Kael's POV
"Where is Doctor Daniel?" My fingers curled protectively around Soraya as I stared at the nurse.
Even if she had been sent here, she had barged in unannounced, and that was something we wouldn't overlook easily.
My brothers and I glared daggers at the nurse, our chests rumbling with suppressed growls.
Only the moon goddess alone knows how lucky this nurse was.
The tray in her arms rattled as she trembled. "H– he's attending to another patient, your highness."
My jaws tightened.
Daniel knew we only trusted him with Soraya, so where the hell was he?
"Patient?" Draven cut in before me. "Isn't this a private hospital? So why were there other patients that we didn't know about?"
Good question.
I narrowed my gaze at the nurse, waiting for her to speak.
Her body shook even more under our collected gaze.
"I– I have no idea about your highness. He only told me he would be back." She blurted nasally, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I am only doing my job."
Seeing the nurse about to break down, I decided to let it go.
Lucen scowled at the woman. "What do you want?"
"The i– injection." She stammered, pushing the tray in her hands forward like an offering. "I came to give it to her."
We all looked at Soraya, then back at the needle prepared understanding flashing in our eyes.
Earlier, Daniel had come to give her the injection, however due to the situation at that time he had to leave.
"Alright." I said, signaling for my brothers to let the nurse pass.
A disgruntled look crossed their faces, their huge forms giving off pressure as they grunted moving aside.
"You had better not make any mistake." Draven spat, crossing his arms.
The nurse froze, fear flashing in her eyes the very second.
"Y–yes, your highness Draven." She bowed, hurriedly walking past him to the bed.
I didn't make a comment on Draven's behaviour.
Instead, I observed the nurse.
Something about her seemed off… even her scent.
~Stinky.
Kane huffed, pacing restlessly in my head the more the nurse got closer to Soraya.
The smell of rotten apples and tangerines mixed into the air like oxygen.
Moon goddess, it was awful.
How could anyone have such a nasty scent?
My brows furrowed deeper, my gaze on the nurse going intense.
However, Soraya's shout snapped my attention away from her.
"Get away from me!" Soraya screamed, scrambling to the edge of the bed, her back hitting the wall. "I don't want any needles!"
The nurse stiffened, slapping a smile on her face. "It's for your own good."
"I don't care!" Soraya shouted, shaking her head. "It's my body, so I determine what's good and what's bad."
Lucen and Draven turned to look at me, helplessness flashing in their eyes.
I let out a long breath, walking to the bed.
At my approach, Soraya moved towards me, her small hands gripping my waist tightly as she buried her face in my stomach.
I felt a zap at the touch, the foreign sensation burning at the same time thrilling filling me with wonder.
~What was that?
Kane yipped, his surprise dripping just like mine.
I couldn't explain the feeling.
It was benign, at the same time, it felt like it had been there before.
I looked towards my gaze, my astonishment visible.
Was this what they felt when she touched them?
At that time, I couldn't understand, and even now I still couldn't understand what it was.
My heart raced lightly, skipping a few beats between.
I had so much to say, but knowing now wasn't the best time, especially with an audience here, I swallowed them up.
"Soraya?" I called, gently petting at her hair— something I never thought I would find myself doing, but I couldn't control it.
She didn't respond, pressing her face to her stomach instead.
It tickled.
A laugh bubbled in my chest, threatening to break away.
Thankfully, I stopped it, covering it with a cough instead.
Draven and Lucen looked at me with strange looks, but I ignored them.
"Soraya I know you don't want to take this, but it's really important you do." I began, making my voice as gentle as possible.
Still, she refused, tightening her hold on me. "I don't wanna."
~Our mate's a baby.
Kane preened with pride, gushing at the cute voice she used.
Cute?
I frowned. Was there something wrong with me?
How could I think it was cute?
"Your highness." The nurse called from the side, her expression tight with apprehension. "If she doesn't take this injection, doctor Daniel warns that she might never have a proper heat cycle again."
My gaze on the nurse sharpened. "Did I ask you to speak?"
"I– I am sorry your highness." She stammered, bowing her head. "I just want to remind you how important this is."
I scowled at the nurse, turning away from her before I tore her to shreds.
I didn't know what this nurse was about, but she was pushing the wrong buttons in me.
I grabbed Soraya's face, making her look up.
The poor omega had her lips in a pout, pretty pink lips pressed forward, and tears hanging at her lashes. "I don't want to take any injections. They hurt…"
My heart skipped a beat.
