Chapter 26: Chapter 26

Alessio.

The moment the guards dragged the man out, I scanned the room making sure I wasn’t leaving anything out.

My eyes eventually settled on her.

The clinic smelled of antiseptic and blood, but beneath it was her scent it was calm, steady, infuriatingly untouched.

Katsura stood by the table where she had treated him, her hands still slightly stained, her shoulders relaxed like nothing out of place had just happened.

I closed the door myself and made sure it clicked shut..

“Who was he?” I asked.

She turned slowly, meeting my eyes without hesitation. No fear in her eyes, not even remorse.

“A patient,” she said. “He was wounded.”

My jaw tightened, like hell I knew he was wounded. I wasn’t blind to notice that.

“I asked who he was,” I repeated.

She sighed, like I was the one wasting her time. “I don’t know his name. He came bleeding. I told him to go to the hospital, but he refused.”

I watched her closely trying to pick out a lie out of what she had just said but there was none, she was indeed telling the truth.

The truth was what made me uncomfortable. I would be okay if it were a lie that she let a man relax in her arms and I wondered how many men had done the same since I was gone.

“You let him sit,” I said. “You touched him.”

“I treated him,” she corrected. “That’s what healers do.”

I stepped closer. “I didn’t open this clinic for strange men to walk in and stay with you.”

She rolled back my words with her eyes, then she laughed.

The laugh made me uneasy but all I could do was tighten my fists beside me.

“So this is jealousy,” she said.

The word struck something raw, she was right and I hated it.

“I’m serious,” I growled. My wolf stirred beneath my skin. “You don’t invite danger into your space, what if he was armed?”

Her eyes darkened. “Oh, now that’s what you care about? When did you become so concerned?”

“You don’t talk back to me, Katsura.”

She swallowed, then slowly lifted her eyes to look at me. “You don’t expect me to send him away to bleed out to death. Or do you?”

I didn’t answer her and I knew she didn’t expect an answer either.

“I don’t care if you’re serious,” she continued. “You don’t get to control who walks into my clinic.”

I stared at her, wondering if she was truly the one talking back at me with her head held high.

This wasn’t the omega I pulled from a cage. This wasn’t the girl who cried in my arms and attempted to run away twice.

“You’ve grown bold,” I said slowly.

She stepped closer instead of backing away. “You made me that way.”

I clenched my fists. “Don’t confuse safety with freedom.”

She tilted her head. “Then don’t confuse protection with ownership.”

Silence stretched between us, thick and heavy.

“If you want me exclusive,” she said quietly, “then keep your promise.”

I frowned. “What promise?”

Her eyes locked onto mine. “Give me an heir. I also want a pup… You promised this.”

I ran my hands through my hair, frustration seeping in.

“An heir that will rule your mafia empire,” she added.

For a long moment, I couldn’t speak.

“You’ve got guts,” I said at last.

“I had nothing left to lose,” she replied. “Now I do.”

I studied her face. The strength there wasn’t borrowed. She had built it herself, brick by brick, out of pain and patience.

“You’re not afraid of me anymore,” I said.

She smiled… not happy, not proud. Just honest.

“My clan is gone, everyone was wiped out. My death was already decided once. If you forbid me from dying, then I have to live fully.”

Her hand drifted to her stomach.

“I want your pup.”

Something twisted in my chest. I knew I wanted her but what she didn’t know was that I needed to go through the twelve elders and the moon goddess. It wasn’t that easy.

“I’ll think about it,” I said.

She nodded, as if she expected nothing more.

Then she walked closer… slow, deliberate. Her scent brushed against me, calm and daring.

“If you don’t,” she said softly, “I’ll tell the clan how you helped me escape.”

My eyes narrowed. “Is that a threat?”

She shrugged. “Call it whatever you sleep.”

Before I could respond, an excited cry erupted.

“Papa!”

Zariel ran in, small feet pounding against the floor. I caught him easily, lifting him. His laughter cut through my chest and I wished he were Katsura’s.

Behind him stood Helen.

Her gaze went straight to Katsura. Just the usual spiteful glare she always had whenever they met.

She smiled through her teeth. “I won,” she whispered. “But all you’ll ever be is a local healer.”

Katsura didn’t react, she turned to me with a smile on her face.

“I’ll be waiting for a reply.” She said walking out of the room.