CHAPTER : ARE YOU REALLY MY HUSBAND

Rosemary stood by the door of her hospital room, confused and weak. She didn’t recognize the faces around her. Her head pounded with questions she couldn’t answer. Who was she really? Why did she feel like a stranger in her own life?

Still wearing her hospital gown, she quietly pushed the door open and stepped into the hallway.

She didn’t know where she was going—she just needed to get away.

But before she could leave, someone grabbed her arm.

“Oh, my sweet sister,” a cold voice said.

Rosemary turned around and looked at the woman. Lydia.

Her stepsister.

Lydia was dressed in fancy clothes, hair perfect, nails sharp like claws. She smirked.

“Running off already?” Lydia asked. “Don’t tell me you’re sick. You know we need money. And don’t you dare say you don’t have any.”

Rosemary blinked, confused. “Who are you? And why are you asking me for money?”

Lydia froze for a second. Then she laughed.

“Oh wow. My dear sister is playing hide-and-seek with her brain now, huh?”

Rosemary kept staring, unsure of what to say. Something about this woman made her uncomfortable.

Suddenly, Lydia grabbed her hair roughly. “Don’t act smart with me, Rosemary. I don’t care if you're in a hospital bed or whatever. I taught you how to stay in line. And now you’re going to—”

“Let go of her,” a deep voice said from behind them.

Lydia turned quickly and froze.

Austin stood there, holding a small bunch of wildflowers, eyes dark with anger.

“I said let go,” he repeated.

Lydia immediately let go of Rosemary’s hair, trying to act innocent. “Oh, I was just fixing her hair. She’s always so messy.”

Austin ignored her and went to Rosemary. “Are you okay?” he asked softly.

Rosemary nodded slowly, still shaken.

“I brought you some flowers,” Austin said, holding them out. “From the garden. You used to like those.”

Lydia burst into laughter. “Oh Rosemary… don’t tell me you’re cheating on that old husband of yours with the gardener!”

Austin’s hand paused mid-air. His jaw tightened.

Austin didn’t say anything. He kept his face calm, but inside, a storm was brewing.

Lydia stepped closer. “Should I tell your little gardener boyfriend what happened the night before your wedding? How you came home with a hickey the size of a wolf bite on your neck?”

Austin’s face changed.

“What did you just say?” he asked sharply.

Lydia smirked. “The night before her wedding, she—”

“Alpha Austin, there you are!” a woman’s voice interrupted loudly.

Ariana.

She walked toward them quickly, heels clicking on the tile, pretending to smile sweetly.

Lydia rolled her eyes.

Austin looked annoyed, but didn’t say anything.

Rosemary watched Ariana and Austin together. Something felt… wrong.

He said he’s my husband, Rosemary thought. So who is this woman calling him “Alpha” like they belong together?

Rosemary’s heart began to race. She felt trapped, confused, and suspicious.

“I need to use the restroom,” she said quietly.

Austin stepped closer. “The restroom is in your room. Let me help you.”

He gently touched her arm to guide her back, but Ariana stepped in and grabbed his hand.

“I’ll take care of her,” Ariana said with a fake smile. “You’ve had a long day, Alpha.”

Austin stared at her hand on his.

Ariana's smile never reached her eyes as she gently placed her arm around Rosemary, pretending to help her walk back into the hospital room. Her voice was low, her words sharp as knives.

“I warned you to stay away from Austin,” Ariana whispered coldly, her breath brushing Rosemary’s ear.

“You’re being stubborn.”

Before Rosemary could react, Ariana suddenly pressed her fingers hard into Rosemary’s arm, right where her IV had been.

“Ouch!” Rosemary cried out in pain.

But Ariana only faked concern, putting on a dramatic face for Austin and the nurses watching nearby.

“Oh dear, careful, Rosemary,” Ariana said sweetly. “You need to take it easy when walking. You’re still very weak.”

Austin narrowed his eyes as he turned to them, sensing something strange but not saying anything yet.

Just then, the door opened, and the doctor walked in, holding a clipboard.

“Alpha Austin,” the doctor said politely, “your wife is stable now. You can take her home.”

A long silence followed those words.

Rosemary blinked. Home? She thought to herself, “where is he taking me to?

Lydia, who had returned to grab her handbag, dropped it in shock. “What?” she shrieked. “You… You’re her husband?”

She looked Austin up and down, as if she couldn’t believe her eyes.

“No! That’s not possible. Her husband was supposed to be some old, ugly weak man with missing teeth!”

Lydia stared at Rosemary, her face twisting in anger.

“You lucky bitch!” she spat. “Turns out your husband is not just young, but rich too?”

Lydia stepped forward and jabbed a finger toward Rosemary’s face. “You better not forget about me now! We still need money, and don’t play stupid.”

Austin moved in front of Rosemary, shielding her from Lydia’s hand.

But Lydia wasn’t finished.

“That’s it,” she snapped. “Where’s your phone? I’ve been calling you nonstop before I came here, and you refused to answer.”

Rosemary looked lost, unsure of what to say.

Lydia's voice grew louder. “If you ignore me again, I swear, you’re going to be in big trouble, Rosemary. You know what I can do.”

Austin’s jaw clenched.

“That’s enough,” he said firmly, voice low but dangerous.

Lydia tried to speak again, but Austin stepped closer.

“I don’t care who you are to her,” he said. “You don’t talk to her like that again.”

Lydia looked like she wanted to argue, but then she saw the power in Austin’s eyes—the power of an Alpha—and she backed off with a hiss.

She pointed at Rosemary one last time. “We’ll talk later, sister.”

Then she turned and stormed out of the room.

Rosemary was shaking.

Ariana rushed to her side again with fake concern. “Poor thing. Must be the stress.”

Austin shot Ariana a sharp look, noticing how she was a little too eager to be close to Rosemary.

He took Rosemary’s hand instead. “Let’s go home.”

As they walked out of the hospital room, something strange happened—Rosemary’s hand started to glow faintly. The silvery light from before. This time, it was even stronger.

Austin noticed. So did Ariana.

Rosemary didn’t see it—her head was turned away.

Ariana looked terrified for a split second.

But she quickly masked her fear with a tight smile. “I’ll come too,” she said quickly. “You might need help at home, Alpha.”

Austin hesitated.

Before he could answer, a nurse came running down the hallway.

“Alpha Austin! Wait!” the nurse said, breathing hard.

Austin turned. “What is it?”