Chapter 5: Sleepless Night
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Chapter 5: Sleepless Night
(Aria's POV)
My heart pounded violently in my chest as I raced toward my mother's healing room. The nurse's words echoed in my head, each syllable hammering against my skull like a physical blow.
The sterile hospital corridor seemed endless. I could hear Dominic's footsteps behind me, but they felt distant, as if coming from another world. All I could focus on was reaching my mother.
I skidded to a halt at the doorway. A large pool of crimson blood spread across the white tile floor. The metallic scent hit me hard, making my pregnant stomach lurch violently. My vision swam, dark spots dancing before my eyes. My knees buckled.
Strong arms caught me before I hit the floor.
"I've got you," Dominic's deep voice steadied me as he supported my weight. "Your mother will be alright."
But the scene before me told a different story. Medical staff worked frantically around my mother's fragile form. Her skin was ghostly pale, almost translucent, highlighting the blue veins beneath. More blood stained her hospital gown, stark evidence of what had happened.
"She saw the news report and became agitated," a nurse explained, glancing nervously between me and Dominic. "The stress triggered a severe episode. She's coughed up a significant amount of blood."
Dr. Nathan Lewis appeared, his silver hair disheveled, his usually calm demeanor now tense with urgency.
"We need to get her into surgery immediately," he said, his voice clipped and professional. "Her condition is deteriorating rapidly."
I watched helplessly as they wheeled my mother away, her small form dwarfed by the hospital bed. The rare werewolf blood disease had already weakened her significantly, and now this—a crisis triggered by the public scandal involving Alexander and Claire.
My fingers trembled as I pulled out my phone. Alexander needed to know what had happened. He should be here, by my side, not with Claire.
The call connected after three rings, but it wasn't Alexander who answered.
"Hello?" Claire's melodic voice sent a chill down my spine.
"Claire?" I barely recognized my own voice, strained and hollow. "Why are you answering Alexander's phone?"
"Oh, Aria." Her tone dripped with false sympathy. "Alexander stepped out to find some rare herbs that might help with healing. He left his phone with me so I wouldn't miss any important calls."
The casual way she explained her access to my mate's personal phone felt like another betrayal. Tears welled in my eyes, blurring my vision.
"My mother is in emergency surgery," I managed to say, my voice cracking. "She saw the news about you and Alexander."
There was a pause before Claire responded, her voice sickeningly sweet. "I'm so sorry to hear that. I'll let Alexander know as soon as he returns."
The call ended before I could say anything more. I stood frozen, phone still pressed to my ear, tears streaming silently down my cheeks.
"Aria," Dominic's voice pulled me back to reality. His gray eyes studied me with surprising gentleness. "Come sit down before you collapse."
He guided me to a nearby waiting area, his hand steady at my elbow. I was too numb to protest the familiar contact from another Alpha. My wolf, Ember, whimpered within me, seeking comfort rather than challenging his presence.
"Claire answered his phone," I whispered, staring blankly at the wall. "They're together."
Dominic didn't respond immediately. When he did, his voice was carefully neutral. "Focus on your mother now. The rest can wait."
He stayed with me through that agonizing hour of waiting. He didn't fill the silence with empty reassurances or press me for details about my relationship with Alexander. His quiet presence was oddly comforting.
Finally, Dr. Lewis appeared, still in his surgical gown but looking less frantic than before.
"She's stable," he announced, removing his surgical cap. "We've managed to stop the bleeding and strengthen her condition temporarily, but she's very weak, Aria."
Relief flooded through me so intensely that fresh tears sprang to my eyes. "Can I see her?"
"Briefly," he nodded. "She's sleeping and needs absolute rest."
I turned to Dominic, suddenly unsure what to say. He seemed to understand without words.
"Go," he said simply. "I'll wait."
My mother looked impossibly frail lying in the hospital bed, surrounded by monitoring equipment. Her breathing was shallow but steady, her face peaceful in medicated sleep. I carefully took her hand, mindful of the IV lines.
"I'm here, Mother," I whispered, stroking her gray-streaked hair. "I'm so sorry this happened."
