CHAPTER 4

SELINE

The next few hours passed by laboriously. As we waited for the guards to return with some sort of news about the viper, Emily and I did all we could to keep the boy comfortable. We took his temperature, monitored his heart rate, and continued to apply cold compresses to keep his fever from rising any higher.

Meanwhile, it took all of my concentration to remain perfectly focused on the boy. My mind was trying to wander to different places, and Austin Collins wasn't helping. The Alpha King remained close to us as we attended to his son, and it was unclear if he was monitoring our treatment or just studying me.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up as chills continuously ran down my spine. I wasn't the kind of woman who got nervous easily, but the Alpha King's very presence set every inch of my body on edge.

Of all of the people to be here, he was the last one I'd ever have expected, and my emotions were running wild. I wasn't sure whether to cry or be relieved to see him after so long. All I knew was that this was unbelievably complicated.

Before long, a pair of guards returned. They'd finally tracked down the viper. Luckily, it was one that I'd seen in a medical book. I relayed all of the information I knew to Emily and Austin, and the pair of them seemed relieved to know there was a potential cure.

The Alpha King had assigned guards to accompany Emily back to the clinic to procure the herbs needed to heal the boy. My assistant seemed nervous to be surrounded by such heavily-weaponed men, but she accepted the help.

Half an hour later, she returned with the herbs, and we got to work. We prepared a salve to apply directly to the wound, and then used others to brew a tea that would treat the boy internally. The prince was weak, but we managed to help him get enough of the tea into his system to treat him properly.

Hours passed by, and by dusk, the boy finally became stable. After much fitful moaning and crying, he'd finally fallen into a quiet sleep. The blueness of his lips had disappeared, and color had returned to his cheeks. Beneath the salve, the swollenness of the bite had eased.

Once he was sustained, I sent Emily back home. She put up a bit of a fight and insisted on staying with me, but I pushed back and told her she needed to go back to her boys.

"They're going to be excited to show you what they hunted in the forest," I'd reminded her. "They need you more than I do right now."

After a little more convincing, Emily agreed to go, and once she packed up and left the Pack House, I'd turned to the rest of the people standing around in the chamber and asked for some time alone with my patient. The guards seemed hesitant to leave me alone with the prince, but the Alpha King heeded my request and ordered the others to do the same. They filtered out of the chamber, and once they were gone, I released a sigh.

As much as the quiet was nice, asking everyone to leave us was more of an excuse than anything. My patient was stable, but I needed time to think and process the emotions that swirled around in my mind like a storm.

I hadn't been prepared to see Austin again, and I was surprised to see just how much he'd changed over the years. He was the Alpha King now, and as such, he was the ruthless leader of the Valcrest Empire. In the past, he'd seemed hesitant to take on the position, but it seemed like he'd embraced his destiny.

Not only that, but he had a son.

I glanced over at the boy. Was he also the son of Vanessa Moses?

A pang of sadness struck me. He had to be. Austin had abandoned me all those years ago and left me to suffer for the sake of marrying Vanessa. It would make sense that he'd have a son with her.

My chest suddenly felt tight, and for a moment, I thought I was about to cry, but I forced those feelings down. Austin Collins was the Alpha King now. What he did was none of my business anymore, and I couldn't let him affect me like this.

Besides, I had Ethan and my career here in the Shadowvale Pack, not to mention my dear friend Emily and her family. I was loved and respected here, and that's all I needed.

I looked back at the prince. He reminded me a little of Ethan, though they didn't look alike. The prince had a sweet round face and soft curly hair, just like his mother, Vanessa. She'd been the most beautiful she-wolf in the Moonfall Pack, so it was unsurprising her son took after her.

My Ethan had a more serious appearance, much like his father. He was cute, but there was something mature and intelligent in his eyes.

Suddenly, a soft whimper interrupted my thoughts, and when I looked over, I watched the prince roll on his side. His sheets were thoroughly soaked from perspiration, and his forehead appeared damp as well.

"Oh, sweetheart," I murmured, and I hopped to my feet. The poor child was at risk of catching a cold.

I rushed over to the door, and peeked my head out. A pair of guards stood at attention, and they stared at me with expressions of concern.

"I need a servant," I said. "The prince needs a fresh set of blankets."

The guards nodded, and one of them disappeared down the hall. I stepped back into the chamber, and a few minutes later, the doors flew open to reveal a pair of servants with piles of fresh linens. But they weren't alone. Austin Collins walked in with them, and his gray eyes flashed with concern.

"How is he?" he demanded as he rushed over, but when he caught sight of his son, his expression softened.

"Better," I answered gently. "I just thought he would be more comfortable with fresh sheets."

"Oh," Austin said simply, and he nodded. It was clear that he was a caring father, and it was strange to see him in this light.

I stepped aside as the servants changed the prince's sheets, and as Austin spoke quietly to his son, I felt a lump form once again in my throat. My stomach turned and for a moment, I thought I was going to throw up. Tears welled in my eyes, and I dug my nails into my palms.

This was too hard.

Once the servants were done, they left the chamber, and I wanted to follow. So, I turned to Austin.

"Your son just needs rest," I managed to say. "He's recovering quite well, so I think I should take my leave."

Before he could say another word, I turned on my heels and headed toward the doors. I'd nearly made it there when Austin's voice rang through the chamber.

"Stay," he demanded.

I froze for a moment, and then took a step forward. Then he spoke again, his voice hardened and deadly serious.

"I said stay.”