Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce!-Chapter 64

Kael’s POV

The city blurred past my windows. Lights streaked into long ribbons of color. I barely saw any of it.

My mind was chaos.

Father wanted me married. Wanted me to produce an heir. Wanted to control every aspect of my life like I was just another piece on his chess board.

A bitter laugh escaped my throat. The sound was harsh in the silent car.

My father was going to make me pay for that. Absolutely.

But I couldn’t think about that right now. Couldn’t deal with the political fallout of my confession.

All I could think about was her.

Aria.

Lying in that hospital bed. Pale as death. So fragile I’d been afraid to touch her.

I pulled out my phone. Found the hospital’s number. Hit call before I could talk myself out of it.

It rang twice.

"Meridian General Hospital, how may I direct your call?"

"I need an update on a patient." My voice came out rough. Demanding. "Aria Shadow Moon. She was brought in earlier today."

"One moment please."

Hold music. Tinny and annoying.

My fingers drummed against the steering wheel. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Come on. Come on.

"Sir? Ms. Shadow Moon was discharged approximately two hours ago."

"Discharged?" The word came out strangled. Is she... is she okay?" I forced the question out. Hated how desperate it sounded.

"I’m sorry, sir. I can’t share patient medical information without proper authorization."

"I’m her..." I stopped. What was I? Not her husband. Not her mate. Not anything. "I’m the one who brought her in."

"I understand. But without a HIPAA release on file, I can’t disclose any details. What I can tell you is that she left the facility on her own. That’s all I’m authorized to share."

The line went dead.

I stared at my phone. Then threw it onto the passenger seat.

She was alive. She was conscious. She’d walked out on her own.

That should be enough.

I needed to see her. Needed to know she was really okay. Needed to apologize for leaving. Needed to explain why I’d had to go.

Needed her.

The realization hit like a punch to the gut.

I turned the car around.

---

I didn’t mean to end up here.

Didn’t plan it. Didn’t decide consciously to drive to Shadow Moon territory. To park on the street across from her building. To sit in my car like some kind of stalker, staring up at her window.

But here I was.

Pathetic.

Absolutely pathetic.

I looked up at her window again. Third floor. Second from the left. The light was off.

Was she sleeping? Recovering from whatever had made her collapse?

Or was she lying awake in the dark? Crying? Hating me?

Probably both.

I should leave. Should go home. Should give her the space she deserved.

But I couldn’t move.

Being near herâ€"even just in the same neighborhoodâ€"made that constant ache in my chest ease slightly. Made it easier to breathe.

The minutes ticked by. I lost track of time. Just sat there. Staring. Thinking. Torturing myself with memories.

The way she’d looked in that navy dress. The sound of her laugh. The feel of her body against mine.

The tears in her eyes when I’d told her goodbye.

I was so lost in thought that I almost didn’t notice the headlights.

Another car. Pulling up behind me. Parking.

I glanced in the rearview mirror.

And my blood ran cold.

No.

The driver’s door opened. A familiar figure stepped out.

Golden hair caught the streetlight. Green eyes blazed through the darkness.

Rebecca.

How the hell had she found me?

She stalked toward my car. Her heels clicked against the pavement like gunshots. Each step was deliberate. Furious.

I considered driving away. Starting the engine and leaving before she could reach me.

But that would be cowardly. And I was done being a coward.

I got out of the car.

The night air was cold. My breath fogged in front of my face.

Rebecca stopped three feet away. Her arms crossed over her chest. Her face was a mask of barely controlled rage.

"Rebecca." My voice came out flat. Tired.

"Don’t." She held up a hand. "Don’t you dare ’Rebecca’ me like this is a normal conversation."

"What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" She laughed. The sound was harsh. Bitter. "What are YOU doing here, Kael? Sitting outside some Shadow Moon hovel in the middle of the night?"

I said nothing.

Her eyes narrowed. "I had someone follow you. After you stormed out of dinner like a child throwing a tantrum. I wanted to know where you were going."

Of course she did.

"That’s stalking, Rebecca."

"Don’t lecture me about boundaries!" Her voice rose. Cracked. "Not when you’re the one who humiliated me in front of everyone. Who walked out of our relationship like it meant nothing. Who’s been chasing some Omega trash like a dog in heat!"

"Don’t call her that."

The words came out sharp. Automatic.

Rebecca went still.

"What did you just say?"

"I said don’t call her that." I met her eyes directly. Let her see I meant it. "Aria isn’t trash. She isn’t some Omega you can look down on."

Silence.

Rebecca stared at me. Her mouth opened. Closed. No sound came out.

Then something shattered behind her eyes.

"Oh my god." Her voice was barely a whisper. "It’s true. It’s actually true."

"What’s true?"

Her face was a mask of fury. Her green eyes blazed with hatred. Her whole body trembled with barely contained rage.

"You’re in love with that bitch, aren’t you?!"