Semua Bab The Ex-Luna's Return: No Longer His Doormat: Bab 21 - Bab 30

~ 21~ Mia ~I turned away too fast and walked straight into Ryker's chest."Easy." His hands caught my shoulders. His eyes went past me, down the corridor, to the boy on the bench — and then back to my face. He didn't ask. He just moved half a step sideways, putting his body between me and the bench, like it was nothing."Mama's results are ready," he said, loud enough for the corridor. "The radiologist is waiting. Come on, Doctor."We walked. Past the pharmacy window, away from the emergency department, until the noise faded behind us. Only then did his voice drop."The boy on the bench. Who is he?""Right." I cleared my throat, adjusting the paper mask with shaking fingers. "Yes. Of course. Let's go."If I kept moving, my legs wouldn't remember how badly they wanted to buckle. If I focused on bone densities and distal radial fractures, the image of my son sitting alone would stop burning behind my eyelids.Ryker fell into step beside me. "Who was the boy on the bench, Lili?"The ai

~ 23 ~~ Mia ~The side exit led toward the reception foyer connecting the emergency wing to the ambulance bay.When I rounded the corner, the scene was already drawing a crowd of nurses and orderlies.Backed hard against the wall near the double glass doors was Hailey.Her posture was wild, defensive, her teeth bared in an involuntary snarl as her wolf pushed close to the surface. Standing less than two feet from her, his broad shoulders cutting off her path of escape, was a tall, dark-haired man in a tailored black suit."Stay the hell away from me!" Hailey shouted, her voice cracking with raw panic. "Who the hell are you? Don't touch me!"I surged forward, every protective instinct I had honed over four years flaring to life. Hailey had pulled me out of my own grave; I would tear apart anyone who threatened her."Lili, wait." Ryker’s arm caught mine, holding me back just enough to step ahead of me. "Let me handle this."Ryker stepped into the space between them, his Alpha presence d

~ 25 ~~ Darian ~"Darian, wait!"Kade caught up to me in the stairwell, his hand clamping down on my shoulder as we took the steps two at a time. "Think about this for two seconds before you barrel into that hospital.""My son is in that car, Kade," I snapped, wrenching my arm free as we hit the ground-floor exit."And Nick is tough as iron," Kade said, matching my stride across the parking lot. "Listen to me as your friend, not your Beta. Do not walk into that public hospital playing the frantic father with Fanny on your arm. The pack is already whispering. The fifth anniversary of Mia's death is approaching, and the Elders are watching your every move. If you show up in the middle of a crowded ER making a scene over Fanny, the rumors will become fact by sunset.""Dr. Halden is in the capital until tomorrow," I threw back, hitting the unlock on my SUV. "What am I supposed to do? Let an injured child wait for a house call because I'm afraid of gossip? I'm an Alpha, Kade. I don't hide

~ 27 ~~ Darian ~The traffic light turned green, but my foot stayed frozen on the brake."What did you say?" My voice was barely a breath.Nick didn’t blink. His eyes were raw, wet, and burning with a desperate intensity. "I saw Mom. At the Academy."The car behind us honked, snapping me out of the trance. I eased my foot onto the accelerator, steering mechanically through the pack gates and up the winding hill road toward the Alpha house. My heart pounded an erratic rhythm against my ribs."Nick," I began, my tone gentle, trying to keep my voice from wavering. "You know that's not possible. Your mother... she passed away four years ago.""I'm not crazy, Dad!" Nick’s voice cracked, tears spilling over his lower lashes. "She was standing right there in the main corridor! She was wearing a beige coat, and when she turned around, I saw her face. It was Mom. Exactly like Mom."He reached out, his small hands trembling as he gestured frantically. "I called out to her. I tried to run to he

~ 29 ~~ Mia ~Hailey stayed quiet for a long moment, letting my words settle into the room.I set my teacup down and stood, smoothing the creases from my slacks. "Hailey, I need to ask you for a favor before I head to campus.""Anything, Lili.""Talk to Luna and Ryker," I said, looking at her earnestly. "Convince them to return to Red Moon Pack as soon as possible. Tomorrow, if they can."Hailey frowned. "Lili, you know why they came. Your mother was terrified for you, and Ryker would tear this territory apart before he let anyone touch a hair on your head.""I know," I said gently. "And I love them for it. But their presence is too dangerous. The accident yesterday was already a close call. If Darian’s trackers or the council catch wind of who Ryker and Luna truly are, it will turn an academic exchange into an international incident."I reached out, resting a hand on her shoulder. "And if you want to leave with them, Hailey... you should go. After what happened with Beta Kade, no on