Promised to the Alfa's Son, Fated to Another

Chapter twenty three

Savanna sat by the hospital bed, watching Casey sleep. Her chest rose and fell slowly, her face pale against the pillow. Savanna sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

“She’s strong,” she whispered more to herself than to Angely, who stood on the other side of the bed.

Angely shook her head. “She had no problems for so long. I thought she was over that nightmare.”

“It’s not that easy,” Savanna murmured, rising to her feet. “Something must have triggered her memories. Until now, she only had fragments—scents, words. Her wolf carried the weight of everything else.”

Angely’s voice lowered. “Does Alfie know?”

“He will. Eventually.” Savanna’s tone was calm, almost too calm. “But right now, Riley is far more worried than anyone.”

Angely’s eyes widened. “You think they…?”

Savanna cut her off with a sharp look. “He has a mate mark. She doesn’t. They are not mates.”

“And still, he looks sick with worry,” Angely whispered.

“Maybe because he promised to protect her,” Savanna said quietly, “and she ended up here.”

A soft groan broke the silence. Casey stirred, opening her eyes only to shut them again against the harsh hospital light.

“You’re awake, darling!” Savanna took her hand gently.

“Honey, you scared us,” Angely added with relief.

“Hospital?” Casey tried to sit up, but her head throbbed in protest.

“Yes,” Savanna confirmed, trying to smile. “You collapsed at the meeting. Don’t worry—it happens to the best of us.”

Casey’s gaze flicked toward Angely. “Can I… can I speak with you in private?” she asked Savanna, voice trembling. “As a doctor.”

Angely smiled softly. “Of course.” She slipped out, leaving the two alone.

Casey licked her dry lips, gathering her courage. “Is it possible… that what happened to me… blocks my mate bond?”

Savanna blinked, taken aback. Then she answered carefully, “I’ve never heard of such a case. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.”

Casey’s hands twisted in the blanket. “If I continue with this engagement… and then find my real mate… would it end everything?”

Savanna raised a brow. “You’re not asking me as a doctor anymore, Casey.”

“I know exactly why I’m asking you,” Casey whispered fiercely. “Because every time I see your eldest son… I panic. My wolf goes wild, but not in a good way. When he kissed me, I felt nothing. Hollow. Empty.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “I tried in college, remember? Tried dating. Tried believing therapy worked. But it never did. I was always the scared girl.”

“Why does it bother you now?” Savanna asked gently.

Casey hesitated, her voice barely audible. “Because there is someone who makes me feel alive.”

Savanna’s lips parted. “Riley?”

“Don’t you dare tell anyone!” Casey snapped, fury cutting through her tears. “I’m telling you as my therapist, not as the wife of the Alpha, not as my future mother-in-law.”

“You understand the scandal this would cause?”

“It’s my life!” Casey’s tears spilled over. “Why should I always care about the pack’s view, the family’s view, everyone’s view? No one cares about me. Even Alfie—he wants me like a child wants a toy. Payton is my brother, so of course he’ll always see me, not the benefits. But Riley…” She swallowed hard. “He sees me. Not my body. Not my status. Me.”

Savanna closed her eyes for a moment. “Casey… I saw his mark. When he brought you here, I checked. It’s real. He has a mate out there.”

The devastated look on Casey’s face almost broke her heart. “So that means… eventually, he’ll find her,” Casey whispered.

“I’m sorry,” Savanna murmured.

“Don’t be.” Casey forced a shaky smile. “Can I be alone for a while?”

Savanna nodded and left.

As soon as the door closed, Casey pulled the blanket over her head. Her wolf raged inside her, clawing at the truth. Even if Riley tried to fight the bond, it would only delay it. Months at most. And then it would consume him.

Tears slid silently down her cheeks. The one man she wanted, the only one who saw her, belonged to someone else.

Her lips pressed into a hard line. “Alfie… so be it.”