EPISODE 11
1446 Words
DR. WINTER'S POV
The time is 3:23 am and I’ve just fallen asleep on the hospital couch.
Geron had caught a cold and I forced him to return to the packhouse to get treated, assuring him Kael will be safe with me.
The shut window creaks open slowly and twin boys climb in as smoothly as foxes. Letting down a rope, they assist an aged woman up into the room.
“Raina!”
The sound of that forgotten name jerks me awake. Sleep knocks out from my eyes as I notice the unexpected trio in front of me.
“Madam Gina?” I gasp, rising up to my feet at once. I run to the ward door and peep outside to ensure no doctor or nurse is passing. After careful inspection, I return to the ward with my heart pounding. “What are you doing here?”
“Aren't you happy to see us?” Dev and Levi say in unison, creeping me out as usual.
I roll my eyes and return my gaze to Madam Gina. Those years of being a rogue are starting to tell on her. “I should be asking you the same, Raina.”
My lips open to speak but I swallow back my words. It all doesn't make sense and I am not prepared to start explaining myself.
“When these two rascals told me you returned to WestMoon, I thought they were just fooling around.” She says as she walks toward Kael.
My head tilts down and I fix my gaze on the floor.
“Why are you here, Raina?” She asks again.
I throw my hands up defensively. “The Alpha invited me, he wants my help.”
“But you swore never to come here.” She sits on the bed and gently tucks Kael in. “But somehow you're back in this same town that abandoned you.”
The chimes of the ticking clock become louder as a taunting silence lurks. I don't know what to say. I don't want to admit how much I wanted to return here to find Xavier and Jayda miserable.
“You should leave.” I mutter at last. “I’m not your daughter. You're not my family and I sure as hell don't owe you any explanation.”
Dev and Levi begin to murmur and Madam raises her hand to shut them up.
The twins call Kael their brother, but I’ll never allow Kael to be associated with vile rogues. The last time they showed up at his birthday party, all the kids ran away in fear.
Madam Gina stands and walks toward me, her wooden shoes tapping on the floor like a steady knock. She stops a hair's breadth away from me and then grabs my chin forcefully. “Listen to me, Raina. You might be rich and famous now but don't forget I saved your life.” She points her finger at Kael. “I delivered that boy in my arms. If not for me, you would never have made it out of the woods alive.”
I lower my gaze to avoid her piercing eyes. Guilt purges through me as I remember how Madam Gina and the twins fed me and my baby Kael for months.
They may be rogues, vile and cruel in nature, but they saved me.
“Kael is family.” Dev says, tousling my son’s hair.
I swallow and inhale sharply as I watch the rogue toy with my son. I know they care for Kael, but rogues are unpredictable, and I’ll never want Kael to know that his mother once lived with rogues.
His childhood is messed up, and adding a rogue godmother and siblings will only mess it up even more.
“What happened to him?” Madam Gina asks, returning to the bedside.
Tears sting my eyes as I join them in watching Kael’s still body. “Kael went outside the packhouse snd into the woods at night. He got lost and then was attacked by bears.”
Madam Gina hums and then pushes Kael’s neck to the side to inspect his bruises.
“I’ve watched this boy grow up. He's a smart kid.” She begins, her eyes scanning every inch of his body.
“Smarter than me even.” Levi adds, and Dev nods.
“Kael knows better than to go into the woods at night.” She shakes her head and then looks up at me. "At least not without an adult supervision.”
I, myself, have been wondering what would make my Kael do something so crazy. Kael is stubborn and all, but to run into the woods so far away from the packhouse is far off his normal crazy adventures.
How does he even get five miles away from the packhouse and into the woods? The packhouse has tall walls that separate it from the woods and security at each gate.
It is nearly impossible for Kael to escape the house itself, let alone climb a high wall and evade the watchtowers.
Someone has to have taken him out of the house and then dumped him in the woods.
Not just anyone, but someone of high rank whom the guards will let out without question.
“Xavier.” I say, grinding my teeth.
The voices have returned in my head and now they are rebellious and raging.
My fingers crunch and fold into tight fists and heat warms up my veins, throbbing loudly under my skin.
I stomp to the door of the ward, and Madam Gina's voice stops me for a second.
“Don't do anything stupid, Raina.” She warns.
I take in a deep breath, but the rage doesn't free me. It burns even hotter within me.
“Thanks for showing up.” I say to them. “But you all must be gone before I return.”
Madam Gina nods and smiles at me. “Do what you have to do, Raina but remember that secrets have a way of revealing themselves.”
I open the door and walk out, leaving the rogues alone.
My secret will never be revealed because I’ll be gone from this pack as soon as Kael’s eyes open.
As I turn into the waiting room, my breath catches as my eyes catch sight of Xavier sleeping on the iron bench.
“He waited?” I whisper to myself in sheer disbelief.
My feet are light on the floor, but my heart gets heavier with each step I take toward him.
Don't do anything stupid. Madam Gina’s voice rings in my ears over and over again.
I tap on Xavier's shoulder until he wakes up and stares at me through long, thick lashes.
“Dr Winter?”
He stretches awake and sits up on the bench.
I force my lips to stretch into a smile. “Sorry for waking you up, Alpha.”
The words burn on my tongue like lava, but I keep my smile as friendly as I can manage to.
Xavier’s eyes center on me as he watches me carefully. “Is Kael fine?”
I nod yes to him, but he still doesn't stop watching me with keen eyes.
I clear my throat and hold onto Xavier’s gaze, hoping the smile will conceal the rage inside me. “I’ve changed my mind.”
He raises an eyebrow. “About what?”
“I’ve decided to help treat your wife.” I smile at him, but my breath is held and it feels like I am a second away from dying.
His eyes brighten up like a lightbulb, and that breathtaking smile he lets out melts my cold heart.
He’s so happy to have a child with Jayda, while he had left me and my unborn child six years ago.
“Thank you so much, Doctor.” He lights up, holding my hand tightly in his. “You’ll make Jayda the happiest woman alive.”
Jayda.
I had returned to WestMoon thinking I’ll find my ex-husband miserable with my sister, while I’m successful and famous.
Tears sting my eyes as reality hits me. Not only am I wrong about them being miserable, Xavier has changed and become more caring and protective. Jayda has truly changed him into a better man, almost unrecognizable from the cold, nonchalant Alpha I had married.
I refuse to lose on all ends. I might not have gotten the satisfaction of a failed marriage from Xavier and Jayda, but I’ll never let them get away with hurting my son.
Once I'm done with Xavier and his wife, they’ll wish they had never phoned for the Southern miracle doctor.
- Writer
