Chapter 5

The once tranquil night turned into chaos. Alaric sprinted through the hospital doors, his heart pounding like a war drum. Raven lay limp in his arms, her dark hair cascading over his bloodstained shirt. Beside him, Caspian followed with sharp eyes, his presence cold yet commanding, carrying ropes of torn clothes from the struggle.

The fluorescent lights illuminated the pale face of the girl who had yet to wake since the attack. Her shallow breaths sent a shiver of fear straight to Alaric's core.

Doctors and nurses froze for a split second before snapping into action. Among them was Dr. Kelly, a werewolf like the others, her keen amber eyes darting between Raven and the men.

"What happened to her?" Dr. Kelly demanded, moving swiftly to Raven's side, two more werewolf medics trailing close behind. Her voice was steady, though her hands worked quickly, checking Raven's pulse and injuries.

"She was attacked," Alaric growled, his voice strained with barely contained fury. "By a powerful human… or at least, I thought it was human." His jaw tightened, the memory of the fight flashing in his mind. But all he could truly focus on was Raven, her fragility in his arms shaking him to his core.

"It wasn't human," Caspian interjected coldly, his tone like steel. His dark eyes burned with restrained anger, his fists clenching as if the memory alone could draw the attacker back to him. "I felt the power—ancient, raw."

Dr. Kelly nodded, her expression serious as she motioned for her team. "Bring her to the trauma room now," she commanded, her voice leaving no room for argument. Turning to Alaric, she softened. "We'll do everything we can, Alpha."

As the team carried Raven away, Alaric hesitated, his hand twitching as if unwilling to let her go.

Alaric POV

Never in my life have I felt fear like this. Not in battle. Not even when I've faced death head-on. But seeing her like this, fragile, bleeding… It's unbearable.

My wolf paces within me, restless and agitated.

"She's our mate," it growls. "Our fated one. You know it now. That's why this fear burns in your chest. We cannot lose her."

I close my eyes for a moment, leaning against the cold wall outside the trauma room. The bond—the one I didn't recognize until now—is a fire in my chest, blazing with fear, anger, and something I'm too scared to name.

I've known her for years, seen her in more dangerous situations than I care to remember. But this… this is different. This time, I'm not just worried about her safety. This time, I'm terrified of losing her.

I pull my phone from my pocket, my hands trembling as I dial. When Evie picks up, her voice is light and teasing. She's still on her honeymoon, and I hate to interrupt, but I need her.

"Alaric?" she asks. "What's wrong?"

"It's Raven," I say, my voice hoarse. "She's… she's been hurt. She was attacked. I got her to the hospital, but she hasn't woken up."

"What?" Her tone shifts, sharp with concern. "Is she going to be okay?"

"They're working on her now," I manage to say before the words catch in my throat. My chest feels tight, my wolf growling softly in the back of my mind. "She's my mate, Evie."

There's a long pause. "Your mate?" she finally breathes.

"Yes," I say softly. "I didn't know before tonight. I've known her for years—years. She's been through accidents, scrapes, but I never felt like this before. Something's changed. She's my mate, and I'm terrified of losing her before I've even told her what she means to me."

"Alaric…" Evie's voice is firm now, cutting through my despair. "I'm coming back. Right now."

"You don't have to—"

"I am coming back," she insists. "You're not facing this alone, little brother. And neither is Raven."

The call ends, but the fear doesn't. I stare at my phone for a moment, my wolf growling again.

"We can't lose her. She's ours."

"I know," I whisper.

Caspian POV

I've lived long enough to know better. Long enough to know that feelings—true, raw emotions—are a liability. I learned that lesson the hard way.

Her name was Lyra. A beautiful lie wrapped in power and deceit. I thought she loved me. I believed her when she whispered promises in the dark, but her magic was stronger than my instincts. She didn't want me. She wanted control. When the spell broke, I vowed I'd never let myself feel again.

Then Raven walked into my world.

At first, she was just another nuisance. A human—or so I thought—who somehow stumbled into the wrong part of the supernatural realm. I should have sent her away like the others, should have pushed her out and forgotten her name. But she stayed.

And worse, she smiled.

That smile… it unraveled something in me. Something I thought I buried long ago.

I can still see her now—bloodied, unconscious, her breaths shallow. She's strong, I know that much. She's proven it a hundred times over. But seeing her like that… something inside me shifted, tightened.

I told myself I didn't care when she first intrigued me. I convinced myself I was just curious about her resilience, her defiance. She wasn't like the others—she wasn't afraid. Not of me, not of anyone.

And damn it, she was kind.

Even now, my heart betrays me. It beats harder when I think about her, when I remember the sound of her voice, the way she laughed as if the weight of the world didn't crush her like it does everyone else.

But I can't lose her. Not her.

This fear clawing at my chest, this tightness in my throat—it's foreign, unwelcome. I shouldn't feel like this. Not again. I swore I wouldn't.

And yet… I do.

For her.