Page 56 of His Fated Luna

No, no, no!

But the drowsiness hit fast, swallowing me whole.

Aiden’s POV

I sat in Dr. Danvers’s office as he discussed Rose’s case.

“She’s been sheltered for most of her life,” the doctor said, fingers steepled together. “So an event like this was difficult for her to process. Alpha, she needs time to come to terms with everything. She was almost raped. She was kidnapped and brutally beaten. That would be traumatizing for anyone.”

Rage swelled inside me again.

“I need to find out who was behind this,” I pressed. “If I don’t know anything, I can’t keep her safe.”

“You will not question her,” Dr. Danvers insisted. “It might send her into another panic attack. I assume you’ve filed a report with the police?”

I nodded.

“We told them we found her screaming in the woods. We turned the body in, saying it was mauled by wolves in the shack.” A grim smile tugged at my lips. “Of course, the sheriff knows it was most likely werewolves. But that’s beside the point.”

Dr. Danvers exhaled heavily. “Let the police investigate. You said it looked like there were two people?”

“We did,” I confirmed. “Ezra also passed along what little Rose was able to say before she had another…episode.”

“You cannot question my patient further,” Dr. Danvers said firmly. “But you may go in to see her.” He closed Rose’s file. “I’m only allowing it because you’re our alpha. I trust you not to trigger another volatile situation like Ezra did.”

I nodded, rubbing my eyes tiredly.

Would she even want to see me?

This was all my fault.

With a resigned sigh, I made my way to the room Rose had been given. It was the one reserved for the alpha’s family—a room meant for the luna.

Her bruises had faded, and the cut on her lip was gone. Still, she looked so fragile, so pale, lying in that bed. As I stepped closer, the thick fringe of her lashes fluttered open. Her eyes found mine, and, to my surprise, a small smile touched her lips.

“Well, this is becoming a habit,” she teased. “Me in the hospital, you visiting me.”

I swallowed hard, waiting for her to lash out at me.

“What’s wrong with you?” she asked, her expression shifting as she studied me.

Wincing from the lingering pain in her leg, she sat up in bed, her curls tumbling over her shoulders.

I didn’t answer, keeping my gaze on the floor. I wasn’t supposed to upset her. She might have another panic attack.

“Are you angry?” she asked hesitantly.

“Why would I be angry?” I snapped, unable to keep the frustration from my voice. My head lifted to meet her gaze. “I have no reason to be angry at you, Rose. The entire reason you were sent away was to prevent something like this from happening. This is my fault. I should have been better equipped to protect you.”

I pressed my lips into a tight line, bracing myself for her to agree.

Because the truth was, I knew what was really going through my mind.

I should have been better prepared for the mate pull.

I should have never exposed her in the diner…

I should have never let my wolf’s territorial side rub off Rose’s luna mark for all the world to see.