Chapter 49 49.Hearing
Reed’s POV
I pace the damn hallway outside the Kaelara hospital, back and forth like a caged beast. Every second feels like a knife twisting in my gut. I can hear the low murmur of voices inside but not a single word makes it past the door. My fists clench until my knuckles ache. I swear if they do not hurry up, I will kick the fucking door down myself.
The doctor finally steps out. He wears the Crystal Ridge insignia on his coat, but I barely care about his title. All I see is the look on his face before he even opens his mouth.
“She’s stable, but weak,” he announces. “According to the initial examination, it appears that she has not eaten in days. So, she’s suffering from severe dehydration. She also has a huge bruise on her stomach. Right now, she needs rest, food, and water.”
His words make me want to pick up a sledgehammer and tear the damn naval station down. She’s starved? Dehydrated? Bruised? My jaw locks so tight I feel like my teeth might break.
“Are you telling me those motherfuckers kept her locked up and left her to rot?” I snarl.
The doctor clears his throat and mutters something about doing everything they can for her now, but I barely hear him. My vision tunnels and I can hear my inner wolf wailing in the same resentment that is burning me from the inside.
I want to hit something. No—I want to kill someone right now.
I shove past the doctor and peer into the room. I can feel my brothers following me behind but I pay them no mind. Tabitha lies on the cot, pale as a ghost, and her lips cracked. Her body looks too small against the sheets. She’s only been gone for two days but I swear she lost too much weight. She looks like she has been drained of everything that made her her.
“Fuck.” I curse under my breath.
My chest stirs with something I cannot name. It feels like rage, but heavier. It’s different and stronger. It’s an emotion I can barely contain. I have always been quick to anger. Always ready to fight. But this is not the same. This is raw, ugly, violent. Far too consuming than the anger I am familiar with. Looking at her like this makes me want to rip walls down with my bare hands.
I do not know if it is the mate bond twisting me up inside or if it is just me, hating every second of seeing her broken. Either way, it feels like my whole damn body is ready to explode.
“They broke her down,” Jace mutters while eyeing Tabitha’s frail form. “If we didn’t take her away from there, they would’ve kept even longer.”
“I don’t know what those assholes were thinking,” I spit with a snarl.
“Cowards,” I spit. “That’s all they are. Worthless fucking cowards. Locking her in a cage, starving her like an animal.” My hands curl into fists so hard my nails bite into my palms. “I say we burn the whole place down.”
Jace lets out a slow breath. “We cannot act rashly. Not yet. If we burn the station now, we risk losing what we came here for.”
“Fuck what we came here for,” I growl. “Look at her, Jace. She looks like she’s been dragged straight from hell. And you’re telling me to sit tight?”
Evren lets out a sigh and shakes his head. “Enough. All of us wants to draw some blood, but that’s not the way to do it. We need to clear her name first. Eli stated that they have something against her—an evidence or whatever they wanna call it. Have you checked on Luca if he found anything useful back at the hotel?”
Jace takes out his phone and browse something. Maybe he’s texting with Luca or whatever. The door creaks open. I whip my head toward it, already on edge. Eli steps inside with hands tucked neatly behind his back.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I snap, standing to block him from Tabtiha’s bed.
“I mean no harm. I’m just here to check on the prisoner,” he replies calmly.
My body burns hot, ready to tear him apart if he takes another step. “She’s not your prisoner. And if I catch you sniffing around her again, you’ll be the one in a cage.”
For a second, his expression stays flat, but I can see the flicker of annoyance under his cool mask.
“Your threats are unnecessary. I am here under council duty. It is my responsibility to ensure the accused is brought to judgment.”
“Yeah?” I sneer. “Then your orders are shit.”
Evren shifts beside me. He eyes Eli sharply but he hides his fury better than mine. “We are not interested in trading insults. State your reason, Eli.”
“There was to supposed to be a hearing today regarding her crimes. But given the circumstances, it has been postponed until tomorrow morning. Once she wakes, you need to bring her to the naval station for her trial.”
I bark out a laugh, no humor in it. “And what if we don’t?”
“Yes. What if we refuse? She is not well enough to stand before your council,” Jace seconds.
“Then she will have no opportunity to prove her innocence. And she will forever carry the stain of betrayal upon her name and upon the Aldair family’s honor. Once Alpha Emery learns of it, he will not be pleased.”
Damn it. He’s trying to frighten us with lowly threats like we’re some kind of kids who cower before their father! I clench my fist and take a step towards him but Evren grabs my shoulder to stop me.
“Fine. We’ll handle it. But I don’t want to see any shadow of the Council until then,” Evren declares.
“Then, we have an agreement.” Eli nods and heads out.
“Motherfucker,” I mutter, fists trembling. My whole body feels like it’s about to burst. “I swear I’ll rip his throat out one of these days.”
Jace runs a hand down his face, steadying his breath. Then he turns to Evren. “What are we supposed to do now?”
“We have to settle this mess before father comes back,” Evren answers.
I let out a sardonic laugh. “Don’t tell me you’re still scared of him?”
Evren turns to me coldly. “This is not a question of fear. Regardless if you agree with his ways or not, he is still the Alpha of this pack and the commanding officer of the navy station. He has the power to make this mess even messier and we don’t want that. We need to nip it at the bud before he returns and the council of elders whisper in his ears.”
“And how are we supposed to do that?” Jace asks.
“And how the hell do we do that?” I frown.
“We run our own investigation.”