Page 42 of Marrying My Orc Boss

"You gotta stop trying so hard to be human," Thrak adds, shaking his head. "With Shields out of the way, what are you even doing it for anymore?"

I take a deep breath, letting their words sink in. They're right. I can't keep denying my feelings for Sally out of fear. But it's not just fear that's holding me back. It's the uncertainty of what comes next.

"I don't know what to do," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper.

Thrak claps me on the back, his massive hand nearly sending me flying out of my seat. "You'll figure it out, my friend. You always do."

I nod, taking another sip of my drink. I don't know what the future holds, but I know one thing for sure. I can't keep denying my feelings for Sally. Not if I want to be true to myself, and to her.

As I sit there surrounded by my friends, I can't help but feel a sense of gratitude wash over me. They have always been there for me, even when I'm too stubborn to admit that I need their help.

Thrak's boisterous laughter fills the air, and I can't help but smile. He's always been the jokester of the group, always quick with a quip or a one-liner. Baron, on the other hand, is the one who's always been there to listen, to offer advice when I need it.

My thoughts are abruptly shattered by the shrill ring of my phone. I look down at the screen and see the hospital's number flashing urgently. My heart races as I answer the call.

"Is this Drakar Tvojan?" a voice on the other end asks.

"Yes, this is him," I reply, my voice shaking.

The words that follow send a rush of terror through me. Sally’s hurt. It’s as if the entire world tilts on its axis. I can feel my heart racing in my chest, my breath coming in short, sharp gasps.

I don't remember hanging up the phone or rushing out of the bar. The next thing I know, I'm behind the wheel of my car, speeding towards the hospital. The din of the bar is replaced by the desperate revving of my engine, and I can feel my hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turn white.

As I make my way through the hospital, the stark reality of the crisis brings my fears into sharp focus. What happened? Was she in a car accident? Was she mugged? The possibilities are endless, and each one is more terrifying than the last.

Who the fuck do I need to kill? The surge of protectiveness, of pure need, nearly takes control of my entire body. I can feel my muscles tensing, my fists clenching and unclenching at my sides. The steering wheel caves under my relentless grip, but I’m not seeing clearly enough to care.

All I know is that I need to get answers. Now.

I arrive at the emergency room and am directed to a waiting area. The minutes tick by slowly as I pace back and forth, my mind racing with worry. The antiseptic smell of the hospital is overwhelming, and my stomach churns.

The initial urge for violence, for rage, is replaced by a chilling sense of helplessness. I feel like I'm in a nightmare, trapped in a world where I have no control over what's happening.

Finally, a doctor emerges from the double doors, a grave expression on his face.

"Mr. Tvojan?" he asks.

I nod, my heart in my throat.

He takes a deep breath before continuing. "I'm so sorry.”

CHAPTER 25

Drakar

“I’m so sorry,” the doctor says, looking nearly as defeated as I feel while we stand in the ER waiting room. “We did everything we could but… Mrs. Tvojan didn’t make it.”

A sharp, piercing ring echoes through my ears.

“What?” I demand. At least, I think that’s what I say. Why can’t I hear myself?

The doctor’s mouth keeps moving but there aren’t any words.

Dead. Sally is dead.

My knees give out, snapping as if they’re nothing more than twigs, and I crash against the wall. The drywall crumbles under the force of my soul shattering. The doctor tries to reach out for me as if his puny human arms could keep me from sliding to the floor. Numbness seeps into every aspect of my body except for the pain – and it fucking hurts.

Every part of my body physically aches from the absence of that beautiful soul… so perfect, and pure, and everything I’ve denied myself for far too long.

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