Alina's POV
The sterile scent of antiseptic stung my nostrils before I even opened my eyes. It was that unmistakable, heavy smell of a hospital. My eyelids felt like lead, fluttering against the harsh fluorescent glow of the room. Memory came back in jagged shards: the deafening howl of a rogue, the flash of teeth, the cold terror. It was a miracle I was breathing at all.
I tried to push myself up, but a white-hot flare of agony shot through my side. My breath hitched in a sharp wince, and I collapsed back onto the thin mattress, trembling.
"Leo," I croaked, my voice barely a dry rattle. My son. The need to reach him felt like a physical tug in my chest.
The door clicked open, and a nurse stepped in, her expression softening when she saw me. "I am glad to see you are finally awake," she said, checking the IV drip beside my bed.
"What happened?" I forced the words out, my throat tight. "How did I get here?"
"A man brought you in. He had the look of an outcast about him, but..." She trailed off, a faint, dazed smile touching her lips. "He was striking. He's your savior, truly. If he hadn't arrived when he did, you wouldn't have made it."
A cold shiver ran down my spine. The thought of Leo growing up without a mother—of being truly alone in the world—was more terrifying than the rogue's claws.
"Did he give a name? I need to thank him."
"No name," she said, shaking her head.
"Any distinct features? Anything I could use to recognize him?"
"Like I said, he looked like a rogue," she whispered, leaning in slightly. "But he had this shock of bright blonde hair and amber eyes that seemed to glow. He was... well, built." She cleared her throat, suddenly flustered as she straightened her uniform. "The doctor will be here soon. We've already informed your husband."
The word hit me like a physical blow. Husband? The man who had rejected me? The man who had stripped me of my title and humiliated me before the entire pack?
"I don't have a—"
The door swung open with a heavy thud. Aiden stormed in, his face a mask of raw panic. His eyes were bloodshot, shimmering with what looked like unshed tears. I blinked, wondering if the pain medication was making me hallucinate.
"Alina, how did this happen?" he demanded, his voice thick with a strange, jagged concern.
"It was my fault," I muttered, looking away from the intensity in his gaze. "I should have been more careful."
"This won't do. You are never driving again," he snapped, his tone turning stern, almost possessive. "I'll hire a driver for you. You won't be alone on the road again."
"You don't need to worry about me, Aiden," I said, my voice hardening. "It was a minor accident. I don't need a driver."
"Minor? You call this minor?" His voice rose, laced with a sharp edge of annoyance. He turned abruptly as the doctor entered the room. "Doctor, what is the situation? Tell me everything."
"She seems to be fine," the doctor said, his voice trailing off as he looked at my chart. "It is a rare case, but she seems to have healed some of the major injuries. It's strange for an Omega who is wolfless."
A wave of relief washed over me. I didn't care if he found it "weird"—all that mattered was that I could move again.
"But she still needs to be taken care of," he added, looking toward Aiden. "So, I say she should be bedridden for about a week."
"A week?" I tried to sit up, but the stiffness in my body stopped me. "Doctor, I can't stay here for a week. My son needs me."
"Don't be ridiculous, Alina," Aiden snapped, his voice sharp with annoyance. He stepped closer, his presence crowding the small space. "A week is fine. Leo is also my son; I won't let anything happen to him."
I bit my lip, knowing there was no use arguing when he used that tone. The doctor and the nurse stepped out, the door clicking shut behind them. Aiden turned to me, his expression hardening.
"Who saved you?" he asked, his voice low and serious.
"What?" I blinked, caught off guard.
"The doctor told me a man brought you here. So, who was it?"
I looked at the ceiling, trying to pull the blurry memory together. The flickering light above my bed made my head throb. "How am I supposed to know who it was? But what I do remember is that a rogue brought me here."
Aiden's eyes widened, his face pale as he took a step back in shock.
"A rogue," he repeated, his lip curling in pure disgust. "Those useless, feral creatures."
The annoyance in his voice was thick, vibrating through the small room. In the pack, rogues are known as nothing but troublemakers and pack-destroyers. I never thought I'd owe my life to a man like that.
"Maybe they aren't as bad as we think," I said, my voice trembling slightly.
Aiden shot me a cold, predatory glare that silenced me instantly, his fists clenching at his sides.
"And also," I whispered, clutching the hospital sheets, "why did you tell them you were my husband?"
"What was I supposed to say?" he snapped back, his irritation growing. He straightened his jacket and turned toward the door. "I should get going. I will get people to take care of you for the next week."
He walked out without another word.
"What is his problem? I just asked a question," I whispered to the empty room. The steady beep, beep of the machines filled the silence. I closed my eyes, drifting back to the memory of the accident. I couldn't even remember his face—I must have been unconscious the whole time.
Whoever he is, I hope I see him again. I need to thank him for saving my life.