Too Late, Alpha. I Made Your Rival My Mate

Chapter 3

Aiden and Vincent hurried over. The moment Aiden saw my bleeding knee, he frowned.

"What is it this time?"

"She was trying to get to Selena," Felix said.

Vincent slipped his hands into his trouser pockets and sneered. "And you just happened to fall where everyone could see. You certainly know how to make a scene, Kenna."

I slowly pushed myself upright. Blisters had already formed beneath the silver cuff, and blood was still trickling down my knee.

"Move. I need a doctor."

Aiden stretched out an arm to block my path.

"The ball hasn't even started. If you leave covered in blood, what do you think people will say about Selena tomorrow?"

He paused, as though he were about to make some enormous sacrifice.

"Cover up the wound. I'll give you the first dance. That way, everyone will see you still have someone standing by you. Will that make you happy?"

I tried to go around him, but he grabbed my left arm and lowered his voice.

"I'm talking to you!"

I instinctively struggled to pull free.

But Aiden twisted my arm behind my back and yanked me toward him.

Something popped in my shoulder. My entire left arm went limp.

I gasped, my mouth falling open in pain. Instinctively, I waited for the familiar warmth of my healing ability to kick in.

But nothing came.

There was only a searing ache in my shoulder as the silver poison spread upward from my wrist. Even the wolf within me curled in on herself, overwhelmed by the pain.

Aiden released me, staring at my shoulder in alarm.

"I barely used any force."

Sweat streamed down my temples. I cradled my left elbow with my right hand, trembling with every breath.

Yet Vincent was still laughing.

"Oh, stop pretending. You used to jump into the river in the dead of winter. Something this minor shouldn't..."

His voice trailed off when I raised my head.

I met his eyes with a bitter smile.

"You're right. I've always been good at enduring pain."

When I was 15, I'd jumped into an icy river to save Vincent's life.

I took another step toward the exit.

Aiden finally began to panic. "Wait. Don't leave. I'll call a doctor."

"Get out of my way."

When he realized I was still determined to leave, he glanced at the guests gathering around us. His concern quickly gave way to irritation.

"Do you really have to make sure everyone hears about this?"

He reached for a napkin, apparently intending to wipe the blood from my skirt.

I pulled away, and his expression darkened further.

"Three years ago, Selena was locked in the pharmacy storeroom, barely able to breathe because of an allergic reaction, and you were still on the phone with the pharmacy. But now, all of a sudden, you're in too much pain to wait?"

*****

"Do you have any emergency medication that doesn't contain wolfsbane? She's allergic to it!" I'd been practically shouting into the phone that day, my voice hoarse with panic.

By the time Aiden arrived, the pharmacist had just handed me the medicine.

He'd shoved me aside and carried Selena away.

The box had fallen beside the ambulance. I'd chased after him, desperate to explain, but he'd only sneered.

"You even had the medicine ready? You've certainly thought your story through."

*****

"Don't think getting yourself hurt will make Caden come running back to you," Vincent said coldly.

I didn't bother answering.

Leaning against the wall for support, I slowly made my way to the end of the corridor.

The doctor on duty cut away my silver cuff and carefully supported my injured arm.

The longer she examined me, the more concerned she looked.

"I'll bandage this for now, but you need to get to a hospital immediately." She looked up at me. "Is there anyone who can go with you?"

I glanced through the glass doors.

Selena was lifting the hem of her damp skirt, pouting. "It's ruined."

All four men immediately gathered around her.

"No," I answered.

I'd meant to sound indifferent, but I couldn't quite keep the hurt out of my voice.

On the way to the hospital, Father called seven times in a row, ordering the driver to take me back to the estate first.

"You're only ten minutes away. If you don't come back, the border shelter will have a new director tomorrow."

The shelter was home to 37 pups whom no pack was willing to take in.

I couldn't gamble their future on the slim chance that Father might show mercy. So I told the driver to turn around.

At 1:00 a.m., Father was sitting in his study with several marriage contracts spread across his desk.

He barely glanced at my arm, which was hanging in a sling. "You can't count on Caden anymore. It's time you faced reality."

"I'll call off the engagement."

"That won't be enough."

He pushed the top contract toward me.

The prospective groom was a disgraced Alpha from the West, notorious for his brutality. He'd even beaten his own mate.

"In three days, you'll hold a mating ceremony with him." Father tapped a clause in the contract. "You'll swear yourself to him, leave Silverpine, and join his pack. You'll also formally renounce your inheritance."

Grandfather woudln't be due back until the following afternoon.

I stared at the signature line, forcing myself to remain calm.

My hand moved toward the pen, then stopped.

"May I choose someone else?"

Father gave a derisive laugh.

"Of course. If you can find an Alpha willing to offend Caden just for the privilege of marrying you."

I picked up the unsigned contract and turned to leave.

Only when I reached the door did Father finally acknowledge my injury.

"That hand of yours will still be able to sign tomorrow morning, won't it?"