Chapter200 Patrick takes action.

Chapter200 Patrick takes action.
Patrick POV
The doctor finished checking my charts and looked at me with that expression I'd grown tired of seeing. "Your numbers are still declining, Patrick. We need to keep you here for more observation."
"Yeah, I know they're worse," I said, adjusting my position in the hospital bed. "When can I get out of here?"
"I'm afraid I can't approve your discharge yet," the doctor replied, flipping through his notes.
That's when I looked up and saw him. Nikolai standing in the doorway.
"Doctor, could you give us a moment?" Nikolai asked politely, but it wasn't really a request.
The doctor nodded quickly and left, closing the door behind him.
I studied Nikolai's face as he walked into the room. "Well, this is a surprise. What brings the alpha king to visit a sick subordinate? How thoughtful of you."
Nikolai moved closer to my bed, his expression serious. "You look terrible, Patrick. What's wrong with you?"
"Didn't sleep well last night," I said with a shrug. "Hospital beds aren't exactly comfortable."
Nikolai made small talk for a few minutes, asking about my treatment and how I was feeling, but I could tell he had something important on his mind.
"Alpha King, if you have more questions, just say it."I finally couldn’t hold back and spoke.
"Patrick, Aliya was arrested. The police took her right in front of me."
I felt my blood pressure spike. "What? How the hell did that happen?"
"Marcus's parents filed charges against her," Nikolai said grimly. "They're claiming she murdered their son."
I stared at him in disbelief. "Are you serious right now?"
"Dead serious. They took her to the station for questioning."
My mind was racing, but more than that, I was furious. "How did you let them arrest Aliya? How could you not protect her?"
Nikolai's jaw tightened. "I'm the alpha king now, Patrick. I can't just start a fight with police officers. It would look terrible."
"No wonder Aliya didn't want your help with Marcus back then," I snapped. "You can't help with anything when it actually matters!"
"Back then?" Nikolai's eyes narrowed. "You were involved in whatever happened with Marcus?"
"Of course I was involved," I said, my voice getting louder. "Because I'm actually reliable, unlike some people."
Nikolai stepped closer to my bed. "Tell me exactly what happened on that yacht, Patrick. I need to know everything."
I looked at him for a long moment.
"Fine. You want to know what happened? Aliya and I planned the whole thing together. We lured Marcus onto that yacht because we were going to kill him."
"You were going to kill him?" Nikolai's voice was deadly quiet.
"He deserved it," I said without hesitation. "After everything he did to her, everything he put her through. But here's the thing, Your Majesty. We didn't actually kill him."
"What do you mean?"
"Marcus killed himself," I said bluntly. "Right there on the yacht. Aliya never murdered anyone."
Nikolai was silent for a moment, processing this information. "Why would he kill himself?"
"Who knows?" I said with a bitter laugh. "Maybe he finally grew a conscience. Maybe he realized dying was better for everyone involved."
I couldn't help but let some of my resentment show. "I mean, you're great at making plans, Nikolai, but you're not so great at actually protecting the people you claim to care about."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Aliya's sitting in a jail cell right now because you couldn't figure out how to keep her safe. Some mate you turned out to be."
Nikolai's eyes flashed with anger. "I'm doing everything I can to help her."
"Are you? Because from where I'm sitting, it looks like you're more worried about your precious reputation than about the woman you supposedly love."
"You don't know what you're talking about, Patrick."
"Don't I?" I struggled to sit up straighter in the bed, ignoring the pain in my chest. "I was there when she needed help with Marcus. Where were you?"
Nikolai fell silent.
"Right. And now she's paying the price for trusting you to protect her."
The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. I could see Nikolai struggling to control his temper, and honestly, I didn't care. Aliya was in trouble, and he was standing here arguing with me instead of doing something about it.
"Look," I said, my voice getting weaker as the exertion caught up with me. "The bottom line is this: Marcus killed himself. Aliya didn't murder him. If the Stonecreeks have evidence suggesting otherwise, then someone's lying or someone's been fed false information."
I need to take action. I need to do something to help Aliya!
I started to push myself up from the bed, but my body protested immediately. Still, I forced myself to keep moving.
"I'm going to see Aliya," I announced.
"I'll come with you," Nikolai said immediately.
I gave him a look. "Come on, Nikolai. The alpha king walking into a jail? That's not going to look good for your image."