Page 123 of My Forbidden Alpha

“Don’t apologise, Elijah. I know we are a pack whose reputation has been marred, but I can assure you, the Black Storm Pack is not one that even Zidane Malone can harm. We are strong, Elijah, and I am beginning to win the respect of the elders. They will understand and back me fully.”

“Thanks…”

“May I ask something?” he asks, glancing down the quiet halls of the pack hospital. It’s an impressive building, and it’s larger than ours back home.

We’re currently waiting for the doctors to finish tending to Scarlett. I was forced to wait outside to allow them to do their work. Right now, only the head doctor is inside, yet she still hasn’t stepped out.

“Sure. What is it?” I ask.

“You said Zidane is Scarlett’s father. Scarlett, who is the woman in there right now. Your sister.” His voice is soft, but I know what he’s trying to clarify.

I clench my jaw and nod. “Stepsister, yeah.” Our eyes meet, brown against blue, but there’s no judgement in his eyes, although I’m certain he understood our relationship.

He smirks. “Now I understand why she was off-limits.”

“She was off-limits regardless, and we both know she’s not your type.” I frown at him.

He shrugs before he looks at me innocently. “I don’t know about that. I mean, she’s a woman.”

I narrow my eyes, and he grins. “Just don’t hurt her, alright? You care, I can see that, but everything you told me about Zidane, trauma like that doesn’t just go away.”

“Yeah…”

Yet I fucking failed.

He smiles sadly. “At least she has you in her corner. This isn’t your fault, Elijah. You did your best.”

I hate how the asshole always seems to know how I’m feeling.

“Thanks, Raf. I appreciate you, man.”

“Of course, that’s my charm.” He winks at me just as the door to Scarlett’s hospital room opens and a middle-aged woman quietly steps out into the hall, shutting the door behind her.

Both Rafael and I turn to her.

“How is she? Can I see her?” I ask, pushing away from the wall. Running my fingers through my dishevelled hair.

“She needs rest-”

“I want to be with her, I need-”

“Alpha, please calm down.” The doctor gives me a stern look. “First of all, the wolfsbane must have been very minimal. There is barely any trace of it in her blood. That is good news.”

I say nothing. It was a lot, which was obvious from the way Scarlett had been forced to shift back. But I’m assuming with her special abilities, her body was able to get rid of it.

“That’s good to hear. And?”

She sighs. “To be honest, we are extremely baffled. The speedshe’s healed at is faster than even that of an alpha,” she says, looking intrigued as she observes me. “Far faster than even you, Alpha Rafael, and you are here often…” she trails off as if suddenly regretting her words as she looks at Rafael, a flash of fear in her eyes.

I glance at the man, who chuckles. “That’s impressive, and yeah, I like to train hard. So, this is good news, right?”

“Her healing, yes. But I’m afraid there’s bad news, too. The mark on her neck… it’s something I have never seen. Even if it’s a forced marking, those heal. But this, it’s poisoning her. I am not sure how it occurred, but it never should have happened,” she says, her words making worry flood me.

I’m unable to respond, feeling numb. I clench my trembling fists, trying to wrap my head around it.

“Martha, what do you mean it’s poisoning her?” Rafael asks, placing a hand on my shoulder.

“Something about the very nature of the mark goes against our blessed Goddess. That much is clear. It should never have been placed upon her.”

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