Chapter 52

Silver’s POV

The soft beeping of the heart monitor is what woke me. As I opened my eyes, I winced at the pain that formed in the temple of my head. My vision was blurry and had trouble adjusting to the lighting change, but I knew I was in the pack hospital. I knew I was taken by rogues, but I wasn’t sure what had happened or why they would take me. I also wasn’t sure if they were still out there and if they wanted to capture me again.

My heart raced at the thought which made the heart monitor beep like crazy.

“Luna Silver,” I heard a familiar voice at my bedside. “It’s okay. Calm down.”

“Leo?” I asked, blinking my eyes and finally getting them to adjust to the person standing beside me.

Beta Leo looked concerned as he scanned my body.

“Wh…what happened?” I managed to ask, my throat scratchy and it pained me to speak.

“You were taken during a rogue attack, Luna,” he explained. “You have a minor concussion from when your head was smashed not that glass table. But otherwise, you are unharmed.”

I reached my head up and touched the bandage wrapped around my forehead with a frown. It was strange because I don’t remember getting my head smashed on any kind of table, let alone a glass one.

I glanced around the hospital room with a frown; Leo was the only one there.

“Your friend Rebecca went to grab some food in the cafeteria. She’s been here all night.”

That wasn’t the person I was looking for, but I was glad that she came to see me.

“How long have I been here for?” I asked.

“Only for a night, Luna. This all happened last night. It’s morning now,” Beta Leo told me as he glanced out the big window where the sun was rising to start the new day.

“Where’s Elliot?” I finally asked the question I’ve been wanting to ask since I opened my eyes.

Leo looked a bit uneasy before he answered.

“He’s in a different hospital room with Alpha Shirley,” he answered, clearing his throat.

My heart fell deep into my stomach.

“He’s with Shirley?” I asked, my voice sounding distant and unfamiliar.

Beta Leo nodded, seemingly unsure if he should continue or not.

“Alpha Shirley was the one who rescued you. She killed the rogue that was holding you. However, she was injured in the process. Alpha Elliot feels obligated to care for her.”

I was his wife; I was the one he was supposed to care for. I was the one he was supposed to be with. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful Shirley rescued me, but something didn’t feel right about this. I remembered hearing something when I was being taken by the rogues. I remembered Shirley showing up and it almost seemed as if she knew these rogues; like she planned for this to happen and then changed her mind. She wanted to play the hero or something and get on Elliot’s good side.

It wasn’t making any sense to me; why did she want him so badly? She was already a powerful Alpha, and she was rich. It’s not like she needed Elliot.

I wrapped my arms around my body, feeling uneasy and sick to my stomach at the very thought of it.

“Elliot wanted me to bring you to her room so you could thank her properly once you are awake,” he concluded.

My mouth practically fell open as I stared up at Beta Leo.

“He wants me to thank her?” I asked, my voice sounding hoarse.

He nodded his head once.

“Alpha’s orders,” he told me.

I pressed my lips together and gave him a curt nod before I slid out of the hospital bed. I was a bit unsteady on my legs, feeling as if I might fall over at any moment. I was dizzy because of this concussion but once I got my footing, I was good to go.

Beta Leo led the way out of the room and down the hallway. I was surprised to see that the entire floor of the hospital was vacant and when I asked Leo about it as we walked, he simply told me that Alpha Elliot bought this entire wing for both Shirley and me.

We paused outside the door in time to hear Shirley speaking.

“Oh, Elliot. You really don’t need to fuss over me. It’s not like I’m a hero or anything,” Shirley purred, making me want to roll my eyes, but I refrained from doing so.

“You are a hero, Shirley. If it wasn’t for you, she would have…” his voice trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. “I owe more than I can give,” he confessed, his tone sounding defeated.

Beta Leo cleared his throat, interrupting their conversation. They both turned to look at us and I saw Elliot straightening when he saw me.

“You’re awake,” he stated, studying my face, his eyes landing on the bandage around my head and then darkening.

I nodded.

“Yes,” I told him, my walls were up as I stared back at him. “How are you feeling?”

Did he care?

“Like I hit my head off a glass table,” I said, jokingly. He didn’t seem to find it funny because he snarled.

“This isn’t a joke, Silver,” he nearly barked. He walked over to me and grabbed my arm; he pulled me with him across the room and over to Shirley’s bedside. “You need to thank her for saving your life. If it wasn’t for her, you wouldn’t be here right now.”

Regardless of her reasoning for saving me, I knew Elliot was right. She did save my life and I owed her thanks. So, I bowed my head to her, keeping my eyes fixed on the ground.

“Alpha Shirley, please accept my thanks,” I told her. “I’m not sure what I can do to repay you.”

When she didn’t say anything, I lifted my gaze and I saw her staring up at Elliot with a loving look in her eyes. My chest tightened when she reached out and put a hand on his arm affectionately. He didn’t push her away or step aside, he just looked back down at her and gave her a smile and a curt head nod. My heart fell deep into my stomach at the sight of their affection. Had he ever looked at me in such a way? Would he?

Was there something going on between them that I needed to know about?

“Elliot darling, would you mind stepping out so I can speak to Miss Silver alone?”

Elliot frowned and then looked at me; his eyes narrowed. I felt my cheeks burning from his scrutiny. He finally conceded and nodded.

“I’ll run to grab you something to eat,” he told her softly, putting a hand on her shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze. He didn’t even spare me a look as he left the room with Beta Leo trailing after him.

I was left alone with Shirley, and I felt more awkward than ever. Her leg was in a cast so I’m assuming she must have broken it. I knew her wolf would heal her soon enough though; she was an Alpha after all.

“Silver, how about you take a seat? We really do have to talk and you’re going to want to be sitting for this,” she said softly, motioning for the chair at her bedside.

I stared at it hesitantly, but then I figured the quicker I could get this conversation over with, the quicker I could get out of there. So, I nodded and took a seat in the open chair. She gave me a small smile.

“I will admit, I didn’t like you for a while and I wanted you out of the picture,” she admitted, surprising me. I wasn’t sure what to say, so I remained silent. “When I returned after my travels, I was surprised to see that Elliot had gotten married and I reacted poorly. For that, I apologize.”

I raised my brows at her; was she really apologizing to me? I wasn’t expecting this whatsoever.

“I’m not sure what to say,” I admitted. “Thank you for apologizing.”

She nodded and reached over to grab hold of my hand; she gave it a gentle squeeze.

“Elliot didn’t want me to tell you this because he wanted to keep it a secret a little longer. But seeming we, both almost died, I feel I have a right to tell you the truth. I can’t keep this hidden from you anymore, Silver.”

My heart fell into my stomach, unsure of where she was going with this.

“Okay?” I urged.

“Elliot doesn’t love you,” she said simply. “He only married you as a favor and he will leave you soon.”

And the Shirley I knew was back.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to speak.

“Shirley, I—”

“Please, let me finish,” she said, holding up her hand and successfully silencing me. “It’s not because you are unlovable. In fact, you are quite likable despite the fact that you don’t have a wolf. But it has nothing to do with that.”

“Then what does it have to do with?” I found myself asking, my voice sounding unfamiliar.

She gave me a sympathetic smile.

“Elliot and I are true mates, Silver. I’m the one he’s meant to be with.”