Chapter 2
I turned quickly, my breath catching in my throat.
Andrew stood just a few feet away.
Relief flooded me, my eyes instantly welling with tears.
“Andrew!”
I reached out for him, instinct guiding me. My mate. My alpha. He was here. He would—
He turned away.
His expression was unreadable as he stepped aside, effortlessly avoiding my touch.
My hand fell empty. My heart felt hollow.
The wind howled through the clearing, biting against my skin like it could sense the aching in my chest.
Andrew didn’t say a word.
He merely signaled to the doctor, took the only bottle of medicinal ointment meant for humans, and walked away.
Without looking back.
No questions. No concern. Not even a glance in my direction.
I stood there, frozen, watching him disappear into the distance.
A sharp, mocking laugh broke the silence behind me.
“I thought this was a love story between an alpha and his omega,” the doctor sneered, shaking his head. “Turns out, you’re just another clingy omega.”
Heat burned behind my eyes.
The pack warrior beside him gave a subtle tug on his sleeve, silently telling him to stop. But the doctor only smirked.
“What? Am I wrong?”
The answer came in the form of a low, menacing growl.
The doctor stiffened.
Gabriel.
His presence loomed behind them, his golden eyes glowing with barely contained fury.
The doctor paled. “W-When did you get here?”
Gabriel’s lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “If I’d been here sooner, do you think you’d still be standing?”
“It’s not what it looks like! Let me explain—”
Gabriel took a deliberate step forward.
“You want to die?”
His voice was dangerous.
His fists clenched at his sides, and for a terrifying moment, I thought he might actually hit the doctor.
“Gabriel!” I called out, panic lacing my voice.
Fighting was strictly forbidden within the pack. If Gabriel hit the doctor, Andrew would never let him off easily.
And Gabriel was one of the only people who still treated me with kindness.
I couldn’t let him get hurt because of me.
His burning gaze met mine. Something in it softened.
After a tense pause, he exhaled sharply and dropped his hand.
But his voice remained ice cold as he murmured, “If there’s a next time… not even Elisabeth will be able to save you.”
The doctor nodded frantically, his legs shaking with fear.
Gabriel snorted before turning his attention back to me.
He had shifted back into his human form, but the remnants of his wolf still lingered in the vertical slits of his pupils.
His upper body was bare, golden-brown skin marred with fresh battle scars. His tattered pants were barely held up by a makeshift vine around his waist. It looked like they could fall off at any moment.
I couldn’t help it. A small laugh bubbled up in my throat.
My pain dulled just a little.
Gabriel narrowed his eyes. “What’s so funny? You’re injured and still smiling?”
I quickly shook my head, feeling my face heat. “Gabriel, put me down. I can walk.”
“Don’t move.”
His voice was soft, but firm.
I stilled.
Something in his eyes—something deep, unreadable—kept me rooted in place until we reached the hospital.
Using his beta privileges, Gabriel secured a private room for me.
A female doctor carefully examined my wounds, her brows furrowing.
She turned to Gabriel and sighed. “Omegas shouldn’t be on the battlefield. It’s too dangerous.”
Gabriel scratched the back of his head, looking slightly guilty. “It was an accident.”
The doctor hummed, clearly unconvinced.
After dressing my wounds, she handed Gabriel a bundle of medicine. “Don’t leave yet. The wound is deep, and we need to monitor it for infection.”
She turned toward the door, then hesitated.
“Oh, one more thing,” she added.
She glanced at me before looking back at Gabriel.
“It’d be best if Andrew takes care of her.”
Silence.
Gabriel’s jaw tightened.
I let out a quiet breath, my fingers curling into the sheets.
Andrew?
I wasn’t even sure if he’d care if I died.
