Four

Chapter Four

Beverly

Pain.

That was the first thing I felt.

It came in waves. Slow at first, like a distant ache, then crashing all at once until it swallowed me whole. My fingers twitched weakly against something soft, unfamiliar.

Soft?

My brows furrowed as I struggled to open my eyes.

I wasn’t on concrete anymore.

The scent of antiseptic filled my nose, followed by the faint, rhythmic beeping of a machine. My lashes fluttered open, the bright white light overhead stabbing into my vision. I let out a small wince.

Hospital.

I tried to move, but a sharp pain shot through my side, forcing a broken gasp from my lips.

“Don’t.”

Velvet. Deep and commanding.

I froze.

Slowly, I turned my head toward the source… and my breath caught.

He stood by the window, tall and imposing, his broad frame half-cast in shadow. The light from outside carved sharp lines along his face, highlighting a strong jaw, high cheekbones, and eyes so green they could pass for a forest.

I gulped. Waking up to an insanely attractive man was the one item I didn’t realize was on my bucket list. He was breathtaking.

“You’ll reopen your stitches if you move like that,” he added, his tone flat, like he was stating a fact rather than offering concern.

I swallowed, my throat dry.

“…Where am I?”

“A private hospital.”

His gaze flicked to me briefly before returning to whatever view held his attention outside.

“You’re lucky you didn’t die.”

Lucky.

That was hardly a word I would use for myself. Surviving was not luck. Surviving was a decision I had made when I threw myself out of that car.

I pushed myself up slightly, ignoring the protest from my body. “Who are you?”

He glanced at me again, assessing if I was worth answering or not. “I assumed you would since you conveniently fell in front of my car.”

My stomach dropped. My eyes narrowed in judgment.

“…You hit me?”

“You jumped into the road.”

“I was escaping a kidnapper!” I snapped.

“And I stopped the car.”

“Oh, how noble of you,” I scoffed, wincing slightly at the pain that followed.

His brow twitched. Just barely.

“You’re welcome,” he said dryly.

I opened my mouth to fire back, but nothing came out. Because… annoyingly, he wasn’t wrong. Other people would have probably left me to die and Elena would finally get her wish.

“Thank you,” I said suddenly and he blinked. He ran a hand through his hair, pushing back the black curls. My eyes subconsciously followed his arm movement, noting the way his muscles flexed. He had tattoos. Full sleeve tattoos, I liked to think.

I didn’t even like tattoos, yet something about that ink on his skin…

I blinked, shaking my head rapidly to get rid of the thought. I just escaped a toxic relationship, I shouldn’t be thinking about this. The last thing I needed was another Alpha who thought he could decide my worth.

Then it hit me.

My cheque!

I reached for my bralette, then suddenly realized I was in hospital wear. My stomach sank. Do they change underwear too?

Oh goddess, does this mean my money is gone?

“Oh God…” I muttered under my breath, panic rising in my chest. “My cheque…”

My hands moved frantically over the thin hospital blanket like it might magically appear. Nothing. Gone. Everything I had left… gone.

A hundred and fifty million… just like that.

I squeezed my eyes shut, my chest tightening. Was this some kind of cruel joke? Five years of suffering reduced to a piece of paper, and now even that…

“Looking for this?”

My eyes snapped open.

He was holding it. Between his fingers. Carelessly. Like it meant absolutely nothing.

Relief hit me so hard I nearly cried.

“Yes!” I blurted, pulling the drip out so I could move freely. I scurried out of bed, ignoring the pain shooting through every part of my body, reaching for it—but he lifted his hand just out of my reach.

I froze.

…Did he just…

“Give it to me,” I said slowly.

“No.”

My brows furrowed. “Excuse me?”

His expression didn’t change. Not even a little.

“You shouldn’t be moving,” he said calmly. “Didn’t I just say that?”

“That is not your money,” I snapped, irritation flaring instantly. The anger that had kept me alive in the dungeon rose again, familiar and useful. “Give it back.”

“It was tucked inside your clothes,” he replied, glancing at the cheque briefly. “Hidden. Interesting choice.”

Heat rushed to my face.

“That is none of your business!” I jumped higher than I should have and fell over him, my lips crashed against his neck and he immediately stiffened.

A faint milky scent swept through my nostrils and my eyes widened. I attempted to pull away but strong arms instantly wrapped around my waist.

“Stay still, you’re going to fall,” he rasped.

Right then, the door opened and two men burst in.

“Alpha Rafaele, the…” The words hung in the air as they took in the scene before them. My heart skipped.

Alpha?

I jumped away from him like he burned me, and also tripped but managed to regain my footing before I completely embarrassed myself. His lips pressed tightly in a frown as he watched me stagger.

The sincere concern in his eyes made my stomach twist.

Was the universe toying with me? How do you escape an alpha only to land in the arms of another?

Why was there another Alpha in Kingsway anyway? He should be in the palace with Killian, not lurking around the hospital.

“Pardon us, Alpha Rafaele,” one of them corrected, his tone respectful but cautious. “We didn’t realize you had company.”

Rafaele.

So that was his name.

I let out a small, dry laugh under my breath. “Of course you’re an Alpha.”

His eyes flicked to me. Intensely.

“And that’s funny?” he asked.

“Yes,” I replied instantly. “Very.” His insufferability was one of their characteristics.

He raised a brow.

I crossed my arms, ignoring the pull in my side. The pain was still there, but the anger and the hard, new resolve were stronger. “Let me guess… powerful, feared, everyone bows when you walk in, and you enjoy being unnecessarily difficult with people?”

A second of silence passed.

“Only with you,” he said.

My lips parted.

The audacity!

Who the hell is this man?!

I met those green eyes and refused to look away. Whatever this new Alpha wanted from me, he was about to learn the same lesson Killian should have learned years ago.

I was done being anyone’s disposable wife, nanny, or victim.

And if he thou

ght holding my cheque gave him power over me, he was about to discover how wrong he was.