Stepbrother Mine A Son For Alpha Zoren (Ciara) novel Chapter 20

20: verdict 2

20: verdict 2

Ciara

“Are you certain, Hugo?” Zoren demanded of the doctor, a pinched expression on his face as he stared down at Kai who was still unconscious and when the doctor nodded grimly, I let out another choked sob while my whole shoulders shook. Was I too late in coming over here to get help for my son? He was very alright yesterday, why is this happening today? My head was spinning as those thoughts swam through the insides. I was aware that the pain in my chest had returned, not as intense as it was when I woke up this morning, but that was the least of my concerns right now.

I saw movements from the side of my eyes and I stiffened on realizing that Zoren was rounding the bed, walking towards me. I blinked up at him in confusion, then a confused sound left my thrust when he grabbed my wrist and… tugged me into his arms, his arms moving around to settle over my back. My arms were still at my sides and my mouth remained in shock as a few seconds passed by. What was he doing right now? Was he… comforting me?

After a few more seconds, all the strength left my limbs and I just collapsed against him, clutching his shirt tightly and breathing in his cologne while trying to steady myself. Rests were still rolling down my face and I was still sobbing. His hands were patting my back, albeit a little awkwardly, I still appreciated it so much. And he probably dosent know this, but his presence here alone was so reassuring and giving me some sort of strength. I clutched his shirt tighter as I cried, as I sent another prayer to heaven, praying that nothing ends up happening to my son, not now that he just got reunited with his father again. Not when he’d just about to get to experience living like a normal kid.

Slowly, Zoren tugged me out of his arms. His face was unreadable as he stared down at me and my face flushed a little in embarrassment. I reached up and quickly wiped my cheeks, my eyes briefly settling on his shirt which were now stained with my tears.

“Uh… sorry about your shirt.” I mumbled quietly, my voice hoarse to my ears. He hummed, his hands still on my arms and his eyes boring into mine as he spoke.

“Stop crying, nothing’s gonna happen to him.” He finally murmured but somehow, that just made my eyes well up with tears all over again. My eyes briefly darted over to the bed where Kai was still in, and that was when I almost fainted in shock cause I had kind of forgotten that we weren’t the only ones in here right now.

“Are you sure?” I asked when I faced Zoren again and he nodded firmly. The way he sounds so certain made me get a little faith within me and I nodded while sniffing one last time.

“Alright. I hope so,”

Zoren shook his head. “I know so. I’m not gonna let my son die.”

The sure way he spoke made me almost burst into tears again. Kai doesn’t know yet but he clearly hit the jackpot when it comes to fathers, and I can’t believe I was so terrified to go find Zoren, and that I once thought he’d not want his son because I was the one who birthed him. Turns out he didn’t just want Kai, he’s also clearly so protective of him already.

After Zoren dropped his hands from my arm, I cleared my throat, watching as he walked around the bed to where the doctor was fiddling Witt the iv connected to my son.

“Isn’t there any way I can help? I’m very certain there is.” Zoren said to the doctor whose clipboard almost fell from how he flinched. His eyes darted around a little before he hurriedly responded.

“Uh… this isn’t hundred percent he’d live, but you can try to help him prepare his body for the shift. As his father, his wolf should respond to you the most. If his body can be prepared as best as possible, the shift wouldn’t kill him. But the chance of this working is about ten percent.”

My face paled at the end of the doctor’s words and I felt my hands start to shake in panic. Zoren still looked in control as his gaze briefly settled on Kai for a moment.

“What about if we neutralize his wolf from now? Until he’s older for his body to survive the shift?” One of the

Successfully unlocked!

1/3

20: verdict 2

betas stepped forward to ask this time. It was Ethan, and he had a thoughtful expression on his face.

The doctor considered that for a moment before shaking his head. “His body has already started to transform so we can’t stop it anymore. I see he already got his fangs, at that point, it can’t be stopped. It’s bound to happen.”

I let out a long breath of frustration, my head spinning again. At that moment, Sarah approached me and took my hand in hers. I offered her a grateful smile and squeezed her hand in appreciation.

“So, we just hope the shift won’t kill him when it happens? That’s what you’re suggesting?” Zoren demanded sharply, sharp eyes on the doctor who paled.

“I- I mean, your suggestion isn’t bad, my king. You can help him prepare for the shift, train his body to be stronger, and help him with a lot of calcium to strengthen his bones. This way, the shift wouldn’t kill him. Hopefully.” My heart dropped into my stomach at the end of his words and Zoren sighed long and hard before dragging a hand through his hair.

When he looked up again, he suddenly barked. “Everyone, get out for a moment.”

I stiffened, eying him for a moment and wondering why he just said that before beginning to wordlessly exit the room along with the others.

“Not you, Ciara. Stay.”

My heart jumped into my throat at those words and I remained in the same spot, my heartbeat pounding hard as the door closed, keeping me in here with Zoren and an unconscious Kai.

