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"Ugh," Henry stirred in pain, trying to rise.

"You should not be up, Alpha," the nurse hurried over to help him sit since he was insistent.

Alpha Henry was made to sit against the bed frame, but the pain that ricocheted through his body was so massive he groaned, "Why am I in so much pain?"

"You had multiple fractures, Alpha Henry. To be precise, five broken ribs, and it's a miracle none of them pierced any organs. You also nearly suffered cardiac arrest, a concussion, and bruises all over your body," the nurse summarized his condition.

Henry groaned in both anger and pain as he looked down at his bandaged chest. There was no mirror, but from the throbbing in his eyes and jaw, he bet he looked horrible.

He choked out, trying to adjust his position, "T-there is a healer, the one from the school. Why isn't she here to take away this pain?"

"You mean Healer Adele?"

"Do I look like I fucking need her name?!" Henry snarled.

"Apologies, Alpha Henry, but Healer Adele spent all of her energy healing your son Asher. She has none to spare for you."

"What?" Henry was left in shock, and when he recovered seconds later, he snarled, "So you prioritized my son over me, a ruling Alpha?"

"Well…" The nurse didn't know how to say it. "Adele said her duty is to the king's heir and not…" She left the words hanging, knowing how they sounded, especially with that terrifying look on his face.

Henry stared blankly at the nurse before he burst into a mirthless laugh. When it gurgled to a halt, the silence that followed was unsettling, his hands balling into fists, his expression dark.

His wolf Malrek roared in his head, demanding retribution for this humiliation.

And that it would get, but not yet. They were in no state to fight.

If Asher thought he would get away with this public disgrace, he was in for a loss.

And that whore of his too. By the time he was done with them all, perhaps he'd let her stick her mouth on his dick before wringing the life out of her.

Malrek seemed satisfied by that answer and settled. Henry looked around the pristine private ward and asked, "Is this the school's hospital? Is Patrick around?" He was curious to see Elijah's pet doctor, the one that had been tasked with rebuilding the wolf population with the help of science.

But the nurse shook her head and said, "Apologies, Alpha Henry, but this is just one of the hospitals in Aster City. The other Alphas made a decision. You have been banned from Lunaris Academy and its environs indefinitely."

"What?!" Henry shouted, only to fall into a hacking cough. He coughed so hard he spat out blood, and when the nurse saw that, her eyes widened.

"Alpha Henry!" The nurse ran to his side, trying to help him, but with his wolf strength, Henry grabbed her by the neck and yanked her to the bed, his grip tightening as he began to strangle her.

"Alpha!" the nurse gasped, clawing at his hand around her throat to no avail.

"How dare they?! Who gave them the right?

!" Henry snarled, his rage surging, eyes glowing as his wolf surfaced.

He needed to hurt someone, to feel in control again, and the nurse was the unfortunate one to bear the brunt of his anger.

He relished the fear in her eyes, the power of it washing over him like a drug, soothing the fire in his soul.

But his ears perked at the sound of approaching footsteps. The moment shattered when someone said, "Really, Henry? Is this how low you've decided to stoop?"

Henry shoved the nurse aside and snarled at his unexpected visitor. "Irene."

The disgust in his voice made his hatred for her obvious.

But Irene smiled widely, unbothered by his hostility. She looked at the nurse gasping for air on the floor and the bruises blooming around her neck. "First, Lunaris Academy. Now the hospital," she chuckled. "You really want to be banned from Aster City too."

Henry bared his teeth at her. "Get lost."

"Aww, is that how you greet your visitor? I even brought fruits," Irene taunted, lifting the fruit basket she had indeed come with, placing it on the table.

But the nurse did not wait for more drama. She got the hell out of there. There was no way she would return to treat that psychopath.

As soon as the nurse left, Irene said to Henry, "Good luck finding another nurse. Your stay here will be a pleasant one. Not that you'll be staying long. Your Beta has been contacted. He'll be here tomorrow morning to take you back."

Henry couldn't let Irene see him like this, weak and vulnerable. So even though he was in agonizing pain, he forced himself to his feet, walking toward her with a steady gait, hiding the limp that threatened to show.

Soon, they were face to face, his snarl curling his lips. "You had no right to ban me from Lunaris. I will not accept that."

"You should accept it. It's the kindest punishment you'll get compared to what you deserve for hurting Asher."

"What punishment? It was a match!"

"You broke the rules, Henry."

"He's my fucking son. I have the right to discipline him."

"Of course, he's your son, but he's also Elijah's heir. And that was not discipline, you son of the devil!" Irene snarled and stabbed him in the stomach with her claws.

Henry gasped, his gaze dropping to the blood that darkened the bandages wrapped around him.

He groaned in both pain and dark delight. "I didn't know you were into me like this, Alpha Irene," he mocked.

Irene rolled her eyes. "Think whatever you want, you twisted motherfucker.

But…" She twisted her claws deeper, finally drawing a cry of pain from Henry.

"Don't lay a hand on those kids. Violet especially.

I know how your mind works, and if any harm comes to her, you'll have the East pack's wrath to answer for.

And trust me, that will mean civil war."

She retracted her claws, and Henry groaned as blood poured from the wound.

"That's all I came to say," she said, wiping her bloodied hand with a handkerchief. "Do have a pleasant stay." She tossed the handkerchief onto the floor and turned to leave.

Henry watched her go, her hips swaying with that infuriating confidence, taunting him. He growled. That fucking bitch. One day, he would teach her her place.

His gaze drifted to the handkerchief on the floor. Despite the pain ripping through his body, he bent and picked it up.

He had no idea why, but Henry brought it to his nose and inhaled her scent.

And heavens above… He groaned as blood rushed straight to his groin.

Fuck his life.

And in the darkness of his head, Malrek stirred, his eyes set on Irene.

"Look at you. Crawling after a woman's scent like a pup. But we will have her, Henry. You know we will. She is just a woman. And like all women, she will bow. They always do."

And Henry couldn't wait for Irene to bow.

He brought the handkerchief to his nose this time and sniffed deeply as if it were a drug and he couldn't get enough.