7. Where is she?

ALPHA JOHN XAVIER.

"Don't worry," Nurse Aria assured calmly. "Once the kidney transplant is done, it will ease the pain she is feeling."

We stood outside the ward Diane was in. I nodded, but I still felt anxious as I watched Diane writhe in pain on the bed.

I stepped inside and sat beside her. Each shallow breath she took reminded me how close I was to losing her.

After the blood transfusion, her health progressed a little, but she was still in pain. At least she could sit in a wheelchair now, even if she couldn’t walk. Seeing her like this made me want to protect her with my life.

I couldn't wait to crown her as my Luna. We were childhood sweethearts and I held her dear to my heart. We had to break up since she was leaving the Pack to further her education. It broke me completely.

Since she returned, she brought a peace to my heart that I didn’t know I was missing. Her presence calmed the chaos in my life.

I knew Evelyn was trying hard to win my heart. I saw her efforts in cooking and cleaning, hoping I would notice. Even when I refused to eat her meals, she quietly made me something else, never giving up. She offered her body to me without complaint, always ready to meet my demands.

But still, she should have realized earlier that she was only wasting her time. I was only using her to stall till Diane returned. I had never loved her. She was too boring and weak. I found it almost funny how she worked so hard and even did all what the maids were supposed to do, not realizing I didn’t value her efforts at all.

I was sure she wouldn't even sign the divorce papers. That was how pathetic and desperate she was.

After all, she shouldn’t have been born an omega in the first place. That was her greatest mistake.

I took a slow sip of the juice my beta gave me. It was cool and sweet against my lips, and I set the glass down on the table with a soft clink.

I looked at Diane, the sleeping beauty in front of me. The light softly highlighted her delicate features, and a small, peaceful smile was on her lips. Just as I admired her, she slowly opened her eyes, like flower petals blooming.

"The nurse already assured me that everything will be fine, so you don't have to worry," I said warmly, smiling down at her. She nodded slightly as she tried to sit up, pushing against the pillows behind her.

Diane looked pale, her skin almost see-through, and her nose had a faint red tint, making her look different from her usual radiant self. She seemed so fragile now, having lost her strength and weight.

When I discovered she was pregnant, the joy that filled me couldn't be described. I proposed to her quickly to seal our fate.

However, she suddenly started having frequent pains in her side and when the test got out this morning, it was revealed that she had kidney failure. There was no donor available…but there was someone who had no use of her healthy kidney. I immediately brought her out of the dungeon.

"I can't wait to have my beautiful angel back," I said with a playful grin, gently running my fingers through her short, messy brown hair. Her cheeks turned a soft pink, and that sight filled me with admiration. The way she blushed, so innocent and sweet, made my heart swell.

“Have you checked on Evelyn?” Diane asked, glancing up at me with her puppy eyes.

I shook my head slowly and looked at her delicate hands. I gently took them in mine and kissed her palm softly.

“Oh, alright,” she said, her voice fading as she looked at me with wide, searching eyes. “But would you?”

I couldn’t help but scoff, feeling a mix of disbelief and annoyance at her question. Was she jealous? Hell, did she really think I gave a flipping fuck about Evelyn to check up on her?

“Diane, dear,” I said, keeping my voice calm. “You and I both know that the lady in the other room doesn’t mean anything to me. Once the operation is done, she’ll be thrown out of the pack, just like I promised you earlier.” I tightened my grip on her hands to reassure her. “So don’t think for a second that I’m going to waste my time checking on her.”

I raised my eyebrows, a smirk on my lips as Diane leaned in, her face just inches from mine. Her soft lips met mine for a brief, lingering kiss.

She lifted her shaking hands and wrapped them around my neck, the warmth of her touch calming me.

I could feel how hard it was for her to even maintain the kiss seeing how her lips quivered in the kiss.

As the kiss deepened, I slowed down, careful not to overwhelm her. She was already feeling enough pain, I didn't want to stress her.

"I trust you, John," she whispered, her eyes shining with tears. "I can't wait for the Luna coronation when I'll become your Luna and the mother of our kids.”

