Jealousy Alpha's Regret novel Chapter 224

Chapter 224

Sebastien’s POV

Pain was the first thing I registered. A deep, throbbing ache that seemed to radiate from my chest throughout my entire body. My limbs felt impossibly heavy, like I was being pulled down into the depths of an ocean. I tried to move, to open my eyes, but nothing responded to my commands.

Where was 1? What happened? The last clear memory I had was… Iris. The hunter. The silver bullet.

I jumped in front of her. I took the shot meant for her.

The thought jolted through my foggy mind. Iris. Was she safe? My wolf stirred restlessly within me at the thought, despite my weakened state. I needed to

know if she was alright, but I couldn’t even open my damn eyes.

Voices filtered through the haze surrounding me. Familiar, but distant, like they were speaking through water.

….needs your signature on these documents by tomorrow morning,” a voice I recognized as Daniel’s said. “The Italian collaboration won’t wait, and with the

current situation at Crescent Design…”

Can’t William handle it?” Another voice. Blake.

“William has been dealing with the council all night. He’s finally getting some rest, and this simply can’t wait. It’s the MODA contract for the fall collection.”

I wanted to speak, to tell Daniel exactly what to do with those documents. The Italian deal was important, but the terms needed careful revision. But my

mouth wouldn’t form the words, my voice trapped within my unresponsive body. Frustration bubbled up inside me. Even now, when I could barely cling to

consciousness, business matters demanded attention. And Daniel… his uncertainty was disappointing. A future Beta needed to be more decisive.

Then, another voice cut through the fog, one that sent a ripple of surprise through me.

“I can take a look.”

Iris. She was here. She was safe. Relief washed over me so intensely it was almost painful.

“These are Crescent Design’s confidential documents…” Daniel sounded hesitant.

“I understand your concern,” Iris replied, her voice calm and assured. “But I used to work for Crescent Design, and I have the professional background to understand whatever’s in that folder. He’s not going to be making any decisions anytime soon, and if it’s as time–sensitive as you suggest, waiting could damage the company.”

The surprise turned to something warmer, something I wasn’t ready to name. She was still here, in this room, helping with my company’s matters when she had every reason to walk away. Why? Out of guilt? Obligation? Or something else?

Time seemed to blur after that. I drifted in and out of awareness, sometimes catching snatches of Iris’s voice as she worked through the documents, the soft rustle of papers, the occasional tap of her fingernails against the table.

The familiar scent of her perfume wafted through the air—jasmine and vanilla with that unique undertone that was purely Iris. It brought an unexpected sense of calm. My wolf, usually so restless, settled contentedly at her proximity. This woman who had been my wife in name only for two years, who I’d pushed away with cold indifference, was now the one constant at my side when I was vulnerable.

Why was she still here? Was it guilt driving her actions? Or was there something more, something that echoed the inexplicable need I felt to protect her, even at the cost of my own safety?

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Chapter 224

Warmth on my face pulled me from my thoughts. Sunlight. I could feel it on my skin, gentle and persistent. With an effort that felt monumental, I finally managed to pry my eyes open. The world swam into focus slowly–first the stark white ceiling, then the pale walls of what was clearly a hospital room.

I tried to move my arm and felt a weight against it. Turning my head slightly, ignoring the stab of pain the movement caused, I looked down.

Iris was asleep, her head resting on my forearm. Her face, usually so carefully composed, appeared exhausted in sleep. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and ker normally perfect hair fell in tangled waves around her face. Papers were scattered across the small table beside her–company documents with her neat

handwriting in the margins.

She’s been working while watching over me. How long has she been here?

Something tightened in my chest that had nothing to do with my wound. This woman had every reason to hate me, to leave me to the care of doctors and my own family. Instead, she’d stayed, worked, taken care of my business while I lay unconscious.

I studied her face, noticing the pallor of her skin, the slight downward turn of her lips even in sleep. She looked worn out, pushed to her limits.

I needed to move her, get her somewhere more comfortable. With careful movements, I managed to sit up, biting back a groan as pain lanced through my torso. The IV in my arm tugged slightly as I shifted, but I ignored it. I gently moved my arm, replacing it with the edge of the pillow under Iris’s head.

Looking around, I spotted a folded blanket on a chair across the room. Getting to it would be a challenge, but I’d faced worse. Each step was an exercise in

control as I made my way across the cold floor, one hand pressed against my bandaged wound. I retrieved the blanket and turned back toward Iris, moving

slowly to avoid jostling my IV line.

Just as the blanket touched her shoulders, her eyes flew open. For a moment, we simply stared at each other, her expression morphing from confusion to

surprise to something that looked almost like relief before hardening into a more familiar stern look.

“What are you doing?” she demanded, her voice raspy from sleep. “You shouldn’t be out of bed! Are you trying to tear your stitches?”

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