Page 119 of The Alpha's Stealthy Daughter and Her Commander
Cayden is Twenty-Eight
Cayden was trying to catch up on what he’d missed. Hendrix knocked on my door, “So, Cass’s concupiscence is done. Your brother was crazed, even more so than usual.” I rolled my eyes replying, “He was not the only one.”
Hendrix laughed, “Milana hopes Cassie is pregnant because she is.” I sighed, “Cass is on birth control. You know her fears about having kids. I’m not rushing her because there is plenty of time for all that.” Hendrix smiled, “I know that.”
He paused then added, “You know the realm will lose it whenever you do have kids. You guys are popular.” I retorted, “Sure.” Micah came in and sat down. He said, “Hendrix is right.” I groaned, “Please don’t be coming here to tell me Ashley is hurt again. Just don’t be. I literally can’t handle it again.” I rubbed my head and flashed back to last year.
Flashback
Micah ran into my office. I looked up, “Where’s the fire?” Micah answered, “Addison called me.” I was instantly alert, “Why didn’t Ashley call?” Micah explained, “She’s hurt and it’s bad. Addison said we need to come.” That meant we needed someone on call then.
I picked up my phone and called my brother in law. Alexander answered on the first ring, “Hey, Cayden.” I blurted out, “I don't have details, nor can I explain too much to you. I have a source who is hurt. All I know is that it's bad. I genuinely like this source. Not only do they provide good intel, but I also consider them family. If this source is going to die, I’ll need you to come. I’m not going to let this source die.” The very idea was abhorrent to me.
Alexander agreed, “Sure. Where am I going?” I admitted, “I don’t know yet.” Alexander questioned, “Who is your source?” I winced answering, “I can’t tell you who my source is even if you come to heal said source.”
Alexander snorted, “Alright, cryptic it is. Call if you need me then. I’ll be on standby. I can be to you in a quick pop. If it’s really bad, we might need my mom. Fair warning, I have eyes. So, I might just figure out who it is without you telling me.” I kind of hoped he did. I replied, “I’ll let you know.”
Micah said, “Ashley won’t like that.” I said, “I will NOT let her die.” I paused then demand, “Tell me you don’t feel the same way.” Micah sighed, “I do.” Micah opened a portal outside the human hospital. I linked him, “Why aren’t we at the pack?” He answered, “Because Addison said they brought her here.” That didn’t make sense.
I spotted Trevor McCann in the crowd outside and noted he had blood on his shoes. Micah and I ran inside. My thoughts were running away with possibilities, and I was barely keeping my eyes from blazing. I knew for a fact if that piece of shit forcibly marked Ashley, she wouldn’t have to worry about filing against him for it this time. Because he would be so very dead.
It was clear, based on the direct route Micah was taking that he already had the room. I spotted Hendrick and Mason guarding the door with Dax and Caine. I raised an eyebrow questioning, “What the hell happened?!”
Addison stepped out of the room answering me without looking me in the eyes. “It was a car accident.” She was lying. Micah linked, “Are they really lying to us right now?” The clear answer was yes. I warned them all, “Don’t bullshit me. How bad is it?”
Hendrick wiped his eyes answering, “It’s bad, really bad.” My heart hammered in my chest. I ordered, “Move, Addison.” She moved aside quickly, and I walked into the room. I blinked several times and nearly took a step back when I laid eyes on Ashley.
She had taken a beating and a half. I was no doctor, but this was clearly not a car accident. Maybe one at the end, but there were clear markings indicating someone’s fingers were around her neck. That alone made it quite clear a car alone wasn’t responsible.
I looked at Micah, but he was pulling up her chart. I scanned both sides of Ashley’s neck and sighed in relief noting she had not been marked. I checked her over and found a bite mark on her hand as if she’d put her hand up to defend herself from being forcibly marked. The whip marks on her back I’d seen were re-opened but a movement on my right caused me not to flip her over and check the rest of her back.
I whirled and took in the room. I demanded, “Avery, Paige, Valentina, Virgil, or Sierra talk. One of you come up with a better lie than a fucking car accident. Or crazy thought, TELL US THE DAMN TRUTH about what happened here. Or so help me God I’m calling a healing Fairy that I am quite close with to heal her.” They all gave each other panicked glances which told me they knew exactly who I’d call.
