Chapter 8 Alpha Ethan's POV " Seal the deal with them . I'll be there a little late , " I told my beta over the phone . I ended the call and got into the car , directing my driver on where to take me . As I sat in the chair , the argument I had with Olivia this morning kept replaying in my head . I was wondering what it could have been - why she asked me not to go see the girl . Or maybe she knows her , my wolf suggested , but I just brushed it off . That girl is clearly a rogue , and Olivia can't deal with people of such status . The car coming to a halt snapped me out of my thoughts . I looked out the window and discovered I was in front of the pack hospital . Taking a deep , deep breath , I stepped out of the car and made my way into the hospital . The hospital doors opened with a soft hiss , and I stepped inside , the chill of the sterile air washing over me . Almost instantly , the nurses behind the front desk stood at attention . " Alpha Ethan , " one of them greeted respectfully , a little too nervously for my taste . " Doctor Howard is waiting for you ." I gave her a nod , not slowing my steps . I didn't care about the protocol right now - I only wanted to see her . My footsteps echoed through the quiet halls , and my thoughts circled back to the events from earlier today . The ambush had come out of nowhere . A pack of rogue wolves - more organized than usual , more vicious . My men and I were struggling to hold them off , and just when things had taken a turn for the worse ... she appeared . Fierce . Fast . Fearless . A lone wolf we had dismissed as just another outsider - turned out to be our saving grace . She fought with raw power and skill , shielding me more than once with her own body . It was her intervention that turned the tide . But then a shot rang out . I'd turned too late to stop it . I saw her drop , blood blooming across her side like a dark flower , her eyes locking with mine for one painful second before she collapsed . My chest tightened with guilt as I reached Room 207 . I pushed the door open slowly , bracing myself . There she was . Lying on the hospital bed , pale and still . The white sheets made her look even more fragile . Tubes and monitors surrounded her like a web . Her breathing was shallow , the steady beep of the heart monitor the only sound in the room . My wolf whimpered low in my mind . She saved us ... and now she's like this . Doctor Howard was already inside , flipping through a chart beneath the bed . He looked up when he noticed me and gave a small nod . " Alpha , " he greeted , voice tow and respectful . " How is she ? " I asked , my eyes fixed on her still form . The doctor sighed . " She's stable for now . But it's complicated . The bullet that struck her wasn't a normal one . It was coated in wolfsbane . " I clenched my jaw . " Wolfsbane ? " " Yes , " he said grimly , " It's weakened her wolf - almost severed the connection entirely . Her body is healing slowly , painfully . The poison is interfering with her natural regeneration . Until it leaves her system , she'll remain unconscious . " Chapter 8 I stared at her , anger and sorrow warring inside me . She risked her life for me , and now she was suffering because of it . " Why would someone use wolfsbane in a fight like that ? " I muttered , mostly to myself . The doctor shrugged slightly . " Someone wanted her out of the way . Permanently . I took a step closer to her bed and sat down . Her hand lay limp beside her , bruised and cold . I reached out and wrapped my fingers gently around hers . She didn't stir . " You wouldn't have been in that battle if not for me , " I said softly . " You didn't even know me . But you stepped in ... you saved my life . " My voice tightened . " You could've run . You could've let me die . But you didn't . " A long silence stretched between us . The doctor stepped out quietly , giving me space . " I didn't even get your name , " I whispered . " But you risked everything . " My wolf's voice was soft in my mind now , no longer growling or restless . He was watching her too , protective and quiet . In a way , he hadn't felt for Olivia for the past six years of living together . " I owe you more than I can ever repay , " I murmured . " I owe you my life . " I leaned forward , resting my forehead against her hand . " Please ... wake up . " I felt ridiculous , an Alpha - strong , respected - sitting here and praying . But I didn't care . " I need you to wake up , " I whispered again . " Just open your eyes . Let me say thank you properly . Let me protect you , the way you protected me . " The room was silent except for the machines . My grip tightened slightly around her hand , and I let the emotions rise , unfiltered . Guilt . Grief . The ringing of my cell phone snapped me back to reality . I pulled it out of my pocket and checked the caller - it was Olivia . I ignored it , stood up from the seat , gave one last glance at her pale face , and stepped out of the hospital . The driver was still there . I hopped in . " Take me to the company ," told him . While I rested my head in the chair , my mind was filled with so many questions . The sudden spark I felt when I held her hand - I haven't felt that with other women , not even with my mate . What could that be about ? I thought to myself , and even my wolf had no answer to that . So I just brushed it aside . Maybe it was the cold from the air conditioner . After what felt like eternity , we arrived at the company . I opened the door and walked out . My secretary was already outside waiting for me . " Good morning , sir , " she greeted . I just nodded . " Fill me in on my schedule , " I told her . She nodded quickly and started walking beside me , reading from the tablet in her hand . " You have a board meeting in ten minutes with the directors , followed by a strategy session with the legal team regarding the land dispute . After that , there's a conference call with Alpha Jarek of the Eastern Border Pack scheduled for noon . " I barely processed her words . My mind kept drifting back to the hospital room - the pale girl lying motionless , the feeling of her cold fingers in mine , the ניו Chapter 8 strange warmth that sparked deep within me the moment I touched her . " Cancel the call with Jarek , " I said sharply . The secretary hesitated . " Sir ? " " Move it to tomorrow . Just do it ," I snapped , then took a breath to soften my tone . " Tell him something came up ." " Yes , Alpha , " she said , quickly tapping her screen . I entered the building , my stride steady and authoritative , but inside , I was anything but . My wolf hadn't stopped pacing since we left the hospital He was agitated , confused , and more protective than I'd felt him in years . Not even Olivia stirred this kind of response in him . She's not just anyone , my wolf said finally , his voice low - more like a whisper . I didn't respond . I couldn't - not with so many eyes on me . I stepped into the elevator , watching the doors slide closed . The mirrored walls reflected a version of myself I didn't quite recognize - haunted , tired , and ... yearning . As the elevator began to move , I found myself thinking of Olivia again . Her insistence that I stay away from the girl . The way she panicked when i mentioned her . Was it possible she knew something ? No , I thought . That girl was a rogue . A stranger . Olivia couldn't know her .... could she ? The elevator dinged , interrupting my thoughts as the doors slid open to the executive floor . I walked out , greeted by a sea of murmured greetings and respectful nods . But none of it mattered . Not the meetings . Not the empire I'd built . Only one thing mattered now - finding out who that girl really was ... and why the bond I felt with her was stronger than anything I'd ever known .. Even stronger than the one I shared with my own mate . AD Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!