Alexander & E
Alexander
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One moment I was ducking beneath Gabriel’s wild punch, and the next I heard a soft thud behind me. I spun around, my fist still raised, and my heart stopped when I saw E crumpled on the ground.
“E!” I shouted, immediately abandoning the fight and rushing to her side. I dropped to my knees beside her, cupping her face in my hands. “E? Can you hear me?”
She didn’t respond. Her pulse fluttered weakly beneath my fingers as I pressed them <i>to </i>her neck.
Fucking hell. How did I miss this?
Without hesitation, I scooped her into my arms. Her body felt fragile and light, as if she’d lost about ten pounds in thest five
minutes.
“Where are you taking her?” Richard asked.
“The hospital,” I growled. “Get out of my way.”
Richard stepped back, but Margaret reached out to stop me. “But what about our discussion?”
I gave her a look that made her hand drop immediately. “Your daughter just copsed, and all you care about is money?” I spat. “Get the fuck away from me before I do something we’ll all regret.”
They wisely backed off, and I carried E through the gathering crowd and to my car. I gently ced her <i>in </i>the back seat, buckling her in before racing <i>around </i><i>to </i>the driver’s side.
Gabriel appeared at my window just as I was starting the engine. Blood was dripping from his split lip, and his left eye was already swelling shut.
“Alpha, 1-”
“Not now,” I cut him off. “Call Liam. Tell him to meet us at Ashw General.”
Gabriel’s eyes widened at the mention of Liam. Frankly, I wasn’t even sure why I’d told him to get Liam–maybe because I knew E would want him there–but he nodded and stepped back as I peeled away from the curb.
I drove like a madman through the night streets, hands gripping the steering wheel, eyes constantly darting to the rearview mirror to check on E. She had begun to stir, groaning softly from the back seat, but was still too out of it to register what was happening
By the time we reached the hospital, E had begun to return to consciousness. As I lifted her from the car, crading her body in my arms, her eyes fluttered and she hazily blinked up at me,
“Wha…<i>?</i>” she mumbled.
“You passed out,” I exined as I carried her through the emergency room doors. “I’m taking you to see a doctor.”
E just furrowed her brow<i>, </i>confused.
The hospital staff sprang into action as soon as we entered. A nurse rushed forward with a wheelchair, but i refused to set E
16:32 Fri, 22 Aug
down, insisting on carrying her myself. They led us to an examination room where a doctor was waiting. Her nametag read, “Evelyn“.
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I reluctantly ced E on the examination table, but I didn’t step back, remaining by her side as the doctor checked her vitals.
“What happened?” Dr. Evelyn asked as she shone a light into E’s eyes.
“She copsed,” I said. “There was a…motion, and she just fell. I think she had a panic attack or something.”
The doctor frowned and checked E’s pulse. “Do you think it was caused by her condition?”
I blinked. “Her… condition? You mean the panic attack?”
Dr. Evelyn stared at me as if surprised, but before she could answer, Liam rushed in, followed closely by Lilith. His eyes <b>went </b>straight to E.
E stretched her hand out toward Lilith, who whimpered and rushed forward, clutching it and kissing her knuckles.
“Oh, my dear girl… I’m here…”
“What happened?” Liam demanded, turning to me.
“She fainted,” I said. I didn’t miss the way Liam immediately took E’s other hand in his upon hearing this, or the concern etched deep into his brow. It made my wolf bristle with jealousy yet again, but I pushed it down. This wasn’t the time.
Dr. Evelyn continued her examination, asking E questions about how she felt, when she’dst eaten, if she’d been drinking. E answered everything. Thank the Goddess she hadn’t hit her head.
After a few minutes, the doctor stepped back with a troubled expression. “Luna E, I’m concerned about your condition. It’s getting-”
“I’m feeling much better now,” E suddenly interrupted, cutting the doctor off. “Really. It was just the stress and the alcohol. I’m
fine.”
The doctor looked taken aback. “Luna, I really think we should discuss-”
“Please,” E said. “I’m okay. Just tired.”
Evelyn hesitated, staring at E for a long moment.
E
Dr Evelyn stared at me for a long time I held her gaze, silently pleading with hex–don’t tail him Phase, please don’t tell how.
Aher a moment that fell as an eternity, she nodded slowly. “Well, I still want to keep you night for observation,” that cash,
“That’s fine? I agreed quickly. “Thank you
The doctor stood, giving me sinest corned before turning yana 1 acangs for a private sees. We about ret
NOW
He nodded, and Dr Fly the bed nyt back to the prom My fraud was gading, and my entre baly felt like
<i>214 </i>
16:32 Fri, 22 Aug
it had been steamrolled. I felt like utter shit, but I didn’t want Alexander or Liam to know that.
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Theard footsteps as someone approached the side of my bed. When I opened my eyes, I was surprised to find Alexander standing over me with a concerned look on his face.
“Can I get you anything?” he asked softly.
I stared at him, surprised by how nice he was being. I had expected him to turn cold and distant after our brief tryst in the alleyway -a tryst that both of us would likely regret very soon. “A soda would be nice,” I said after a moment.
Alexander nodded and stepped out to find a nurse. Liam followed him, muttering something under his breath. Now, it was just me and Lilith left. She folded her arms and red at me.
“Go ahead,” I sighed. “Scold me.”
“Why did you stop the doctor from telling him about your condition?”
“You know why,” I said quietly.
Lilith sat down on the edge of the bed, her silver hair catching the harsh fluorescent light. “E, if you’re getting worse, they need to know. Especially Alexander.”
“No, they don’t,” I insisted. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine. You just copsed in an alley. Your condition is clearly worsening.”
“It was just a panic attack,” I lied. “The fight, my parents, the alcohol… It was too much.”
The truth was, I knew exactly what was happening <i>to </i>me. The dormancy was progressing, and I was no closer to being marked or rejected.
I was dying, just like Dr. Evelyn said I would.
Weak, pathetic excuse for a Luna, Gabriel’s voice echoed in my head. The memory created a sour <b>taste </b>in <b>my </b>mouth, Maybe I was weak. I was wolfless. I fainted at the slightest provocation. They would only think even less of me if I told them <b>the </b>truth,
How could I tell them that I was dying just because my mate wouldn’t mark me?
“E,” Lilith said gently, “you need to tell Alexander the truth about your condition.”
“I already told him about it the day I found out. He didn’t believe me.”
“That was then,” Lilith replied. “This is now. Alexander just witnessed your pain firsthand and if the doctor confirmed it, then he would have no reason not to believe you now?
Iughed bitterly and shook my head, looking away. Of course. Of course, even after he’d nearly been inside of me in that alleyway, Alexander would only believe me if a doctor confirmed my condition. He wouldn’t take my word for it.
The truth was, what had happened in the alley was just biology Alcohol, jealousy, the fated mate bond we still shared despite not being marked… that was all that had driven us toward each other
Not love. Only lust and wolves.
And when it really mattered, when I had been begging him to stop fighting before I passed out, he had still chosen his own desires
16:32 Fri, 22 Aug
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over me. He had chosen to fight Gabriel, simply because the Beta had insulted his Luna in public. He was only worried about his pack’s image and the campaign. Not me.
Meanwhile, he likely thought the same of me that Gabriel did. Weak. Pathetic. Desperate.
“No,” I finally said, making my decision. “I won’t tell him.”
“But E, he might mark you-”
“I don’t want him to mark me anymore.”
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