Apphia
A couple of days pass, but I’m still in the hospital. I don’t like it. It’s starting to suffocate me. I want to leave this place already. However, I’m unsure how to begin my life once I’m out. With Lily’s help, I could get a job and rent a place in the city.
I’ve mentioned leaving the hospital and getting a job to support myself to Lily several times, but she dismissed it in a Lily–fashion way.
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Apphia, you’re not ready yet, and my brother is searching for the man who got away. You have to stay here for your safety, sweetie,” she said with a smile. It’s like they don’t want me leaving, but I’m so done with the hospital already.
Dr. Hudson and I are on the rooftop. I convinced her to have our usual sessions here today. She insisted on calling Nicholas, and luckily for me, he agreed. I don’t understand why they have to ask him for permission.
“Apphia, what do you think about the Alpha Prince?” Her question catches me off guard. She’s never brought him up in one of our sessions. I flush, and my heart races at the thought of Nicholas. I think of him often, like a pull I can’t resist.
“He’s kind to me,” I answer, a little nervous. Dr. Hudson looks amused.
“Just kind?”
“He’s very intimidating,” I confess. Prince Nicholas exudes an aura that makes him untouchable. I don’t know how or why, but I could feel his inner beast, raging yet calm. It’s indescribable.
“I understand how he could be intimidating,” she says. “I think he has feelings for you,”
She gauges my reaction. I scoff. Feelings for me? I doubt that.
“I don’t know how that could be possible,” I whisper.
She narrows her gaze, impassive, “Why can’t it be possible, Apphia?”
It feels stupid even to think he has feelings for me. He’s way too good–looking and out of my league in many ways. He can have any girl he wants. I glance up at her. Her gaze is on me, looking interested in my
response.
“Well, because he looks like that… And me like this. He’s a Prince, and I’m nothing, no one,” I blurt out.
“You’re not no one. You’re Apphia Aeson. And you’re a very attractive young woman; anyone would want you.”
“My mate didn’t,” I mumble.
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This is the first you’ve brought him up in a while,” she points out. I don’t think about Gavin much nowadays.
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Her wristwatch beeps, and she frowns, looking at it. “I have an emergency. We can end here today.”
I nod reluctantly. I want to avoid going to the suite. “Can I stay here for a while? I’ll go to my room alone,
She smiles kindly at me, ready to protest, but I interject, ” Please. I won’t go anywhere else,”
Okay, but I’ll send an intern to stay with you,”
We say our goodbyes, and she leaves in a hurry. I stand up to stretch my legs. There is a rack of books in the far corner. I go to check it out, and as fate would have it, I first grab a map of the city and hospital. I can read a map. I say to myself.
An idea pops into my mind, and before I can second–guess myself, I’m heading to my nearest exit.
My heart is beating out of my chest as I make it to the first floor of the hospital undetected. I feel flush. That was exhilarating! I turn on my heel, ready to exit the hospital, but bump into someone. His phone drops to the floor, and I pick it up quickly,
“Sorry,” I mutter. I glance up as I hand back the phone, but to my surprise, familiar blue–gray eyes stare at purple and silver.
Prince Knox Lavista.
His eyes widen once he recognizes me.
“You?” he says, surprised.
“Hi, Knox,” I say sheepishly. He glances around the lobby, checking if someone is with me.
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‘Why are you here? Are you running away?” he frowns.
No, I’m just bored. I want to take a walk,” I say, biting my lower lip. I’m nervous. Will he ask me to go back? No, I will stand my ground.
Does my brother know? Lily?”
“No,” I shake my head.
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Then you can’t leave. Nicholas won’t like that,” he protests.
“I don’t care what he likes or not. He is not my guardian. I’m going out, and you are not going to stop me,” I ground, determined. I hold his gaze. The young prince cocks his head to the side, now looking interested and amused.
“Oh,”
“I
Yes, unless you want to drag me screaming and kicking, I’m not going back,”
He runs a hand through his hair, seemingly a little annoyed.
“Nicholas won’t like this very much, but I’m angry at him for something, so let’s go,” he says. Knox
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turns on his heel and exits the hospital. I’m beaming as I follow after him.
In the streets, I gasp, looking around. So many skyscrapers!
It’s lively, with many cars, bridges, moving billboards, and people walking around. I’m in awe of it all. It feels like I’ve stepped into a different world.
It is so different from my old pack. We were on a turf with a lovely forest where wolves could shift and run whenever they wanted, but it was far from this.
“Don’t you have buildings where you’re from?” Knox asks. I was so lost daydreaming that I forgot he was there.
“We do, not just as tall as these or as many. We are not a large pack,” I shrug, still looking around.
“So, you belong to a pack. We thought you were a lone wolf,” he murmurs, his lips quirking.
My eyes widen, remembering I didn’t tell them about my pack to protect my brother.
“Forget I said that, please.”
“I can’t,”
“Please, you can’t tell your siblings about this. I don’t want my pack to get in trouble because of me,” I beg. However, Knox’s eyes are angry, and he is growling. I step back from him, wary.
“Was your abuser someone from your pack? I know you were mistreated where you came from,” he demands. His eyes are unrelenting, and I know he won’t let it go, so I nod slowly.
“Did you ever report to the alpha? What did he do about it? What happened that night?!” He’s asking so many questions. How do I tell him? It just wasn’t one person abusing me, and my father, the alpha, was one of them.
“It’s complicated, and the person that abused me is no longer in the pack,” I lie; well, technically, it’s true. I don’t know how, but I killed Rory that night.
He still looks angry, but he’s calming down. Knox is quiet for a while before asking.
“So, what’s the plan? Where do you want to go?”
I’m only relieved that he dropped the issue.
“Can we ride the new Metro train? I heard it’s faster than the old ones and nicer,” I ask, unable to contain my excitement. I feel giddy, like a child on Christmas morning.
M Sunshine Princess Author
Sorry this chapter was short. Thank you for reading! Leave me your comments!
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Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.

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