Chapter 102: Little Dorian

Alyssa had finally been moved out of the ICU and into the private VIP wing.

Outside her door, footsteps echoed endlessly. Elite Alpha guards patrolled the floor twenty-four hours a day, strictly detaining and interrogating every nurse, physician, and orderly who approached.

Dorian had bought out the entire wing, clearing the adjacent rooms. His paranoia was full blown, because as long as Pilate roamed free, slipping up wasn’t an option.

Alyssa remained completely in the dark. She didn’t know about her dormant Lycan wolf, her Hybrid identity, nor did she know that her internal wounds had healed at an impossible rate.

And, above all, Dorian had forbidden anyone from mentioning the pregnancy she never knew existed.

Every morning, the medical staff changed her dressings and administered IV fluids in absolute silence, bound by blood oaths of secrecy. Dorian had made it clear: he would tell her the truth himself when he finally brought her home.

That morning, after the nurses finished their rounds, Alyssa decided she couldn’t take the stillness of the bed any longer. Pandora and Henna had been hovering over her constantly, helping her to the bathroom and fluffing her pillows. But today, strength vibrated beneath her skin. She needed a walk.

She was just swinging her feet over the edge of the bed when the door swung open.

Alyssa looked up, a bright smile lighting up her pale face as her eyes locked onto Dorian.

He had returned home briefly to shower and change, but he hadn’t been gone for more than an hour. Now, he stood in the doorway dressed in a soft black shirt and trousers, holding a massive bouquet of red roses in one hand and a giant, plush brown teddy bear in the other.

The moment his eyes caught her trying to stand, the gifts were tossed onto the side table, and he rushed across the room.

"What are you doing?" he demanded softly, his hands catching her waist to anchor her.

"What? I was just getting up."

"Without help? Where is the floor nurse? She should be assisting you."

"Dorian, I’m not sick," she chuckled softly, her hands settling against his broad chest. "Dr. Dylan said my recovery is a miracle. I don’t even feel the aches anymore."

She reached up, smoothing over the deep line etched between his brows. "I’m okay, Dorian. Please stop looking at me like I’m made of glass."

A shadow of grief flickered across Dorian’s eyes before he could hide it. He gripped her waist a little tighter, his throat tight.

​"I have to look after you," he rasped. "It’s my fault this happened to you. If I hadn’t left for the Hunt..."

"Dorian, we talked about this," she sighed softly, placing a hand over his cheek. "I won’t let you carry guilt that isn’t yours. It wasn’t your fault, and if you keep breaking yourself over it, you’re going to break my heart too."

Dorian felt as though a blade were twisting in his chest. He searched her eyes, taking in her innocence, the complete lack of pain on her face, and felt a suffocating wave of love and terror wash over him.

He swallowed hard, forcing a soft, tender smile. "I’m sorry, my love. I just... I can’t lose you."

"You’re not losing me," she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him tight against her. "You’re stuck with me for life."

A low, breathy laugh escaped Dorian’s chest. He leaned down, capturing her lips in a deep, lingering kiss, pouring every unsaid prayer, every ounce of unspoken grief, and every drop of devotion into it.

"You’re the one stuck with me," he murmured against her lips, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I’m never letting you go."

She offered him a cheeky grin. "Good. Because I don’t intend to run."

Dorian’s lips twitched into that rare, wicked smile she loved so much. His eyes trailed over her softly, taking in her appearance. "You look beautiful."

"Really?" She beamed, doing a small twirl to show off the soft pink silk sundress. "Pandora brought it this morning. It feels so much better than those hospital gowns."

"It’s perfect," Dorian said quietly, his gaze softening. "It suits you."

Her eyes drifted past his shoulder to the table, lighting up as she caught sight of the oversized bear and roses. "Are those for me?"

Dorian blinked, remembering the gifts. He turned, grabbed the massive bouquet, and placed it carefully into her arms.

"I wanted to bring you something to brighten your day," he admitted softly. "I know how much you love the roses in the garden."

Alyssa brought the velvety petals to her face, inhaling the deep, sweet fragrance. "They are beautiful," she whispered, looking up at him through her lashes. "But you already brighten my day, Dorian."

"Then consider them a bonus," he chuckled, picking up the massive plush bear and setting it gently on the bed beside her. "Pandora insisted on the bear. She swore you’d love it."

