Chapter 38 The pack hospital wasn't far from the Alpha house , but the walk felt longer than it should have . Each step Darius took down the corridor echoed with the weight of his thoughts , his boots striking the polished floor like the beat of a war drum . His wolf stirred restlessly beneath his skin , pushing against him , urging him to move faster , to run . She's awake . The words pulsed in his mind like a heartbeat , sparking a storm of emotions he hadn't anticipated . Relief flooded him first , sharp and overwhelming . After days of waiting , after endless hours of wondering if her spirit would fade completely , she had opened her eyes . Relief quickly tangled with worry . What state would she be in ? Would her eyes hold the same haunted emptiness as before ? Would her wolf still lie silent within her , broken beyond repair ? And beneath the relief and worry , something else burned - a fierce anticipation he couldn't name . He wanted to see her , to hear her voice , to know she had truly survived . His protectiveness surged so strongly it almost unsettled him . Pack members moved aside quickly as he passed , bowing their heads in respect . Some looked curious , no doubt sensing the urgency radiating off him , but none dared stop him . Darius's aura was sharp , focused , every line of his body tense with restrained energy . The closer he drew to her room , the louder his wolf grew . ' Hurry . She needs us . She is not safe without us . " She is safe here , " Darius murmured under his breath , earning a strange glance from a young nurse who passed by . But his wolf wasn't listening . It paced inside him , claws scraping against his chest , restless and impatient . He forced himself to slow his stride as he reached the final hallway , though every instinct screamed at him to break into a run . He needed to appear calm , steady , controlled - for her sake . Elaine had endured enough chaos , enough fear . She didn't need him storming in like a hurricane . Darius paused at the door , hand resting on the handle . His heart , steady as a warrior's even in battle , now hammered in his chest . His wolf pressed harder , a low growl reverberating in his mind , urging him to open the door . One step at a time , he told himself . Don't scare her . Don't overwhelm her . Drawing in a deep breath , he steadied his expression , pushing his emotions beneath the iron mask of an Alpha . Yet no matter how he tried , one thing remained clear : the moment he saw Elaine , all that control might shatter . And with that thought , he pushed open the door . 1/2 < Chapter 38 More Forwards The door creaked softly as Darius stepped inside , the sterile scent of herbs and antiseptic brushing against his senses . The room was quiet , dimly lit by the soft glow of morning sunlight filtering through the curtains . His eyes found her instantly , drawn as if by instinct . Elaine . She was propped slightly against the pillows , her frame still far too thin , her skin pale against the white sheets . Her hair spilled loosely around her face , strands catching the light , and though she looked fragile- delicate even - there was something in the way she sat that made his chest ache . Her eyes . They were open now . Not lifeless . Not dulled by pain or exhaustion . They held a quiet awareness , though shadowed still by sorrow . And when they lifted to meet his , Darius felt something slam through him - an invisible force that made his wolf howl with recognition . Not the pull of a mate bond , no . But something dangerously close , something that rattled the carefully built walls around his heart . He froze just inside the doorway , his usually steady composure faltering . His wolf surged forward , demanding to be closer , urging him to cross the distance in a heartbeat . But he held himself still , not wanting to frighten her , not wanting to overwhelm her fragile strength . She blinked at him , her lips parting slightly , as if uncertain whether to speak . The simple act of her looking at him - alive , awake - sent relief crashing through his veins so hard it almost left him unsteady . Darius's hand curled into a fist at his side , trying to contain the rush of emotions . Anger at those who had broken her . Relief that she had survived . And something else , raw and unyielding , that he dared not name yet . She's alive . She's safe . She's here . His wolf's voice was a growl of satisfaction and fierce protectiveness . ' Ours to protect .' Taking a slow breath , Darius finally stepped further into the room , his deep voice breaking the fragile silence . " Elaine ." Her name rolled from his tongue like both a promise and a vow. Comments Get Bonus ( Ad ) > Vote Voxe 48 6 % 2/2