Chapter 36 Medical Pecords and Mata Tensions
(Freya’s POV)
Back in Elder Katherine’s room, Fradicacted my focus to devang het ogenating singery degree emotions simmering under the surface, years of practice allowed me to maintain a ligger i
“You’ve been taking the wolfsbane tea regularly, right? I heard it’s down Haliging on sleg ser ca placing a bouquet of fresh daisies on her bedude table That’s a really good sign for the surgery
Elder Katherine’s face softened into a warm, genuinia omnila “Yes, Freys it has ages some stonesty think your visits help me rest even more Being around you always puts my mind at e
an
Her words made my chest warm, but I didn’t want her to see my inner struggle I smiled and magtered the flowers. “Then I’ll just have to visit more often, won’t if it might be the sewer to you sounong seor faster
“You spoil me too much” Her chuckle was soft, but her voice held so much affection fer the weight of
settle in the room.
Though I stayed composed, I could feel Aaron watching us. His gaze wasn’t cold or files with anger in before. For once, his wolf metered golden eyes observed quietly, simmering with something closer to
admiration? Or perhaps regret? I wasn’t sure. Either way, I wasn’t going to let it sway me
“Besides, Elder Katherine,” I added playfully, “you deserve all the attention you’re getting Someone nas
make sure the wisest wolf in the pack knows she’s appreciated”
Elder Katherine laughed again, but there was a slight catch in her voice like she wasn’t entirely convinced And what about your responsibilities, Freya? A Luna’s duties are endless from what I remember Much more important things than an old wolf like me.”
“I’m on leave from my pack duties right now,” I reassured her quickly. “So, for now, my job is to spoil you You’ll just have to get used to it.”
“Such a selfless soul,” she teased warmly, patting my hand. Thank you, my de
The weight in her touch tugged at something buried deep in me. For all her teasing, she still seemed hestant distant almost. I couldn’t tell if it was her health or something else that made her pause. But I didn’t have the
i
courage-or the strength–to ask her outright.
As we finished tidying up, Aaron finally spoke up, leaning against the wall. His smooth, confident voice filled the space easily, adding just the right level of charm. “You don’t know how much I appreciate your attention to family, Freya. It’s one of the things about you that the pack admires most.”
The shift in his tone caught Elder Katherine’s attention, and her smile grew even broader “See? There’s something special between the two of you no one can take away.”
I felt the backhanded sting of his words more than his charm. My stomach clenched as Elder Katherine nodded approvingly at us, but I forced myself to stay in the moment. I couldn’t afford to dwell
“It’s an honor” I mumbled, keeping my voice neutral.
A
III O <
As Aaron and exited Elder Kathar dutely pred my hand from tes. The lingering scent of
weny if coopers Caroline stung faintly to his shirt I didn’t care how
my wat alle knew beter I couldn’t
standi
“You can leave,” I said without looking at him, stepping down the sender. “Thank’s something else I need to
He followed easily, his tall frame shadowing mine. And what’s that?
I
need to gather Elder Katherine’s recent wolf vitals data from the nursing staff replied ourtly hoping he
wouldn’t push further
“Til come with you,” Aaron said, his tone leaving no room for argument
I sighed through my teeth but kept walking “There’s no need
His pace quickened slightly as he matched my steps easily “it wouldn’t look good for an Alpha to abandon his Luna at night. Especially not when leaving a medical facility”
The absurdity of his sudden concern for appearances made me want to laugh outright. Hadn’t he done far worse just the other night? But instead, I kept my face blank, pretending his words didn’t scratch too close
When we reached the nurse’s station, one of the wolf nurses handed me a thick stack of medical records without a word, her eyes dipping respectfully. The tension between Aaron and me was obvious enough even
for the staff to notice
Aaron, however, wasn’t shy about his curiosity. As soon as we stepped outside, he gestured toward the records in my hands. “What’s all this? Why did you request these?”
“I’ve noticed some small changes in Elder Katherine’s condition,” I replied, stepping further away from him as I scanned the sheets, “Her mood has been different lately, and my wolf has been sensing a shift.”
His brow furrowed in confusion. “The healers haven’t mentioned anything out of the ordinary.”
“That’s because these changes are subtle.” I paused, sifting through another paper. “But they’re there. Her sleep patterns are different. And she hasn’t been eating as much lately either.”
“Go on.”
“My wolf feels it,” I admitted reluctantly. “I don’t know how to explain it. Bella’s been giving me this… this sense. Something feels off. The medical staff may not see it, but I know better.”
Aaron crossed his arms, leaning slightly as he glanced toward the pages briefly. “And now these records
confirm it?”
“Yes,” I said. “It’s faint, but it’s there.”
Despite myself, I could see something shift in his expression. The irritation that had once clouded his features cased, replaced by a mix of intrigue and a faint trace of recognition. For the first time in weeks, it seemed like he wasn’t trying to question my every action or decision.
“And you’re sure this isn’t just… paranoia?” he asked, though his tone lacked its usual sharp edge.
I met his gaze directly. “If it were paranoia, Bella wouldn’t be so restless,” I emphasized. “Something is different. And we need to figure out why.”
We reached the vehicle shortly after. Thomas stood at attention, his hands clasped behind his back as he
waited patiently
“You should remember what you said earlier, I mentioned offhandedly stepping toward the car “You made it pretty clear you weren’t planning to come home. Or have you already forgotten?
Aaron stiffened. “What are you talking about?
I raised a brow but didn’t reply. Instead, I slipped into the car quickly, dropping the thick stack of medical records onto the seat beside me. The driver hesitated as Aaron stayed rooted in place outside, visibly
agitated
“The Alpha has other matters to attend to,” I said coolly “Take me home, Thomas”
The pack driver exchanged a nervous glance between me and Aaron, clearly unsure of what to do. His hesitation only irked Aaron further.
In one sharp movement, Aaron yanked open the door and slid into the car alongside me. The force of his presence sent the air inside rippling with tension. “Drive,” he ordered coldly, his words sharp with authority Thomas didn’t wait another second. He turned the key and began the journey back to the estate.
(Aaron’s POV)
The atmosphere inside the car was suffocating. Freya sat silently, flipping through the medical records as though I wasn’t even there. Her focus didn’t waver, but I could feel the slight hint of satisfaction radiating off
her.
My wolf, Logan, scoffed at my earlier declaration about not returning home. His instincts were eager to stay near Freya, no matter how much my human pride had been bruised the night before.
“I’m curious,” I said after a long stretch of unbearable silence. “Why didn’t you just ignore those small changes if no one else noticed them?”
Freya glanced up briefly, her expression still calm and unreadable. “Because I couldn’t.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“My wolf doesn’t let go of things that matter,” Freya said pointedly, turning back to the data. “Elder Katherine matters, even if these signs end up being nothing”
Logan stirred in agreement, satisfied with her explanation for some reason I couldn’t entirely place.
The regular hum of the car engine filled the void between us. I leaned back slightly, observing Freya’s every movement as she busied herself with the pages. Her determination reminded me of the old Freya–fierce, unapologetically bold when it came to things she cared for.
For a moment, the memory surprised me. Then, before I could think of anything further, I asked, “So what do you think we should do now about her condition?”
H
156
Comments
