Chapter 3

Sophia

I lay in the hospital bed. Every bruise throbbed. Every small move sent fresh pain through my ribs and leg. The nurses moved around me checking machines and adjusting tubes.

It felt strange. These were the same people I worked with every day. Now they saw me as the patient.

One nurse who often spent time with Solia leaned close to check my IV. Her face held a smug little smile that made my stomach twist.

“Heard the gossip already Sophia,” she said in a sweet voice that did not feel real. “Ryder really laid it out about your body at the ceremony. Tough night for you huh.”

I sighed and shifted a little. Pain shot through me. “Yeah. Solia spread the news already? Typical. Just leave me alone.”

The words tasted bitter. Solia had always taken what I wanted. Back in high school she learned that putting me down made the guys notice her. Now she had taken Ryder too. Once she heard the Moon Goddess paired us she went after him without hesitation.

The nurse shrugged but her smile stayed. I felt small again. Ugly. Worthless. Tears burned my eyes. My wolf whimpered inside me curling tighter.

I hated my body in that moment. I hated how it made everything harder.

Then another nurse pushed the curtain aside and came in fast. She gently moved the smug one out of the way. “That is enough,” she said quietly. She took my hand and held it tight. It was my girl Mia.

“Sophia I saw the update about the wreck and came straight over. Tell me where it hurts most right now. Ignore the rest.”

“It all aches,” I whispered. My voice cracked. “But the rejection hurts deeper. Ryder saying those things about me in front of the whole pack. Solia jumping in and smiling like she won big. I felt so exposed. So unwanted.”

She nodded and listened without interrupting.

“I wish I were there to back you up Sophia.” She said a few moments later.

I caught whispers from colleagues near the curtain. They talked about the ceremony and what Ryder said. My chest tightened again. Shame washed over me hot and heavy. Tears slipped down my cheeks. I tried to wipe them but my arm hurt too much.

She squeezed my hand a little tighter and wiped the tears rolling down. “Breathe through it,” she said softly. “You have handled worse moments than this. You care when no one else does. Do not let them take that from you.”

The doctor returned a short while later. His face was serious. Everyone that was in stepped out to give us privacy. After checking my charts, he sat on the edge of the bed and spoke in a low, careful voice.

“Sophia, I need you to be as calm as possible. Is there any possibility you were scratched or came into direct contact with rogues?”

I shook my head quickly. “No. I was attacked but my doors were locked the whole time after the attack started. I never let them get inside the car. They were hitting the doors from outside, but I did not open anything.”

The doctor nodded slowly, but his expression stayed heavy. “The scratches on your leg and shoulder tell a different story. It’s not just from the accident. They are more serious than we first thought. There is a risk of infection. It could weaken your wolf and slow your healing. In the worst case, if left untreated and unmarked, it might corrupt your wolf and turn you rogue. We are monitoring you closely.”

The words landed hard. I felt my chest tighten.

I was already branded weak and fat. I couldn’t be labeled a rogue too.

“Please, what if I actually am in danger, what can we do about it” I asked, my voice shaking.

“We’ll need a powerful Alpha to mark you Sophia. Also, for now, do not tell anyone. It’s already bad enough that you came in contact with the worse class of rogues, I need you to trust me and I’ll figure a way out.”

“Thank you so much Dr. Harland, you’ve always been so kind to me.”

The doctor hesitated, then gave a small nod. “It’s fine Sophia, we go way back. I will note it as standard follow-up care. But you need to rest and let us monitor you. This is serious, Sophia. Also, you’re lucky I am the one who has your charts.”

“I know that.” He looked at me one more time, leaving me with such a burden.

Kellan

My arm throbbed from the last battle, but pain was nothing new. When the medical staff needed help positioning her during the deep exam, I stepped in without asking.

As they checked her sides, the gown slipped lower, exposing more of her lush, soft skin. There was no hesitation in my mind, no regret. She was magnificent, and the sight of her sent a dark, primal heat straight to my gut. Carrying her out of that wreck had awakened my wolf; seeing her like this sealed it. She belonged under an Alpha’s protection.

Once the staff stepped out, I pulled a chair close to the bed, taking up her entire space. Sophia looked tired, but her eyes locked onto mine.

“You seem to be holding up well,” I stated, my tone firm.

She exhaled, her voice worn out. “Barely. The crash, the rejection... Solia going after Ryder the second she knew. And now I’m stuck here while everyone whispers.”

“Let them whisper,” I cut in, my voice low. “Solia chasing Ryder just proves how shallow they both are.”

Sophia shifted, wincing as she looked down. “They call me weak because I’m half-human. And after what Ryder said about my body... I feel worthless. Like no one wants a chubby omega. Maybe I should change. Slim down so this stops happening.”

I leaned in, placing my heavy hand over hers, trapping her gaze. “Stop talking like that. You don’t change a single damn thing. You’re built the way a real woman should be built, and you’re perfect exactly as you are.”

She blinked, stunned by my conviction. “You mean that? Even after seeing me in the ER?”

“I don’t utter words I don’t mean,” I said, my fingers tightening slightly around hers, feeling her warmth. “Carrying you, feeling your softness against me, your scent it locked in. Ryder is a fool who didn't know what he had. I do.”

She swallowed softly. “Thank you, Kellan. For saving me from those rogues. If you hadn’t shown up, I would be dead.”

“You don’t need to thank me,” I said grimly. “It’s my job to protect what’s mine, part of the pack of course. Those rogue bastards won't live to see tomorrow.”

My arm flared again, a sharp reminder of the pack physician’s orders. He had been nagging me for weeks to appoint a personal assistant to handle my recovery and manage my schedule during pack duties.

Looking at Sophia, the pieces clicked into place with a certain precision. This wasn't just practical anymore. There was something special about Sophia, something raw and real that Ryder had been too blind to see.

Having her at my side as my personal assistant would serve two purposes: I’d keep her safe, and I’d parade her in front of the entire pack. Ryder would burn with envy seeing what he threw away, and Solia who thought I was crying over her would get a brutal reality check on how fast I’d moved on.

I leaned down, locking eyes with her. The command in my voice left no room to run.

“When you leave this hospital you’re coming with me, Sophia. You’re going to be my personal assistant.”

She gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief. “Kellan, no... I can’t just do that. I’m a staff nurse here, not some elite Alpha's aide. I’m not fit to handle your schedule, let alone walk beside you during official pack duties….”

“You are fit for it because I say you are,” I interrupted, stepping closer until my shadow completely covered her. “You know medical recovery, you have steel in you, and I want you by my side. I am not asking, Sophia. Name your terms, name your price. Hear me out.”

She stared at me, breathless, the sheer force of my will pinning her in place.

Reaching out calmly, I pulled her slipping gown back up over her chest. I was ready to do anything to make her agree.