Alpha's Dark Desires

Chapter 31: The Pending Doom

Kane’s POV:

Her eyelids fluttered, and I held my breath, too afraid to hope. But then, somehow, through the haze of blood and dust, she managed to crack those defiant eyes open. A faint smirk tugged at the corners of her mouth, and she looked up at me, weak but unmistakably defiant.

"Stupid... alpha," she rasped, her voice barely more than a whisper. Her hand made a weak attempt at a swat against my chest, though it was as light as a feather. The relief that washed over me was staggering. I’d never been so grateful to be insulted in my life.

"Stop shouting..." she mumbled, her voice still faint but laced with that same fire. "It’ll take more than this to kill me."

I swallowed, every muscle in my body unwinding as I let out a shaky breath. The tightness in my chest loosened, and for a moment, I felt like I could actually breathe again. I had been on the edge, dangling over a precipice of fear and despair that I’d never known before. But somehow, by some miracle, she was here. Alive. And even in her weakened state, she was still as fierce as ever.

Despite everything, a laugh escaped me, low and ragged. I brushed a blood-matted strand of hair from her face, careful not to jostle her. "You’re impossible, you know that?"

"All your fault," she muttered, her eyes narrowing as she tried to glare at me, though it looked more like a sleepy squint. "If you weren’t such a controlling, arrogant..."

"Easy, easy." I pressed a hand gently on her shoulder, trying to keep her still. She’d lost so much blood, and every movement seemed to sap what little strength she had. But damn if she wasn’t stubborn. Even when I had her cradled in my arms, bruised and broken, she still managed to needle me, to keep that fierce spark alive. And I couldn’t have been more grateful.

She sighed, her eyes slipping shut again, and for a terrifying second, I thought she’d passed out. But she was still breathing, each shallow rise and fall of her chest a lifeline tethering me back to sanity. This woman was going to be the death of me one way or another.

"You’re going to be alright," I whispered, though whether I was saying it for her benefit or mine, I didn’t know. My voice sounded rough, raw from all the yelling, from the fear that had gripped me like a vice. "Just... stay with me, alright?"

She scoffed, even in her weakened state. "As if I’d go anywhere... without... giving you a piece of my mind..."

I couldn’t help the small smile that pulled at my lips. That was my mate, all right—stubborn, fierce, completely and utterly impossible.

As I held her, waiting for the medics I’d called in to finally arrive, I made a silent vow. This woman was mine, and I would do everything in my power to protect her, even from her own reckless self. I’d been close to losing her, and that was something I never wanted to experience again.

"Rest," I murmured, my voice softening. "And when you’re better, you can yell at me all you want." noveldrama

Her lips twitched, almost like she was holding back a laugh. "Better believe... I will."

As I felt her heartbeat, faint but steady against my chest, I knew one thing for sure—she’d just survived this, and I would never take her life for granted again.

She later fainted, likely from exhaustion. This time, however, I wasn’t as worried about her dying on me. I had seen her fight back, even if it was just to insult me in her moment of weakness. God, this girl was something else. Even on the brink of death, she managed to call me stupid. The thought didn’t sit well with me or my wolf, but we let it slide for today. After all, I needed her to focus on healing.

When my beta and the doctor arrived, she was out cold. Her healing had stopped altogether, and I could see the aftermath of her injuries. Though her wolf had managed to close some of the worst wounds, a few still leaked blood, staining the ground beneath her. The blood that had once gushed out now a faint trickle, thanks to her wolf’s determination. It was as if her wolf had used the last of its strength to mend the most intense injuries, leaving them both vulnerable and unconscious.

The doctor moved quickly, assessing her condition and bandaging the remaining wounds with practiced efficiency. "She’s not healing because she’s lost a lot of blood," he explained, his tone serious. "This has weakened both her and her wolf. Her wolf expended the remaining energy it had to close the worst of the wounds, which led to her collapse. Right now, she’s unable to continue healing since she too is unconscious."

I felt a surge of anger and frustration, both at the situation and at myself. I had failed to protect her when it mattered most. How could I let this happen? The realization settled heavily on my shoulders. I couldn’t afford to lose her. Not now. Not when we were just starting to figure this out.

As I watched the doctor work, I made a silent vow. I would do whatever it took to keep her safe. I would help her recover and ensure she never faced such danger again. She was my mate, and I would fight for her—always.

Returning to my pack wasn’t chaotic, largely because the little troublemaker was unconscious, her head resting on my lap as she slept in the back of the car. Up front, the doctor and my beta, Luke, exchanged occasional glances, the weight of the situation evident in their expressions. Luke had generously offered me a spare set of clothes, and I had managed to pull on some pants while covering Elena with the shirt, wanting to keep her warm.

As I looked down at her peaceful face, I couldn’t help but wonder how this was the same girl who had turned my world upside down in just two days. It felt like a lifetime of chaos, and trust me, it hadn’t been a pleasant experience. Why couldn’t she be as tranquil as she was now? The calm that enveloped her now was a stark contrast to the storm she had unleashed before.

The memory of her stubbornness flickered in my mind, and irritation bubbled beneath the surface. To add to my irritation, she had the nerve to say it was my fault. My fault! I scoffed internally. It was her decision to lock me out of the car and make a run for it like a thief in the night who has just pulled of a haste, throwing caution to the wind.

But as I watched her, the soft rise and fall of her chest, I felt a mix of protectiveness and frustration swirling within me. She had a knack for attracting trouble, and somehow, I always ended up right in the middle of it. Why did she have to be so reckless?

I brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, my fingers lingering on her skin for a moment longer than necessary. Despite everything, there was something undeniably captivating about her—something fierce and unyielding that kept me on my toes. I was both captivated and terrified by her flames. She was a wildfire, unpredictable and dangerous, yet I couldn’t help but feel drawn to her flames.

The hum of the engine filled the car, a steady rhythm that should have been soothing, but my mind was racing. I knew that once she regained consciousness, we would have to confront the aftermath of her actions. I just hoped she’d be ready to take some responsibility for the chaos she had created.

There was no way in hell I was going to entertain her reckless behavior or the stunt she had just pulled that nearly cost her life. I couldn’t stand the thought of her dying in my hands. It felt like a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from, and the weight of that possibility hung heavily over me. She had to learn— it was essential that she stopped these rebellious tendencies before they got her killed.

Elena was fierce, full of fire and defiance, but there was a fine line between bravery and stupidity. I understood the drive to be free, to take risks, but her recent choices had nearly shattered everything. It infuriated me, this stubborn streak of hers that pushed her to challenge danger at every turn. First the rogue incident then this. Did she think she was invincible? Did she realize how close she had come to losing it all?

I couldn’t be her shield every time she decided to throw caution to the wind. She needed to understand the gravity of her actions. I wanted to protect her, but I couldn’t do that if she refused to acknowledge the risks she took.

As much as I admired her spirit, I knew she had to learn the consequences of her choices. The lesson would be tough, but it was necessary. I was determined to show her that being reckless wasn’t a badge of honor; it could lead to devastating outcomes, and I refused to be a bystander while she played with fire.

"Alpha" Luke cut me off from my internal conflict, "Ashley has been asking about you... just thought you should know...with you finding your mate and all that."

Fuck I had forgotten I had a submissive....