Archie's POV:
A storm raged within me, tearing at my soul as I stood before the ridiculous scene unfolding in front of me. The girl that Louie had been so captivated by, was she truly Alisha? The mate he had chosen for his lifetime was my Luna? And the friend he wanted to introduce me to was actually my wife! Was this a cosmic joke played on me?
Questions and doubts swirled like a tempest in my mind, each gust fueling the flames of anger that threatened to consume me. When had Alisha met Louie? Why were they together here? What had they been doing behind my back? The fury surging through me was relentless, unyielding, making my chest feel tight and my breath erratic.
Even if I had managed to snatch Alisha away from Louie and hold her tightly in my arms, it still wouldn't have quelled this seething rage within me. My heart ached at the mere thought of Louie being close to her, his hand intertwined with hers. I couldn't bear the sight of them together, as if they shared some deep connection that I was never meant to be a part of.
I cast a cold glare at Louie, who stood before me with a lost and disoriented expression. There was no sympathy in my heart for him, only a fierce possessiveness over Alisha. He had no right to come between us, to be with her like this! I even wanted to mark Alisha right there, in front of him, to let him know that she belonged to me, and no one else was allowed to even think about her! I would tear apart anyone who dared to challenge my claim.
Lost in my anger, I failed to notice Alisha's pale face until Louie's words penetrated the haze of fury. I realized that Alisha was injured, and it was because of my carelessness that her wound had reopened. I caught a whiff of her blood, and suddenly, the anger evaporated like water on a blazing fire.
I quickly released my grip on Alisha's arm and anxiously looked at her, "Are you okay?"
Alisha bit her lip, her eyes filled with pain, but she didn't answer. Guilt and remorse washed over me, mingling with the remnants of anger. Why was it that I always seemed to hurt her unintentionally? I wanted to apologize, to make amends, but I couldn't find the right words.
"I'll take you to see a doctor," I blurted out, desperate to do something to ease her pain and my own remorse.
But before I could take a step, Louie stepped forward and interjected, "Lola can do it. She has treated Alisha's wounds before."
I shot Louie a warning glare, not wanting him to get any closer to Alisha. Then, gently, I helped Alisha sit back on the bed. A she-wolf, Lola, approached and examined Alisha's wound, giving me a reproachful look. I would have given this rude she-wolf a lesson in what "manners" mean, but now, looking at Alisha's calm face without a hint of anger, I felt anxious.
Seeing Alisha's calm face, enduring the pain without a complaint, I felt my heart tighten with concern. Blood had already seeped through the bandages, and it pained me to see her suffer. Alisha didn't cry out or seek comfort from me like she used to. It was as if I had become a stranger in her life, someone she didn't turn to for solace anymore.
When I rushed in, she had called out Louie's name in fear, yet now, she remained silent in front of me. My heart sank, and I couldn't help but wonder what had gone wrong between us. It felt like an insurmountable chasm had formed between us, and I was unsure if I could bridge it.
In that moment, the voice of my wolf echoed in my mind once more, taunting and teasing me. "Bro, if you keep going down this path, you're going to lose her forever. Alisha doesn't want anything to do with you now," it chided, the words piercing like sharp claws into my already wounded heart.
I tried in vain to shut out the annoying voice that seemed to have an uncanny knack for hitting where it hurt the most. "Shut up!"
But my wolf was not so easily deterred, knowing it had struck a nerve. "Maybe you should think about why she's pulling away from you," it continued, its words a relentless echo in my mind.
With my temper flaring, I shot back, "I'll lock you up in the bay if you don't stop!"
My wolf's response surprised me, as it took an unusual stance, attempting to reason with me. "Come on, don't be foolish. Apologize to her, and she might change her mind about you," it suggested, almost as if it had taken on the role of a wise counselor.
"Apologize? Why should I? She and Louie were meeting behind my back!" I retorted, my anger building with every word.
"Look, you had a fight with Alisha before, and then you left her alone at home to chase after Erma. Honestly, even as your wolf, I think you handled that very poorly. No wonder Alisha prefers Louie. Compared to him, you have a terrible temper."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My own wolf was standing for Louie? Fueled by rage, I roared at it in my mind, "Apologize? Never!"
Just as my anger reached its peak, the sound of footsteps and voices from outside interrupted our heated exchange. I turned to see Alpha Gary of the Blood Dawn pack entering the room.
"Archie, I heard from my subordinates that the victim of the attack is being treated here. I came to check on the situation," Gary said calmly.
Trying to maintain a facade of composure, I acknowledged Gary with a curt nod as he approached.
I noticed Louie's eyes fell on the sickbed where Alisha lay, her face pale and delicate like a fragile flower. A sense of protectiveness surged within me. "My Luna is injured and currently receiving treatment," I replied Gray, emphasizing the possessive term "My Luna" to make it clear to Louie that Alisha belonged to me and no one else.
Gary seemed nonchalant, shrugging off my words with a calm demeanor. "I'm sorry to hear that," he replied casually, his aloofness only fueling my irritation, so I furrowed my brows and directly questioned him, "Gary, it seems like your pack's guards aren't very reliable. They let my wife get hurt."
Gary raised an eyebrow, unfazed by my accusation, and said, "The affairs of the Blood Dawn pack are not for outsiders to criticize. I am curious, though. Why isn't your Luna with you? Or is it that as an Alpha and her husband, you can't even protect your own wife?"
Before I fought back, Gray's eyes wandered towards the hospital bed, and suddenly, his expression changed, asking in horrible disbelief. "Theresa? Is that you?"
Gary's gaze held uncertainty as he spoke her name, and my heart clenched at this name, a name she had kept hidden from me, a name that both Louie and Gray knew and called. I hated this name, which felt like a dividing wall between us.
A knot of unease tightened in my stomach. Why did Gary also know Alisha, and why did he call her Theresa, just like Louie? How many other men has she been involved with behind my back?
My wolf's voice rang in my mind again, adding a sly comment, "Wow, another competitor. See, that's why I suggested you apologize earlier. Otherwise, you might not even get a chance to apologize in the future!"