Mated To The Cold Hearted Alpha
Chapter 140

LEANDER’S POV

Two days had passed since we returned to the cottage, the den where Hycinth and I had mated, and conceived the tiny pup in her belly. And during that time, Hycinth had shown physical signs of improvement. Harsh purplish, crimson and black welts all over her body had turned to soft shades of green and yellow. The swelling in both eyes had reduced. And the fractures Grace found in Hycinth’s lower spine, no doubt caused by a kick from one of those bastards considering the massive boot shaped bruise on her skin, had knitted back together.

But Hycinth remained unconscious. And there was no movement from the vulnerable pup or sign from her Wolf.

My heart clenched in my chest as I stared at her sleeping form. She looked so frail and weak. Restless, her little brows wrinkled and pinched tight. Sporadic breaths caused her chest to catch, lost to the torment inside her head. Lifting on my elbow next to her, I pressed my lips to her cheek and caressed her arm with my fingertips. “Shh, my love. You’re okay now, I promise. I’m here.”

My Wolf paced anxiously in my head. A solid thrum had come from his chest, his unspoken plea to her missing Wolf. He’d begged and cried for hours on end. But there had been only silence in return. One lonely hour had turned into several. The sun rose and fell on our pain. And as each minute ticked by, little bits of hope had slowly broken apart inside of me, but I didn’t try to stop him. I just couldn’t accept that her Wolf was truly gone.

I understood all too clearly now the grievous mistake I’d made. My Wolf had mourned. He had wanted to die. He’d begged to let the bear consume us. Would it have felt any differently for Hycinth’s Wolf? Of course not! My thoughts turned angry. Of course she would have wanted to give up just like he did…and maybe she had found a way. My hand clenched into a fist. I should have seen this outcome. I never should have made an agreement with her in the first place, and I’d been a fool to ever let her go. I could have saved her Wolf…but I didn’t.

“I’m sorry…I’m so damn sorry,” I whispered, tears flowing unchecked down my face. “Please come back to me. I’m begging you. Please “I couldn’t continue and tried to swallow past the thick lump in my throat.

A mournful silent howl came from my Wolf. He knew it just as well as I did. It was all our fault. We should have protected her at all costs. She might’ve hated me for it, but at least Hycinth and our pup would not have been subjected to unimaginable horror, and her Wolf would have been saved. Hycinth would be whole right now if I’d done the right thing. If only I had acted on what my gut and heart had told me to do. But I hadn’t. I’d ignored my instinct as an Alpha and a mate, and I was paying a terrible price for my inadequacy.

I dropped my head, no longer able to hold up the heavy weight of it.

“Leander,” Grace murmured softly from the doorway as she stepped inside.

I lifted my head and wiped the tears from my cheeks with the back of my hand.

Grace ignored my tears and walked the other side of the bed. For several silent minutes, she went through the same routine of checking Hycinth’s vitals and wounds, but when she finished her response was no longer hopeful as it has been for the last two days. Deep sadness colored her words, “Leander, we need to talk.”

Ice-cold fear trickling through my veins. “So, talk,” I replied gruffly.

She looked over her shoulder.

I followed her line of sight to replace Ever standing silently just inside the door. His spine was straight, his eyes wary.

A low growl came from my chest as I slowly got out of the bed. “What is this?”

“We just need to talk with you,” Grace said evenly, keeping her intonation soft, “and it may be better to have the conversation outside.”

It was clear that whatever they had to say, both Grace and Ever felt it would be better for Hycinth not to hear it even in her unconscious state.

I looked down at my defenseless mate. A war played out in my head. I’d refused to leave Hycinth’s side, and I wasn’t sure I had the strength to cross the threshold that would separate me from her.

Understanding my intense internal battle, Ever spoke carefully, “You don’t have to go far. We can speak on the deck.”

I refused to look up at him, unable to take my eyes off of Hycinth.

Another long minute went by.

“You’ll be able to hear her if she needs you,” Ever’s tone was gentle, “and Sydney can stay in the room if it makes you and your Wolf feel better.”

Inhaling slowly to steady myself, I finally nodded my head. It wouldn’t be easy, but if they felt the conversation would be better outside of Hycinth’s ears, then so be it. I wasn’t willing to risk inflicting any additional mental strain on my already suffering mate. Stepping over to the nearby wardrobe, I pulled out a pair of pants and slipped them on..

“Have Sydney come in.” I was fairly certain Sydney was waiting outside. Ever wouldn’t have made the suggestion otherwise.

He stepped out with a hard nod.

My suspicion was confirmed when Sydney immediately entered. Her eyes darted to Hycinth and then back to me. She bowed her head slightly, waiting for my command.

“Contact me if there is any hint of awareness or she needs me.”

“Of course, Alpha.”

With one last glance at Hycinth, I crossed the room and walked out the door.

Closing the door behind me, I wasn’t surprised to replace Asher, my father and Luca had gathered outside, but my eyebrows raised one my gaze landed on Tommy. Why was the biker here?

My Wolf bristled, his hair standing on end, ears flat back. Regardless of who they were, there were too many males within proximity of our female and he didn’t like it.