Page 41 of The Alpha's Forbidden Heir

"Yes, and you're the guy with a split lip," I say evenly. "Do you want help or not?"

For a moment, he looks like he might argue, but then he sighs and removes the ice pack. "Fine. Just don't make it worse."

I roll my eyes and carefully dab at the cut. He hisses in pain but stays still. "So, how'd this happen?"

"Rogue attack," he mutters, wincing as I apply more pressure. "Caught me off guard."

"Sounds rough," I say, genuinely impressed. "But it doesn't look too bad. You'll live."

He snorts. "Thanks for the expert opinion."

I finish cleaning the wound and hand him a bandage. "There. All better. Try not to get hit in the face again."

Lila appears beside me, smirking. "Not bad. He's usually grumpier than that."

Derek mutters something under his breath, but Lila ignores him, steering me toward another patient. This time, it's a young wolf with a sprained wrist.

"You're a natural," Lila says as I help wrap the wrist in a bandage. "Are you sure you haven't done this before?"

I shrug. "I worked in a school with young children back home. Plenty of cuts and burns to patch up."

"See? Told you you'd fit right in," she says with a grin.

We spend the next hour tending to various injuries, from bruises to scratches. The more we work, the more I find myself relaxing.Lila's easygoing nature and the camaraderie in the infirmary make it easier to forget about the stares and whispers outside.

As we finish cleaning up, Lila leans against the counter, her hazel eyes twinkling. "Not bad for your first day on the job. You might just put me out of work."

I laugh. "I think your job is safe. I'll leave the real doctoring to you."

"Suit yourself," she says, tossing her gloves into the trash. "But if you ever want a distraction—or just some company—you're always welcome here."

"Thanks, Lila," I say sincerely. "I mean it. This was... nice."

She smiles, patting my shoulder. "Anytime, Aria. Now go get some rest. You've earned it."

As I make my way back to my quarters, I realize that for the first time since arriving here, I don't feel completely out of place.

As I am walking, I hear laughter coming from the yard. I look and see Bane and Elias playing with a football.

Elias is grinning ear to ear, his small body darting around as Bane chases after him. When Bane finally catches him, he swings Elias up onto his shoulders, and the sound of Elias's laughter fills the air.

But something about it makes my chest tighten. The whispers around the pack, the judgment in their eyes—I can take that. What scares me is anything happening to my son.

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. The pack isn't the only problem. If my father ever finds out I am here...

I turn away and continue walking.

The hallways are quieter than usual, the pack likely busy with their routines. My footsteps echo faintly, and as I pass by the open courtyard, I catch snippets of voices.

"You think he knows yet?"

I stop short, pressing myself against the wall. My heart begins to race. The voices are low, almost conspiratorial, but clear enough to reach me.

"No way. If Vittorio Sorrenti knew where she was, we wouldn't be having this conversation. He'd have razed the pack house to the ground already."

I swallow hard, my hands gripping my clothes.

"Still," the second voice says, a little more cautious. "It's a risk having her here. If he finds out, this pack won't survive it. The guy's a maniac."

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