Chapter seven.

~Aurora.

If Ethan's jaw hitting the ground gave him off as surprised, then color me shocked. The fact that he acted surprised about seeing me was shocking, if not infuriating.

Did he not know I was the doctor or was just so good at lying and pretending?

The letters I received had the royal seal, meaning that it was he who addressed the letters to Dr. Rory Aldrich. Dr. Rory Aldrich-me, or did he really not know I was the same person?

I blew out the hair on my face to allow myself access to his face. His brows were knitted, and his sea blue eyes bore into me as though they were searching for something crucial, like they could see through my soul.

“Is there a problem, Alpha?” A voice asked softly and cleared his throat, and Ethan took his sweet time to drag his eyes away from me and dropped them on Arne.

“Did I say there was?” He said slowly as he ran his eyes from the crown of Arne's head to the sole of his feet.

All my senses stood on high alert and I made to draw closer to block Ethan's view of Arne but, the bound on my hands and legs couldn't get me far.

“Arne,” I called, my eyes still fixed on Ethan's that were still on Arne.

“Hmm.” His fear-filled voice sent a sharp pain through my heart, and I winced from the pain of not being able to protect my son.

Ten years later and we still couldn't escape him. Ten years later and he found us, he still found Arne. Tears clouded my eyes, and I clenched my jaw and blinked to stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks.

“Arne dear, come and give mummy a hug, come.” His little hand and head buried in my neck brought me the courage and strength I needed. I couldn't let Ethan take Arne away from me. If he was unable to do that when he was still a fetus, then he certainly can't ever take him away from me. Ever!

“I'm scared, mummy.” Arne whispered into my ear and I planted a reassuring kiss on his head before turning my eyes back to Ethan, while willing myself not to show any weakness.

“And what do you intend to achieve from keeping us hostage?”

“I… I-” Ethan's eyes…dilated?

“My Lord,” the familiar voice interrupted Ethan's stuttering as it stepped into the light. I tore my eyes away from Ethan to look at the third party, and my frown deepened as I recognized those green eyes. They were the last thing I saw before I passed out.

“Whatever is the matter, Sam?” Ethan's brows knitted as he tilted his head an inch towards Sam.

“It is an emergency, and you must attend to it. Now.” Ethan clenched his fists as he fully turned to Sam, the green eyes.

“What are you talking about?”

“He will report to you,” Green eyes pointed over his shoulder and moved to the side to give Ethan a clearer view of the man behind him.

“Long live the Alpha,” the young man greeted with a bow, “a number of the villagers are camped at the palace gate and have refused to go home until they speak with you.”

“On what accounts?”

“Apparently, many of the infected patients were sent home today. The doctors claimed that the hospital was overflowing with patients, and they did a random selection of those to keep and those to send home. Many of the patients were sent home, hence, the camping at the gate.

Three of the patients passed out before my eyes, and I'm certain that that may still be happening as we speak, Alpha.”

“How many of the patients did you say are there? Outside the gate, I mean.” The guard ran his eyes from my disheveled hair down to my legs that were stretched out before me and tied at the ankle before bringing it back up to my face.

Ethan gripped the guard by the chin and turned his face to himself, “Look at her that way ever again, and I will make sure her face is the last thing you see before you die.”

Arne gasped and buried his face deeper into my neck and I pressed my lips into his hair, “he can't hurt you, honey,” I whispered into his ears.

“When the lady asks you a question, you fucking answer, you get that?”

The guard nodded rigorously, “yes, Alpha.”

“Good. Now, answer her question.” Ethan's grip on the guard's chin tightened as he turned to me.

“They are about twenty-five to thirty. Or more, I'm not certain.”

“Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?” The guard shook his head. “Get back to your post and wait for me, I will be there soon.” Ethan added before letting go of the guard's chin.

“Untie me.” I ordered once the guard left.

“You don't think I will do that when you haven't come to terms with my request, do you?” Ethan replied with a raised brow.

“You don't think I will let you go out there alone, without you or anyone in this space having a clue on how to save a life, do you?” I mirrored his expression, and he narrowed his eyes down at me.

“Fine,” he rasped and stooped before me to untie my ankles.

Zoey, shifted a bit inside me as Ethan crowded my space, filling my air with his forest-scented cologne.

“Sam, go out there with these men and try your best to calm the situation before I get there.” His hot breath fell against my neck as he did the knot on my wrists.

My breath turned heavy as Zoey howled inside of me. Looking over my shoulder, my eyes met him, judiciously working -with eyes concentrated on the knots- to free my hands.

“You're all done now.” Zoey shifted and howled as Ethan came to stand before me. My breath became heavier as I placed my palm in his as he helped me to my feet.

“Come, honey.” I said to Arne but the words left my lips in a whisper, my eyes still on Ethan.

“Mummy?” I cleared my throat as I retracted my hand from Ethan's and turned to help Arne up to his feet.

“After you,” Ethan said as he stepped to the side. Taking Arne's hand, I nodded and led the way.

'Mate!' Zoey howled as I took one last glance at Ethan.