Chapter 39

Gideon’s POV

The hospital faintly smelled of Iron and antiseptic herbs, a scent that was a symbol of this place, it won’t go even if there were flowers in the vases everywhere. I never liked this smell, it was of weakness and also healing which was too slow.

I looked around the other patients and their air was filled with suffering.

As I pushed open the heavy door to Raven’s room, the sound of hushed breathing greeted me. My gaze fell immediately on her.

There she laid on the bed, her body was covered with a blanket, I was able to see her head, her chest was slowly rising and falling and her breathing was shallow. Her hair which was once full of life now laid across the pillow like spilled ink, dull and limp.

The sight made me feel like a punch in the gut, just like the first time I saw her unconscious. My warrior heart felt like it was falling apart. A not so familiar weakness was digging its claws into me.

But I wasn’t the only one here.

I exhaled as I saw Ivan sitting beside her, his hand resting on the edge of the bed protectively, the children still clinged onto Raven like she would vanish if they let her go. His strong frame looked on their side, his dark gaze fixed on her, I saw fury in his eyes but beneath it was concern.

When he saw me step inside, he rose. The chair scraped very loud against the food, the stillness of the room vanished.

He looked at me with a hardened face, his jaw clenched angrily, the air in the room grew heavier and was charged as if a storm was about to break.

Before I could feel anything else I felt a strong punch on my cheek, I was pushed back by it. Daphne let out a gasp.

“You.” His voice was sharp and cold.

Before I could open my mouth, Ivan’s words came crashing down on me.

“Is this how you treat my Warrior, Alpha Gideon?” Prince Ivan sneered, this voice was full of rage, his hands curled into fist. “My precious warrior lies here poisoned in your house, under your protection, and that sweet little girl Nova has cried herself to sleep against her mother’s chest while you sit on your damned throne doing what?!”

His punch didn't hurt me much but his words definitely did.

I stood there speechless, I wanted to talk but no words came out of my mouth because my guilt made them stop. Because I knew he wasn’t wrong.

I had indeed failed.

Ivan stepped closer and looked at me coldly. “Do you understand what it felt like?” He demanded an answer, his voice strained with anger “For a child to see her mother collapse? To hear the child scream for her mother, helpless? And where were you, Alpha?” His lips turned into a sneer as he spit out those words like a poison. “Were you busy with barking orders? Are you too blind to see betrayal walking in your halls?”

Each word was like a stab of a blade. I stood silently, my shoulders tense. I felt my wolf was raging inside, torn between shame and instincts to fight due to being challenged.

Alpha Ivan is not my enemy. She is part of his pack. His fury was born out of care, she was one the strongest warriors afterall. But I saw something else when he looked at her with an emotion I could quite name it.

Before I opened my mouth to speak, Daphne’s voice cut in with a sickly sweet tone in the middle of the war.

“Stop right there Alpha Ivan,” She stepped in the middle of Ivan and me. Her eyes were gentle but I saw the mask of fake sympathy. “Alpha Gideon has done everything in his power to—”

“Shut up, Daphne.”

I spoke in my Alpha voice.

She looked at me with shock, the silence fell in the whole room for a few moments. The weight of my command pressured everyone except Alpha Ivan.

She looked at me speechless. She had never liked being dismissed, least of all in public. I looked at her coldly with determination, she faltered under my Alpha command.

“Leave Now!” I said coldly yet sharply.

She clenched her jaw as the anger and something darker passed through her eyes but she didn’t argue any further, she turned around and stormed out of the room. The click of her heels down the corridor was the only sound until the door slammed shut behind her.

Silence again. But this one felt heavier.

Prince Ivan's chest rose and fell asleep he looked at me sharply, his hands clenched into the fist, his body shaking with anger. “Even right now.” He growled angrily and continued to speak with a shaky voice “You are letting the snake come close to her and Raven is paying the price for it.”

I lowered my head for the first time, unable to deny him. The words I wanted to speak, all the oaths, promises and confessions died with my voice. I had no right to defend myself. Not when Raven is still laying on the bed unconscious.

Price Ivan’s gaze burned my confidence, his gaze was sharpened. He stepped closer to me again, and whispered coldly with a growl that meant more than the shout.

“Listen to me Alpha Gideon,” he said each word deliberately and heavily. “If this happens again—if she so much as suffers one more time under your roof—I will take her away from you.”

My wolf snarled inside me at the threat, but I stood still, rigid, my eyes fixed on his.

“I will take both Raven and Nova back to my pack.” Ivan continued his tone was fierce and unyielding. “I will not watch Raven and Nova wither in this cursed place while you stand here and fail them.”

Prince Ivan's words were louder than his roar, they were bitter but true.

He turned around sharply, his broad frame walking towards the door, his steps were loud against the floor. He gave a last gentle glance at Raven and left the room, leaving his echoes of rage.

I stood still as the pressure of heavy silence fell on me.

The children stirred softly, Nove murmured softly in her sleep against her mother’s softly arm. Raven didn’t even move or flinched, she was laying still. Too still. Leo finally looked up as he looked at me pale faced, I realized he heard everything.

Price Ivan’s words were like unbreakable shackles, they made me feel very helpless. If this happens again, I will take her away from you.

My wolf growled and snarled in protest, angered by Ivan’s threat. But the truth was like blades against my throat.

I had already failed her once. Twice, even. And failure was no longer an option.

I walked closer to her bed. My large frame covers Raven and children by my shadow. I gently held her hand in mine, her hands were warm due to being covered by the blanket.

“You won’t be taken from me,” I murmured, my voice hoarse, meant only for her. “Not by death, not by poison, not by anyone’s hand. I will find whoever did this, Raven. I swear on my blood and life. Justice will be yours only. And if it costs me everything… then so be it.”

The wolf stirred inside me, agreeing, its vow entwining with mine.

Ivan could rage and storm. Daphne can always plot in the shadows. The traitors could think themselves clever.

But none of them can compare to Alpha's promise. And I had just made mine.