Chapter 80 80
Damien POV
“There,” Fabrice announces, straightening as he drops the bullet into a metal dish. “All done.”
I stare at it. It doesn’t look like much small, unimpressive. And yet it nearly tore me apart. How something so insignificant could cause that much damage is beyond me.
“You’ll be fine,” Fabrice continues, already moving with practiced efficiency. “I’ll put you on a drip to help flush out the remaining toxins from the poison. You’ll need to stay overnight, but you should be fit to leave by morning. You’re very lucky it didn’t reach your heart.” He carries the dish to the sink as he speaks.
“No,” Maurice cuts in from his chair. “The man was aiming for Aurélie’s heart. Without a doubt.”
“What?” Fabrice spins around so fast his professional mask shatters. Worry floods his face, eyes wide. “Why?”
“We don’t know,” Maurice replies casually. “He killed himself with a hidden wolfsbane capsule on the way back.”
“Maurice!” I roar, fury snapping through me. He was saying too much.
“What?” He shrugs, utterly unapologetic. “We’re all friends here.” He arches a brow at me, and an uncomfortable silence settles over the three of us.
“I’ll inform your doctors what I’ve done and that they’ll need to keep you on a rehydration drip,” Fabrice says finally, rubbing a hand over his face before heading for the door.
The moment he steps out, Geneviève confronts him.
“He’s a good doctor,” Maurice murmurs once they’re gone. “Perhaps that’s why everyone’s joining her alliance.”
He enjoys needling me far too much.
“What do you mean?” I snap.
“I hear they have the best hospital site in the country,” he continues easily, “and all expecting mothers are transferred there under his watchful eye. Maybe you should get him to train your staff.”
“My staff don’t need training,” I spit.
“You haven’t reined in your aura at all, Damien,” Maurice counters calmly. “Which means he managed all of that while your doctors couldn’t.”
“He’s a beta,” I argue. The title alone gives him more resistance to an Alpha’s aura.
“Granted,” Maurice says, unfazed. “But still. It would keep him busy.”
“Busy?”
“So you can make amends with Aurélie.”
He tilts his head slightly as he speaks, careful. The room isn’t soundproof, and as much of an ass as he can be, he knows when to stop. He won’t mention the twins’ parentage within earshot of Geneviève or my pack.
He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose, frustrated. Gods know why he wasn’t the one bleeding out.
“You leaned into her touch,” he says quietly, standing and placing a hand on my shoulder. All humor gone now. He’s deadly serious. “Do you know that?”
“What?” I grunt, refusing to admit he might be right.
“When she touched your back, you leaned into it,” he continues. “Did you feel tingles…?” His voice drops to a whisper.
“No,” I lie instantly.
He studies me, knowing full well I’m lying.
“You’re an idiot, Damien. Always so damn stubborn. I’m not going to help you realise your precious gift from the Moon Goddess…” His face is close now, his words barely audible, my attention fixed on his lips as much as his voice.
“…I might just make her my gift instead.”
He steps back and heads for the door.
“See you in the morning,” he calls over his shoulder. “I’ll check on Aurélie and the kid for you!” He winks and disappears.
My wolf surges, ready to chase him down and tear him apart for even suggesting Aurélie could belong to him.
Tingles.
Is that what it’s called?
Mother died before I could ever ask what it felt like when you found your mate. Father never showed affection to anyone least of all her, or me.
Was that what the sensation meant?
Was Aurélie… my fated mate?