His Silent Temptation

Chapter 8 - How Dare You?

S e l e n e

—

How did he know?

I guess it wasn’t that difficult to see when I barely did anything to hide it. Everyone always noticed it, but none dared to question it.

People in Malore’s pack always avoided looking at me for what I really was—scum at the bottom of their shoes. I was trained to keep my mouth shut. My old pack members learned pretty quickly who their new leaders were. They changed allegiance faster than I could blink.

‘No one,’ I signed, even though we both knew the answer to that.

Killian narrowed his eyes. His gaze penetrated me roughly, enough to lower my guards. Anyone else would’ve surrendered to him. I was no different, my eyes quickly snapping away, but not to the ground like I was taught. I was still the daughter of an Alpha. But I wasn’t an i***t. Everyone has heard of his deadly presence, the kind that squeezed the life out of someone.

“I won’t repeat myself,” Killian murmured, his grip tightening on my wrist. My heart skipped in fear, and he froze. A strange emotion flickered through his harsh glare. Then, he dropped his hand and took a step back, gritting his teeth.

His jaw tightened enough to cut through stone. Killian’s eyes glazed over, as if arguing with his wolf. A moment of silence passed and he returned his attention to me. Then, the window, and lastly, back to me.

“Don’t think about escaping. You’ll never succeed,” Killian remarked.

My heart fell. Of course. What was I thinking? I wasn’t. That was the truth. I only wanted fresh air and to see what was below the house. Were there wolves patrolling in their animal form or human stature? This was no typical wolf pack. I barely knew anything about Thornov Pack except their fearsome reputation.

“I’ll have someone send the food and clothes up to you,” Killian icily commented. He sharply left without a single glance back.

Minutes pass and I remain by the windowsill, leaning my face upon the flat surface. I went from Malore’s cage to Killian’s. What an i***t.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. I didn’t respond and a doctor strolled in. I strained at her white coat, hoping she’d help me. She was beautiful. She was everything a werewolf should be, fierce and proud. Nothing like I was. Instead of saying anything, the doctor re-bandaged my leg, helped me back to the bed, and stuck the IV drip inside of me again.

I winced at the prick and struggled to lay down.

“Don’t pull out the IV again, you’ll leave a scar.” Then, the doctor laid down a bottle of pills on the nightstand. “Pain killers.”

I numbly nodded, knowing she wouldn’t bother communicating with me. She was Killian’s people. I glanced at her gorgeous features, wondering if it was something in the waters of Killian’s territory. Why was everyone so freaking pretty?

“And try to not use your feet often. Alpha has ordered a wheelchair to be brought to you soon,” the doctor continued. “You’re not immobilized for life, but you’ll need to let the skin heal.”

The doctor spoke without an ounce of compassion and warmth. I wouldn’t either to some strange girl held captive. Once her task was done, the doctor left without another word.

Minutes passed and someone else came in. This time, it was a meek maid with a tray of food and water. She placed it onto the nightstand, averting her eyes the entire time, and then, walked into the closet to pull out a dress for me to wear. I awkwardly touch the fabric of my old one.

Killian didn’t change me.

I didn’t know whether to be relieved or humored by this revelation. At least he wasn’t that much of a creep to worry about what I wore.

“Please eat,” the maid mumbled when I stared at the spoon. There was cubed fruit, soup with bread, and a salad.

How was I supposed to eat the fruit and salad with a spoon? I blinked, realizing he left out the “dangerous” utensils like forks and knives.

“If you don’t, he will punish us,” the maid finalized with a soft frown. Then, she turned and left.

I reluctantly glanced at the food, wondering if he had poisoned it. Unable to say anything, I could only pick at the soup until my stomach grumbled. I wasn’t an i***t to turn down free food. Malore liked me skinny. I often only had one meal a day.

Not knowing if Killian was just as sinister, I quickly dug into the soup, but choked and coughed it out in disbelief.

I was deadly allergic to nuts. Or was it my fault for not telling him? Regardless of which, my throat tightened. My vision turned dark as the air left my lungs. I swung off the bed, violently knocking the IV pole. I dragged the lamp to the floor with me in the hopes that all of this chaos would cause attention.

My body hit the floor—hard. Black dots swarmed my vision. My heart raced, my veins pumping, and I felt out of control.

