Chapter 126: Hear the Truth

Chapter 126: Hear the Truth
Magnus' POV

That morning, the hall was too quiet for his liking. Magnus stepped out anyway, barefoot on the cold floor, the IV marks still stinging on his arm.

Nurses moved quickly, left and right across the corridor, carrying charts, pushing carts, whispering to one another.

He pressed himself against the wall, grinning like a boy sneaking out past curfew. His ribs protested with every breath, but he didn’t care.

“Not today,” he murmured to himself. “I’m not lying in bed while the world moves on without me.”

He moved carefully, ducking his head whenever a nurse passed. He slipped from shadow to shadow with ease for someone who had nearly died hours ago. His wolf stirred, as if sharing the thrill of this little game.

Then he suddenly thought of Beta Xavier.

“That bastard,” Magnus whispered, smirking. “Bet he’s still sleeping like a pup. Time to see if he’s awake yet.”

He made his way down the hall, his grin widening when he saw the familiar name on the door.

Xavier Caldwell. Beta.

But when he reached it, the smile faded.

Through the small window on the door, Magnus caught sight of Xavier’s bed. He froze, his hand hovering over the handle.

Inside, Xavier was already awake. His eyes were red, his voice hoarse as he sat propped against the pillows.

His mother was pressed against him, crying into his chest, her arms tight around him. His father stood close, his hand firm on Xavier’s shoulder, his usually stern face softened.

Magnus stood there longer than he should have, watching and listening to the muffled sobs through the crack in the door.

He felt something twist in his gut. Something he shoved down quickly.

“Lucky bastard,” he thought, forcing a grin back onto his face. “Always has someone to cry with, someone to hold him. Me? I’ve got me. And Meredith, of course. She’s all I need anyway.”

He stepped back quietly, deciding not to knock or intrude. Maybe Xavier deserved that moment. After all, who knew they could actually survive that battle without losing anyone?

Magnus turned on his heel, stretching his sore shoulders as though to shake off the sudden ache pressing at his chest.

His grin returned, softer this time.

“Don’t worry, brother,” he muttered under his breath, walking away. “You can keep your crying session for as long as you want. While I’ll keep my mate. And when I see her again, she won’t want to leave my arms for days.”

After that, Magnus smirked to himself as he strolled down the hall, now ignoring the strain in his legs. One nurse passed, pushing a tray, but he ducked back against the wall, grinning like a guilty pup.

That was when he looked around and realized where he’d wandered.

The gold letters on the door read: Alpha Damien Ravenscroft.

Magnus raised a brow, chuckling under his breath. “Well, well… look where I ended up.” He shook his head, amused at himself. “Guess fate wants me to check in on our almighty Alpha as well.”

He padded closer, but the sound of raised voices froze him mid-step.

“Huh?” Magnus whispered, wondering why Alpha Damien was already so frustrated so early.

“No excuses!” Damien’s commanding voice suddenly echoed outside. “I knew I fucking failed her. Don’t tell me otherwise!”

Another voice came. It was softer, almost breaking on her throat. That had to be Lady Andra.

“You didn’t fail, Damien,” she said. “You fought until your body gave out. You—”

“Shut up!” Damien’s voice cut through the wall. “If I’d done enough, she would still be here!”

Magnus blinked, his smirk slipping slightly. Still be here?

Then came Conrad’s voice. “You can’t tear yourself apart over this. She made her choice. You know that. And we have to respect that.”

‘Made her choice?’ Magnus tilted his head, his grin now crooked.

Inside, Damien’s growl rumbled like thunder. “I don’t care what choice she thinks she made. She is mine. She’s our mate. And I will not stop until I bring her back here.”

Magnus’ heart gave a quick beat. He pressed closer to the door, ears straining. What the fuck’s happening? he couldn’t help but wonder.

Andra’s voice came again, muffled by tears. “If only she had listened… if only she had trusted me, trusted us. Maybe she wouldn’t have left.”

Magnus frowned, the words tangling in his head. Left?

His grin twitched at the edges. Meredith wasn’t gone, of course not. She was probably just in another place, right?

