Chapter 38 – Caden

Ignoring the wolves stepping forward with their intentions of helping Grace, I growl at their outstretched hands until they back away with fear. My blood is boiling, the scene of her falling to the ground bleeding after defeating that male replaying in my mind. I want to tear into him, kill him for touching my Lady Silver and wounding her, but I stopped myself as getting her across the veil and to the medical ward was more important. Wolves feeling the power in my blood skitter away and give me a clear path to the medical wing, a building just newly built a few years ago after the many wolves being found injured within the forest after the Run. The door is wide open as I storm in, my tail flicking with worry for the limp she-wolf in my grasp.

"Master Caden so nice-"

[Just heal her.] I mind link the doctor, taking down all of the barriers from my mind and cutting him off as my power radiated off of me in waves. It was time for me to be who I truly am. It was time for me to show Grace who I am meant to be and show her the future she will have with me if she allows it. The doctor and his staff gets to work, carefully taking Grace’s body and lifting the silver wolf onto a gurney before whisking her away to the nearest surgical room.

“Caden!” Someone shouts for me in anger and I frown. I know that voice all to well and judging by the tone, my father is not happy with me. With a growl of annoyance, I whirl around to face the man that I plan to kill soon.

"You insufferable fool!” He growls out as soon as he nears me.

“You had two she-wolves to chose from and neither holds your scent!" I growl at his words, not liking the tone he is giving me, glaring at the man I sadly have to share the same DNA with and call him my father. The Alpha of the Royal Pack and King of Werewolves.

"Don't you growl at me you filth. This was your last chance and now I'll make Felix my heir." He leers at me, taking a step back. My blood is boiling from the rage he is fueling, the power of a Royal Wolf surging towards him. I know he has grown weaker over the years, his reign loosening as the wolves he commands shift their allegiance to me. And soon the title of King will be mine but not yet, right now I need to focus on Grace and make sure she is taken care of. Allowing the shift to take over, I feel my golden fur recede into my skin as my body rearranges itself and I stand before my father in my human form.

"You're not worth arguing with right now.” I calmly state, letting the anger and power radiate in my words and relish in the shiver of fear the man tries to conceal from me.

“Grace needs me and by her side is where I'll be. When I know she going to make a full recover, be prepared to lose your title, Alpha King." My eyes glow gold in the sign of a challenge, the fear in my father’s eyes growing. He knows I am serious, that I am ready to kill him and rid the evil stain he has left on werewolf kind. With a growl of warning, I turn on my heels and follow Grace’s scent. The scent leads me to the back where the double doors reading surgical room greets me. As I reach out to open the door, it suddenly opens and a nurse walks out, her black hair pulled back into a bun.

"Caden.” She calls out shocked. I smile at Karina Randall as I peer over her shoulder to see if I can catch a glimpse inside the room.

“Hey Riri, I am not in the mood right now so if you will step aside.” I greet my half sister half heartedly. A nurse moves to the side as he fixes the blanket and I finally get a glimpse of Grace. Her silver hair is brushed out across her pillow and I wonder when she had shifted back to her human form.

"I see someone has a case of puppy love." Karina coos at me jokingly, mischief in her eyes. I growl warningly at her, not in the mood to deal with my little sister’s teasing while I try to push past her into the room. She steps in front of me, giving me a pointed look as I glare at her for getting in my way.

“That is a sterile room Caden. We can’t risk you interrupting the doctor so go take a shower and change into clothes.” Gone is my playful sister as she uses her Alpha tone against me. I am annoyed at her for getting between me and the woman I have fallen for but she is right. Right now Grace is being tended to and if I were to barge in now it could impede her treatment. With a sigh, I take one final look at Grace’s sleeping face before barging towards the men’s locker room. I walk past the lockers and to the back where the showers wait, quickly turning on the water and focus on scrubbing my body clean.

My mind wanders back to Grace tackling that grey wolf, how she fought to protect Amelia and help the she-wolf she calls her sister and Alpha cross the veil. How she snarled at me for wanting to help her before I ultimately helped Amelia in her stead. I did not hesitate to throw Amelia across the veil, knowing that once I crossed I would not be able to enter the forest again. I watched as a man caught Amelia midair, the blond shifting as she kissed him happily before pulling away from him and reminding me to save Grace. I didn’t need any reminding as once I knew Amelia was safe, I rushed back to Grace just in time to watch the male submit to her and her falling down. She is a fighter, my Grace, and I can’t help but both admire and fear her fierce nature. She could have been claimed had I not managed to make it to her side and carry her across the veil.

Slamming my fist against the tiled wall and cracking it into shards, I finish my shower and step out of the stall. Grabbing the nearest towel, I quickly dry myself and grab a clean set of clothes from the pile on the shelves to throw on. I am just about to leave the room when I notice my shoulder length hair and the messy facial hair that has grown. I know I shouldn’t care about my appearance but after making sure Grace is fine, I will be taking on my father and claiming the title Alpha King. With a sigh, I search the shelves and find some disposable razors, taking the time to shave my face before tying back my hair.

With a final look in the mirror, I throw away the razor and walk into the hall way. The surgical room is empty and after finding a nurse to inquire about Grace, I make my way to her room. The medical ward is filled with nurses and doctors rushing about helping those in need that have left the forest and I do my best to stay out of the way while walking closer to Grace’s room. Finally, I smell that sweet scent of hers and feel my heart beat. Hopefully she is awake now and I can explain everything to her. With a small smile I turn the handle and push open the door, instantly getting hit with aggression in the air as a loud slap sounds against the four walls.

"You're a filthy bitch!"