Chapter 13
The antiseptic smell of the hospital room wrinkled my nose as I regained consciousness. A dull throb pulsed at my temple, and when I reached up, I felt a bandage. Memories before I blacked out rushed back—the ring shopping, Raymond and Giana, the confrontation, and then pain.
A soft shuffling sound drew my attention to the corner of the room. Giana stood there, fidgeting uncomfortably under Raymond's stern gaze.
"Say it," he urged in a hushed voice.
Giana approached my bed with the enthusiasm of someone walking to the gallows. "I'm sorry about what happened," she muttered, not meeting my eyes. The apology rang hollow, each word dripping with insincerity.
I regarded her coldly. "Are you sorry it happened, or sorry you were caught?"
Her eyes flashed with brief anger. "I'm trying to apologize here."
"And I'm trying to recover from being punched in the face," I replied evenly. "Raymond's parents will be arriving soon. You should leave."
Her mouth opened, likely to deliver some cutting retort, but I added, "Quickly."
Giana's gaze darted to Raymond, clearly expecting him to defend her. He shifted uncomfortably, caught between us.
"Maybe that would be best," he finally said, voice gentle. "I'll call you later."
Giana's expression crumpled into a wounded look that I'd seen her perfect over the months. "But Ray—"
"Please, Giana," he said, his tone softening in that special way he reserved only for her. "Just for now."
She hesitated, clearly unhappy, but Raymond placed a hand on her lower back and guided her toward the door with whispered reassurances I couldn't hear.
Not thirty minutes after Giana left, the door burst open as Alpha Marcus and Luna Elena strode in, followed closely by my father. The sudden audience made me instinctively straighten despite the pain.
"Aurora!" Luna Elena rushed to my side. "What happened? Raymond only said there was an accident."
I saw the warning in Raymond's eyes. "It was nothing serious," I smoothly lied. "Just a silly accident. I wasn't paying attention and walked right into a door." My father's skeptical expression made it clear he didn't believe me, but he remained silent.
Alpha Marcus frowned. "A door caused that much damage?"
"I was running," I elaborated. "Late for a meeting with Raymond. It was entirely my fault."
My father stepped forward, rigid with disapproval. "This is why I've always told you to be careful. Always rushing, never thinking." He shook his head.
"Do you realize this could delay the wedding? Three weeks until the ceremony, and now you'll have a healing wound on your face." The concern in his voice wasn't for my pain but for the inconvenience my injury caused.
Alpha Marcus turned to Raymond. "You will personally attend to Aurora until she recovers. No excuses, no distractions."
Raymond nodded, the perfect picture of a concerned fiancé. "Of course. I was already planning to."
Guilt flashed briefly across his features—the first genuine emotion I'd seen from him since this charade began.
True to his word, Raymond was attentive the following day, bringing me flowers and my favorite books from home. He adjusted my pillows, helped me eat, and even read to me when my headache made it difficult to focus on the pages.
Just as I was beginning to enjoy his undivided attention, the door opened to reveal Giana, carrying a small basket of fruit.
"I thought you might like some company," she announced, her voice sickly sweet. Raymond's face lit up at her arrival, and just like that, I became invisible again.
This pattern continued for days. Raymond would arrive, attentive and caring, only to shift his focus entirely when Giana joined us minutes later. She insisted on "helping" with my care, though her assistance usually involved hovering too close and making pointed comments about how difficult it must be for Raymond.
On the third day, Giana decided to change my bandage herself.
"I can do it," I protested as she reached for the tape securing the gauze to my temple.
"Don't be silly," she insisted. "I want to help."
Before I could stop her, she yanked the tape off with unnecessary force. I hissed in pain as it pulled at the tender skin around my stitches.
"Oops," she said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "It's stuck."
She continued to peel the bandage away roughly, her nails scraping against my wound. I felt something wet trickle down my face.
"You're making it bleed again," I said through clenched teeth.
