Chapter 86. Keep Coming Back

Taggart stroked her hair and held Pearl's hand, who was still asleep. Pearl has not been conscious since she was taken to the hospital. She suffered quite serious injuries. Pearl was beaten by the man who kidnapped her, and this caused internal injuries. Even though it wasn't life-threatening, Taggart was very sad. He felt he couldn't protect Pearl at all.

"I’m sorry. I shouldn't have allowed you to go alone. I'm sorry, very much.” Taggart sighed sadly. He lowered his head and took a deep breath. Taggart raised Pearl's hand and looked at her several injured fingers. He kissed her fingers and then pressed them again to her cheek. Taggart looked sadly at Pearl, who had not yet opened her eyes.

Everest comes to see Taggart, who is still accompanying Pearl. He had just finished interrogating Evan and Calvin in the basement prison.

"Sir?" Taggart turned his head slightly at Everest, who was approaching. Everest took a deep breath and glanced at Pearl.

"How is she?" Taggart shook his head.

"She hasn't woken up yet."

“What did the doctor say about Miss Pearl? Is she okay?”

Taggart was silent. He looked at Pearl, who was still holding his hand. Taggart didn't want to let go at all.

“I don't know what to do anymore, Ev. What if something happens to him, and I can't do anything," Taggart said in a low and sad tone. He looked very disappointed and unhappy. Taggart regrets his delay in helping Pearl.

"There's no point in regretting now," Everest tried to improve Taggart's heart.

“I shouldn't have let him go.” Taggart interrupted with his answer. He couldn't hide his sadness. Everest was intrigued when he saw Taggart. His very gentle attitude towards Pearl made Everest feel sorry. He knew that the Alpha had fallen deeply in love.

“Do you love him that much?”

Taggart glanced at Everest with a faint smile. He nodded slowly without speaking, and Everest smiled wider. In the midst of problems, now Taggart could love someone so sincerely.

"I've got information about Matthew Bronckhorst."

Taggart looked completely at Everest. He nodded assuringly that Taggart was found.

“Evan said that Matthew called him from Paris. He was supposed to return to LA tonight, but his plane changed route to Budapest."

"What?" said Taggart, raising his voice slightly. Everest still nodded reassuringly.

“Yeah, I think he's trying to escape.”

Taggart tightened his jaw. He raised his sharp gaze to Everest, still talking next to Pearl. Less than he knew, Pearl was listening to their entire conversation. She just couldn't get up, as if something was straining her.

"Where's Damian?" Everest's brow furrowed when he heard the question. A flash of bad things came to his head.

“What are you going to do, sir? Are you going to kill him?” Everest shot straight to the heart of the problem. Taggart was still staring intently and had not answered.

"What do you think?" he snapped sarcastically.

Everest sighed an odd chuckle, then shook his head. His sombre expression turned tensed suddenly. Taggart looked desperate to take his revenge on Damian.

"You aren't planning to kill him, right?" Everest confirmed that bad thing again. Taggart still hasn't answered.

“I shouldn't have pulled him from that building. This wouldn't have happened if I had let him fall from it.” Taggart grunted low. Everest got goosebumps when he heard his creepy plan. He shook his head to reject the bad idea.

“It's not a good thing to kill your own family. You will be further away from your initiation as an Alpha, sir.” Everest half-desperately explained. He could feel Taggart's great anger.

"I don't care,"

“I care. I want you to be my Alpha. But not this way!” Everest immediately interrupted Taggart. He stood up from his chair. His eyes didn't leave Everest, especially since he sounded like he was protesting Taggart.

“I did all this for Pearl. I love her." Taggart growled softly. Everest took a short, restless breath. This is not what he wanted. Taggart's initial plan and goal was to make himself an Alpha. A Luna would make it perfect. Unfortunately, now everything seems to have deviated from what it should be.

"Do you only care about her without caring about that Alpha position anymore?" Everest asked again as if he was disappointed.

"Yes."

This short answer made Everest even more disappointed. He didn't expect that Taggart would just mess everything up.

“Sir, I never expect you to think like this.” Everest sighed in disappointment.

