Zion’s eyes narrowed as he realized the source of the tension: his aura. It was seeping into the room, amplifying the nurses’ anxiety and risking mistakes that could affect Addison. He forced it down, pressing control over the storm inside him, and spoke lowly to Shura.
"Shura... calm down. If we lose control now, we’ll make things worse for Addison. The nurses need to do their job, and we need them to focus. If you want to stay close to our mate, stay, but calm yourself."
At his words, Shura stiffened for a moment, then let out a soft whimper before curling into itself, burying its face in its legs.
"I’m just angry because of what happened to our mate. That bastard, I should’ve killed him back then..." Shura whimpered.
Zion softened his voice. "I know, buddy. I know. But getting angry won’t help right now. It’s not too late to deal with him later, quietly, without a trace. For now, we calm down and watch over our mate, okay?"
He drew a slow breath, forcing the oppressive aura to ebb away. As the tension in the room eased, the lead nurse visibly relaxed and nodded. Two male nurses held Addison’s hand steady while she focused, took a measured breath, and prepared the injection.
"I’m ready to administer the sedation..." the nurse murmured. Those holding Addison tightened their grip until she could barely move.
The female nurse guided the large needle into her skin. Carefully and steadily, the medicine as it slowly entered her bloodstream. Zion’s heart clenched at the sight; he couldn’t bear to watch the needle pierce her jade-like skin, drawing a thin line of blood. He turned his head, focusing only on Addison’s face.
"Baby... you’ll be well soon," he murmured, gently tucking her wet hair behind her ear with his free hand, trying to soothe her through his touch.
"T-The sedation is complete... please wait until the medicine takes effect," the nurse stammered, relief evident in her voice. She stepped back and pushed the stainless steel cart farther away to give everyone more space.
The male nurses holding Addison’s limbs didn’t release their grip immediately. They waited until her fluttering eyelashes slowed and her bite on Zion eased.
"Sedation’s taking effect," one male nurse said, finally loosening his hold. Zion, however, didn’t remove his forearm from Addison’s mouth just yet; he could feel the gradual lightening of her bite, and he stayed close, ensuring she remained safe.
"Shhh... good girl, rest for a bit. When you wake up, you’ll be fine," Zion murmured. Once he felt Addison had drifted into sleep, he turned his attention to the other nurses.
"Please... check my blood type too, in case it can help Beta Levi."
Hearing this, the nurses snapped back into action. Some immediately rushed out to gather the necessary tools and materials to test his blood, moving with urgent purpose.
Alpha Hue, who had just entered, overheard this and glanced at Zion with a knowing smile. Seeing Addison like this, Zion finally understood, Addison would only be safe if both Levi and Maxwell survived this ordeal.
Even though the two were his rivals in love, all he could do now was wait. All he could do was watch as Addison endured her suffering, growing weaker with every passing moment, while the lives of her other two mates hovered on the brink of danger.
"Understood, Alpha Zion. Please follow me to another room so we can let the Princess rest for a while," one of the male nurses suggested as he stepped closer to the door, bowing slightly in deference to Zion.
Zion understood exactly what Alpha Hue meant, even though he hadn’t said it outright. This wasn’t just idle speculation. Alpha Hue was warning him, protecting him, and by extension, protecting Addison.
And he was right. If anyone discovered that harming her mates, Levi, Maxwell, or Zion, could also hurt Addison herself, then the people targeting her would never pass up such a weakness.
If they couldn’t reach Addison directly, they would go after her mates instead. And if what happened to Levi was only the beginning... if their enemies attempted to kill all of her mates...
Would that mean they could kill her, too?
The thought hit him like a punch to the chest, sharp and terrifying, as if his heart tried to rip itself free. The possibility was real, too real, and the danger looming over Addison suddenly felt even closer, even darker, than before.
"Thank you, Alpha Hue... truly," Zion said, his voice low and rough as his eyes remained fixed on Addison’s face. No one could guess what thoughts were storming behind his expression, or how deep they ran.
Alpha Hue, sensing that he had said all he needed to say, quietly stepped out of the room, leaving Zion alone to process everything and to spend a moment in solitude beside his fated mate.
The moment Zion heard the door click shut behind him, the strength drained from his legs. He moved to Addison’s bedside and sank to his knees, leaning against the mattress as if it were the only thing keeping him upright.

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