I shouted, “WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED?! Because I see the wolf bite on her hand. My mate marked me the same way wolves do. Two canine bites, exactly like the one on her hand. I saw Trevor FUCKING McCann outside with blood on his damn shoes. Don’t EVEN say he was in the car with her and also in the accident either.”
I waved my hands frantically, “Ashley would walk over broken glass before getting in a damn car with Trevor McCann.” Micah linked me, “None of her injuries are life threatening.” I retorted, “Then why the fuck am I literally itching to call Alexander?” Micah sighed, “The same reason I am. Ashley feels like family.” He was right.
He added “Plus, it’s weird.” I asked, “What is?” He said, “These injuries SHOULD be life threatening to someone without a wolf. We SHOULD be calling Alexander, and we SHOULD have come her and found Ashley in surgery. Which means we would’ve had to bring in Uncle Bjourn or Uncle Marcus. Hell, one of our cousins even.” I needed to look at that damn chart.
Avery whispered, “We can’t tell you what happened exactly. Can you just help us?” I stared at her for several seconds. She winced saying, “There was actually a car accident. Addison wasn’t really lying.” I glared at her, “A car accident didn’t do all that and I’m used to evasions. I’m sure it hasn’t escaped your notice I’m mated TO A PARTIAL FAIRY! So is Micah. We are practically baptized in spotting evasions.”
Sierra said, “Ashley will probably be pissed we even called you. You can’t call someone to heal her. She’d be so upset.” I looked at Ashley and pointed, “Does it matter that much to you that she’d be upset?! LOOK at her. I can have her fixed in an hour, tops.”
Micah linked, “Two or three. Even if Haley and Alexander did it to together.” I replied, “What the hell is in that chart?!” He said, “I’m telling you she should be in surgery and dying. I feel like the doctors in the family would be flabbergasted right now. Even if she had a wolf Haley and Alexander would take a while to heal this.” That just pissed me off even more. Cassie was throwing so much calm at me it was crazy. My whole family was.
Hendrick said, “Mase.” Mason frowned. Addison jumped in, “The doctor said with her healing rate, she’d be fine in a few weeks.” I raised an eyebrow, “Then it doesn’t make sense that you called us. Why would you? It clearly wasn’t to listen to my advice.” Addison winced, “We need you to protect her.”
Micah actually looked up from his tablet in surprise. I ground out, “From?” Addison looked away while she answered. “She’s not safe here like this. We can’t be here all the time…” I held up my hands interrupting, “HOLD ON. So not only are you lying to my face, but you also now want my help. To protect Ashley from…??” I trailed off intentionally to let them answer.
Sierra said, “She’s vulnerable here like this and you know it. We may tiptoe around it, but you know deep in your soul she’s not safe in the human hospital.” I snorted, “Then why is she here?” Sierra outright didn’t answer me.
Instead, she said, “I know you care for her in a non-romantic sense. We aren’t asking you to take her to your realm or anything. We just need her out of here. You know what Trevor wants from her and he’ll get it like this.” Micah made her say it, “What do you mean?” Sierra groaned, “He’ll come in and forcibly mark her.” I growled.
Caine peeked in to say, “That was an impressive growl for a Hackura.” I hissed, “I am the COMMANDER of the goddamn Hackura Army. Give me ONE good reason not to have her healed right now.” Sierra instantly replied, “You’ll lose all the trust you have with her.” FUCK ME!
I wanted to say fuck it and call Alexander, I really did. Thank God Cassie had delivered some Karina cookies to me before I left, or I might have jumped the gun. They always had a way of calming us down. Instead of reaching for my phone, I glared at the group in front of me.
I dismissed them, “Then leave.” Avery argued, “We can’t leave her…” I laughed cutting her off. “Oh, but you can. In fact, you will. You want me to protect her and that means NONE of you can know where she is. Because I don’t actually believe your Alpha will protect her. You must not either since you’re here. He can command you to talk so leave.” Micah jumped in, “Don’t leave the hospital. We don’t need Trevor coming in here while we get things ready.” Begrudgingly they all left except Paige.
