Third Person's POV
Grace walked into the ward only after Aldridge had left.
She had overheard the gist of the conversation outside the door. Although she had grown up in the pack and knew that many members had turned against each other over resources and power, she had never heard of a werewolf trying to kill their own family.
"Theo is usually very decisive and ruthless. He's softened this time," Grace muttered to herself. "If it were up to his old self, he wouldn't even bother with evidence. He'd just lock the guy up in some mysterious place, and after a day, Elmer would probably be half-dead. Sending him to the police station is too lenient."
"Mysterious place?" Vanya looked puzzled. She had never heard of this before.
Grace shook her head. "It's probably some code among them. I don't know the specifics. Derrick never went into detail with me."
Vanya fell silent.
Someone like Theodore, who walked on the edge of danger, must have his own ways. Otherwise, how could he command such fear?
Grace continued, "Maybe Theodore didn't want to put you in a difficult position. After all, Aldridge has been pretty good to you."
She then added with a hint of frustration, "Knowing you got hurt and not coming to see you right away—does he even understand how girls think? What a heartless guy."
"Ahem!" Suddenly, a cough came from outside the door.
Grace immediately sat up straight and turned around to see Theodore standing there, looking rushed as if he had hurried over.
"I heard you complaining just now." Derrick said, walking in with a basket of fruit. He pulled up a chair and sat next to Grace, while Theodore sat on a sofa nearby without saying a word.
Vanya glanced at Theodore, who seemed very calm about the whole thing, as if he had never been to the Thunder Packhouse at all.
"Grace rushed to the hospital just now, and I figured something happened to you," Derrick said earnestly. "We're all friends here. When something happens, you don't let us know! We could have come to support you! So, who did it?"
Vanya and Grace watched Derrick pretending to be clueless. Grace raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh? You don't know?"
"How would I know?" Derrick feigned surprise. "I'm not a fortune-teller!"
"Are you sure?" Grace's tone was skeptical, and she clearly saw the guilt in Derrick's eyes.
Derrick couldn't stand Grace's scrutinizing gaze. He glanced away, feeling guilty.
Vanya chuckled and interjected, "The culprit has been caught. It's just an internal issue within the Thunder Pack."
"That's too bad. Otherwise, I would definitely have someone grab that guy and teach him a lesson!" Derrick sighed dramatically, pretending to be disappointed.
Grace rolled her eyes, thinking he was trying too hard.
Theodore spoke up in a deep voice, "Ready to leave the hospital?"
Vanya hesitated for a moment. Grace noticed and said, "You're not still worried about Cliff next door, are you? With Melinda taking care of him, I don't think you need to worry."
Vanya smiled, caught by Grace's words.
She was right. With Melinda there, Cliff didn't need her to worry.
Derrick nudged Grace, signaling her to stop talking.
But Vanya had already spoken, "I'll check out. I don't like being in the hospital."
"Alright," Theodore replied and got up, leaving the room alone.
It didn't take long before the discharge procedures were completed. Derrick went downstairs to get the car.
When Vanya was dressed and ready to leave, she glanced at Cliff's room next door but followed Grace out.
Outside the hospital, Vanya saw Elliot's car with Melinda's face reflected in the backseat window.
That evening, Cliff slowly woke up in his hospital bed and saw a blurry figure moving around beside him.
"Vanya..." Cliff's voice was low.
The figure paused, then turned around with Melinda's sweet smile.
"Cliff, you're finally awake," Melinda said, placing a glass of water nearby. "I came straight here after class. Do you feel any discomfort? I'll call the doctor."
Seeing it was Melinda, Cliff's face flickered with disappointment.
His voice was hoarse as he asked, "Where's Vanya?"
Melinda's smile froze for a moment before returning to normal. "Luna Vanya... she's already been discharged."
Hearing this, Cliff pursed his lips. She had left so quickly?
"Call Elliot in," he said.
Seeing Cliff's mind preoccupied with Vanya, Melinda bit her lip and said, "Alpha Cliff, you're so badly injured, but Luna Vanya hasn't come to see you once. Maybe you should just forget about her."
Cliff's heart felt a heavy blow. He asked in a deep voice, "She really... didn't come to see me at all?"