Colton's POV
I caught her before her body smacked the floor. She was limp, and cold.
For a second, just one stupid second, my heart dropped out of my chest.
"Shit," I cursed.
I crushed her against me and turned, barking at the guards. "Move!"
I didn't wait for them to react. I stormed through the packhouse like hell itself was chasing me, Miranda barely breathing in my arms. Her skin burned against mine, fever-hot and fragile like paper.
What the fuck was wrong with her?
I carried her in my arms and walked faster to the packhouse clinics in the packhouse.
She was too light and it felt like I was carrying a ghost. The thought irritated me.
"She needs immediate care," I barked at the nurse while striding into the clinic. It was already night and the bright fluorescent lights made it seem like it was morning.
"Yes, Alpha. The medical team is ready," came the clipped reply.
I don't know why but I was invested.
"Prep Room One," I ordered. "Now."
The nurses and doctors rushed to obey, parting like smoke. I carried her into the room myself.
I wasn't letting anyone else lay a hand on her.
Except they needed to.
~
I set her down on the examination bed and stepped back as Dr. Callahan, an older wolf with sharp eyes and no patience for mistakes, began his work.
"She's severely overstressed," he muttered after a quick inspection. "Dehydrated. She has some minor bruises. But no broken bones, but if she'd pushed herself any further, she would have collapsed for good."
I folded my arms. "Is she dying?"
He gave me a look. "No, Alpha. But if you keep pushing her to do whatever she is doing. She'll drop dead. She needs rest. A lot of it. And no work."
I had thought she could handle it. She seemed strong when she arrived and an able servant. Her father had.... Damn it. I had done the same thing he did to her.
"Fine. Fix her," I said.
I didn't wait for more lectures. I hated unnecessary noise and guilt that followed.
Dr. Callahan inserted an IV into her hand, gave a few more quiet instructions to the nurses, then turned to me.
"She'll sleep for a while. Don't push her when she wakes up. If she doesn't start eating soon, we'll have bigger problems."
"Okay." I said flatly.
The doctor hesitated, but he said it anyway. "I'm surprised. You have never helped anyone up here. You must care for her."
I didn't get it and my eyebrow arched upwards in bafflement.
"She was sold to me," I said.
Dr. Callahan adjusted his glasses and glanced at Miranda for a brief while. "Oh. But that doesn't..."
"By her father," I completed. "I don't care about her. I haven't spent a day of my money."
He looked worried and frowned. "Poor girl. I'll be off , Son. It's my closing hour. Don't worry, there are other doctors around."
I shook my head and watched him pack his things. He always called me his son. I liked it since I never knew my father or had a family of my own. He was one of the people I would burn the world for. He had been the one to pick me up at the hunger house when I was nineteen and feed me until I grew into my new self. He practically raised me and stopped me from being a rogue wolf.
He finally finished and walked close to me, and patted my shoulder thrice before looking at a sleeping Miranda. "Be nice to her, son. Maybe, you should practice being warm. You're too cold."
I was completely lost at what he said.
He sighed and dropped his arm. "You'll get it someday, Colton. Don't live a cold life."
And he walked out of the room with his bag. A nurse followed him out.
Finally, I had some silence.
I walked closer to the bed.
She looked even smaller under the harsh clinic lights, her breathing shallow but steady. Strands of her dark hair clung to her forehead and her lips were pale.
She looked pathetic but beautiful. Her features were delicate. A painter would be so pleased to have her as his muse.
I reached out without thinking and took her limp hand in mine. It felt fragile and breakable.
"Tch," I muttered. "Some weakling you are."
The word slipped out before I could stop it.
And then it hit.
A violent crack tore through my chest, yanking the air out of my lungs. My wolf, usually buried deep under my control, snarled awake — vicious, demanding.
"Mate." He growled.
The bond rose and twirled with transparent red ribbons from our hands and moved into my spine. My heart started to race wildly.
"No. It couldn't be," My mind raced. She was weak with no wolf and...an illegitimate child like her father had written in the letter.
I stared at her, frozen, my blood roaring in my ears. This... slip of a girl?
The one lying there like she'd blow away if I breathed too hard?
No. I wasn't going to accept this. I dropped her hand and blinked.
Fate was fucking with me.
"Shit," I hissed under my breath.
~
I had barely registered the mate bond when the door banged open.
I turned ready to lash out whoever the hell had the audacity to barge in and I wasn't pleased to see who it was.
"Well, well," came a familiar, cocky voice. "I leave town for five minutes and you're already playing nursemaid. Didn't think you had it in you, Colt."
The headache from his voice was instant and I wished I hadn't turned.
"Axel," I said, my voice flat. "And it's been three weeks."
"My favorite cousin," Axel drawled, strolling into the room like he owned it.
His brown hair was combed backward like the 90's actor. He was as reckless in a way that made women fall all over themselves.
His expensive leather jacket creaked as he threw himself into a chair, and he spread his legs wide, grinning like a cat. He loved to show off his money.
"What happened? You find yourself a stray?" He asked.
I was quickly reminded of why I despised his existence.
"None of your fucking business," I muttered.
Axel laughed that sordid, vexing sound that made me want to put his head through the wall.
But that was the thing about Axel. He enjoyed getting under my skin.
He leaned in closer and gave an obnoxious grin as he stared at Miranda.
"She's cute," he said. "Bit scrawny for your taste, though. You usually like them taller. Meaner. Are you planning to keep this one? 'Cause if not, I wouldn't mind—"
"Touch her," I said coldly, "and I'll break every bone in your body."
Axel blinked. Then he laughed harder.
"Ohhh," he said, drawing out the sound like a taunt. "Oh, this is interesting. Big Bad Alpha Colton, getting possessive over a little—what? Half-dead human?"
"She's not human," I growled.
The words came out without my being able to prevent them.
Axel's grin sharpened.
"Oh, now you've got my attention."
He leaned back, crossed his arms behind his head and chuckled way too annoyingly.
"Tell me, Colt," he said, smug as hell. "Exactly what is she, then?"
I didn't answer. I had enough of his nonsense.
"Oh, cousin. Ignoring me won't do," Axel said.
It would if I pretended he wasn't there. He was bound to shut the hell up at some point.
"Colt! Colton!" He yelled and I grew angrier.
"Shut the fuck up!" I retorted and faced him.
He raised his hand in defeat and made a face.
"Okay, alright. Geez," he mumbled.
"Shut up," I growled and he did.
But someone coughed and we both turned to see Miranda groan and move slightly on the bed.
My eyes moved to Axel and he did the same before looking back at Miranda. But just when I thought she would wake up, someone else sneezed.