003

Everything seems under control, or so she thought, but as they stepped out of the room, Wyatt's demeanor sent warning signals to the members working there who recognized him. Filled with distress, Hazel sprinted towards Jack. "Jack," she called out, her voice reflecting her concern.

"What the heck were you trying to prove out there?" His words spilled out, unaware that she had just punched the alpha of the Blue Moon pack—a consequence she had never before encountered. She stood there, absorbing Jack's remarks and the warnings he was trying to convey.

"I'm sorry. Do you expect me to stand by and watch him choke you?" Her voice held a hint of rebellion, a readiness to fight for what was right.

"You don't know him," he murmured quietly, his gaze shifting over her shoulder to where Wyatt stood, gawking back at them.

"I have to get back to the ICU," Hazel asserted firmly, determined to keep her promise. Stepping back, she walked briskly towards the ICU. She knew it would be challenging, but she chose to prioritize life over death, courage over fear.

As she skimmed through Dimitry Romano's medical chart, she realized he was older than her own brother, Eason, and that his lungs had filled with water due to drowning.

"He tried to drown himself," the senior doctor informed her, and Hazel felt a pang of pain for Dimitry. Why would a young man like him want to end his life in such a way?

"Um, is there any reason..." Her voice wavered, seeking a valid explanation for his actions.

"He is suffering from paraplegia." The doctor's response hinted that being paralyzed from the waist down might have driven Dimitry to attempt drowning, but it still didn't justify self-harm of that nature.

"Check his vitals once again," the doctor instructed before leaving Hazel to handle the task. As he exited the room, she stood there, watching him go.

Taking a moment to study Dimitry, Hazel noticed his calm and peaceful appearance as he slept. A tender smile graced her face. They had saved this poor soul, but now he needed to show signs of life by waking up. Hazel believed that the language of love and compassion worked wonders in medicine, and if it could help Dimitry, she was willing to offer it. Leaning closer to his ears, she whispered softly.

"Hey, stranger," she began.

"I'm... You don't know me yet, but I'm excited to meet you."

"I know you can hear me; you should know your brother is worried about you." Dimitry's body remained relaxed, showing no immediate response to her words, but she continued speaking to him nonetheless.

Her lips curled upward, and her fingers danced through the strands of his hair, a soft caress that mirrored the warmth in her smile.

"Please save us all from your arrogant brother. That rampaging man came after everyone out there." Stepping back, she blew a kiss in his direction, feeling a sense of connection with Eason. Hazel checked Dimitry's vitals once more, pushing the chart back into the rack before walking out, aware of Wyatt's gaze fixed upon her. Taking a few steps closer to him, she prepared to speak.

"He is..." she began, intending to provide an update, but her words faltered, as if caught in her throat. 

“Wyatt,” a voice interrupted her words, and Hazel looked over her shoulder to see Dr. Larkin enter the hallway. The doctor had checked all the courses of medications. Hazel offered a tender smile to Wyatt, trying to keep the hope alive, and stepped away from him, heading out of the hallway to call it a day. It had indeed been a challenging day for her, and she had learned valuable lessons as an intern surgeon—managing patient's family members while ensuring the safety of her colleagues. She could pat herself on the back for that.

Upon reaching home, Hazel was reminded to search for the puppy she had found earlier in the day. During dinner, she didn't forget to share all the details with her parents.

"People can behave erratically. You never know," her mom added.

"You're right, Mom, but we're happy we saved him in time," Hazel replied.

"How can I not be proud of my girl? She's the best." She loved how her actions made her parents proud. Maybe after a few days, they would move back to Charlotte and allow her to explore hospitals in the city.

"Goodnight, Daddy," Hazel bid her father farewell.

"Goodnight, Mommy," she said, heading to her room and collapsing on her bed, utterly exhausted. As she closed her eyes, the only thing her mind lingered on were those cyan-blue eyes. He was undeniably handsome, but too arrogant to be the owner of such killer looks. Perhaps Jack was right; she might find a handsome guy in this town. With those thoughts in mind, Hazel slipped into a deep slumber, putting an end to her day.

***

The morning burst in with urgency as Hazel readied herself, rushing downstairs only to collide with Eason. "Ugh, Eason, why are your drones cluttering the place?" Hazel exclaimed, casting a quick glance around, realization dawning as the date came into focus. Her morning smile dissolved, morphing into an expression of anxiety.

"Don't tell me you're leaving now," her dad chuckled, pulling out his trolley bag and stuffing it into the car trunk.

"We've already told you. Besides, it's just a matter of two weeks, Hazel. It'll be fine, especially since you spend most of your time at the hospital." She wished she could join her family on this adventure, and for the first time, she cursed her internship.

"But what am I going to do here alone?" Her mom tried to console her by serving her favorite breakfast.

"You have your new pup, Stalker." Eason had named the puppy Stalker, even going as far as creating a collar tag for him. It was peculiar.

"Mom..."

"Hazel, you're running late." They enjoyed breakfast together, and she bid her family a happy journey, but she didn't have time to dwell on her sadness. It was a race against time to reach the hospital. Hazel felt agitated yet eager to meet her new patient.

"Hello," she greeted her colleague while punching her card, her eyes searching for Jack.

"Where's Jack?" 

"He's sick," came the response, which was strange because he had been fine the previous evening. Hazel checked her phone, but there was no message from him indicating that he wouldn't be coming in today. Her train of thought was interrupted by the noise coming from the VIP room.

"What's all this commotion?"

