Feral Bonds: Claimed By Rogue Alpha Brothers-Chapter 161: Worried Alpha

Kieran:

I didn’t remember when my legs broke into a run - only that by the time I reached them, Rowan was kneeling on the floor with his arms tightly wrapped around Evaline’s unconscious form.

I didn’t even have a chance to ask what had happened when he looked up at me. His voice was sharp and urgent as he spoke, "We need to get her to a hospital."

Not the infirmary. A hospital.

His words threw me. "What? The Academy’s Healer is more than capable-"

"No!" He snapped, his eyes wide and frantic. "Not the healer. Please, Professor. Just... please trust me. She needs to go to a hospital."

There was a desperation in his tone that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. He wasn’t just being dramatic, this wasn’t panic from someone unfamiliar with medical emergencies. No, this was something else. Something deeper.

And Rowan... he wasn’t just any student. He had always been one of Evaline’s closest friends, someone fiercely protective of her. If he was asking me to take her to a hospital instead of the infirmary, there had to be a good reason.

My gaze dropped to Evaline. She was looking so pale, so fragile in that moment. Her breathing was shallow, her skin clammy, and I immediately felt the sharp stab of guilt for not noticing how badly she had been spiraling.

"Alright," I said. "We’ll go to Lakeshire Hospital."

I stepped forward to take her from him, but he instinctively pulled back, adjusting her slightly in his arms.

"I’ll carry her."

I hesitated only for a second before nodding. He wasn’t wrong. Given my position as a professor, and his closeness with her, this was better. More appropriate. I spun on my heel and took the narrow, unused path that cut through the east side of the Academy grounds, avoiding main routes.

As we walked, I called one of the warriors stationed near the outer ring.

"Bring my car to the front gates. Now."

Rowan followed silently, holding Eva like she was the most precious thing in the world. I noticed how careful he was with every step, shielding her from the wind, adjusting her in his arms whenever her head tilted too far. His jaw was clenched, and I could practically see the storm raging behind his eyes.

And a part of me wasn’t feeling too happy to see her being held by him like this.

The warriors at the gate stood to attention when we arrived, but none dared speak a word. I nodded to the one who brought my vehicle and opened the back door while Rowan carefully slid in with Eva still in his arms.

I got in and drove fast, much faster than I normally would, but with just enough caution not to attract unnecessary attention from the town patrols. The twenty-minute ride to Lakeshire Town felt like it stretched for hours.

We arrived at the hospital and rushed inside, with Rowan still carrying her. The staff responded immediately, taking Evaline to a private room while I handled the paperwork.

It didn’t take long before one of the doctors stepped out.

"She’s stable now," he said. "She passed out due to a combination of emotional exhaustion and physical weakness. She’s severely fatigued. Dehydrated. Stressed."

I exhaled, nodding slowly. That much made sense, given how she had looked.

"But there’s something else," the doctor continued, flipping through the preliminary test results. "In her condition, it’s critical that she receives proper care. She can’t afford to skip meals, lose rest, or-"

"Don’t say it," Rowan interrupted sharply, stepping in front of me.

The doctor blinked, confused.

Then, as if catching on, his eyes widened a fraction before he gave a small nod. "Right. Of course."

I frowned, turning to Rowan. "What was that?"

But he didn’t answer. His shoulders were tense, and his face carefully blank. I could see the effort he was putting into staying calm.

"She’ll need to stay overnight," the doctor continued. "We’ll monitor her vitals, give her fluids, and make sure she gets proper rest. One of you can stay with her."

With a polite nod, he left us alone in the small room. Eva lay on the hospital bed, connected to an IV. Her features were peaceful now, but too pale, too still.

I sat down beside her, folding my hands together, watching her chest rise and fall slowly.

Rowan stayed standing, hovering protectively just beside the bed, his eyes locked on her face.

"You going to tell me why you stopped the doctor?" I asked quietly.

He looked at me, clenching his jaw. "It’s not my place to say anything."

That was answer enough. There was something. Something big. Something she hadn’t told anyone. And Rowan, being who he was, was protecting her.

I didn’t press.

Because more than anything, I wanted her to open her eyes.

She looked so much smaller in that bed than I ever remembered. Gone was the fiery girl who used to argue with others when she knew she was right, who would stand unflinching even when facing someone like River. Gone was the strength she so fiercely held onto.

And the part that hurt the most?

I hadn’t even realized she was falling apart until now.

"Has she... has she been like this long?" I asked, breaking the silence.

Rowan glanced at me. "She’s been pretending she’s okay for days. Maybe longer. Ever since..."

He trailed off, not completing that sentrance and leaving me confused and curious about what exactly happened that led her to end up in the hospital.

My chest tightened.

While I was running away from her, or trying to, she was going through her own struggles. I left her alone because I was busy thinking about myself.

Neither of us spoke after that, falling into silence while lost in our own thoughts.

Minutes passed.

I kept my eyes on her face, silently praying to Moon Goddess if she still listened to selfish wolves like me.

Just wake up, Evaline. Please.

* * *

Author’s Note:

4 Chapters straight in Kieran’s pov, hopefully y’all are enjoying!

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