53
CHAPTER 53
RYAN’S POV
I felt relieved, honestly relieved, when Sophie’s dad didn’t take it angrily and instead accepted it with respect, because for a second I was certain it was going to end badly but it didn’t, and I was thankful for that.
But even as the table went back to its calmness, my mind wasn’t on him, it was on Anna, because under the table when I held her hand, I felt it, her skin was hot, so terribly hot, and it made my chest tighten in fear. She smiled at me, but it was forced, I could see it quite clearly, she was struggling to even lift her fork and put food in her mouth
as if she was forcing herself to act fine, but I knew something was wrong, something was very wrong, and I couldn’t ask her there in front of everyone, so I just squeezed her hand tighter and rubbed her thigh, hoping she would know I was here, hoping she would know I could see it.
As soon as Alpha King George and Sophie left, Mom turned quickly to Anna, her face already written with worry. She touched Anna’s wrist, then frowned. “Killian, feel her,” she said immediately, her tone filled with concern. ” She’s burning up.”
Dad leaned in without hesitation, placing his palm on Anna’s forehead. His expression darkened at once. “My angel… you’re burning,” he murmured, his voice thick with worry. “What’s happening to you?”
“I’m fine, Dad,” Anna whispered weakly, though her eyes betreyed the truth.
“You clearly are not-” Dad started, but just then his phone rang, cutting him off. He answered quickly, and as he listened to the voice on the other end, his features hardened, his jaw tightening with each word.
When he hung up, he looked at Mom with a worried expression. “There’s a big issue at hand, and it needs both of us right now. It can’t wait.”
Mom shook her head. “Who will take care of Anna? She’s clearly sick, she needs to be in the hospital, she’s burning up, Killian, I can’t leave my daughter alone.”
“Ryan’s here,” Dad said simply, “he’ll take care of her.”
Mom’s eyes flicked toward me, filled with suspicion, and I knew exactly what was on her mind, but I had to speak up. “Go,” I said quickly, firmly, “both of you go, I’ll take care of her, I promise.”
Anna chuckled weakly, her voice soft and trembling. “Mom go, it’s nothing serious, just fever. After I take some drugs, I’ll be fine, I’ll be back to normal.”
Mom shook her head, clearly not convinced. “No, Anna, this isn’t normal, you’re pale, you’re weak, I don’t like this at all.”
But Dad leaned in closer. “Liana, we need to attend to this before it escalates. Ryan will take care of her, you know he will.”
I could see it, the distrust in Mom’s eyes, the way she didn believe me, the way she didn’t want to leave Anna with me, but she had no choice. “If possible, Ryan, take her to the hospital right now. Don’t wait, check what’s wrong with her immediately,” she said firmly.
Anna tried to laugh again, but it was weak. “Mom, I’m fine don’t worry so much, I’ll be okay.” But her face looked drained, the fever clearly making her weaker by the second. My heart was pounding so fast I thought it would tear through me.
“Yes,” I said quickly, nodding. “I’ll take her, don’t worry.”
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53
+15 BONUS
Mom didn’t look convinced, she brushed her hand over Anna’s cheek one last time and then turned to me again with sharp eyes. “Stay away from her, Ryan. You know what I mean.” Her voice was firm, reminding me of the day she caught us, reminding me she was still against everything between me and Anna.
I almost rolled my eyes at her, “fine, I will.”
Finally, Mom and Dad left the restaurant together, their steps quite quick, their voices low, and as soon as they were gone, I turned back to Anna. She looked worse, her face pale, her lips trembling, her eyes already closing. My chest ached as I held her face in my hands, feeling just how hot she was. “Anna,” I whispered, shaking her gently, “Anna, baby, what’s happening to you?”
Her body was burning, her breaths shallow, her eyelids fluttering weakly. “Ryan…” she whispered faintly, fine… just tired.”
“No, you’re not fine,” I said quickly, my voice breaking, “you’re burning up, Anna, this isn’t just fever, it’s something else, you’re scaring me, baby, please, stay with me.”
She gave me a faint smile, so weak it almost broke me. “Don’t… be scared… it’s nothing…‘
“I’m
But then I saw it. The shawl wrapped around her neck. At first, I thought it was just damp from sweat, but then my eyes widened because I saw smoke, faint smoke rising from the fabric.
My heart jumped in panic. “Anna?” I whispered, my hands trembling as I pulled at the shawl quickly, tugging it away from her neck.
And what I saw shocked the life out of me.
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