I heaved, attempting to spit out the soup, but it was impossible. Footsteps violently clamored up the stairs. A command was being shouted. The doors swung open. In my final moments, I saw and heard Killian screaming in the background, people rushing into the room, and then my body being lifted.

“Selene!” he roared, grabbing me, but the last thing I signed upon his naked chest was…

‘You tried to kill me.’

- - - - -

Beep. Beep. Beep.

I’ve read cliche books that liked to talk about strange hospital machines. I didn’t think those scenes were realistic until they happened to me. When I woke up, I was hooked to monitors. My throat was hoarse and through my blurry vision, I saw the white ceiling walls.

Turning my head, I tried to move my leg, but it felt sore from what could’ve been a sharp EpiPen injection. Instead, I was greeted with a furious Killian barking orders left and right.

Nurses and doctors alike walked in and out of the room with trays of… food? Killian didn’t seem convinced that neither of the menu items contained nuts.

“This soup smells like it has peanuts,” Killian seethed, shooting a violent finger towards the door. “Nevermind. She doesn’t need food, just get out.”

Would a hospital purposely try to serve a patient their allergy? I gawked at his frustrated tone and the poor nurse he spoke to.

“Alpha,” the nurse shakingly said. “She would need nutrients—”

“Best to not piss him off further,” Chester drawled from beside Killian, offering the petite thing an amused smile. “He might just light on fire.”

Killian threw Chester a deep glower and stormed back around, but paused. His molten eyes met mine, the least fazed when he saw I was awake. I saw his fingers twitch, darkness crossing over his face. Did he want to strangle me? He should’ve just poisoned me properly then.

“I didn’t try to poison you,” Killian said out of the blue, startling both the nurses and Chester who spun around to see me. I simply gawked.

“I didn’t know you’re allergic to peanuts.” Killian closed the distance between us and helped me into a sitting position. His hand burned through the hospital gown, his warmth beguiling on my lower spine. He was so close to me, I could smell the soft scent of citrus with a hint of… ashes and smoke? Not the repulsive kind from cigarettes, but forest logs being burnt over a bonfire.

“Open your mouth.” Killian grabbed me by the throat, his fingertips barely grazing my skin. I flinched, dark memories of Malore’s taunts and cruelty flashed through my mind.

My personal w***e, how dare you?

I let out a shaking breath, attempting to scramble back. Killian dropped his hands and watched me huddle to the corner of the bed like the abused animal I was. His eyes darkened. His presence penetrated the room, thick and tense. The temperature drastically dropped. His jaw tightened enough to cut through rocks.

“I only wanted to see if the back of your mouth still had—” Killian sharply cut himself off. Then, he gritted his teeth and turned around. His fingers violently curled into fists and he turned to Chester, spat something out, and then harshly left the hospital room.

My heart skidded against my chest like jumping rocks through ponds. I shakingly glanced down at the hospital blanket, clutching it until my hands turned white with anxiety. I had angered him further, didn’t I?

“Examine her now,” Chester told the nurse with a flirtatious smile.

The nurse awkwardly stepped forward, glancing at Chester before her eyes glazed over, most likely using the mind link. I was never able to. To do that, you need a wolf. And since Elene, my wolf, never responded to me since the incident… I was good as wolfless.

Soon, a team of doctors and nurses all strolled through in pristine white coats and scrubs. Their uniforms were perfectly tailored and my eyes widened when I caught their proper titles on their lab gowns.

These were Heads of the hospital departments! I fumbled to react, for I had never been treated this important before, not even when I was the Alpha’s daughter.

“You’ll be staying here, sir?” One of the women doctors asked in confusion, just as the nurses began to set up a few things on the tray.

“Yes,” Chester mused, his smile widening briefly. He cast a glance in my direction, his chocolate eyes twinkling with mirth. What was so funny? He looked at me like I was some lab rat and he was trying to dissect my brain.

“Alpha’s orders,” Chester said.

“Oh.” The woman glanced at me with curiosity, but not the disdain I was met with at the wedding venue. She was all airs and professionalism, offering me a warm expression.

In reality, I knew she was just trying to understand what made me so important. I, too, wondered the same thing.

Why did Killian care for me?

“As expected of him,” Chester drawled, moments before uttering words that could’ve paused the entire werewolf world for good.

Chester glanced at me. “After all, she is the Alpha’s wife.”