My Fated Alphas Cruel Game novel Chapter 4

4 Chapter 4 Hand Around Throat

4 Chapter 4 Hand Around Throat

Elena’s POV 1

The sterile hospital room felt suffocating as I stared up at Marcus’s intense gaze, his words barely registering through the fog in my brain.

“What are you even saying?” My voice came out as a harsh whisper.

“That dishwasher who carried you in here.” His tone was sharp, cutting.

“I have no idea who you mean.” The confusion was genuine.

“The one from Seraph Cafe.” He pressed.

My mind struggled to piece it together before the realization hit me.

“Are you talking about Miller?” I managed to ask.

“That’s the one. I had the nurse dispose of your clothes. They reeked of him.” Marcus’s voice held barely contained anger.

“What exactly are you asking me?” I tried to sit up straighter despite the pain.

“Why was he so damn interested in helping you?” His eyes narrowed.

“I don’t know. He works with my mother at the cafe.” The truth felt inadequate.

“You seriously expect me to buy that story?” Skepticism/dripped from every word.

“It’s not a story. It’s what happened. I don’t know what else you want from me.” Panic started creeping in. “Where’s my mother?”

“I haven’t contacted her yet.” He crossed his arms.

“Good. Keep it that way.” Without thinking, I yanked the IV needle from my arm and ripped the monitoring cables from my chest.

The machines erupted in a chorus of alarms. Within seconds, the doctor burst through the door with a nurse close behind, just as I was swinging my legs over the side of the bed.

“What do you think you’re doing?” The doctor’s voice was sharp with concern.

“I need to leave. I can’t be here.” My feet hit the cold floor.

“Absolutely not. You sustained a severe head trauma.” He moved to block my path.

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4 Chapter 4 Hand Around Throat

“No, you don’t understand. We can’t pay for this.” The reality of medical bills crashed

over me.

“Where’s her mother?” The doctor looked around frantically.

“Don’t call her. Don’t tell her anything. She has enough problems. Just let me walk out of here.” My voice grew desperate. “Where are my clothes?”

“I already told you. The nurse burned them.” Marcus’s glare could have melted steel.

“You’ll need to sign discharge papers if you’re determined to leave.” The doctor sighed in defeat.

“Fine. Get them.” I sat back down, immediately regretting the sudden movement as my ribs screamed in protest.

When the medical staff left the room, I clutched my side, trying to breathe through the sharp pain. I’d moved too quickly and hadn’t realized how badly my ribs were injured. My focus had been on my throbbing arm and twisted ankle.

I noticed Marcus watching me intently, so I forced myself to sit normally, hiding the

agony.

How was I going to handle this hospital bill? The weight of it felt crushing.

I glanced at Marcus again and caught something softer in his expression as he observed me. But the moment our eyes met, he looked away and his face hardened again.

The doctor returned with the paperwork, insisting on one final examination before my release.

I agreed, wanting to get it over with quickly. He checked all my injuries, including the numerous stitches scattered across my body.

“This is unusual.” The doctor frowned.

“What is?” Worry crept into my voice.

“These wounds. They shouldn’t be healing at this rate. You’re malnourished and dehydrated, which is expected given your rank, but this accelerated healing doesn’t make sense.” He looked puzzled.

“What do you mean ‘given my rank‘? My father was the head warrior. He was strong, a fighter. So am I. That’s something this pack can never strip away from me.” Anger

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4 Chapter 4 Hand Around Throat

flared in my chest.

Marcus leaned against the wall, watching my outburst with what looked almost like amusement flickering across his features.

After signing the discharge forms, the doctor left, and I faced the reality of walking home in a hospital gown with a damaged ankle.

At least the gown tied properly in the back.

“We need to have a conversation.” Marcus’s voice stopped me at the door.

“About what?” I turned to face him.

“About what we discussed earlier.” His tone was measured.

“What? I’m pretending we mean nothing to each other. Isn’t that the plan?” I shot back.

“Then explain why I can smell another man all over you?” The accusation hit like a slap.

“Because he saved my life. Why do I smell another woman on you?” I countered, surprising us both with my boldness.

His head snapped up, clearly not expecting the fight I was giving him.

“She’s my girlfriend. I’m your Alpha. I do whatever I choose.” His voice carried authority and warning.

“Then so can I. If you can parade around with that artificial excuse for a werewolf, I can do what I want too. I don’t understand why you’re angry. Nobody cares about me like that. Your father made sure of it.” The words tasted bitter.

“Keep my father out of this.” Danger flashed in his eyes.

“Then leave me alone. I have something important to retrieve.” I stood up, putting weight on my fractured ankle.

Pain shot through my leg and I started to fall, but Marcus caught me before I hit the ground.

The moment his hands touched my arms, electricity raced through my body. Sparks traveled down my arms and across my chest, a sensation I’d never experienced before.

I pressed my hand to my ribs and felt around the broken bones. The excruciating pain from before had dulled significantly.

I looked up at Marcus without speaking, and he released me as quickly as possible.

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“I have to go.” I turned toward the door, limping out of the room.

“What are you searching for?” Marcus followed me out of the hospital.

“I lost my father’s watch. I need to find it.” The thought of losing it forever made me

sick.

“You mean this?” He held up something in his hand.

I turned around and saw my father’s watch dangling from his fingers.

“Where did you get that?” My heart stopped.

“The dishwasher had it. He said it was with you when he brought you in.” Marcus extended his arm.

I limped back toward him and held out my hand.

He slowly placed the watch in my palm, and relief flooded through me.

“Thank you.” I turned away and started limping home.

“Marcus! There you are! What’s going on? You’ve kept me waiting all day!” A shrill voice echoed behind me.

I knew it was Viviana without looking back. I didn’t need to see her draped all over Marcus to know what was happening.

By the time I reached home, exhaustion had settled deep in my bones. I collapsed onto the couch the moment I walked through the door.

“Well, that was quite a day.” Tara’s voice drifted from somewhere in the house.

“I’m not in the mood right now.” I closed my eyes.

A knock at the door made me try to stand, but the pain in my ribs and ankle kept me pinned to the couch.

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