“I can't let someone touch my girlfriend or torture her, Ev. Who could have thought what would have happened?” Taggart argued in his defence. Everest still looked disappointed.

“I was trying to protect you, sir. But if you're messing around for her, I'm very disappointed,"

“Who do you think you are talking about? She is my mate. She’ll be my Luna.”

“But what's the point if you lose to be an Alpha? You throw all my sacrifice in vain.” Everest replied with annoyance.

“Ev, I can't let Bronckhorst do something like this to me.” Taggart even had a heated argument with Everest.

“But that doesn't mean you can kill Damian and cause a fraction within our pack.”

"I,"

Taggart was still going to argue, but Pearl hummed low and slowly. She groaned softly and then opened her eyes. Taggart immediately stopped the argument and bent himself to her. He smiled even though he still felt the rage.

“Baby, are you awake?”

Taggart spoke very softly and cared for Pearl. Everest also smiled, turning to Pearl. Pearl looked at Taggart and then blinked her eyes very slowly. Taggart touched her hand then held it tight. He took hers as if nothing could separate them.

“I will always protect you, my princess.” Taggart sighed softly with his eyes fixed only on Pearl. His other hand stroked Pearl's head gently.

"What happened to me?" Pearl whispered. Taggart pursed his lips and smiled strangely. He nodded and smiled again.

“I'll tell you about it later. You should rest, and I will watch you," Taggart answered confidently. Everest glanced at Taggart after hearing his promise. Pearl was still looking at Taggart, and he smiled.

Everest took a deep breath and then distanced himself from Taggart. Taggart doesn't see anyone but Pearl anymore. For Everest, it's not fair. He wanted to see Taggart become the strongest Alpha in their clan. If that happened, Everest would devote his entire life to Taggart.

Everest chose to leave Pearl's treatment room, leaving Taggart, who was still looking at Pearl and holding her hand. He leaned back and took a deep breath. Today had been quite tiring, but Everest didn't want to rest yet.

"Why are you fighting?" Taggart's brow furrowed when he heard Pearl's question.

"You heard it?" Pearl nodded slowly.

"Don't fight anymore." Pearl's voice got smaller at the end of her sentence. She could see the sincerity in Taggart's gaze. He smiled and then held Pearl's hand a little tighter.

"There isn't anything. Just rest, Baby. I will take care of you." Taggart similarly whispered, then brought the tip of his nose closer to Pearl. He smiled, playing with the tip a little, then pulled it while looking into her eyes. Pearl smiled, too, then closed her eyes again.

Taggart couldn't shake off the pain in his heart seeing the wounds on Pearl's body. The doctor said that temporary test results stated that Pearl's ribs were broken and needed immediate surgery. She had to undergo a long recovery. What made Taggart feel helpless and even more guilty was that a member of his own family did the miserable things to her.

“I will never leave you,” Taggart whispered his promise to Pearl. After a few minutes, Taggart stood up and left the room. Outside, Everest was leaning his back against the wall, looking dreamily ahead, blankly.

“Ev!” Everest gasped, then straightened his back immediately. Taggart approached him with a calmer expression.

“Can I ask some people to stand guard in front of her room?” Everest was stunned momentarily at Taggart's request, then smiled in agreement.

“Definitely, sir.”

"Thank you." Taggart also smiled a small smile. He walked towards Everest, and the two walked down the corridor to the elevator. Nothing was said at all until they got into the elevator. Taggart looked at him from the reflection of the elevator doors.

"Am I still worthy of being an Alpha?" Taggart asked suddenly. Everest raised his eyebrows, his eyes widening perfectly.

“Can I still have her if I become an Alpha? She’s only human,” Taggart muttered under his breath. His eyes lowered slowly. Everest wanted to answer, but the elevator door opened.

"Sir?" Everest stood in front of Taggart, who was walking across the lobby. Taggart stopped looking at Everest with his usual cold, expressionless gaze.

“Please don’t mess up the initiation. I beg you." Everest begged seriously. Taggart looked away, then took a deep breath.

"I think I should talk to Damian."

Everest remained silent, looking at Taggart, who had changed his decision. Slowly, he smiled and then nodded.

“I will stay by you.”