The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 28

"Get out," I said, deadly quiet.

"I'm not finished—"

"Mama!"

A small, fierce cry cut through the tension. Ava burst into the room with Riley just behind her, her hospital bracelet still dangling from her wrist. She sprinted straight to me, and I carefully bent down to hug her, pressing her close like I'd never let her go.

Brittany's face contorted when she saw her. "So this is it. This is why Jason can't let you go. A single mother with a sick child, trying to climb up to his level. Pathetic."

Ava looked between us, sensing the tension in the room. She stood up straighter, pulling herself tall, and planted her small body in front of me like a shield. "You can't bully my mommy," she said, voice fierce.

Something inside me shattered and swelled all at once. Pride. Terror. Love.

But Brittany sneered. "Out of my way, brat." She shoved Ava.

It wasn't a hard push. Not hard enough to seriously injure her. But hard enough to make my daughter stumble and fall against the metal bed rail.

Ava cried out—a small sound of pain and surprise that cut through me sharper than any blade.

But what happened next made my blood freeze.

Ava's face went pale. Not the normal pale of being startled, but the awful gray color I'd learned to fear more than anything else in the world.

Her breathing became rapid and shallow. Her lips took on that blue tinge that meant her heart was struggling.

"Ava?" My scream ripped the air apart. I caught her just before she collapsed. "Get a doctor! NOW!"

Riley slammed the call button again and again. Nurses rushed in, followed by Dr. Martinez, their faces snapping into sharp lines of focus. A gurney appeared like magic. Wires, monitors, rapid orders I couldn't process filled the air.

Brittany froze, her face pale now, mascara streaks making her look like a ghost. "I didn't… I didn't mean—"

"You didn't mean what?" I snarled, clutching Ava against me until the nurse pried her away to lay her on the gurney. "To hurt my daughter? To push a sick child?"

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