Mated To The Cold Hearted Alpha
Chapter 149

LEANDER’S POV

“Leander,” Grace’s thoughts drifted through the pack mind link we shared. “Hycinth needs your attention.”

Instantly, I rose to my feet.

Startled by my abrupt change in position, Ever lurched to his feet, chest puffed out, ready for a fight.

I expected Ever’s reaction, but what surprised me was Luca’s similar response. Certainly lacking of any decent Alpha experience he could trust, betrayed by the one male he thought loved him the most, I wouldn’t have begrudged Luca’s reluctance to blindly follow another Alpha so quickly, especially me. But there was no hesitancy in his response as he stood ready, hands out, naturally aligning himself to Ever’s body to provide me with optimal cover.

“Sorry,” I muttered as I walked away toward the lakeside cabin. I hadn’t meant to alarm them. No further words were necessary. I felt their heightened emotions calm.

Breaching the entryway, I watched Sydney gently release Hycinth’s hand, lean forward and place a barely-there k**s on her forehead, before silently walking past me toward the door.

As the door shut behind her, I murmured through the mind link, “Don’t go far.”

“Of course, Alpha,” Sydney’s response was immediate.

My gaze zeroed in on Grace. I raised an eyebrow.

Grace answered my unspoken question, “Sydney has not been silent since you left. Ministering with soft touches, both she and her Wolf have whispered words of love in Hycinth’s ear, begging her Luna to return to her.”

My throat tightened at Sydney’s attempts to bring Hycinth back to consciousness. Sydney was a noble Wolf, temporarily off-track, but completely restored now, immeasurable value to this pack. Her soft ministrations clearly hadn’t been on my behalf, but from her own heart and needs, already intimately bonded with her Luna.

Pointing to a waiting diaper and small box of wet wipes on the bedside stand, Grace brought me back to the task at hand, “Be sure to wipe in the direction of her v****a toward her bottom not the other way around and inspect her folds carefully, making sure no excrement remains. Also, allow her skin to dry completely before putting the new diaper on. It’s her best protection against getting a rash. If you do see any red spots or raised bumps, there is a packet of cream that can be applied, but keeping her skin dry and clean should proactively guard against this. It would also be good for her delicate skin to spend time without a diaper.”

I nodded, listening carefully to the instructions.

“I’ll give you some time.” Grace. walked toward the door. “She’s stable for now, and I need to attend to some things back at the pack. From my research online, I also ordered some additional supplies that have been delivered. But I won’t be out of mind link reach,” she reassured. “Oh, and you will replace an airtight disposal container in the laundry room for her soiled diapers.”

“Okay,” I grunted as the door shut behind her.

Walking to Hycinth’s side, I flipped open the wet wipes. Pulling a few out to have ready, I frowned. They felt cold to the touch. I didn’t like the idea of putting Hycinth in any additional discomfort even if it was for the purpose of cleaning her bottom. Looking around the room for a solution, I found none. Finally, I clasped the wipes between my hands and held them there, hoping my body heat would at least take the edge off. After a moment, I set them to the side, still not completely satisfied, but it would have to do for now.

Only uncovering the lower half of her naked body to keep her as warm as possible, I gently released the adhesive tabs of the diaper and rolled her body to the side. Grabbing the first wipe, I carefully removed all traces of excrement from her skin. She hadn’t had much of a bowel movement. I suspected that was normal considering her system was just beginning to function again. Still, using every bit of concentration I had, I carefully lifted her leg and examined her folds and bottom carefully to make sure both areas were perfectly clean. Grace would have said if she felt the lacerations Hycinth had experienced to her perineum and anus were at any additional risk during this process, so I was likely being over-careful, but I had no intention on taking any chances. My Wolf also demanded his own reassurance, insisting I stop for a moment to allow him full access to my vision so he could see for himself. After careful inspection, he relaxed, content that her healing was still on track.

Pulling the soiled diaper from beneath her, I tucked the ends in and used the tabs to close it tightly. Lightly placing the blanket back over lower half, I gave her skin a moment more to dry completely while I made my way into the laundry room. It wasn’t difficult to replace the disposal container; however, it did take a moment for me to understand how it worked. Apparently, after dropping the diaper in the top, there was a lever to engage an interior compartment to open, subsequently allowing the soiled diaper to drop to the bottom and close tightly again in the middle. Hmm…clever.

Keeping a keen awareness on her emotional stability through the partial link we shared, I thoroughly washed and dried my hands before eagerly returning to her bedside. Skin now dry, I quickly applied a new diaper and settled into the chair next to her bed, close enough that I could reach her forehead to lightly tuck a wayward strand of hair behind her ear.

Anxiety rising, I considered the difficult task I was facing over the next twenty-four hours. It had been two and a half days since I’d recovered Hycinth…and lost four Wolves…to this seemingly endless violence. Deep unrest flared in my spirit, aching inside as if a part of my own flesh had died.

No doubt, their bodies had already carefully gone through the ritualization process. Embalming was not necessary for our species. Our heightened healing rate conversely meant our bodies were slow to decay. Now, all that remained was the full moon tomorrow night…when we would guide them to their next life.

“Sydney, “I gave the silent command.