3. Fourteen

"You knew, didn't you?" I accused Sebastian, as I took in his unsurprised reaction. I had just told him that he would have to let his wolf die, so he could survive and he didn't look shocked. He just looked resigned.

"I did." He whispered and closed his eyes and turned his head away from me. "Ever since I was struck down by the arrow laced with wolfsbane, I have suffered through endless cycles of being well and then catapulting back to bed rest. When I was attacked and my body was filled with poison, my wolf fought to keep me alive. It took so much energy out of him that he became weak against it. Every time I was getting better, my wolf was supplying me with energy. Whenever I tried to help my wolf, my health deteriorated and I was bed-bound. I have tried to save my wolf which is why I am stuck here in this bed now. I have seen it happen many times before and I somehow knew that it had happened to me, I just didn't want to accept it. I have known since before the ceremony that if I wanted to survive, I would have to let go of my wolf. I just wanted to try it one more time, just one more chance to save my wolf, which made me collapse on the stage after the alpha ceremony, in front of the whole pack. And now you tell me that the goddess has told me to let go. To let go of my wolf. To let go of a part of me. No Zara, I am not surprised because I knew it would happen."

I took a deep breath and looked at the broken man in front of me. He didn't want to let go of his wolf. I knew what shifting meant to werewolves and to lose that would be losing a huge part of oneself. It would be life-altering and practically change your whole identity. 

"The goddess had told me that you were attacked and she told me that she was trying her best to save you and your wolf. I believe that she tried to save your wolf because I know she wouldn't like that. It was a few days ago when she told me to come here and let you know that she couldn't save your wolf." I said, reminiscing about her visit in my dreams when she looked so ruffled and tired. 

Sebastian sighed and nodded. "I'll just let you be alone," I whispered and respectfully stood up to give him some privacy. His hand shot out and grabbed my forearm. 

"No, sit. I don't want to be alone right now." He grunted and I obliged him. "So, tell me. What have you been up to these last couple of months?"

I smiled and told him everything I had gone through these last few months. I told him about every visit of the moon goddess, especially her last, which was so full of death and gore. I also told him how Ethan was my batair and how he came from the ancient scroll-keeper pack down south. Sebastian listened attentively and provided appropriate responses during my narration.

"So, where is this, Ethan? I believe he is the fellow who accompanied you to the alpha ceremony." He inquired and I nodded. 

The door swung open and both of our gazes followed to see Ethan Walk in the hospital room. He immediately sensed the tense aura in the room and shifted nervously on his feet. I had never seen him like this before and I found it strangely endearing. This was Ethan's first time meeting a white alpha and I could see he was anxious about it. 

He silently questioned me if it was okay to come in and I nodded. Ethan took a few hesitant steps inside the room and closed the door. Sebastian watched him coolly and his countenance was making me nervous. 

"Seb, this is Ethan. Ethan, this is Sebastian, the white alpha." I introduced the two, hoping to break this awkward silence. 

"Hello, sir." 

"Well, I'm not just a white alpha. I'm also the father of this girl's mate." Sebastian chuckled in good humor while I cringed. Yeah, I was hoping he didn't mention that even if Ethan knew that. It made me immensely uncomfortable for some reason. Neither of the men noticed my discomfort and chatted about what it meant to be a batair and how I and Ethan came to be such good friends. 

After some time, I grew comfortable too, and participated in the conversation. I had not told Ethan what message I was supposed to relay to Sebastian, but he knew that it was not good news. If anything, the both of us were able to divert Sebastian's mind away from the grim news I had given him. 

After an hour or so, the door swung open again and all of our gazes moved to see who had entered the room. My heartbeat sped up as I saw it was Harper standing on the threshold, looking raw and rugged. His hair was still wet, which meant that had just come back from a shower. He stood like a Grecian statue in the doorframe and something in my chest sparked when I looked him up and down. 

Harper's eyes immediately landed on me and rested for several moments. If he was pleased to see me, he didn't show it. His face was a block of granite, not letting any emotion through. He looked me up and down and I fought the urge to shiver under his intense gaze. His eyes moved away from me and then rested on his father. His posture slightly relaxed when he saw that his father had woken up. I wasn't sure how he would feel that to stay alive, his father would have to give up his wolf. 

Harper's eyes then slowly moved to the third occupant of the room, Ethan and I felt bile rise in my throat. The temperature of the room dropped a hundred degrees, making everyone uneasy. 

Harper's intense gaze immediately turned into a frosty glare and at that moment, I knew that he knew about Ethan and me. How, I had no idea but my gut supported my conclusion. 

