ENTITLED JERK!

AUTHOR’S POV 

The young man glanced toward the building.

"Elena said everyone gets examined before entering the inner settlement. That includes Alphas."

Something unpleasant twisted in Kaiden's chest.

Elena had given the order.

Of course she had.

He had not seen her since she turned away from him at the gate. She had spoken to him as though he were a stranger, imposed conditions on his entry, and then walked off without waiting to see whether he would object.

He had told himself that her coldness was understandable. She had every reason to resent him.

But there was a difference between resenting someone and treating an Alpha as though his title meant nothing.

Kaiden took a step toward the guard.

"Tell Elena I want an audience with her."

The guard hesitated.

"She is busy."

"I did not ask whether she was busy."

"And I told you she is busy."

Kaiden's wolf surged beneath his skin.

The guard's shoulders stiffened. His nostrils flared, and for a moment, the two wolves stared at each other in silence.

Then the young man lowered his eyes—not in submission, but in a brief acknowledgment of the tension—and continued toward the building.

"Finish your examination first," he said. "I'll pass along your message."

Kaiden watched him walk away.

He had never wanted to put someone through a wall so badly for doing nothing more than following instructions.

She is testing us, his wolf growled.

Perhaps.

Or perhaps Elena had simply learned that the world did not bend because someone carried an Alpha title.

Kaiden forced his wolf back and followed the guard.

He would speak to Elena.

And she would remember that, whatever had happened between them, he was still an Alpha.

He had not come to Haven to be humiliated.

Not by a woman who had once been willing to give him everything.

The examination took longer than Kaiden expected.

Lydia Shaw, the doctor responsible for the infirmary, questioned every newcomer about their symptoms and recent injuries. She checked their eyes, examined their skin for dark markings, and ordered anyone with a fever to remain in a separate room until the cause could be determined.

When Kaiden attempted to move ahead of the others, she pointed toward the bench.

"Sit."

He stared at her.

"Excuse me?"

"Sit down, please. I need to check your wounds."

"I can wait until the others have been examined."

"You can also sit down while you wait."

One of the Blackthorn warriors behind him coughed to hide a laugh.

Kaiden turned his head slowly.

The warrior immediately became fascinated by a crack in the wall.

Lydia, apparently unaware that she had just challenged the pride of an Alpha, opened her medical bag.

"Your shoulder is bleeding through the bandage. If you keep moving around, you'll reopen the wound. Sit down before I have to make you."

Kaiden looked at the woman for several seconds.

Then he sat.

He told himself it was because he had more important things to do than argue with a doctor. He told himself that if he allowed Lydia to examine him quickly, he could find Elena sooner.

He did not tell himself that the doctor was right.

The wound was painful, and the exhaustion had begun to settle into his bones. He had pushed himself beyond his limits for days, relying on his wolf to keep him moving when his body wanted to collapse.

He could not afford to fall apart now.

Not with so many people depending on him.

Lydia finished checking his shoulder and examined the bruising along his ribs. She asked whether he had experienced fever, dizziness, confusion, or unexplained black markings.

Kaiden answered each question impatiently.

Finally, she stepped back.

"No obvious signs of the Ashen Plague. You still need to keep that wound clean, and I recommend rest."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"You should also let me know if any symptoms develop."

"I said I would."

Lydia gave him a long look, as if she doubted that he would follow a single instruction she had given him.

Then she moved aside.

"You can go."

Kaiden rose.

"Where can I find Elena Voss?"

"Ask the guards."

He left before she could offer any further advice.

By the time he reached the main yard, his irritation had hardened into something sharper. He could tolerate exhaustion, hunger, and the loss of territory. He could accept that Haven was better organized than he had expected.

What he could not accept was the feeling that everyone here had decided he was merely another problem to manage.

He found Rowan speaking with Garrick near a stack of supplies.

"Where is Elena?" Kaiden demanded.

Both men turned.

Rowan's expression suggested that he had anticipated this conversation.

"She is inspecting the incoming supplies and assigning the injured to the infirmary."

"Then tell her I require a meeting."

Garrick's eyebrows rose.

"Require?"