alpha keeps his word.”
At the Hospital
The tension in the car was thick, a heavy silence settling over us like an unwelcome guest. My eyes flicked to Steven, seated next to Ashley, his mere presence filling the space with an intensity that made it hard to breathe. He didn’t need to speak for everyone to feel his authority.
“Why exactly are you in this car with us?” Liam broke the silence, his tone sharp with irritation.
Steven turned his head slightly, fixing Liam with a look that could have silenced thunder. “Because I want to be,” he said, his voice low but commanding, as though the world bent to his will.
“Ashley is finally going to speak to her mom after eight months of silence,” I added quickly, trying to lighten the mood. “I’m just here to play the supportive sister-in-law.”
Steven didn’t even glance at me. “If you keep disturbing the silence, you’ll be finding your way there in a cab,” he said, his words slicing through the air with cold precision.
I crossed my arms, muttering under my breath, “Always grumpy.” But I didn’t dare say it loud enough for him to hear.
*********
The hospital’s sterile scent hit me the moment we stepped through the doors. The cold air felt sharp against my skin, but Steven didn’t flinch. He moved with purpose, his broad shoulders cutting a path through the bustling hallway. His power wasn’t just in his strength-it was in the way people instinctively moved aside, drawn to his aura like moths to a flame yet wary of getting too close.
As we waited, I spotted James down the hall, deep in conversation with a nurse. His calm, measured tone carried over to me as he spoke, his instructions precise.
“Administer the Rocephin injection in three hours,” James said before dismissing the nurse with a curt nod.
“You know I can hear you, right?” I called out, a smile playing on my lips as I approached.
James didn’t even turn. “And yet, you still can’t sneak up on me,” he replied, his voice tinged with amusement.
I rolled my eyes. “One day, I’ll surprise you.”
Finally, he turned, his expression softening just slightly as his gaze met mine. “Keep dreaming, Freja,” he said, his smirk infuriatingly smug.
Before I could respond, the sound of Steven’s voice cut through the air like a blade. “Freja.” His tone alone was enough to make my heart race.
I turned to see him standing beside Ashley, his expression unreadable, but his eyes… they burned with a fierce determination that made me shiver.
“It’s time,” he said, his voice steady but laced with an unspoken command.
Ashley looked at him, her face pale, her fingers twisting nervously at her sides. For a moment, I thought she might run.
Steven stepped closer, towering over her. His presence was overwhelming, his power radiating from him like a storm ready to unleash. “You’ve waited long enough,” he said, his tone softening just enough to be comforting, but still firm. “You’re stronger than you think.”
Ashley hesitated, her breath hitching. Then, slowly, she nodded, her fear melting away under Steven’s unwavering gaze.
As they walked toward the ICU, I couldn’t help but watch him. Steven wasn’t just powerful-he was relentless. He didn’t need to raise his voice or make grand gestures to show his strength. It was in his every movement, every word, every look. He was the kind of man who could bend the world to his will, and in that moment, I knew Ashley was in the safest hands imaginable.
I glanced at James, who was watching the scene with an amused smile. “What?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s just fascinating to see how Steven makes everyone fall in line.”
“Yeah, well, it’s exhausting being around him,” I muttered, though I couldn’t deny the truth in James’s words.
Steven was a force of nature, and there was no escaping him. Not that I’d ever admit it out loud.