Chapter 5
I couldn’t stay there any longer. My chest felt heavy, like someone had tied bricks to my ribs. Just as I turned to leave, Alpha Franklin’s phone rang inside the ward.
“Claire?” His voice instantly softened. “What’s wrong?”
Claire’s sobbing voice came from the other end of the phone, and the content was muffled and unclear. But Alpha Franklin’s face suddenly changed.
He abruptly threw off the quilt, pulled out the IV needle on the back of his hand. Blood oozed out immediately, yet he seemed not to feel the pain. He grabbed his coat and was about to rush out.
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“Franklin!” Beta Zack lunged across the room, grabbing his arm with a snarl. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? Your wound hasn’t even closed yet. You can’t shift, and you sure as hell can’t go running around!The doctor said you can’t leave the hospital!”
Alpha Franklin shook off his hand, his tone icy. “Claire is afraid of thunder. I have to go be with her.”
Beta Zack’s face turned crimson, ready to explode. “Claire’s afraid of thunder?! You almost died, man! Sirena just drained herself blood to keep your heart beating! Don’t you think maybe you should ask how she’s doing before chasing after your pet project?!”
For a brief moment, Alpha Franklin hesitated. His steps faltered just enough to give me a sliver of hope.
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But then he kept walking.
Without his coat. Without a word. Without even noticing me standing right outside the door.
I watched him rush off, rain or shine–or blood loss–because Claire cried.
And me?
I just stood there, laughed bitter to myself, and thought: You should be used to this by now, Sirena.
When Claire cries, Alpha Franklin’s world falls apart.
But me? I could bleed dry in front of him, and he wouldn’t even blink.
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A couple of days later, he came back.
The door creaked open, and there he was, looking pale and worn. I was sitting on the sofa, sorting through my plane tickets and documents.
“Sirena,” he said gently, walking over. “I heard you donated blood to save me. Why are you so silly?”
Silly? Silly was sticking around for this circus. act. But I didn’t look up, pretending to be focused on my papers. “It’s good that you’re okay.”
Either he didn’t notice my frosty tone or he chose to ignore it. He sat down next to me and, to my utter shock, took my hand in his.
“The proposal last time was interrupted by Claire,” he began, “So, I’ve planned another
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banquet to make it up to you.”
I finally looked at him. His face was pale from the blood loss and his stubborn refusal to stay in the hospital, yet he still managed to sound confident.
“Forget it,” I said softly. “What if Claire faints again?”
He frowned. “She won’t. I didn’t invite her
this time.”
I smiled bitter.
Of course, he didn’t catch my sarcasm.
I didn’t bother explaining. I just nodded.
The car ride to the banquet was quiet. Alpha Franklin drove while I stared out the window, watching the scenery blur past.
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Just as I was starting to feel the calm settle in, his phone rang.
As soon as he answered the call, Claire’s heart–rending sobs came from the receiver –
“Alpha Franklin! I’ve been kidnapped! They’re going to kill me!”
The color drained from his face. He slammed on the brakes so hard I was thrown against the car door, smacking my forehead against the glass.
“Ow, I muttered, touching the fresh trickle of blood running down my eyebrow. But Alpha Franklin didn’t notice.
His entire focus was on the flashing red dot on the tracking app he’d pulled up.
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“Hold on tight!” he barked, wrenching the steering wheel in a wild U–turn.
I clutched the door handle as the car careened onto the highway, overtaking every vehicle in its path.
We finally skidded to a stop on an abandoned bridge. Rain poured down in sheets, making it nearly impossible to see.
Through the downpour, I could just make out Claire, held at knifepoint by a man on the edge of the bridge.
“Alpha Franklin! You finally came!”
The rogue holding her was shaking with fury. “You ruined my pack, Alpha Franklin! You killed my mate, and now I’m gonna kill yours!”
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Alpha Franklin stepped out of the car, rain soaking him instantly. But he didn’t even flinch as he approached.
“You’re wrong,” he said, his tone sharp enough to cut steel. “The person I love the most isn’t her.”
The man hesitated, his grip on the knife loosening slightly. “What?”
Alpha Franklin’s words came out cold and calculated. “Didn’t you do your research? The woman you kidnapped is my ex. She left me when I was disabled. I hate her.”
He sneered. “The person I love now is the one who’s been by my side these past years.”
Then,he turned and looked back at me, still sitting in the car.
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His eyes were soft, tender–completely different from the Alpha Franklin I knew.
I stunned.
This was the first time Alpha Franklin had ever looked at me like that.
But unfortunately, it was at such a time!
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