Chapter 5

　　Alexei's POV

　　It had been a week since I last held her, and with only four weeks remaining until the crowning ceremony, the pressure was suffocating. I couldn't see her, not yet. As powerful as I was, she was vulnerable. If the council discovered she was my true mate, I shuddered to think of the danger she'd face. Specifically, I feared Ava's father, Beta Mario. He was a man driven by ambition, and he wanted his daughter on the throne beside me. By now, I was certain my mate despised me for the broken promise of my return.

　　I parked my car at the far end of the school lot, hidden in the shadows. I watched her walk out, wearing a black gown with her hair tossed into a messy bun. She had her glasses on and looked utterly exhausted. I trailed her at a distance, my heart aching as I watched her shoulders slump. She looked so lonely, so abandoned. I knew she likely thought I had discarded her, but I had to find a way to claim her without painting a target on her back. I had to tell her the truth about what I was.

　　Only when I was sure she was safely inside her unit did I return to the office.

　　"Alpha," Viktor called out, his voice snapping me from my brooding thoughts. "You look like a mess."

　　"I know, Viktor. But what choice do I have?" I sighed, rubbing my temples. "You know Beta Mario is pushing the marriage with Ava. He'll do anything to find my real mate and eliminate the 'distraction.' I'm certain I'm being watched."

　　"I think you should at least call her," Viktor suggested. "The scouts monitoring her say she's at that school every day even Sundays."

　　"A phone call isn't enough," I growled, the wolf inside me restless. "If I hear her voice, I won't be able to stay away."

　　I tried to bury myself in work, mirroring her own frantic pace, until a frantic call from Viktor shattered my focus.

　　"Alpha, the Luna... she's been rushed to the hospital."

　　My heart didn't just sink; it felt like it had been ripped out. "Send me the address."

　　I didn't think twice. I drove like a madman. Luckily, Viktor had already flexed our influence and secured her a private wing. When I arrived, he was standing by the desk.

　　"Viktor, how is she?"

　　"She's inside. You can see her now," he said quietly, heading toward the cashier to settle the paperwork.

　　My chest tightened as I entered the room. She looked so small, lying lifeless against the bleached white sheets. A nurse came in to check her pulse, and I stood there frozen, watching the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest. I couldn't bring myself to touch her; the guilt was a physical weight. This is my fault, I thought. I pushed her to this.

　　"Is she alright?" I asked, my voice cracking.

　　"Yes," the nurse replied with a soft smile. "She's just suffering from extreme exhaustion. She's sleeping now and should wake by tomorrow."

　　I stayed by her side all night. As the hours ticked by, a cold realization settled in: no one else had come. No friends, no family.

　　"Viktor," I whispered when he checked in. "Why isn't anyone here for her?"

　　"Her parents are divorced, Alpha," he reminded me gently.

　　"I know that, but still..." The pain I felt for her doubled. She was carrying the world on her shoulders with no one to lean on. I vowed then that I would never let her out of my sight again.

　　I must have drifted off, because I woke to the sensation of soft fingers running through my hair. My eyes snapped open. She was awake.

　　"You're awake," I breathed, nearly tripping over my feet. "I'll go call the doctor."

　　After the check-up was finished and the room was silent again, I took her hands in mine. "I'm so sorry. For leaving you, for not coming back when I said I would."

　　She offered me a million-dollar smile that made my heart do a literal somersault. "You don't need to apologize, Alexei. It's not your fault."

　　She tried to sit up, and I immediately rushed to support her, my hands lingering on her waist.

　　"It is my fault. I should have known you were overworking yourself," I murmured. She blushed, a beautiful pink creeping up her neck. Before I could say more, Viktor returned with bags of food.

　　"Here, Miss Hart," he said, placing them on the bedside table. He gave me a sharp look, signaling for a private word.

　　"I'll be right back," I told her, smoothing a stray hair from her forehead. Once we were out in the hallway and out of earshot, I nodded for Viktor to speak.

　　"Alpha, I think they know," he whispered. "We caught one of Mario's men lurking near her apartment."

　　My blood turned to ice, then boiled. "I don't care about the secret anymore. I will protect her myself. If they want to play this game, I'll ensure they regret it."

　　I returned to the room to find her nibbling on a snack. I sat on the stool close to her bed.

　　"Who was that?" she asked.

　　"Viktor. He's my... personal assistant."

　　She nodded, though she looked unconvinced. "Why didn't your family come to see you?" I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it.

　　She froze. The light left her eyes for a moment, replaced by a haunting, distant look. She composed herself quickly, but the smile she gave me was brittle. "Maybe they're just busy."

　　I knew she was lying, but I didn't push. Not yet.

　　"Can't I go home today?" she pleaded.

　　"No. You're staying here for a week so I can monitor you," I stated firmly.

　　Her brown almond eyes widened. "What? But I hate hospitals!" She pouted, and it was the cutest thing I'd ever seen.

　　"Fine," I conceded, the plan forming in my mind. "Then you'll stay with me until I'm sure you're fine."

　　I expected a fight. I expected her to call me crazy. Instead, she beamed at me and nodded. My relief was so great I nearly collapsed.

　　"When you're discharged tomorrow, I'll take you home to pack your things," I said.

　　I stepped outside one more time to call Viktor. "I need a suite prepared at the estate immediately. Fill it with everything she might need clothes, books, the best linens. Make sure it's perfect."

　　I hung up before he could argue. I was going to bring my Luna home, and I was going to make sure she never felt abandoned again.