She might be scared, maybe stubborn, reckless, and sometimes even stupid. But she would never choose to be gone. To leave them here. No fucking way.

He leaned back from the door slowly, scratching the back of his neck. His mind tried to puzzle the fragments together, but they refused to fit.

“She made her choice.”

“She wouldn’t have left.”

“I will bring her back.”

Magnus let out a low chuckle. “Damn, sounds like our Alpha’s giving his parents a headache again.” He shook his head, trying to push the unease away. “Whatever’s going on, it’ll make sense once I see her myself. That’s all that matters.”

Still grinning—though it didn’t quite reach his eyes this time—Magnus turned and walked away from Damien’s door.

But even as he moved down the hall, the words clung to him. Still be here. She made her choice. She wouldn’t have left.

He rubbed his jaw, forcing a smile. “She’s fine. She has to be fine.”

But for the first time since waking, a tiny flicker of doubt tugged at the edge of Magnus Langley’s heart.

Magnus was halfway down the hall when his grin returned. He’d slipped past nurses twice already, and no one had stopped him.

All he had to do now was sniff Meredith out and feel the bond. His mate. His little wolf. She was here somewhere. He was sure of it. And the second he saw her, everything would finally be alright.

He rounded the corner, only to nearly crash straight into someone.

“Whoa!” Magnus stumbled back, wincing at the sharp pull in his ribs. Then he blinked and found himself staring into the sharp eyes of Moonlit Pack’s doctor, Dr. Alexander.

For a moment, Magnus froze. Busted. The man would no doubt scold him, shove him back into bed, maybe even tie him down if he had to.

But the good thing was that the doctor didn’t do any of that. Instead, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He was not mad at all. If anything, he was almost relieved to see Magnus.

“Gamma Langley,” Alexander said quietly, folding his hands behind his back. “I was hoping I’d run into you.”

Magnus blinked, caught off guard. He rubbed the back of his neck, grinning sheepishly. “Heh. You mean you were hoping you’d catch me breaking the rules, huh? Don’t worry, doc, I was just stretching my legs. Totally fine.”

But Alexander shook his head. His steady eyes didn’t match his smile. “No. Not this time. I was actually wondering if we could talk in private.”

Magnus raised a brow. Talk? Doctors usually wanted to fuss over his wounds, bruises, and other stuff, but never chat like old pals.

“Sure,” Magnus said lightly, trying to ease the weight in Alexander’s voice. “But only if it doesn’t involve sticking more needles in me. You see, I’m running out of arms.”

The doctor didn’t laugh. He only glanced down the hall, then back at Magnus. “Don’t worry, this isn’t about your injuries,” he said firmly. “It’s about Luna Meredith...”

At the sound of her name, Magnus’s grin widened instantly. “Meredith? My Little Wolf? Fucking finally! Someone’s going to tell me where she’s hiding. Actually, I was just about to—”

Alexander’s hand suddenly rose. “Listen, Magnus. There are things you need to know. Things that happened while you were, well, still recovering. And I believe… you deserve to hear them.”

“Huh…” Magnus tilted his head, frowning faintly. The doctor’s tone was too heavy. Not what he really wanted to hear at all.

But Alexander went on anyway, his voice quieter now, as though aware of the weight of his words.

“Among the three of you, Magnus…” he said, clearing his throat. “You are the only one I trust not to tear me apart the second you hear the truth. That is why I am coming to you first. I need you to believe me on this…”

Magnus blinked, his heart skipping a beat. The grin was still there, but weaker now. “The truth? What truth, doc? If it’s about Meredith, just spit it out. She’s fine, right? She’s—she’s just resting, like us. Right? And don’t you ever dare tell me she’s already dead…”

Alexander’s steady gaze didn’t waver. “Just come with me,” he said softly. “And I’ll tell you everything.”

Magnus’s chest tightened. He wanted to laugh it off, wanted to keep smiling. But he just couldn’t.

He swallowed, his wolf stirring uneasily inside him. Then, grinning faintly, he gestured toward the nearby exit.

“Alright, doc,” he said, breathless. “Lead the way…”