Page 10 of Claimed By Fur and Fangs

“Mr. Hale, it’s good to see you here," the hospital director, Dr. Sylvia Reynolds, greeted me as I entered her office. She was a middle-aged woman with silver streaks in her hair, her demeanor calm and professional. “I understand this must be a difficult time for you, and for everyone involved."

I gave a small nod, my jaw tight. “I need a full update on the victims, their conditions. I want to know exactly where they’re at.”

Dr. Reynolds didn’t hesitate. She went straight to her desk and pulled out a folder. “We’ve had a few patients transferred to the burn unit. Eleven sustained severe burns, as you know. Two are in critical condition, with third-degree burns across their upper bodies. We’re monitoring them closely, but their survival chances are still uncertain.”

My stomach churned. It felt impossible to hear those words without seeing the faces of the people who had been affected. My refinery, my responsibility.

“And the others?” I asked, trying to steady my voice.

“Thirteen made it out with minor injuries, mostly smoke inhalation. They’re already being discharged today. We’re confident they’ll recover without long-term issues.”

I exhaled, trying to push the knot in my chest away. “I’ll be covering all the bills for the victims. Please make sure no one is burdened with financial concerns during their recovery.”

Dr. Reynolds smiled softly, her eyes softening with appreciation. “Thank you, Mr. Hale. That’s very generous of you.”

“I also brought food and flowers for the victims. Can you have a nurse, or someone distribute them with my assistant?”

She nodded and stood. “Of course. Follow me, I’ll show you to the different wards.” She said, turning to Julian.

When they left, I walked down the hall, past the pediatric ward and into the cafeteria. The low hum of conversation, the clink of trays, and the smell of coffee filled the air. My eyes scanned the room, automatically looking for someone familiar. That’s when I saw her.

“Amelia...” I whispered.

But it wasn’t just Amelia. She was standing close to another man, a tall, broad figure with blonde hair. I recognized him from the refinery. They were sitting close to each other, laughing softly, leaning into each other. And then, in a move that completely threw me off balance, they kissed.

It wasn’t a quick kiss either. It was slow, deliberate, and to my surprise, I felt something claw inside of me, something raw, something visceral.

My fists clenched at my sides as I stood frozen at the entrance of the cafeteria, watching them, unable to look away. Why did it feel like I’d been punched in the stomach? Why did I feel so... betrayed?

I walked towards them filled with so much anger.

“Am I interrupting?” I said, trying to control my anger.

“Yeah, you are” he blurted.

“Mr. Hale…” Amelia’s voice faltered.

“I really didn’t mean to interrupt the cute moment with your boyfriend”

“He’s not my boyfriend… I mean uh … He’s the man that saved your life yesterday. Finn Harper”

I forced a smile that felt too tight, too sharp. “Is that so? Well,thank youfor saving my life,” I said, my tone flat. My gaze locked onto Finn, and I felt a twinge of tension in the air.

A brief silence fell between us, and Amelia seemed unsure whether to speak, but Finn stood up, wiping his mouth.

“Now that you are here, I would like to speak with you” Finn said.

“About what?” I asked.

“Your true identity” he said looking straight into my eyes.

Chapter Four

Amelia

“What exactly do you mean by my true identity?” Aidan asked, his voice low, as he peered into Finn’s eyes with a mixture of curiosity and caution.

Finn didn’t flinch. Instead, he smirked, the calm expression on his face almost too composed for the tension crackling in the air between them.

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