"I do love it!" Alyssa laughed, pulling it into her lap and hugging it to her chest. "Thank you. Now whenever you’re away handling pack business, I’ll cuddle him and think of you."

Dorian raised an eyebrow, eyeing the stuffed animal like a rival wolf. "You don’t need a toy to think of me."

Alyssa giggled, her eyes dancing with affection. "Like you said, consider it a bonus."

Dorian laughed aloud, a deep, rich sound that seemed to clear the dark fog hanging over the room. For a brief, shining moment, seeing her happy made the heavy weight on his shoulders feel survivable.

"Have you eaten yet?" he asked gently. "I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I figured I’d ask..."

A soft knock interrupted him. The door swung open, and a young nurse bowed respectfully at the threshold.

"Forgive me, Alpha Dorian, Luna Alyssa," she said politely. "Dr. Dylan requests your presence in his office, Alpha. He says it is urgent."

Dorian’s cheerful demeanor vanished instantly, replaced by a wary feeling. He gave the nurse a curt nod, then turned back to Alyssa, cupping her face in his hands.

"Stay right here. I’ll speak with Dylan, and then I’ll bring you a proper breakfast."

"Okay," she smiled, leaning up to kiss his cheek. "I’ll be waiting."

He nuzzled her nose affectionately until a soft laugh escaped her lips, then turned and stepped out of the room.

Alyssa nestled deeper into the armchair, hugging the soft bear tightly against her chest. She smoothed down its fuzzy brown ears, looking into its glass eyes with a soft grin.

"I think I’ll name you Dorian," she whispered playfully, giggling to herself in the quiet room. "Little Dorian. But it will be our little secret."

She sat there peacefully, soaking in the quiet. But as twenty minutes stretched into thirty, the silence began to feel heavy. Her stomach gave a sharp, hollow growl, reminding her how long it had been since she had eaten.

Dropping the bear onto the bed, she smoothed down her pink dress and walked to the door. When she pulled it open, two guards snapped to attention.

"Your Majesty," they greeted in unison, bowing their heads.

"Good morning," Alyssa offered a warm smile. "Do you know where Dorian went? He’s been gone for a while."

"The Alpha is down the hallway with Dr. Dylan, Luna," one guard answered respectfully.

"Thank you," she nodded, stepping out into the wide hallway.

As she walked down, she noticed the two guards falling into step behind her at a respectful distance. She paid them no mind, focusing on the quiet murmur of voices echoing from around the corner.

She expected to find Dorian in Dylan’s office, but as she drew closer to the alcove near the floor-to-ceiling windows, the voices grew clearer.

It wasn’t just Dorian. Pandora and Anthony were standing there with him.

Alyssa slowed her steps, not wanting to interrupt what sounded like an intense, hushed argument.

"...you have to tell her, Dorian," Anthony’s deep voice carried down the hall. "Alyssa deserves to know the truth. Hiding something this massive will only tear her apart when it finally comes out."

Alyssa paused, her hand hovering near the wall. Her brow furrowed in confusion. Tell me what? What are they hiding?

"Anthony is right," Pandora pleaded, her voice trembling with emotional strain. "The longer you keep this locked away, the worse the damage will be when the truth breaks. I know you don’t want to hurt her, but the hospital staff talk. If she finds out from some whispering nurse that she lost her baby, she will never forgive you for keeping it from her."

The words struck Alyssa, sucking the air from her lungs. The world tilted violently on its axis, the white walls blurring as a deafening, metallic ringing shrieked in her ears.

​Lost her baby?

Baby? She had been pregnant?

Her knees buckled, her hand slapping blindly against the wall to keep from collapsing. Tears flooded her vision, spilling over her cheeks in hot, uncontrollable rivers.

Her heart didn’t just break; it shattered into a thousand jagged pieces inside her chest. She had been carrying Dorian’s child. And it was gone. And he never told her.

A choked, ragged sob tore from her throat, the sound echoing sharply down the empty hallway.

Around the corner, Dorian’s head snapped toward the noise, his face draining of all color as he felt her presence.

"Alyssa..." he breathed, horror seizing his chest.

Before he could take a single step toward her, Alyssa turned on her heel, her frantic sobs echoing off the walls as she pushed past the guards and fled.