Chapter 122
Iris's POV
I was still trying to free my hand from Sebastien's iron grip when the medical room door opened again. Daniel Parker returned, carrying what looked like a syringe and some medical supplies. His expression shifted to concern when he saw I was still trapped.
"Dr. Morris prepared this sedative," he said, placing the items on a nearby tray. "You're still stuck? I thought his grip might have loosened by now."
"Obviously not," I muttered, tugging at my captured hand again. "A little help here would be appreciated."
As I pulled harder, the burning sensation on my skin intensified where Sebastien's feverish fingers gripped me. Even unconscious, the man was impossibly stubborn. I yanked my arm back with all my strength, but his hold remained unyielding—like being caught in a steel trap.
"You still standing there for what? Come help me get out of his control," I demanded, my patience wearing dangerously thin.
Daniel approached cautiously, reaching toward our joined hands. But as he got closer, Sebastien's body released a wave of Alpha pheromones so powerful it was almost visible in the air. Daniel instantly froze, his wolf instincts clearly overriding his human logic. His shoulders hunched slightly, head lowering—the universal posture of a Beta acknowledging an Alpha's dominance.
"I can't," he whispered, taking a step back. "His wolf... even unconscious, he's asserting dominance. My instincts won't let me interfere."
"Are you kidding me?" The pain in my hand was becoming unbearable. Sebastien's temperature had to be well over 104 degrees, and my skin felt like it was pressed against a hot iron. "He's unconscious! This is ridiculous."
I glanced around frantically, desperate for any solution. My gaze landed on my purse sitting on the nearby chair. With my free hand, I grabbed it and, without thinking twice, smacked it against Sebastien's shoulder.
"Let. Me. Go!" Each word accompanied another hit.
Sebastien let out a pained grunt, his brow furrowing deeply. His grip loosened just enough, and I yanked my hand free, immediately cradling it against my chest. The skin was red and irritated, throbbing with each heartbeat.
Daniel stared wide-eyed, looking between me and Sebastien like he was watching a tennis match.
"What?" I snapped, grabbing my purse. "He'll be fine. You're here now, and that's all that matters."
I stepped back from the bed, smoothing my rumpled blouse. "Since you're here, I'll be leaving. I have things to take care of."
Daniel's mouth opened like he wanted to say something, but I was already heading for the door. I didn't wait for his response—I just needed to get out of there, away from Sebastien, away from the confusing feelings his unconscious presence stirred in me.
The hallway felt cooler, and I took a deep breath as I headed toward the elevator. My mind drifted to the design sketches waiting for me at home. I had at least four hours of work ahead if I wanted to meet tomorrow's deadline.
When the elevator doors opened, I froze mid-step. Blake Thompson stood inside, dressed in an expensive suit, his dark hair perfectly styled as always. Our eyes met, and the surprise on his face mirrored my own.
Great. Another Grey family lackey.
I barely acknowledged him with a glance as I stepped inside, pressing the button for the ground floor. Standing as far from him as the small space allowed, I silently prayed for the fastest elevator ride in history.
"Stone," Blake's voice broke the silence just as I was about to exit when the doors opened.
I stopped, my back still toward him. "What?" I asked without turning around.
"Wait, please," he said, his usually confident voice uncertain.
Reluctantly, I turned to face him, one foot holding the elevator door open. "Make it quick, Thompson. I have things to do."
Blake stepped out of the elevator, looking uncharacteristically nervous. He ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair, messing it up slightly.
"That day... Sebastien and your wedding," he began haltingly. "He wasn't deliberately avoiding it. There were... complications. He had his reasons."
I felt my chest tighten, memories of that day flooding back—standing alone in my wedding dress, whispers and pitying looks from guests, the humiliation burning through me like acid. After two years, the wound was still raw.
"How thoughtful of you to explain this now," I said, my voice brittle with sarcasm. "Loyal to your Alpha until the end, aren't you?"
Blake flinched. "I'm just trying to—"
"To what?" I cut him off. "Make excuses for him? It's been two years, Blake. Two years since he left me standing alone at our wedding. Two years of being the laughingstock of the entire werewolf community—the bride abandoned by her Alpha."
I could feel my wolf stirring inside me, angry and hurt all over again. "Only he gets to have reasons, right? Only the mighty Sebastien Grey gets to have excuses while the rest of us just have to deal with the fallout."
Blake's shocked expression would have been comical in any other situation. He clearly hadn't expected such a direct confrontation.
"I didn't mean—" he started.
"It doesn't matter what you meant," I said, stepping back into the elevator. "It's too late for explanations. Way too late."
As I reached for the close button, the adjacent elevator dinged. The doors slid open, and immediately the hallway filled with a powerful Alpha scent—rich, woody, and undeniably familiar. My wolf recognized it instantly, her senses heightening despite my mental commands to stay calm.
I didn't wait to find out. Keeping my eyes forward, I jabbed the close button repeatedly, willing the doors to shut faster. As soon as they closed, I leaned against the elevator wall, my heart pounding.
"It doesn't matter what he heard," I whispered to myself. "Everything I said was true."
As I exited the building and walked to my car, I glanced back at the medical facility's windows.
"He has plenty of people to take care of him," I reminded myself as I got into my car. "That's not my job anymore."