Page 27 of His Snowbound Omega
If he kept busy, Thorn didn’t have time to let his mind wander to the alpha or the contract. He couldn’t dwell on the silence or pick apart how that made him feel.
Especially when he arrived on his brother’s floor and found the bed he’d been assigned empty.
The panic hit him first, freezing him in place as his brain tried to process the sight of the folded comforter over the single mattress. There were a couple of other patients, but they didn’t seem to notice him locked in the doorway, which was fine, since he didn’t really process their presence either.
Twisting on his heels, Thorn’s gaze leapt around the hallway, momentarily caught up in the tight feeling in his chest and the way his vision seemed to swirl. He had to get himself together. An empty bed didn’t necessarily mean—
There.
He grabbed onto the first nurse that passed by, wild desperation causing her to tense, until he spoke and she figured out what was wrong. “My brother. Patient Winters.”
“He was moved.” She squeezed his hand and led him down toward the elevators, in a clear show that she’d handled panicked guardians before. “Weren’t you informed?”
No, he hadn’t been. Thorn had checked his multi-slate just before entering the hospital. There had been no missed calls or messages.
She eased him into the elevator and then hit the top button. “It’ll be the first room on your left. You can’t miss it. Try to breathe, honey. Before I transferred his files to his new team, I checked and everything looks good.”
“The surgery?” he asked just as she stepped out and the doors began to close.
“No complications afterward,” she reassured, giving him a thumbs up just as they shut.
Thorn reached back blindly and grabbed onto the metal railing as the elevator began to rise. There was always a chance something could go wrong after a major surgery, even if it was considered successful, and he’d been so afraid that…
Aster was fine. She’d said so herself.
Everything was fine.
He used this time to compose himself, not wanting to freak his brother out by rushing in and making a scene. That would only cause Aster unnecessary stress in a period where staying relaxed was paramount.
By the time the elevator reached the top floor and dinged, no one would be able to tell he’d had a meltdown moments ago. He stepped out and then paused, noting that the area was quieter and more spacious than the rest of the hospital.
A sign for VIP explained why.
Baal must have done this.
It would have been nice of him to inform Thorn.
The door was easy enough to find, and he walked right in, any lingering unease uncoiling in his chest the second his eyes landed on Aster, seated in a comfortable-looking bed across the room.
“Thorn!” Aster greeted him with a broad smile. “You’re here!”
“Sorry I’m late.” He went straight for him, scanning his body as he approached. “I came as soon as I got the call from the hospital. How are you feeling? Is there any pain? Discomfort?”
“I’m fine.” Aster had been eating fried dumplings, and he motioned with his chopsticks. “You’ve got to try one of these! They’re the best.”
“I thought you hated hospital food?” He frowned but dutifully opened his mouth when his brother offered one up. A burst of sweetness and saltiness hit his tongue, and he hummed in appreciation as he chewed. “Wow, these are good.”
“They’re from that five-star place across the city,” Aster said. “Brother-in-law brought them.”
Thorn choked, coughing as he spun until he found water on the end table.
“You all right?” Aster asked as Thorn took a deep gulp and forced the food down.
“Who—” He cleared his throat and tried again. “Who did you say bought them?”
“Your alpha.”
“My—”