“Alexander,” Lilith said before I could answer. Liam looked just as surprised as I was, and I simply shrugged.


    Lilith stood, taking the now-empty soup bowl. “ll go wash this out,” she said, then scurried out of the room.


    Once she was gone, Liam took her vacated chair. You look better today. How are you feeling?”


    “Much better,” I lied. In truth, I felt like shit. My head was pounding, my limbs ached, and there was a hollow feeling in my body that had nothing to do with hunger. But I didn’t want Liam to worry.


    “Are they letting you out soon?”


    I shrugged. “Dr. Evelyn wants to run a few more tests. Maybe tomorrow.”


    Liam nodded, and for a few moments, he was silent, just fidgeting with the sleeve of his jacket. Then, finally: “Listen, E, about what happened at the bar… with Molly. I had no idea she felt that way about you. If I’d known…”


    “It’s not your fault,” I assured him:


    “Still, I feel responsible. If she hadn’t kissed you, maybe Alexander wouldn’t have-”


    “It’s fine, Liam. Really.” I cut him off, not wanting to rehash the details of that night. “Water” under the bridge.”


    But even as I said it, my mind drifted back to the alley. To Alexander’s lips on mine, his hands on my body, the way he’d groaned when I touched him through his pants. It had been explosive and all-consuming-everything I’d fantasized about for years.


    My face heated at the memory. It had been a mistake, fueled by alcohol and jealousy and the fated mate bond. But I couldn’t fully regret it. Couldn’t push away the memory of how it felt to be wanted, even if just for a moment.


    “If you’re sure,” Liam said, pulling me back to the present. “I just hate that it led to all this.” He gestured around the hospital room.


    “It didn’t. I was just tired and drunk. I’m fine now.”


    Liam didn’t look convinced, but he nodded anyway. “Well, I brought you something else, too.” He reached into his bag and pulled out a deck of cards. “Thought you might be bored.”


    We spent the next few hours ying card games, with Lilith joining in when she returned. For a while, I managed to forget about my condition, about Alexander, about everything except being with people who cared about me.


    But as the day wore on and visiting hours came to an end, my thoughts kept circling back to


    the cherry blossoms on my nightstand. To Alexander, who hade to see me while I slept. Who had remembered my favorite flowers.


    I found myself staring at them more often than not, tracing the delicate pink petals with my eyes, wondering what it meant that he’d brought them. Was it just a courtesy? A gesture of basic decency toward his sick wife? Or was it something more?


    It didn’t matter. He’d fulfilled his obligation by checking on me and bringing a gift. I didn’t expect to see him again anytime soon. He had a campaign to run, after all. A pack to lead. A Beta to punish for insubordination.


    Thest thing on his mind would be me. Maybe having me in the hospital would even make things easier for both of us, because I meant it when I told Lilith that I was beyond the point of wanting him to mark me anymore.


    Visiting hours ended at eight, and both Liam and Lilith reluctantly prepared to leave. Lilith had fought to stay overnight, but hospital policy was strict: family only after hours. And despite our marriage, Alexander hadn’t listed himself as staying.


    Once they were gone, I tried to sleep, but memories of the alley kept intruding. Alexander’s mouth on mine. His fingers between my legs. The way he’d looked at me when I lifted my shirt. Like he was starving and I was a feast.


    What was so wrong with me that he couldn’t bring himself to do that to me for five years of marriage?


    Groaning, I turned onto my side, trying to push the thoughts away. It was useless to dwell on


    them.


    Just then, the door opened. I turned, expecting to see a nurseing to check on me.


    Instead, Alexander was standing in the doorway with a bag in his hand.