Chapter 19

Chapter 19.

Nelly’s POV.

| heard the bathroom door creak open, and my heart stopped. | turned around, my body frozen in terror. Alpha Kex was standing there, his eyes filled with a fury I’d never seen before. He took one step, then another, coming closer to me with each stride.

| couldn't move. | was rooted to the spot, unable to run or scream or do anything to defend myself. | could feel my heart pounding in my chest, my breathing quickening. My entire body felt numb, as if it had been enveloped in ice. And yet, underneath it all, there was a fire burning in my heart.

He grabbed me, his strong hands wrapping around my arms. | thrashed and fought against him, but he was too strong.

“Let me go!” | screamed, but my words were lost in the thundering of my heart.

| kept fighting, my fists raining down on his back, my legs kicking out at him, but he didn’t react. He just kept walking, carrying me like | was a rag doll. | could barely breathe, my chest heaving with every labored breath.

He released his grip and | fell to the bed, the mattress soft beneath me. | looked up at him, my body trembling, my mind racing with fear. He was staring at me, his eyes cold and unreadable.

“Undress,” he said, his voice low and calm.

| swallowed hard, my throat dry, as | reached for the hem of my shirt. | pulled it over my head, my movements slow. | turned my back to him, my hands shaking as | began to unzip my pants.

| could hear him breathing, the sound slow and steady, but | couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

He rose from the bed, his movements slow and deliberate, and walked to the wardrobe. | watched, my mind reeling with questions, as he opened the door and reached inside. He pulled out a first aid kit, and my stomach sank.

“What are you doing?” | asked, my voice cracking with fear.

He turned to look at me, a strange, distant expression on his face. “What does it look These Automation Tools Might Surprise You A Wed, 21 Feb like I'm doing?” he replied, his tone flat and emotionless.

D | tried to speak, but my words stuck in my throat. | could feel my pulse in my temples, my heart racing.

“Lie down,” he said, his voice calm and authoritative. | complied, my limbs heavy and weak, my limbs aching as | lay on the bed.

He kneeled beside me, opening the first aid kit and removing a pair of tweezers and an antiseptic wipe.

“This is going to sting,” he warned, but | didn’t respond.

| kept my eyes closed, my mind spinning. He began to clean the cuts and scrapes on my skin, and | bit back a scream as the alcohol stung my wounds. | could feel my heart beating in my ears, the sound nearly deafening.

“You make me do things | would rather not do,” he said, his voice soft but tinged with anger.

| could feel tears welling in my eyes, but | couldn’t look at him. “I didn’t cut you dear, Emily,” | said, my voice breaking. “You didn’t even ask me!”

My words hung in the air, and | held my breath, waiting for his response. But he was silent. The room was still, the only sound was the ticking of the clock on the wall. | closed my eyes, willing the moment to end.

He finished bandaging the cuts and gently helped me to my feet. “Why didn’t you ask Aisha to help you clean your wounds?” he asked, his voice soft but insistent.

| kept my gaze on the floor, unable to look him in the eye. “I couldn’t walk to her,” | said, my voice barely above a whisper. “l was unable to leave the room.”

4 Along silence hung in the air, the only sound the rustle of the curtains in the breeze. | could feel his eyes on me, and | wanted to flee, to run and hide.

“I'm sorry,” he said, his voice quiet but clear.

| stared at him in shock, my eyes wide. I’d never heard him apologize before, and it was almost inconceivable. The Alpha Kex |

knew was ruthless, cold, and calculating. He always had a reason for everything he did, and never felt any remorse.

But here he was, apologizing to me. | couldn’t tell whether he was sincere or not. His expression was as impenetrable as ever, and | was unable to read his thoughts. We stood there, frozen in time, for what felt like an eternity.

“Emily was my late beta sister,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “We were close, Chapter 19 3 like twins. He never knew he had a sister, and when he found out, he couldn't spend time with her. He was killed before he could get to know her.”

His words were heavy with sorrow, and | felt my heartache for him. | knew he’d lost a lot, and | didn’t know what to say. | just stood there, looking at him. He looked back at me, his eyes full of pain and grief.

“I'm sorry,” | muttered, not knowing what else to say.

+5 He took a deep breath, and | could see the pain etched on his face. “My last promise to my beta was to protect his sister. Ever since then, | have sworn with my life to keep her safe. | can’t let anything happen to her, or | will never forgive myself.”

His words were heavy, and | felt my heart sink. “Why are you telling me this?” | asked, my voice trembling.

He met my gaze, his eyes intense. “I don’t want to do something like this to you again,” he said. “Avoid Emily.”

“| think it should be the other way around,” | said. “She’s the one who comes to me, not the other way around. | can’t ignore her, even if | wanted to.”

| knew my stubbornness could be infuriating, but | couldn't help it. He just looked at me, a hint of disgust on his face.

“Do you have to be so stubborn?” he asked, his voice stern. | rolled my eyes, but couldn’t help but smile.

“| will send the pack doctor to give you something for the pain,” he said, his voice gentle. “It will make you feel a little better.”

“Thank you,” | mumbled, my eyes heavy with exhaustion.

He tucked the blanket around me and stood up. He looked down at me, his expression unreadable. Then, without a word, he turned and walked out of the room.

My wounds still ached, but the pain no longer felt quite as sharp. In fact, | felt relieved. The one who had caused my pain had apologized and tried to make amends. But as | drifted off to sleep, | couldn't help but wonder if things would be the same in the morning.

Would Alpha Kex still be the same person I'd spoken to, or would he change back to his old self? | couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that settled over me, and | feared what the morning might bring.

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