Chapter 37: Heart Attack
Chapter 37: Heart Attack
(Aria’s POV)
I barely heard what Dominic was saying as we sped through the city streets. His knuckles were white on the steering wheel, and his face was set in grim determination.
“Elizabeth Reed has suffered a severe heart attack,” he explained, his voice tight. “Dr. Lewis just called from Silvercrest Hospital.”
My blood ran cold. “Alexander’s mother? But she was fine when I last saw her!”
“Apparently it happened suddenly. Nathan said she collapsed during a pack meeting.”
Despite our complicated relationship, I’d always been fond of Elizabeth. Unlike her husband Richard, she had shown me nothing but kindness during my time as Luna. My heart clenched at the thought of her in pain.
“How bad is it?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Bad enough that Nathan called me directly,” Dominic replied, accelerating through a yellow light. “She’s in emergency surgery now.”
We arrived at Silvercrest Hospital in record time. The sterile smell hit me immediately as we rushed through the sliding doors. The bright fluorescent lights made everything look harsh and unforgiving.
Dr. Nathan Lewis met us in the lobby, his face grave. “She’s still in surgery. The family’s waiting on the third
floor.”
“Family?” I repeated, suddenly anxious.
“Richard and Claire are already here,” Dr. Lewis confirmed my fears.
Great. Just what I needed.
The elevator ride to the third floor felt interminable. My wolf paced anxiously beneath my skin, sensing my distress. When the doors finally opened, I spotted them immediately – Richard Reed’s imposing figure pacing the hallway while Claire sat primly on a bench, her emerald eyes fixed on her phone.
Claire looked up first. Her expression hardened when she saw me, then registered genuine surprise when she noticed Dominic behind me.
“What is SHE doing here?” she demanded, standing up. “Haven’t you done enough damage?”
I ignored her, moving toward the operating room where I could see shapes moving behind frosted glass.
Richard stepped directly into my path. “You have some nerve showing up here,” he growled, his amber eyes – so like Alexander’s – flashing with anger. “You’re the reason my mate is fighting for her life.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, trying to move past him.
“Elizabeth was perfectly fine until she heard about your… escapades with Blackwood name like a curse. “The shock/was too much for her heart.”
e spat Dominic’s
Claire appeared beside him, arms crossed. “And now you have the audacity to bring him here? To rub it in our faces?”
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“I came because I care about Elizabeth,” I replied, struggling to keep my voice steady. “Unlike some people, 1 don’t use others‘ suffering for my own agenda.”
Richard’s face contorted with rage. Before I could react, he shoved me backward with enough force that i
stumbled.
“Get out!” he snarled. “You’re not family anymore!”
I would have fallen if Dominic hadn’t caught me, his strong arms steadying me against his chest. The warmth
of his touch contrasted sharply with the ice in his eyes as he stared down Richard Reed.
“Touch her again,” Dominic said, his voice deadly quiet, “and you’ll regret it.”
Richard bristled but backed down, the Alpha King’s presence too intimidating to challenge directly.
“She shouldn’t be here,” he muttered, returning to his seat.
“That’s not for you to decide,” Dominic replied coldly.
I moved to the window of the operating room, peering through the frosted glass. I could make out several shapes moving around what must be Elizabeth on the operating table. My heart ached at the thought of her
suffering.
Time crawled by as we waited. Richard and Claire sat on one bench, pointedly ignoring me. Dominic remained standing, his presence like a shield at my back.
The elevator dinged, and Alexander rushed out, his face pale with worry.
“How is she?” he demanded, looking around frantically.
“Still in surgery,” Richard replied grimly.
Alexander’s gaze found me, and his expression darkened. “What are you doing here?”
Before I could answer, the operating room doors swung open. Dr. Lewis emerged, pulling down his surgical
mask.
“She’s stable,” he announced, and I felt my knees go weak with relief. “The surgery was successful, but she remains in critical condition. We’ll need to keep her under close observation for the next 48 hours.”
“Can we see her?” Alexander asked immediately.
Dr. Lewis shook his head. “Not yet. She needs rest. I suggest you all go home and return tomorrow.” “I’m not leaving,” Richard declared.
“There’s a family waiting room down the hall,” Dr. Lewis conceded. “You can wait there, but she won’t be conscious until morning at the earliest.”
As the others moved toward the waiting room, I remained by the window, overwhelmed with relief that Elizabeth had survived. I felt someone standing beside me and turned to find Dominic placing a chair near
- me.
“Sit,” he said gently. “You look pale.”
I sank into the chair gratefully, “Thank you.”
Dr. Lewis approached Dominic, speaking in a low voice. “Can I speak with you privately?”
Chapter 37 Heart Attack
Dominic nodded, squeezing my shoulder before following Dr. Levis down the hallway
Left alone with my thoughts, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. Elizabeth had always been in good health despite Richard’s claims about her “weak heart.” For her to collapse so suddenly seemed suspicious, especially given the timing.
I decided to speak with the doctor myself. As I stood, Alexander intercepted me, his amber eyes burning with
accusation.
“Are you happy now?” he demanded, his voice low and intense.
“What are you talking about?”
“The rumors,” he spat. “Everyone in the Northern Territory thinks we’re severing our mate bond. My mother heard it from three different sources today.”
So that was what had upset Elizabeth. I sighed heavily. “Alexander, I’ve been trying to sever our mate bond for weeks. You’re the one who keeps refusing.”
“And I’ll continue to refuse,” he growled. “Especially now that I know why. You think I’ll just let you run off with Dominic? Never.”
I stared at him, suddenly too exhausted to be angry. “When are you going to understand that this isn’t about Dominic? This is about us – about how you abandoned me for Claire, about how you weren’t there when my mother died.”
“I’ve apologized for that-”
“Apologies don’t change what happened,” I cut him off. “When can we go to the Territorial Registry Office to finalize the severance? I’m tired of this game.”
Alexander’s jaw tightened. “Never,” he said flatly. “I will never sever our mate bond. You’re mine, Aria, and you always will be. I don’t care what it takes – I will not let Dominic have you.”
I shook my head and walked away, ignoring his burning gaze on my back. I found the doctor who had performed the surgery on Elizabeth – not Dr. Lewis, but another werewolf physician whose name badge read Dr. Rosen.
“Excuse me,” I said politely. “I’m Elizabeth Reed’s daughter–in–law. May ask you a few questions about her condition?”
Dr. Rosen nodded, leading me to a small consultation room. “What would you like to know, Ms. Summers?” “Was there any warning sign before her collapse? Elizabeth has always been in good health as far as I know.” The doctor frowned, consulting his tablet. “That’s what makes this case unusual. Her medical records show no previous cardiac issues. The sudden deterioration is concerning and warrants further investigation.”
“Could it have been… induced somehow?” I asked carefully.
Dr. Rosen’s eyes sharpened. “What exactly are you suggesting?”
“Nothing specific,” I backtracked. “I just find the timing suspicious.”
He studied me for a moment. “We’re running toxicology tests as a standard procedure. If there’s anything unusual, we’ll know within 24 hours.”
I nodded, relieved he was taking my concern seriously. “Please call me if you find anything,” I said, writing my
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number on a notepad. “I care deeply about Elizabeth.”
“I’ll keep you informed,” he promised.
As I left the consultation room, I nearly collided with Claire, who was standing just outside the door.
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