Chapter 33 Heart Beating
“You should be more careful,” Warren said as his hand adjusted behind my back.
His touch was firm but gentle, like he was afraid of me getting hurt. I felt the heat of his palm through the thin hospital gown, and my breath caught before I could stop it. I turned my face away immediately, my heart pounding too fast for my own liking.
He carefully placed me back on the bed.
The moment my body left his, the warmth disappeared, leaving behind a strange cold. I swallowed hard, my fingers clutching the sheet beneath me as I tried to steady myself.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice coming out shaky. “Thank you… for saving me.”
He froze.
I could feel it without looking at him, the way his body went still, like he was fighting something inside himself. When I finally lifted my eyes and they met his, my chest tightened.
He stepped back at once, creating space between us, like an invisible wall had suddenly been built. He cleared his throat and turned slightly away, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides.
“You don’t need to apologize,” he said, his voice lower now, more controlled. “It wouldn’t look good if my office assistant got hurt under my watch.”
I lowered my gaze, finding strange comfort in staring at the tube in my hand that led to the drip bag. I nodded, even though my chest felt heavy.
“Still… thank you, Alpha.”
He gave me a warm smile.
Silence settled between us. I could hear the soft hum of the machines beside me and the distant footsteps in the hallway, but none of it felt real. My body still remembered the way he caught me, how strong his arms felt, how safe I had been for that brief moment.
Then my mind drifted back to the complicated situation that had become my fate. Before he came, I had been trying to process the news of my pregnancy, trying to figure out how I was going to raise a child that belonged to a mate whose identity I didn’t even know.
But all those thoughts vanished into thin air the moment I saw Warren.
My wolf stirred quietly inside me, restless. She pressed against my chest, curious and confused, reacting to his presence in a way I didn’t understand. I wrapped my arms around my stomach again, remembering everything the doctor had told me.
Warren’s eyes flickered to my hands before he looked away. His jaw tightened slightly, like he was holding back words he didn’t want to say.
“I should go,” he said after a moment.
The words came too fast, like he needed distance just as much as I suddenly did.
“Oh,” I said softly.
He moved toward the table and straightened the flowers he had brought, even though they were already neat. I watched him from the corner of my eye, noticing how careful he was not to come too close again.
“The doctor said you need rest,” he added. “Make sure you eat.”
He gestured toward the food he brought, then paused. His eyes flicked to the other food pack on the table, the one Cora had left. He seemed lost in thought for a moment before he straightened up.
Something shifted in his expression.
He turned to look in my direction, and I looked away.
“Yes, sir,” I replied quietly.
He nodded once, sharp and final, like a command he was giving himself.
“I’ll have someone check on you later,” he said. “If you need anything, inform the nurses.”
With that, he turned and walked toward the door.
I took in a long breath as the door clicked shut. The coldness returned immediately. My thoughts drifted to my unknown mate, who was he, and what was he doing now?
My life felt complicated. The more I thought about it, the more I regretted listening to Layla and attending that party.
I tried not to think about how my wolf reacted in Warren’s presence. And even though I had feelings for him, I couldn’t forget the fact that he had a mate.
The door to the hospital room creaked open. I looked up, my eyes widening when I saw Layla walk in.
“Layla?” I exclaimed, shifting on the bed.
She stepped closer, disgust written clearly on her face. She didn’t look like the Layla I knew anymore, she looked like someone else entirely.
“So, how are you doing?” she asked, wrapping her arms around her chest as she stood beside my bed.
“Layla, what’s going on?” I asked. She didn’t meet my eyes, instead focusing on the drip in my hand. “Why aren’t you coming home anymore? And why don’t you pick my calls? Did something happen?”
She scoffed and hissed softly. “See, Diana, I told you I’m busy. Tonia and her friends aren’t letting me come home. We have so many activities, and I don’t think I’ll be coming home anytime soon because one of her friends is getting married.”
“Layla, I got attacked by some menacing wolves,” I said quickly. “And they might come back. Don’t you think we should talk about it and maybe set an ambush in case they return? I’m—”
“Diana,” she cut me off, waving her hand. “I understand that some scary wolves are after you. Once I’m done with Tonia and her friends, we’ll talk about it. For now, just stay low.”
“Tonia and her friends?” I muttered, tears burning my eyes. “You care about them more than me. Layla, this is serious.”
“Don’t say what I didn’t say,” Layla muttered, her tone softening slightly. “I care about you more than them. But you have to understand that I need to be there. And I’m sure those wolves won’t come back.”
I looked away, fighting the tears threatening to fall. My chest felt tight as I debated whether to say what was on my mind.
“Layla,” I whispered, “I’m pregnant.”
Her eyes widened. “You’ve got to be kidding,” she said.