Chapter 48

Jaden

After Stacey all but kicked me out of her hospital room, I waited outside, keeping her in my sights. The antiseptic smell of the hospital clung to my nostrils, mingling with the faint scent of fear and uncertainty that hung in the air. I kept seeing her eyes find mine from time to time through the glass window. Was she checking if I was still here? Did she want me to leave? My wolf and the bond wouldn’t let me, even if wanted to - which I didn’t. Every cell in my body was screaming to stay close to her, a desperate ache pulsing through my veins. Did she feel it too?

I lit up another cigarette, the flicker of the lighter briefly illuminating my face. The smoke billowed around me, curling and twisting like my thoughts. The acrid taste filled my mouth, offering a bitter comfort. I could see Todd hovering close by, his presence an annoying itch at the edge of my consciousness. He didn’t dare go in to see her while I was here. I caught his eye, seeing him blanch as I gave him a cruel