Chapter 154: Chapter 154 She listened
_Author’s POV_
The next morning, Alaric invited the doctor over because he couldn’t help the restlessness he felt after seeing the scars on Rowena.
He stayed in the room even as the doctor examined her, took notes with a serious look, and drew some of her blood for a few tests.
Alaric stayed all through it saying nothing. But his body and face perfectly expressed what he was holding back.
The doctor turned to look at him after a while. He pulled his glasses off and cleared his throat. “Alpha, I’ve checked her thoroughly,” He said, “I noted down a few findings.”
“Which are?” Alaric asked impatiently.
“There are borderline fractured ribs on her left side, and a few internal injuries on the right. I’m guessing she was struck harder than necessary on the left more than the right.” The doctor glanced at Rowena briefly and turned back to Alaric.
Rowena sat perfectly still as she listened to the doctor. She didn’t say a word to interrupt or panic as the doctor had expected.
She wasn’t even crying as any normal woman would.
He was impressed by the Marchioness of Ashthorne.
“Since her wolf isn’t there to help fix those wounds, we’ll administer the best treatments to help Ms. Rowena.”
“Do it as soon as possible,” Alaric instructed. He looked at Rowena’s figure and felt a tug in his heart. She had lost extra weight. He observed. He couldn’t wait to feed her properly and make sure she recovered fully.
He swore to himself to make sure she didn’t miss her wolf a lot. He would cover up for Kyra as much as he could.
“Sure, Alpha. As for the head injury,” he paused and turned to Rowena. “Do you mind sharing how you got it? It doesn’t seem to be an injury developed by being hit. It looks like you did it on purpose. I’m sorry if my question is a bit vague or sensitive.” He said hurriedly, scared to provoke Rowena.
But her expression didn’t change. She maintained her calm demeanor as she said in a casual tone, “Yes, I caused it.”
Alaric frowned. She hadn’t told him about that part. He was genuinely curious now.
“Why would you harm yourself? Was it part of a plan?” He asked.
Rowena shook her head.
“As I said earlier, I was injected with something I have no idea what it was or where it came from. It affected both Kyra and me. The pains were unbearable and I needed a physical pain. Something from the outside. The best way to get that, was this right here.” She said and gestured to her head which was wrapped in a bandage.
The doctor nodded in understanding, but Alaric wasn’t processing it well.
His quest to find Virella and Theodore grew increasingly desperate. He wanted their heads for what they did to Rowena.
She had resorted to hurting herself because of them. What if she’d died while trying to hurt herself?
Alaric hurriedly dismissed that thought as fast as it came. Nothing would happen to Rowena. He would make sure of that.
And for the fact that Rowena stayed clinical and unbothered throughout made Alaric’s stillness land harder.
She could already see the gears turning in his mind. She wasn’t planning to interfere. Virella deserved whatever was coming for her.
“That would be all for now, Alpha. I have to get going. I have a few other things to attend to. A nurse would be here tomorrow to check in on the Marchioness.” The doctor said after a while of awkward silence.
Alaric didn’t say a word and just gave a firm nod.
The doctor hurriedly excused himself.
The moment he left, Rowena’s gaze met Alaric’s and she smiled thinly.
“You look like a worried mother hen.” She said. It was one of the rare moments when she cracked jokes. Alaric would’ve been impressed or faked a laugh if only he hadn’t been trying to keep both Phillip and his anger in check.
“Sit, Alaric.” She sighed and relaxed into the bed.
She’d thought he wouldn’t listen, but he actually did.
Alaric moved to take a seat beside her bed.
“For how long were you planning to keep it from me?”
“For as long as possible. It doesn’t matter.” She shrugged.
“It matters to me more than anything. Your safety comes first in my life. It’s my priority.” He told her directly without blinking and she froze.
She stared at him and saw the sincerity in his eyes. He wasn’t joking around.
“I’m okay, Alaric. I can handle myself. I can keep myself safe from the_”
“I never said you couldn’t, Ro. I just want to be the one to take care of you. To keep you safe away from harm.” He paused. “Please don’t hide things from me. Trust me to handle your problems.”
If Rowena had been the type to let her emotions spill carelessly, she would’ve been in deep tears by now.
His words, his actions, all of it spoke of the type of man he was.
He meant every single word that left his mouth. And she hated to compare Alaric to Kaelen in such a situation but Alaric was a better person than Kaelen.
If the goddess worked according to mortal minds, then she hoped Alaric would become her fated mate in her next life.
As for this one, she wasn’t sure about it.
Her wolf was gone. The Alpha King deserved a Luna who had a wolf.
Silence reigned for a maximum of three minutes before Alaric’s phone buzzed with an incoming call.
He checked to see if it was from Reid.
Reid called instead of using the mindlink.
“Alpha, everything’s ready for Celeste. We need your permission to let her take over.” Reid said carefully the moment the call connected.
“Let her take the lead. We leave by tomorrow.” Alaric said in return.
Rowena watched him closely, trying to understand the situation.
When the call ended, she asked, “Was that Reid?”
Alaric nodded.
“I’m guessing the search for Theodore and Virella starts tomorrow. I want to tag along.” She said.
Alaric’s gaze darkened briefly. “No, you can’t tag along.”
“Alaric, I can handle mysel_”
“I’m aware. But you cannot tag along.” He deadpanned and Rowena let out a soft smile.
Alaric waited for her to argue and tell him for the millionth time that she could handle herself and was independent, but instead, she just nodded.
“Alright, I’ll stay back and rest.”
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