Page 29 of Alpha's Exiled Mate

“Sophia!” His voice was raw with worry. She stood at the corridor’s turn, trembling, and threw herself into his arms.

“Are you alright?” he asked, his tone urgent.

“I… I’m fine,” she sobbed, clinging to him. “But you’re hurt!”

“It’s alright,” Perock comforted her softly, “I’ll heal soon.”

He raised his hand, gently wiping the tears from her face with a tenderness and intimacy that made it seem as though they were the only two people in the world.

Suddenly, Sophia, seemingly overwhelmed by the intense shock she had just endured, her entire body was on the verge of collapsing. Her legs gave way, and Perock immediately scooped her up, his movements practiced and gentle, holding her close to his chest.

“You’re shaken, Sophie. You need rest,” he said, his eyes soft with concern. “I’ll take you to a safe place.”

Perock carried Sophia away, not even glancing back at me, as if he had completely forgotten I was there. I stood rooted to the spot, stunned.

Even in the midst of danger, even while injured himself, Perock’s primary concern was still Sophia.

Only Sophia.

“Your Highness, are you okay?” Orin’s voice cut through my daze, his shoulder and arm bleeding profusely, but his eyes held only worry for me.

“I… I’m fine,” I whispered, my voice quaking. “But you…”

“It’s nothing,” Orin said, managing a pained smile, his face pale. “As long as you’re safe.”

Gratitude and guilt flooded me. “Thank you for saving me,” I said, my voice breaking. “If it wasn’t you…”

“It’s my duty, Your Highness,” he replied, his tone formal but his gaze warm with sincerity. “Protecting you is my honor.”

His kindness stood in stark contrast to Perock’s indifference. Orin, wounded and bleeding, stayed by my side, while Perock had chosen Sophia without hesitation.

“Please let me see your wound,” I said, reaching out to check his shoulder.

“No need, Your Highness,” Orin said, stepping back with a hint of embarrassment. Then, he added in a soft, admiring tone, “His Highness is truly valiant.” His gaze drifted toward the direction Perock had gone. “For Miss Sophia, he’s always exceptionally brave and fearless.”

His words pierced my heart like a needle.

“They were… engaged, weren’t they?” I couldn’t help but ask, stepping forward and taking off my shawl to bandage Orin’s wound.

Orin fell silent for a moment, as if weighing what to say. Then, he answered in a low voice, “Yes, Your Highness. They grew up together. Everyone said they were destined to be together.”

“But she left him,” I said, Lord Thornfield’s words echoing in my mind.

Orin nodded, letting out a soft sigh. “But some affections, even betrayal can’t erase. His Highness, for her sake, went nearly five days without eating or drinking. We all thought he would die.”

My hand paused for a moment, a bitter ache swelling in my chest.

The depth of such emotion was suffocating—or rather, it felt suffocating to me in this moment.

“Let me escort you back,” Orin offered. “It’s not safe here.”

Back in my chambers, Orin bowed at the door. “I’ll assign guards to keep watch outside the door. If you need any assistance, just call for them.”

“Thank you, Orin,” I looked at him sincerely. “Don’t forget to tend to your wounds.”

He smiled faintly. “For you, Your Highness, these are nothing.”

Alone, I sat on the bed’s edge, waiting for Perock, the moonlight creeping across the floor. He didn’t come.