"Dimitry Romano. He's conscious but adamantly blocking anyone from entering. Refusing medications and food." Hazel's brow furrowed, anticipating a difference from his brother in this behavior.

"Where's his brother?" The nurse offered a nonchalant shrug, devoid of any additional information.

"May I?" Hazel inquired, and the nurse granted a silent nod.

She draped her doctor's coat over her frame, mustering enthusiasm to confront him. With a gentle knock, another growl reverberated from the other side of the door.

"I've made it clear I don't want to see anybody."

"Are you deaf? Didn't you listen to what I said?" He bellowed, intimidating her.

"How are you feeling now?" Hazel didn't spare him a glance. She simply entered, lifted the chart, and examined the syringe.

"Seriously?"

“After that, are you going to bother me by asking how and why I committed this action?” Dimitry's jaw clicked, and fumes of anger continued to radiate, but not enough to diminish Hazel's confidence.

She touched his wrist without looking at him and checked his heart rate.

"Nope, I won't. But I'm curious, did you enjoy it?" Dimitry hadn't expected this response from a doctor, not even in a hundred years.

She jotted down his vitals on the chart and pulled the food tray beside his bed. "I'm sure you must have enjoyed it. You're a grown-up man, capable of making your own decisions. It must have been exciting, right?" Hazel didn't give him a chance to intervene. She kept talking to herself, and Dimitry was astonished, watching this woman enter his room, updating all the charts, opening the window to let in the shimmering lights. She leaned closer and rested the stethoscope on his chest.

"Breathe in... out... one more time," she finally locked eyes with him, offering a gentle smile. He looked innocent, like Eason, but his sprinkled beard and newly grown mustache urged Hazel to treat him with respect as a mature man, not a boy.

"So, tell me, was it a wonderful decision?" His relaxed shoulders slid back as she listened to his other lungs. He wondered if his brother could give him this much space to breathe and talk.

"But my brother doesn't think like this," he lamented, lost in his thoughts.

"I have a little brother like you, and sometimes we elder siblings may overstep boundaries because we want to protect the younger ones," she frowned, followed by a gentle smile.

His eyes flickered with hope. She made a valid point, but she still had to answer his questions.

"But that doesn't give them the right to hurt us, to disrespect us."

"You're right, but I think sometimes we have to skip the part where they're being a bad wolf howling and see the love they have for us." The angry little boy vanished, replaced by a well-mannered, mature person ready to listen. He hummed and agreed with her on specific points, and they continued their conversation.

"Now, I hope you'll eat before your brother arrives."

"Sure," it wasn't a daunting task but the right approach to understanding him. Maybe nobody had listened to his feelings, and talking to a stranger helped soothe his pain.

"Are you okay?" The words hung in the air, and Hazel's body stiffened while Dimitry rolled his eyes in response to that voice. Hazel smiled and signaled Dimitry to put on a smile. She believed it would settle everything in a few moments. He chose to remain silent, but another set of words filled the air, weighing down the atmosphere.

"What were you thinking? Committing such a stupid act?" Wyatt thundered. Dimitry raised his eyes to look at Hazel, but it wasn't anger but disappointment that washed over his face. Something told her this was the exact moment he didn't want to experience—when his elder brother questioned his rash decision. Wyatt rushed forward, closing the gap between them in three long strides.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think so."

"Exactly. You never think before committing such stupid acts." Hazel shook her head, watching Wyatt, silently urging him not to speak to Dimitry like this, but he ignored her. She pressed her lips together and, believing in giving them privacy, stepped away from his bed.

"Please don't leave," Dimitry called her back, grasping at the last straw. Ignoring Wyatt, he smiled and continued his conversation with Hazel.

"Was it you who whispered something in my ears last night?" Dimitry tilted his head and looked at Hazel. Her eyes scanned Dimitry's face, but she didn't miss another set of eyes still surveying her. She gulped the lump in her throat and gave a curt nod, hoping she wouldn't be judged by the man sitting across the bed.

"Thank you for what you said." She offered a brief nod, confused about how he knew it was her the previous evening.

“Do you know him?”

"Um," another exchange of glances; it felt like the most beautiful eyes were seeking to know more about her, but little did Dimitry know that he had come across as arrogant, and she had punched him the previous evening. 

"He's Wyatt Romano," she stammered when Wyatt's gaze consumed her, sending a slight tingle through her veins. His eyes remained fixed on her, as if he were reading her soul, flipping through every page of her inner being. Lust was evident in his hooded eyes, but he also shot dangerous daggers in her direction, as if he were angry with her. He was a mystery to her, but she wasn't eager to solve it. She stuffed her hands into her doctor's jacket pocket.

"What's your name?" Dimitry interrupted. She opened her mouth to introduce herself, but the door burst open, and another handsome stranger entered the room.

"Dim, are you alright?" The newcomer came forward and hugged Dimitry, something Wyatt hadn't done. Ruben turned on his heels, presenting a smile to help thaw the tense atmosphere a bit for Hazel.

"Thank you, Miss..." Ruben replied. She opened her mouth but couldn’t finish the word.

"Not interested," Wyatt snapped and remained in his place.

"Ruben," at least she found out the name of the third gentleman. They seemed to communicate through their eyes. He nodded and agreed to stay there.

"I'll be here," Ruben replied. Hazel's eyes widened in surprise as she noticed dry bloodstains on Ruben's clothes, but she chose to ignore it. It could be something else, she tried to convince herself. But as she stepped out and retrieved her phone, she saw Jack's message.

STAY AWAY FROM WYATT ROMANO.