Moon goddess. I cursed, closing my eyes so it wouldn't affect me.
"Let's make a deal okay?" I said, taking a different approach. "If you take this for me, I'll do anything you want."
"Anything?" She repeated, her deep blue eyes twinkling under the light.
Heavens.
I shook, forcing myself to focus.
"Promise." I said.
Unlike before, she didn't hold out her pinky, but it didn't make it less endearing.
Having her agree, I beckoned to the waiting nurse.
Soraya's body shook as the nurse drew out the needle, her palms fisting my shirt.
"It's alright. We are here with you." I promised, holding her.
Draven and Lucen tactfully stayed to her other side, the bed dipping with their combined weights.
Surprisingly, Draven spoke. "Don't focus on the needle, focus on us okay?"
I looked at my brother, my chest burning with a complicated feeling.
Draven's eyes moved upwards, our gazes locking for a brief moment.
In that short time, I couldn't tell what he was thinking, but one thing was certain: my brother was changing.
It was small, barely noticeable, but it was there.
Did he know?
I looked away, turning back to Soraya.
Soraya's face still rested on my stomach, her grip on my waist unrelenting as the nurse brought her needle closer.
"Mnn," She whined, looking away for a moment and turning back to face the nurse.
The vial in the needle glowed faintly under the light, a small smile spreading on the nurse's face. "Don't worry, it won't hurt at all."
My heart tightened at her words, unease creeping in.
Why were her words unsettling me?
My grip on Soraya tightened as well, my gaze landing on my brothers who looked visibly tensed as well.
Just inches away from pushing the needle, Soraya shifted, hitting the needle at the fastest speed possible.
"Soraya!"
Everything happened in a blink.
The needle fell to the ground with a sickening pop, the smell filling the air instantly.
The word around me seemed to slow as I stared at the broken vial, Lucen and Draven shooting to their feet immediately.
"Is that…" Draven drawled, his words trailing off.
My nose twitched at the awful smell, dread settling in my chest as the smell thickened.
"Silver." Lucen growled.
At once, our eyes pinned on the dumbfounded nurse, her racing heart pumping loudly like a drum.
"How dare you?" I snarled, taking a step at her, but she bolted.
Without hesitation, I ran after her, throwing a command at Lucen. "Look after Soraya." Was all I said.
~Catch that bitch!
Kane snarled, his rage pressing with mine.
My senses instantly heightened, the sound of my feet hitting the ground loud and echoing in my ears.
I caught up to the nurse in no time, the woman turning pale with fright as she struggled to fit in a new cloth.
I gripped her by the neck, slamming her back into the wall.
"Who sent you?" I roared, pressing my claws into her neck.
She let out a cry in pain, blood ticking down her neck. "N–no one." She choked, lying through her teeth. "L–let me g–go."
"Do you think I am a fool?" I snarled, sinking my claws deeper. "I'll give you one last chance. Who are you, and who sent you here?"
The woman's face distorted in pain, but despite that she laughed, a malicious glint flickering in her eyes. "W–why should I t–tell you when you want to kill me? I am n–no fool as well your high–highness. If you want to know, then let me go."
I tilted my head, voice falling dangerously low. "Are you threatening me?"
"It's the t–truth , your majesty." She choked, my claws almost digging into her windpipe. "I am not the only person sent here, and I won't be the last. I–if… you want to find out who they all are… you need to keep me alive. So… you can't kill me."
One word left my lips.
"Idiot." I said, tightening my grip on her throat.
Her eyes widened in shock, but before she could speak, I moved, ripping her neck apart.
Blood splattered over the wall, staining my trouser.
"Disgusting." I spat, throwing her body on the floor.
Her head rolled to the side, stopping beside my feet. Mercilessly, I kicked it away, walking away.
The bitch thinks I need her? Well she was wrong.
If she had talked, maybe. Maybe I would have spared her life, but she was foolish enough to threaten me.
~Mate.
Kane hummed worriedly, causing me to increase my pace, heading to the room where Soraya was being kept.
Draven and Lucen both turned to me the moment I entered, their eyes taking sight of the blood on me.
"Don't bother." I said to them, looking at Soraya. "She didn't say anything useful." Just jargon.
Luckily, Soraya wasn't hurt, but probably shaken.
I ran my hand into my head, frustrated.
Although I didn't need the nurse, finding out who sent it was going to take time.
Unexpectedly, Soraya spoke up. "I know who sent her."