Piss Off, Alpha! You Lost Me Forever novel Chapter 174

Chapter 174: Chapter 174 He Would Never Take My Side

SOPHIA’S POV

Lance caught me at the hospital entrance at six forty-five.

He was coming from the research wing. He had his keys in his hand, clearly heading out for the evening. When he saw me near the main doors he walked towards me.

"Good timing," he said. "I was going to call you."

I raised my brow "Oh?"

"I have a class reunion tonight. It’s just a few of us from the doctoral program, Archer is coming” he smiled at me. "You should come. You’ve been carrying a lot lately. One evening of good food and people would do you good."

I thought about it for a moment. I thought of Archer’s dry humor, Lance’s friendly presence and how good it might feel to be somewhere other than the hospital.

"That actually sounds-" I started

"Sophia." A voice cut me off. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Damien’s voice.

I closed my eyes for exactly one second. Then I turned.

What was he doing here?

He was standing by the main entrance with his car keys in hand. His eyes moved briefly to Lance, then came back to me.

"It’s seven," Damien said simply.

I looked at Lance.

He read the situation instantly. His expression didn’t change. He looked like he understood.

"Another time," Lance said quietly.

"Lance-"

"It’s fine." He meant it. He always meant it when he said things like that, which somehow made it worse. "Go. I’ll save you something from the dinner”

"Thank you," I said.

He nodded then walked away.

I turned back to Damien, following him to the car without a word.

-

The drive to Stone General Hospital took thirty minutes.

I sat in the back seat.

That was the first thing. Damien had assumed I would sit in the front, but I had simply opened the rear door and gotten in, because sitting in the passenger seat felt like playing a part I hadn’t agreed to yet. At least, the back seat gave me some distance from him. He had looked at me briefly in the rearview mirror and said nothing.

We had been on the road for about ten minutes when his phone rang through the car’s speakers. The screen on the dashboard showed the name before the sound even finished.

Tiffany.

He accepted the call. "Hey."

Her voice filled the car "Hey. Where are you?"

"In the car now."

"Okay then. How are you holding up with George and everything?"

"Managing. It’ll be fine."

Then Ashley’s voice broke in from somewhere behind Tiffany. Ashley sounded high and excited, asking if Daddy was on the phone, asking if she could talk to him.

"Go ahead," Tiffany said.

"Daddy!" Ashley’s voice filled the car "Did you see my drawing? Tiffany said it was really good. It’s of our house - well, Stone Villa - and I put everyone in it. Tiffany and me and you and Grandpa George-"

"I’ll look at it when I get home," Damien said. His voice had warmed completely. "Be good tonight, okay? Listen to Tiffany."

"I always listen," Ashley said.

Damien chuckled. "Goodnight, baby."

"Goodnight, Daddy. Tell Grandpa George I love him."

The call ended. The car went quiet.

I sat in the back seat, looking out the window at the passing city. I didn’t say anything but I felt hollow inside.

I felt like a total outsider and this call further proved it. Ashley’s drawing had everyone in it – Tiffany, Damien and Grandpa George.

Not me.

My wolf howled in my chest yet she didn’t say anything, because there was nothing useful to say.

Damien glanced at me in the rearview mirror once. I didn’t meet his eyes.

-

George looked smaller in the hospital bed.

That was the thing that hit me first, before anything else - how much smaller he seemed against the pillows.

My heart ache at the sight of him looking so ill. I wished there was more I could do. Even my wolf whimpered inside me when we saw him.

His face broke into a genuine smile the moment he saw us.

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