E & Liam


    E


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    ? ???, 60%°


    15


    The constant beeping of the monitors, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead, and the steady stream of nurses entering and leaving my room made the days of the following week blend together into one big blur.


    I tried to keep busy as best I could; I read through two of the books Alexander had brought, did crossword puzzles, and watched countless movies. But if it weren’t for my visitors, I might have lost my mindpletely.


    Lilith was always there first, arriving each morning with fresh clothes and homemade food, refusing to let me eat the hospital food. She would brush my hair, help me wash up, and make sure I wasfortable. Sometimes she would just sit beside me, reading quietly or working on her knitting while I dozed or did my own thing. I was d for herpany.


    And then there was Liam. He visited nearly as often as Lilith, usually in the afternoons when he wasn’t busy with the Alpha Council. He would bring news, tell me stories to make meugh, and sometimes just sit with me watching terrible daytime TV.


    It was nice, having people who cared whether I lived or died.


    But the biggest surprise was Alexander. True to his word, he came back the next day after our first chess game. And the day after that. And the day after that.


    Every evening around seven, he would arrive. No matter how busy his day had been, no matter what Alpha duties required his attention, he’d sit in the chair beside my bed and set up the board.


    “Knight to F3,” I said on the fourth night, moving my piece without hesitation and taking his bishop.


    Alexander nodded approvingly. “Good move.”


    I’d been getting better under his guidance. Not good enough to beat him–I doubted that would ever happen–but good enough to make the gamesst longer and asionally surprise him with a clever move.


    “You’ve been practicing<i>,</i>” he said a few minutester as l/captured one of his pawns.


    I shrugged. “Lilith’s been ying with me during the day. She’s not as good as you, though.”


    Alexander’s lips quirked up at the corners. “Few are.”


    I rolled my eyes at his arrogance, but I couldn’t help but smile, too. As much as I hated to admit it, these evening chess games had be the highlight of my days in the hospital. For a few hours, it felt like everything else fell away.


    I wasn’t sure if Alexander was just acting for the benefit of the hospital staff, ying the role of devoted husband to bolster his image if he was, he <b>was </b>a damn good actor When we yed together, he seemed awfully engaged for someone who didn’t really want to be there, sometimes evenughing at my terrible jokes or teasing me about my moves


    As for what happened in the alley, we didn’t talk about it. Not even once Maybe that was for the best, it was easier to just pretend it didn’t happen and move on with our contract


    I also had to pretend that it didn’t hurt like hell to think that way. But, just like chess, I found myself getting better at that


    “Check,” he said, moving his queen into position.


    Aug <ul><li></li></ul>


    ? ??? 60%?


    I frowned at the board as I tried to figure a way out. “Hmm, what if I…” I moved my king to safety, only to realize toote that I’d just exposed my bishop.


    15


    Alexander’s smile widened as he captured it, instantly putting me in check mate. “You’re getting better, but you still need <i>to </i>think a few moves ahead.”


    I huffed, tugging Alexander’s sweatshirt more snugly around me. I’d worn it every day since he brought it, partially because it was genuinelyfortable and partially because…


    No. I wasn’t going to think about it. Just like the alley, the scent that had faded on his sweatshirt wouldn’t affect me anymore.


    “I’ll beat you one of these days,” I muttered.


    “I look forward to it.”


    I blushed, but it was short–lived. Alexander left after that and our little bubble of normalcy popped, just as it did every night.


    The following morning, Dr. Evelyn announced that I could be discharged soon, maybe even the next day if my tests continued to improve. I hadn’t seen Alexander or Liam at all that day, but I assumed they were just busy.


    I was just getting ready for bed when Liam arrived, which was unusuallyte for a visit.


    One look at his face told me something was wrong.


    “What is it?” I asked, sitting up straighter in bed.


    Liam closed the door behind him. “There’s been an incident at the northern border. Alexander went to handle it.”


    My heart stuttered in my chest. “What kind of incident?”


    “A bunch of rogues banded together and took over a property on the border. It turned violent when Ashw warriors went to kick them out. Alexander had to go personally <i>to </i>handle it, and one of the scouts just returned saying that there’s an intense battle going on.”


    “Is Alexander okay?” My voice came out as a squeak, and I hated how small I sounded, but I couldn’t help it. A small presence in the back of my mind seemed to roil at the thought of something bad happening to him.


    Liam hesitated, “I don’t know. I haven’t heard anything about Alexander since he left.”


    “How long ago was that?”


    “This morning”


    The room suddenly felt too small, and my heart began to flutter nervously in my chest Every instinct in my body began to hum, as if my very fibers were pulling me to get out of here and get to my mate.


    Alexander was in danger. Fighting. Maybe hurt Maybe worse.


    Without thinking, I threw back the rovers and swung my legs over the side of the bed.


    “E, what are you doing?” Liam breathed.


    “I need to go,” I said. “I need to find out what’s happening”


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    16:33 Fri, 22 Aug


    “You can’t leave! You’re still sick-”


    But I wasn’t listening. Panic had taken hold, drowning out reason. All I could think about was Alexander, bleeding out somewhere in the forest.


    I yanked the IV from my arm, ignoring the sharp sting and the drops of blood that welled up in its ce.


    “E, stop!” Liam reached for my arm, but I dodged him, my bare feet pping against the cold tile floor as I bolted out of the room and down the hall.


    Liam


    Liam stood frozen for a split second, stunned by E’s sudden flight. He hadn’t expected her to react so violently to the news about Alexander. Worry, yes. Concern, certainly. But this level of panic?


    “Lilith!” he called out, rushing to the doorway. The older woman had been in the hallway getting coffee. “E’s run off!”


    Lilith appeared at his side, coffee forgotten. “What do you mean, run off? Where would she go in a hospital gown?”


    “I told her about Alexander at the border,” Liam exined, already moving down the hallway in the, direction E had fled. “She just… lost it. Pulled out her IV and bolted.”


    Lilith’s face paled. “We need to find her before she hurts herself. She’s still weak.”


    They split up, Liam trailing E while Lilith went to g down hospital security. He pushed through the door into the stairwell, taking the steps two at a time. E was nowhere to be found–how did she even move that fast in her condition?


    He burst out of the exit door into the parking lot just in time to see her figure weaving between cars, hair streaming behind her, Alexander’s sweatshirt hanging to her knees over the thin hospital gown.


    “E!” he shouted, breaking into a run.


    She either didn’t hear him or chose to ignore him, continuing her desperate flight toward the street. Her bare feet pped against the asphalt, leaving small smears of blood in her wake.


    She was pushing herself too hard; her body was too weak for this kind of exertion. She was tearing her feet on the asphalt, and yet… she didn’t stop. Didn’t even slow down.


    Liam didn’t have time to wonder why she didn’t just shift if she was so desperate to get to Alexander, but he did realize one thing as he took off after her.


    E was in love with Alexander. Despite everything, she truly cared for him.


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