CHAPTER 17 — The Alpha’s Fever
946 Words
Mirabel slept lightly, drifting in and out of consciousness.
Every time she woke, Adrian was still there—sitting by her bedside, watching her with those unreadable silver eyes.
He hadn’t moved.
Not once.
It was past midnight now. The hospital floors were quiet, the world outside sinking into darkness. But inside her room, the air carried something warm… almost electric.
Mirabel blinked awake again and found Adrian leaning slightly forward, elbows on his knees, eyes fixed on her like she was the only reason he was still breathing.
“You’re awake,” he said softly.
His voice was a deep night whisper that made her skin tingle.
Mirabel swallowed. “You haven’t slept.”
“I don’t need to,” he murmured.
She frowned. “That’s not possible. Everyone needs to sleep.”
Adrian held her gaze for a long second before exhaling.
“Not me.”
The answer was simple, but something about it made her stomach twist. She wanted to ask more—needed to—but her throat felt dry.
He stood and moved closer to the bed. “Are you in pain?”
“No,” she answered truthfully. “Not anymore.”
“Good.” His hand reached to adjust the blanket around her shoulders. His touch was gentle, almost too gentle for a man who had dragged an entire door off its hinges hours ago.
Mirabel’s heart fluttered.
“Adrian?” she whispered.
“Yes.”
“You’re… different.” Her voice trembled a little.
A faint smirk touched his lips. “You’re only realizing that now?”
She blushed, looking away. “No, I just… you’re strong, and protective, and—”
“And dangerous,” he finished.
She met his eyes again.
“Not to me,” she whispered.
Adrian froze.
For the first time since she’d met him, something cracked in his expression—like her words had reached a part of him carefully locked away.
He pulled back a little, clearing his throat. “Mirabel… you don’t understand. You should be afraid of me.”
“I’m not,” she said.
He tried again. “You should be.”
She shook her head.
“Why?” she asked softly.
Adrian looked at her, then reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. His fingertip lingered just a second too long. Her breath caught.
“Because,” he said quietly, “I’m losing control around you.”
Her heartbeat skipped. “C-Control?”
Adrian’s jaw tightened as he turned away, gripping the back of the chair like he needed grounding. His muscles strained beneath his shirt.
“Your scent…” he whispered, almost to himself. “It’s stronger now. Sweeter. My wolf—” He stopped abruptly.
Mirabel’s breath hitched. “Your… wolf?”
He closed his eyes, clearly wrestling with something deep.
“Adrian,” she said gently. “Look at me.”
He did.
And his eyes—his beautiful silver eyes—were glowing. Bright. Wild.
Mirabel gasped.
But not in fear.
In shock.
In awe.
And something else she couldn't name.
Adrian turned away immediately, as if ashamed. “This is why you should fear me.”
She stared at him, stunned, but her voice came out steady.
“Adrian… your eyes.”
“I know.”
“How long have they been like that?”
“Since the moment you woke up.”
Her breath faltered. “Because of me?”
“Yes.”
His breathing grew heavier.
“My wolf reacts to you,” he whispered. “Stronger than it should. Faster than it should. You’re… affecting me.”
Mirabel swallowed hard. “Affecting you… how?”
He stepped closer. One step.
Two steps.
Close enough that she could feel the heat radiating off him.
“Mirabel,” he murmured, voice low, rich, dangerous. “If I move any closer, I won’t be able to stop myself.”
Her lips parted. “Stop yourself from what?”
Adrian’s eyes flashed again.
“From claiming you.”
The room suddenly felt too small. Too warm. Too intimate.
Mirabel’s pulse raced, her breath shallow.
“A-Adrian…” she breathed.
He leaned in slightly—just enough for his breath to brush her cheek.
His voice dropped to a husky whisper.
“Tell me to step away… or I won’t.”
Her whole body trembled.
“I…”
She tried to speak.
But no words came out.
Because she didn’t want him to step away.
Not even a little.
Adrian inhaled sharply, reading her silence perfectly.
“Mirabel,” he growled softly. “You’re going to make me lose control.”
She whispered, “Then lose it.”
Adrian froze, breath catching in his throat.
His pulse quickened. His eyes darkened. A low, primal sound vibrated in his chest—one she felt more than heard.
He lowered his head…
And the door burst open.
“Sir, we need to—”
Adrian’s head snapped toward the intruder with a deadly glare that froze the guard mid-sentence.
Mirabel jerked back, cheeks burning, heart racing.
Adrian straightened slowly, the feral energy fading—but not fully gone.
“What is it?” he said, voice clipped.
The guard swallowed hard. “Someone is here for Miss Mirabel. A visitor.”
Adrian’s expression hardened. “Who?”
The guard hesitated. “He says… he’s her ex-boyfriend.”
Mirabel’s stomach dropped.
Kelvin.
Adrian turned to her slowly, eyes narrowing.
“That boy again?” he growled, voice dangerously low.
Mirabel whispered, barely breathing, “Adrian… please don’t kill him.”
Adrian’s jaw clenched so tightly the muscle twitched.
“No promises.”
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- Writer
