Chapter Four: Awakenings and Secrets

The buzz of the morning commute surrounded me as I made my way to the hospital. My thoughts were a whirlpool, swirling with worries about Nicholas, Lena, and the recent betrayal I had uncovered in my own life. The fluorescent lights of the hospital entrance were a stark contrast to the gloom in my heart, the hum and bustle of the sterile environment a harsh reminder that life goes on, pain notwithstanding.

Arriving at my station, I quickly stashed my things in a locker and made a beeline for Nicholas's room, ready to check on him and hopefully see Lena there. As I gently pushed open the door, my eyes widened in surprise. Nicholas lay there alone, his rugged face softened by the harsh whiteness of the hospital bed.

Where was Lena? Her absence gnawed at me, her empty chair a silent testimony to her continued absence. I stepped back out of the room, determined to find some answers. Spotting Dr. Carter down the hall, I hurried toward him.

"Dr. Carter, how’s Nicholas doing today?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

He looked up from his clipboard, his expression unreadable. "There's no change, I'm afraid," he said, and then added with a hint of optimism, "But it's possible that having your sister close by might help him wake up. Hopefully, she'll come soon."

I forced a smile. "I’m sure she will be here soon," I said. Lena's absence was an unsettling puzzle I'd need to solve.

After my conversation with Dr. Carter, I returned to my duties, checking on patients and administering medications, but my mind kept drifting back to Nicholas. Every spare moment, I found myself heading back to his room, only to find the same scene—Nicholas motionless, Lena conspicuously absent.

Determined to find her, I decided to head to their house once my shift was over. As I arrived at Nicholas and Lena's grand estate, the unease in my stomach intensified. The house was eerily silent, devoid of the usual buzz of activity. Nicholas's maid let me in.

"Lena?" I called out as I stepped into the entrance hall. "Are you here?"

When no response came, I decided to check my parent's house. Maybe she had stayed there the night because she didn’t want to be alone.

As I pulled up to the family mansion, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread. The palatial estate seemed almost foreboding, its endless rooms capable of hiding countless secrets. I let myself inside, the familiar scent of lavender and expensive wood polish wafting through the air.

“Mum? Dad?” My voice echoed through the opulent corridors, but there was no answer. Steeling myself, I moved towards the stairs, the sound of my footsteps muted by the plush carpet. Halfway up, a faint creak reached my ears, sending a jolt of adrenaline through me. “Lena?” I called out again, just in case.

No reply.

I ascended the staircase cautiously, my heart hammering in my chest. As I reached the landing, another creak came from the guest room down the hall. Nervously, I approached and paused outside the door, pressing my ear against the wood. The sound of muffled voices seeped through, making my skin prickle with apprehension.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open, revealing a scene that made my blood run cold. Lena was seated on the bed, across from her was an unfamiliar man, exchanging words I couldn’t quite catch. Upon seeing me, Lena's eyes widened in alarm.

"Emma, what are you doing here?" she demanded, standing up abruptly.

"I should be asking you the same thing," I retorted, my voice laced with confusion and frustration. "Why aren’t you at the hospital with Nicholas?"

She glanced at the man beside her before facing me again, her expression hardening. "Emma, it’s complicated. Just go back to the hospital, please."

“Who is he?” I asked, my eyes shifting to the man who seemed far too smug for the situation at hand.

Lena's jaw tightened. "This doesn't concern you."

The man stood up, a sly smile spreading across his face. "Names are irrelevant, don't you think, Emma? What's important is that Lena and I have some personal matters to discuss."

My fists clenched at my sides. "Personal matters? Your husband is lying unconscious in a hospital bed, and you're here discussing 'personal matters?'"

Lena stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "You don’t understand, Emma. This has nothing to do with Nicholas."

"Then make me understand," I demanded, my voice rising. "You've been absent for days while Nicholas needs you. Do you even care about him?"

Her eyes flashed with anger. "Of course, I care about him! But there's more at stake here than you know."

“Then tell me,” I insisted.

Lena opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by the sound of a phone ringing. She glanced down at her phone and then at the man, who gave her a slight nod.

“Emma, this really isn’t your business. Just go back to the hospital. Trust me,” Lena said, her voice softer yet unyielding.

I stood there, holding my ground, my eyes burning into her. I knew that she was up to something because she always made the same face when she was lying.

Lena let out an angry growl. “fine, he's my true mate Emma.” She said as she crossed her arms over her chest.

My mouth opened in shock. I tried to form words, but nothing came out. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “But Nicholas?” I finally managed to get out.

“What about him?”

Anger started to bubble up inside of me. I never thought anyone in my family could be this heartless. “He is your husband, and he needs you right now more than ever.”  I tried my best to keep my voice calm and steady.

“you wouldn’t understand, Emma, because you don’t have a wolf, so you will never find your mate, but the bond we share is too strong to ignore.”

Everything started to flash through my mind. I may not have had a wolf, but I still knew how all this worked. The only way she could have known that this man was her mate was if she had met him before she mated to Nicholas. “did you ever love him?” I asked her, not too sure why. I think a part of me was asking it because it was something I would have liked to have asked Jason.

Lena rolled her eyes and looked away, but before she could say anything, my parents came into the room. “Emma, sweety, why are you yelling?” my mother asked.

My stomach churned as Lena made her way toward the door. I hadn’t realised just how deeply our family values—or the lack thereof—had affected her. It was clear now that her priorities mirrored our father's more than I ever wanted to believe. Watching her retreating figure, I swallowed down a wave of nausea.

"Emma," my father called out, his voice bringing me back to the present. His penetrating gaze made my skin crawl. "We need to talk."

"I don't think we have anything to discuss right now," I replied, my tone colder than I intended.

He took a step closer. Eyebrows knit in concern—or perhaps irritation. "It's about Lena, Nicholas, and the future of our family, Emma. This is serious."

“I understand it’s serious, Dad,” I said, my voice shaking, not from fear but from the wellspring of anger building up inside me. But maybe she should stay here with her husband, the way a loving wife would.”

My father’s face darkened. “Emma, this is none of your business. Lena knows her responsibilities.”

The dam broke. "None of my business? Nicholas, the Alpha of your precious pack, is unconscious, and my sister isn’t acting like she cares! This family is falling apart, and all you care about is your goddamn business!"

He reached out, grasping my arm tightly, pulling me closer, his grip more of a vice than a father's touch. "Emma, you cannot speak of this to anyone. If this scandal gets out, it will destroy my company. Do you understand?"

I yanked my arm away from him, fire blazing in my eyes. "Not everything is about your company, Dad! These are real people's feelings you’re playing with."

For a moment, silence fell. Then, his face twisted in anger. "If you say a word, you will be disowned by this family. Do you hear me?"

His words stung more than I would have liked to admit. I had always felt like a disappointment, but this outright rejection still managed to cut deep. "I don’t want to be part of this sick, disgusting family if that’s what it means," I whispered, my voice laced with a mix of sorrow and resolve. "But don’t worry; I’ll keep your little secret because I don’t want any part in this mess."

I turned on my heel, storming out of the room. The corridor seemed longer and more oppressive than ever before, suffocating in its grandeur. As I reached the front door, the gravity of my words weighed on me. Could I really cut ties with my family? Was I ready to walk away from everything I’d ever known?

Opening the door, I was met by Nicholas’s Beta, James. His tall, imposing figure blocked the exit, his dark eyes filled with concern. "Alpha is awake, and he commands a meeting with all of you."