Sitting beside her bed, the full weight of my situation crashed down on me. Alexander, my own mate, had publicly humiliated me. His actions had nearly cost my mother her life. Our bond, once so precious to me, now felt like chains binding me to endless pain.
Tomorrow, I would confront him. If he couldn't provide a satisfactory explanation, I would consider severing our mate bond—regardless of the risks involved.
The thought of ending our three-year mating brought a fresh wave of tears. I had truly loved Alexander, had believed our wolves' recognition of each other was destiny's blessing. Now I wondered if it had been a cruel joke instead.
Had Alexander ever truly gotten over Claire? I remembered how his eyes would sometimes drift when she entered a room, how he would mention her accomplishments with poorly disguised pride.
Claire's severing of her mate bond with Beta David removed the last obstacle between them. If I didn't confront Alexander now, the outcome might eventually be the same—a severed mate bond, but on his terms rather than mine.
Lost in these painful thoughts, I barely noticed when the door opened behind me.
"Little sister?"
I turned to find my brother James standing there, his tall frame filling the doorway. His amber eyes—so like my own—darkened with concern as he took in my tear-stained face and our mother's unconscious form.
"James," I managed, before breaking down completely.
He crossed the room in two strides, pulling me into a fierce hug. The familiar scent of forest and leather that always clung to him brought momentary comfort.
"What happened?" he demanded, his voice tight with controlled fury.
Between sobs, I explained about the news report showing Alexander with Claire, how Mother had seen it and collapsed.
James's jaw clenched, a muscle ticking in his cheek. "I'll kill him."
"No," I grabbed his arm. "That won't help anything."
My brother had never approved of my mating with Alexander. He'd sensed something I'd been too blinded by love to see—Alexander's divided heart.
"Bring him here tomorrow," James said firmly. "He needs to clear up this misunderstanding, reassure Mother that the news report was nothing."
I nodded, too exhausted to argue. "I will."
James stayed a while longer, his protective presence soothing my frayed nerves. When a nurse came to inform us visiting hours were ending, he kissed my forehead.
"Call me if anything changes," he said. "I'm staying nearby."
Leaving the ward, I was startled to find Dominic still sitting in the waiting area, his powerful frame somehow making the hospital chair look small.
"You stayed," I said stupidly.
He stood, stretching subtly. "I said I would."
Something about his simple reliability made my throat tighten with emotion.
"Can I offer you a ride home?" he asked, his tone carefully neutral.
Too drained to consider the implications, I nodded.
Twenty minutes later, we pulled into the circular driveway of the Reed family's sprawling residence in Storm Pack territory. I hadn't been thinking clearly when I directed him here instead of the pack house.
This was Alexander's family home, where we maintained a wing for ourselves despite having official quarters at the pack house.
Elizabeth Reed, my mother-in-law, opened the door before we even reached it. Her kind eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Dominic Blackwood escorting me home.
"Alpha King," she said uncertainly, glancing between us. "This is unexpected."
Dominic inclined his head respectfully. "Mrs. Reed. I went to the pack house looking for Alexander but couldn't find him. I met Aria and offered her a ride home."
Elizabeth's brow creased with worry. "Alexander isn't with you, Aria? I thought you were both visiting your mother."
The painful reminder that Alexander hadn't been there when I needed him most made me look away, unable to meet her concerned gaze.
"Please, come in," Elizabeth said after an awkward pause. "I was just about to serve lunch. You'll join us, Alpha King?"
I expected him to politely decline. These informal meals with Alexander's family had become rare since our mating—I couldn't imagine Dominic, the intimidating Alpha King, would have any interest.
"I'd be delighted," Dominic replied, surprising me. "I've missed your cooking, Elizabeth."
My mother-in-law's face brightened at the unexpected compliment. As we followed her inside, a car pulled into the driveway behind us.
Elizabeth looked past us, initial joy spreading across her features as she recognized Alexander's vehicle.
That joy transformed into shock as the passenger door opened, and someone else stepped out of the vehicle.
- Writer