Raymond, who had been checking his phone in the corner, finally looked up. "Giana, maybe let the nurse handle that."
"I've almost got it," she persisted, pressing her thumb directly against the cut.
Pain lanced through my head, and I jerked away involuntarily. "Stop!"
Raymond was beside us in an instant, gently pulling Giana's hands away. "That's enough. I'll call the nurse."
The doctor had to re-stitch part of the wound, extending my hospital stay by another day.
On the morning of what should have been my final day, Raymond was called away for Alpha training, leaving Giana and me alone. She lounged in the visitor's chair, scrolling through her phone with an air of boredom.
"I don't understand why you're still here," I said finally. "If you hate me so much, why spend hours in my hospital room?"
Giana lowered her phone, a calculated smile spreading across her face. "Because every minute I'm here is another minute Raymond isn't secretly with you."
Before I could respond, she held up her hand, the light catching on a delicate ring—the one I'd watched Raymond give her.
"Do you like it?" she asked, admiring it herself. "Raymond had it specially made. We have matching ones." She pulled a chain from beneath her shirt, revealing Raymond's ring. "He can't wear his publicly yet, of course. Not until after your little arrangement is over."
"Get out," I said, my voice deadly calm.
"Excuse me?" Her eyes widened in mock offense.
"Get out of my room. And tell Raymond not to bother visiting again either."
When Raymond returned an hour later, I met his concerned expression with an emotionless stare.
"Giana said you were upset," he began.
"Don't come tomorrow," I said flatly. "I don't need your help anymore."
Raymond frowned. "Aurora, if this is about Giana—"
"I said I don't want you here. Is that so difficult to understand?"
His expression shifted between frustration and guilt. "Fine," he finally conceded. "But I'll come alone next time. No Giana."
The next day, I sat on the edge of my hospital bed, fully dressed and waiting. My bag was packed, discharge papers signed, and the nurse had removed my IV hours ago.
But Raymond didn't come.
One hour passed. Then two. Then three.
I checked my phone repeatedly, but there were no messages. I finally called him myself, only to be sent straight to voicemail.
Just as I was about to give up and call a taxi, my phone rang. Raymond's face flashed on the screen.
"Where are you?" I asked, unable to keep the frustration from my voice.
"Aurora, I'm so sorry," he said, sounding breathless. "Giana had an emergency. She fell during training and sprained her ankle. I had to take her to the clinic."
Of course. Another Giana emergency.
"Don't worry about it," I said flatly. "I'll get home myself."
The sun was setting as I left the hospital, my head throbbing. While trudging along the sidewalk, a sleek black sports car slowed beside me. The window rolled down to reveal Kane's handsome face with his signature smirk in place.
"Need a ride, future Luna?" he called, drawing out the title mockingly.
I hesitated, noticing he wasn't alone. A beautiful woman with long red hair sat in his passenger seat, eyeing me with open curiosity.
"I'm fine, thank you," I replied stiffly.
"Who's she?" the redhead demanded, pouting at Kane. "Another one of your playthings?"
Kane's expression cooled instantly. "Watch your tongue," he said, his voice suddenly sharp. "That's Aurora, future Luna of the Blood Moon Pack. You will address her with respect."
The woman rolled her eyes. "Whatever. She doesn't look like much to me. Just another pathetic wolf pining after her mate while he—"
She never finished her sentence. Kane reached across her to open the passenger door, his movements calm but deliberate.
"Get out," he said, voice deadly quiet.
"What?" The woman blinked in confusion.
Kane pulled out his wallet, extracted several hundred-dollar bills, and tossed them onto her lap. "This should cover your time. Now get out of my car."
"You can't be serious!" she sputtered.
"I don't joke about respect," Kane replied coldly. "Especially not when it concerns the future Luna."
The woman stared at him in shock before gathering the money and her dignity. She stepped out of the car, slamming the door behind her.
Kane leaned across the seat, opening the door for me. "Your chariot awaits, Luna."