A single tear rolled down Diane's cheek, shining in the light as she lifted her right hand slightly. Her fingers trembled as they traced the diamond ring sparkling on her finger. She stared at the gem, lost in thought.

I remembered the day Evelyn found this ring in my wardrobe. She looked at it with wide eyes and an excited smile like the clown she was. She really thought I would give her a ring worth nearly a hundred thousand dollars.

Did that omega really believe she deserved such a treasure?

The door creaked open, and Aria, the nurse who had been by Diane’s side all this while, constantly checking up on her, entered the room.

Her eyes widened in surprise, clearly startled to find me here.

I had insisted on Diane to be moved to another ward because I couldn't bear the sight of Evelyn lingering nearby.

As I got up to leave so that Diane could get attended, Aria bowed her head in respect, and I took one last look at Diane and smiled.

I turned back to the nurse. "Make sure everything goes well for her, am I understood? And where's the doctor?" I asked, my voice sharper than I meant. I saw Aria flinch, as if my words had hit a nerve. I scolded myself; I didn’t think I had raised my voice that much.

"He's on his way, Alpha," she replied quietly, avoiding my gaze.

I took another look at Diane’s fragile figure before leaving the ward. As I turned, I was surprised to see my beta, Andrew, hanging by the door, looking uncertain.

I couldn’t help but scoff, feeling irritation rise inside me when I recalled the concern in his tone earlier.

"You know, it’s pretty shameful to see pity in your eyes for her earlier, Andrew."

He frowned in confusion before realizing what I meant. His hands fidgeted nervously at his waist.

"It’s... it’s called empathy," he stuttered, avoiding my gaze, clearly uncomfortable.

"So you think I lack empathy?" I challenged, watching him shake his head vigorously.

"No, Alpha, that’s not what I meant! I’m sorry..."

I laughed softly, cutting him off mid-sentence. "If you really understood what empathy is, you wouldn’t have rejected her as your mate in the first place, would you?"

His silence said it all; he had no good answer. How could he lecture me on empathy when he had rejected her first? Two years ago, he tossed her aside for the same reason: she was weak and worthless.

With a scoff, I put my hand on his shoulder, shaking my head in disbelief at his foolishness.

Minutes ticked by, and I started to get anxious about the doctor not being here yet. He needed to be here. The operation couldn’t start without him.

I decided to stretch my legs, taking a walk to the doctor’s office.

As I walked past Evelyn’s ward, I let out a sigh. I couldn't help but want to smirk at the sight of her lying on the bed, but my amusement disappeared when I noticed something.

She wasn’t on the bed.

“What the fuck?” Panic hit me as I rushed into the room, my gaze darting left and right, looking desperately for any sign of her.

The room was empty, with no trace of any fucking human being there.

Where the fuck did that bitch go?!

My fists tightened, and my knuckles turned white when I saw the needle that had been attached to her hand earlier, now lying discarded on the floor with blood around it.

No, no—this can’t be happening.

She wouldn’t try to escape, would she?

That wasn't the case, right?

Just then, I saw the doctor entering the room. He bowed his head when he saw me.

He saw the empty bed and shook his head slowly, a look of shock and fear on his face.

"Where the fuck is she?!" I shouted, my voice echoing in the room as I grabbed his collar, tightening my grip to the point where I didn’t care if I choked him.

His eyes widened in shock, and he shook his head in disbelief.

In my frustration, I flung him to the floor, my gaze drawn to the bathroom door that was slightly ajar.

I approached it and pushed the door open. The sight that greeted me sent a chill down my spine. Fresh blood was dripping onto the lid of the toilet seat, and the metallic smell filled the air.

I could tell it was her blood; she hadn’t rejected me yet.

"She escaped!" I gasped as my eyes landed on the divorce papers strewn across the table. My breath caught in my throat. SHE HAD SIGNED THEM!

No, no, I wouldn’t let this happen. I wouldn’t allow her to slip away so easily! What would happen to Diane?

“Beta Andrew!!!" I bellowed.