3

ELODIE

“What test? There’s nothing wrong with me,” I said almost immediately.

Although I kept my expression calm and almost serene, a flicker of annoyance crossed my face. “But if you continue to insist,” I added coldly, even as my voice nearly trembled, “You’ll be leaving me with no choice but to report this to the Alpha.”

As soon as I said that, she stiffened, her mouth going dry. I took that chance and grabbed a hold of the doorknob, dragging it away from her

That was actually an empty threat.

Telling my father about the doctor would mean explaining why I was here to begin with. I couldn’t afford it. But she doesn’t know that, does she? So definitely, she was going to succumb now. Or so I thought.

“I…I understand but why not wait a few hours?” She whispered almost unaudibly and when my brows furrowed in confusion, she continued. “Actually no patients are moving around currently. Maximus, the Lycan King of the Silver moon pack has an appointment scheduled for this exact time. He has quite a temper, and just like we are keeping everyone behind closed doors, I also wouldn't want you to cross paths with him.”

For a second, I tried to process what she just said and all I could think to myself was, “That’s bullshit.”

How does my exit out of here have to do with a Lycan who was coming? Not in my lifetime have I heard something so absurd.

“And what if he’s coming, Ms. Martin? Why do you think I care?” I decided to ask her and seeing her recoil almost instantly, I rolled my eyes unbelievably but also triumphantly. “Have a good day, doctor.” I stormed out, slamming the door closed behind me.

I didn’t care who was on their way.

All that mattered was getting home before my father would decide to send his men to search for me.

I walked with hurried steps, at the same time hoping I would find the front door quickly. This might be my father’s hospital but I don’t think I would ever get used to how huge it was.

I turned on my heel to take the last hallway, only to skid to a stop when I nearly collided with someone’s chest.

“I’m so sorry, I wasn’t—“ The rest of the words died in my throat as I gazed up, immediately paralyzed by the sight before me.

It might have been only a fleeting moment, but I still recognized his face.

He was at the coronation. The very man my father wanted me to hunt, but I lost him to the crowd.

Unable to understand why he had to appear here, right in front of me this time, a panic attack kicked in. It told me to run away, but curiously, I found myself taking him in.

I knew he was tall, but standing this close made me realize just how intimidating his height really was. Dark hair framed his sharply carved face, and his eyes… they weren’t just piercing. They seemed to look straight through me.

Heart thrashing erratically, my eyes frantically left his stoic face, flickering to the three guards flanked by both sides of him. Wait, don’t tell me he was the Lycan king? Who the doctor had just warned me about?

Just as the realization hit me, two of his men moved forward at the same time and seized me.

“The heck. W…what are you guys doing? Let me go now!” My body thrashed as I tried to escape their hold but they yanked me upright more firmly, holding me in place like a rag doll.

“Wasn’t it clear that no commoner is allowed outside at this hour?” One of them barked, his voice cold and indifferent, as if I was nothing more than livestock to be herded. “Now you’re going to answer to the Lycan King.” Before I knew it, they made my legs buckle beneath me and I dropped on my knees.

As a sharp wince slipped through my lips, a certain word came back to echo in my head.

‘Commoner.’

Hold on. Did he just call me a commoner? Me?

Anger flared in me and I defiantly lifted my gaze up at their leader, ready to prove all of them wrong. But the words died in my tongue the moment our eyes connected.

Much to my dismay, he didn’t say anything. Yet. Rather his thick lashes held me under intense scrutiny, causing beads of sweat to dampen my forehead.

Just as the silence stretched on, the Lycan folded his arms behind his back, his eyes circling me like a vulture. “Let her go. She looks miserable enough.” He suddenly spoke, his gaze sharp and dismissive, as though I were nothing more than trash that had accidentally crossed his path.

And it caused my stomach to drop, the words slicing deeper than any knife ever could. How could he say something like that?

It caused my blood to boil but I didn’t mutter a word. As his men released me and went back to their positions beside him, I lowered my head, ensuring I maintained my silence.

Soon after, I heard boots clicking against the floor as he walked past, his men falling in step behind him.

I turned around a few seconds later to catch their retreating figures. All I could do was glare at their backs, his especially, through raging eyes, unable to say or do anything.

Today was my first time meeting him. I hadn’t expected the impression to be good but I never expected him to be so cold and disrespectful either.

And yet… maybe I couldn’t blame him.

If Zane hadn’t broken me, I wouldn’t be here looking like this; so wrecked that a stranger who knows nothing about me feels entitled to judge me.

With a long deep breath, I exited the hospital. An hour later, I got home.

After everything that had already happened, especially the encounter from earlier, I knew better than to think the day couldn’t get any worse. But walking in to find my father in the living room waiting with a pregnancy test result in his hand? That wasn’t on my list of disasters.

“Who owns the child?” He barked without hesitation, waving the result up in the air and the look of disgust and betrayal from him was enough to tear the remainder of my soul apart.