“I’ll not let him die, okay?” He breathed out into the silence that was beginning to stretch out, his eyes pinned on Kai. Somehow, that wasn’t what I expected him to say.

I swallowed, feeling grateful for his presence. If this had happened when I was back in my small town, the doctors there certainly wouldn’t know what was happening to him.

“Thank you,” I whispered quietly, feeling grateful.

He snorted. “No need to thank me. He’s my son after all.

I swallowed emptily as he finally faced me.

“I’ll send for my warlock friend to look him over. I’ll never let anything happen to him.” He revealed and I nodded, feeling relieved that he’s just as bothered about this like I am. It was at the tip of my tongue to thank him but I forced myself to swallow the words down.

“I’ll introduce him as my son to everyone present in this base today, but since words spread fast, the news will be everywhere in no time.” He began and my heartbeat picked up at once.

“The others can’t know we were once step siblings. Thankfully my father didn’t get to introduce you all to the pack members before you all revealed your true colors. He planned to do that after revealing his werewolf side to your mother, but you all didn’t hang around for that.”

As he spoke, his eyes hardened and his lips twisted slightly. I stiffened, ducking my head and weirdly feeling guilty even though I really didn’t steal from him. That was all my mother.

“So, what do I tell them if they ask me how I got Kai?” I asked carefully after a few seconds.

“Tell them it was a drunken one night stand,” he pointed out and I nodded.

That made sense.

As I kept staring at him, something suddenly hit me and I exhaled sharply. “Wait, does this mean I’ll have to meet your father??”

His eyes narrowed. “Why? Are you afraid he won’t be as forgiving as me? After all, it was his money that was stolen. Are you scared because of guilt?” He asked and I bit on my bottom lip as I exhaled again.

“No, not that, I just feel bad because of the way he must have felt so betrayed. I was tryly grateful for his generosity back then and I never wanted him to get back stabbed.”

He clicked his tongue, clearly not believing me. “Well, you and your mother succeeded in doing just that,

2/3

20: verdict 2

backstabbing him a day after the honeymoon.”

I sighed and I glanced away, deciding to stop talking cause clearly this conservation wasn’t going anywhere. I don’t know what I have to do to make him believe that I wasn’t a thief like he now believes.

As I breathed out slowly, I tried to push through the pain now in my chest again. When I looked up at Zoren, I felt a weird urge to move closer to him. That caught me off guard and I forced my eyes away from him, my mind returning back to where Evan had been wrapping my wrist up when he had unexpectedly arrived and given me a new order, to not get closer to any man here. I didn’t understand what his obsession was with some of the things I do was. Usually, I’d never have given in easily, but cause I was clearly at his mercy in this situation since he’s literally only tolerating me because of my son, I couldn’t dare challenge or mouth off at me like I usually would.

At that very moment, the monitor beside Kai’s bed sudddnly began to beep really loudly, making me stiffen just as my eyes flew wide with fear. I rushed around the bed and clutched kai’s hand, my eyes wandering around in panic before meeting Zoren’s.

“What’s happening??” I cried out in panic just as Zoren shouted from the doctor. Almost immediately, the door bursted open and the doctor, the two betas and one delta reemerged. As I watched the doctor fuss over Kai, I trembled in fear, feeling like I might faint at any moment. My hands were squeezing tightly around something and I didn’t realize it was Zoren’s hand until he wrapped his large hand around mine. I held onto him tighter, uncaring that this might make me seem hella needy. I can feel embarrassed later but right now, I don’t care.

“He is fine, that was just a spike in his heartbeat,” the doctor revealed and I let out a long relieved sigh as my shoulders sagged in relief, shrugging through my entire body at once.

My eyes darted to my hand still holding Zoren’s and I wondered if it was time for me to let go. I was distracted when the doctor continued to speak.

“He was suffering from scent deprivation, so too much of it at once can get overwhelming fast. That was what happened to him this morning from the looks of it.” The doctor scribbled something down as he spoke and I blinked up at Zoren whose lips were downturned.

“It’s this room. There’s a lot of my scent in here. It probably overwhelmed his poor scenes that have gone years without a scent from another wolf.” Zoren sounded regretful as he spoke, his lips in a thin line.

“Oh, no. That’s also a good thing. Once he wakes up, this means your scent won’t get to overwhelm him too much anymore. But still, be careful to not overwhelm him in the coming days.”

I pursed my lips, not fully understanding what they were talking about at this point.

“Overwhelming in this situation means more than scents, right?” The delta spoke this time, sounding careful and worried. The doctor nodded and my eyes met Zoren at the same time.

“Yes. He shouldn’t be overloaded with too much unexpected information yet. Like the fact that you’re his father, I take it he doesn’t know yet.” The doctor faced a now scowling Zoren who nodded tensely.

“He doesn’t.”

3/3

Subscribed

0 Likes