Chapter 18 Who worries about you?

Chapter 18 Who worries about you?
Scarlette’s POV
We were outnumbered and I knew we had little to no chance against them when referring to numbers.
I opened a mindlink with Kael who stood as a shield for me. “Don’t focus on me, we’re outnumbered.”
“But your majesty?...”
“This is not the time and place to argue.” I cut him off.
He nodded and hurried to the front.
“I see you’re still the same chameleon you’ve always been.”
My voice cut through the noise as I stood in the middle of the fight, surrounded by the fighting men.
“If you think you’re so smart,” I continued, staring into the dark trees, “then why not come out of your hiding and let’s talk face to face.”
Nothing.
Just the wind. Leaves shifting. Night breathing around us like it was amused.
Cowards.
I knew the mastermind behind this was somewhere around. Too close, and keeping a watching eyes, but I just couldn’t figure who it was.
I sliced every rogue that dared to come close to me. Making sure they feel the heat of the anger that was burning through me.
Once the fight had totally gotten into our control, some of them began to run.
“Fall back!” I ordered.
I scanned my people quickly. They had triumphed but it seems the rogues didn’t necessarily come to win. Rogues don’t run from an ongoing fight.
As much as we had done very great in handling the rogues, some of the guards had sustained injuries.
Just as the guards were retreating, I felt something pierce into my side.
An arrow.
Without calling attention, I broke the arrow in two halves, trying to figure where it had come from.
“Let’s head back to the pack,” Kael announced.
“No,” I snapped.
They all looked at me.
“We’re going to Alpha Azrael’s pack.”
“They’re closer,” I cut in. “And I’m not losing anyone because of pride. Move.”
No one argued after that.
The cars turned. Tires screeched. We left the broken road and the fallen tree behind.
My side burned with every breath.
I ignored it and also made sure no one saw it.
The ride felt longer than it was.
I sat stiff in the back seat, jaw clenched, one hand pressed against my side. The fabric of my clothes was soaked now. I could feel it. Warm. Heavy.
Don’t show it.
Don’t give them another thing to worry about.
The guards behind us were quiet
My phone buzzed.
Azrael.
Kael had called him just after we started our journey so he would prepare to host us.
I took the call without hesitation this time.
“We’re coming,” I said before he could speak.
“I know,” he replied. His voice was already in command mode. “We’re ready. Med team’s on standby.”
Lights flooded us as we crossed into his territory.
They were waiting. Dozens of them. Medics. And also warriors in case we were followed. Wolves already shifted, already moving.
Doors opened. People rushed forward.
“Easy,” I ordered. “Handle the worst first.”
They listened.
Of course they did.
Some of my people were already healing, skin knitting back together, bones realigning. Others weren’t so lucky. They had deep cuts, while some had been stabbed by poisoned blades.
Azrael moved through them fast, giving orders, steady, controlled.
I stayed back.
Too busy trying not to sway.
My vision blurred for a second. Just a second.
I blinked hard.
Not now. I whispered to myself.
They took the injured inside. The smell of antiseptic and wolf blood mixed together.
I leaned against a wall when no one was looking.
My side screamed.
I looked down quickly.
The wound was ugly. I had broken the arrow too little for no one to see, plus my jacket which I had used to cover it.
It should’ve healed faster. Something was wrong.
Poison.
Of course.
I pressed harder, teeth grinding.
You’ve handled worse, I told myself.
Just stand.
Just breathe.
“Your Majesty?”
Kael’s voice sounded far away.
I turned toward him, my movement a little too fast.
The room tilted.
“Ka...” I started, but the word didn’t finish properly.
My legs gave out.
The last thing I felt was hands grabbing me.
Then darkness.
….
I opened my eyes slowly.
The ceiling wasn’t mine.
Not my pack and also not my room.
Azrael sat beside the bed. Too close.
Watching me like I might disappear again.
“Where’s Kael?” I asked immediately. My throat felt dry. Raw.
“He went to get your medication,” Azrael replied. “He hasn’t left your side since you collapsed.”
I glanced past him.
Two of my guards stood at the far end of the room. Silent. Alert. Watching everything.
I tried to sit up.
Pain exploded through my side.
Azrael’s hand pressed me back down.
“Don’t,” he said firmly. “Lay down.”
“I’m okay,” I snapped weakly.
“No, you’re not.”
I glared at him. “I’ve had worse.”
“And that makes this okay?” he shot back.
I pushed against his hand again. “I need to stand.”
“You need to rest,” he said. “You need to recover.”
I laughed softly. Bitter. “I don’t have time for that.”
His jaw tightened.
“For once,” he said quietly, “stop acting like you’re indestructible.”
I froze.
The room felt smaller.
“Just fucking let go for once!” he snapped suddenly.
The outburst startled me.
Azrael never lost control.
But now his eyes burned with something unfamiliar. Concern. Anger. Fear.
All tangled together.
I stared at him.
“You don’t get to talk to me like that,” I said slowly.
He didn’t back down.
“Someone has to,” he replied. “Because you won’t stop until you break yourself completely.”
Silence fell between us.
“You collapsed,” he continued, voice lower now. “You were bleeding out and still pretending everything was fine.”
“I had my people to worry about.”
“And who worries about you?” he asked.
The question hit harder than the wound.
I looked away.
“I don’t need that,” I muttered.
“Yes, you do,” he said. “You just hate admitting it.”
Kael walked in then, holding a small tray.
He stopped short when he saw the tension.
“Medication,” he said carefully.
I reached for it.
Azrael beat me to it. Reading out the prescription before pouring it into the measuring cup.
“Drink,” he ordered.
I shot him a look. “I’m not one of your soldiers.”
“No,” he said, holding the cup steady, “you’re worse. You’re stubborn.”
Kael hid a smile.
I took the cup and drank.
The bitterness burned.
“Happy?” I asked.
Azrael nodded once. “Somewhat.”
I sank back against the pillows, exhaustion finally creeping in.
My body betrayed me when my mind wouldn’t.
I hated that too.
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
I flinched, almost like his touch burned.
“Get some rest,” Azrael said. “You’re safe here.”
I met his eyes.
And maybe for the first time since all of this started… I believed him.