Oh my god! Harper must have felt the pain through the mate bond when I kissed Ethan earlier in the day. My stomach became hollow at that realization and my chest ached at the thought. 

Harper's expressionless persona didn't alter and he stepped inside the room, without taking his eyes off of Ethan. I somehow noticed how he hadn't used the door. 

Harper moved his gaze back to me for a second and I felt a jolt in my body, a rather pleasurable jolt and then he took his eyes off of me.

Harper took a few strides in the room like he owned it, which probably he did, considering he was now the alpha of the pack. He stood beside his father's bed, on the opposite side of me and Ethan. 

"I want some time with my father." Harper's gaze landed on his dad and didn't move after that. I felt Ethan awkwardly get up from his seat and walk out of the room. Several moments passed in a tense silence but I couldn't make myself move or say anything. 

I wanted Harper's eyes back on me. It was so pathetic of me. It felt as if all the "progress" I had made by going away was blown away whenever Harper's green eyes landed on me, and regarded me. I opened my mouth to say anything, to get Harper's attention, who was religiously avoiding me and being indifferent towards me. 

"I said I would like some time with my father. Alone." Harper whispered but the sound seemed so loud to me, that it seemed to echo in the four walls of the small hospital room. He wanted me out of this room. Harper wanted me to walk away from this room. He had just dismissed me without even looking at me. 

I gaped at his bulking figure, his eyes fixed on his father, still refusing to look at me. I helplessly looked at Sebastian to help me but he silently shook his head and gestured towards the door. 

I gingerly stood up on wobbly legs. Everything in my body was shot down by Harper's indifference and his resoluteness to not address me. I looked at him again, hoping that he would look at me, give me a smile or any indication about what he was thinking but he had turned his back to me and sat down on a small stool beside his father. 

I was dismissed. I forced my legs to move out of the hospital room. Harper had left the doors open and now, I knew why.

"Please close the door on your way out. I'll be out soon." Harper's voice rang out again and my head whipped around to see him. He was still facing his father and hadn't moved an inch from his last position. 

I felt a ball rise in my throat but I forcefully pushed it down. I nodded silently, knowing that either of them won't see me. I forced myself to close the door and walk out of the room. 

I wanted to lean my whole body weight against the wall. What was that even about? I wiped my sweaty face with the back of my hand and wondered what just happened back there.

I walked a few steps down the corridor where I knew a waiting room was. I knew that Eva would be there and so would Ethan. Possibly the lady who had helped find me Sebastian's room would be there too. 

Before I could reach the waiting room on my shaky legs, Ethan bounded out of it and reached me. He took a hold of my shoulders which made me look up into his eyes. "I just met Eva. She said that we are to wait for Harper because he has pack issues to discuss with us." 

"What?"

"Harper must have mind-linked his mom to ask her to stop us from going back home," Ethan explained, totally oblivious to my emotional turmoil and I nodded. 

"You look pale. I think you should sit down. I'll get you a glass of water." He pointed out and guided me to a set of chairs by the nurse's station. I sunk on the uncomfortable chairs while Ethan walked away to get me a glass of water. He came back after several minutes and handed me a cool disposable cup. I sipped the cool water slowly, which helped in cooling me down and easing my tense body. He sat beside me on the chair and watched as I downed the rest of the water in the cup.

"What do you think Harper wants to talk to us about?" Ethan wondered out loud and I looked at him. I found it surprising how easy Ethan seemed with the idea of Harper being my mate. Either he genuinely thought that it was no big deal or he was trying his best to not let me see his discomfort in the situation. Somehow, with Ethan's history of mates, I doubted it was the former. 

I didn't have much time to wonder about what Harper wanted from the both of us, because right then, Harper walked in my line of sight and came straight towards where we were sitting. His face was still emotionless and his jaw set like some hard stone. 

I shakily got up, oblivious to every other person in the room. I waited for Harper to quickly reduce the distance between us and address me. 

Harper stood casually in front of me and Ethan, not at all affected by the sight of us together. He indifferently hooked his hands in his jeans pockets and turned to Ethan, ignoring me completely. 

"You are a rogue." Harper addressed Ethan, who made no effort to deny the fact. "You must know that you are trespassing on this pack's territory without the express permission of the alpha. Meet me in my office at the pack house in twenty minutes. We will discuss your situation there." 

I saw Ethan nod from the corner of my eye. My spine coiled like a spring when Harper's eyes finally landed on me. He gave me a nod, turned around, and walked back into his father's room, without any look or word at me.