Chapter 8

Aisha's POV I agreed to follow them back to the Golden Pack, not only because of Simon's injuries but because I knew I couldn't afford to be caught by Jack. Escaping had already been a miracle. If I was caught before I even made it to a neutral hospital, all of this would have been for nothing. The ordered two warriors to flank me as we traveled, both to escort and watch me. I ignored them. It wasn't unusual for packs to be wary of outsiders, especially one as powerful as the Golden Pack. I could sense the warriors using their mind-link to communicate, likely discussing whether I was a threat. I wasn't. But I had no intention of proving myself, either. We moved quickly, cutting through dense forest and crossing shallow rivers. I kept pace, keeping my eyes on Simon, who, despite his condition, never made a sound of pain. He was composed like the predator he was. By the time we arrived at the pack's hospital, dawn was breaking, staining the sky in hues of gold and red. I barely had time to take in my surroundings before a nasally voice cut through the air. "Who is she and what is she doing here?" A female doctor stormed toward us, her long brown hair pulled into a tight ponytail. She was beautiful, but the hostility in her cold green eyes made her features a bit unwelcoming. "She's the one who treated me," Simon said in a neutral tone. The doctor's gaze snapped to me, her lip curling. "And now she can leave. We don't need outsiders interfering with pack matters." I crossed my arms. "I'm the reason your Alpha is alive." Her eyes flashed, but Simon spoke before she could respond. "She stays." The doctor stiffened. "Alpha, I—" "That wasn't a request," he interrupted, his golden eyes glowed from the suspect of a challenge. A tense silence settled between them. It was obvious that this woman had a personal attachment to Simon. The way she looked at him, the way her fingers twitched slightly as if she wanted to reach out and touch him, I could relate to all that. But Simon didn't seem to care about her presence. I almost felt pity for her but I refused to show it, that wasn't any reason to be a bitch. With a clenched jaw, the doctor turned away. "We'll take an X-ray immediately," she muttered. Simon was placed on a hospital bed and wheeled into a private medical bay. I stood in the corner, watching as the doctor ran her tests. The moment the X-ray developed, she inhaled sharply. "This is serious," she announced. "The bone is shattered beyond repair. The only solution is amputation." A cold chill ran down my spine. What? I stepped forward, staring at the scan. The break was bad, but not irreversible. "That's not necessary," I said. She turned on me with a glare. "Are you questioning my medical judgment?" I was annoyed the second those words left her lips but I forced myself to play nice. "I'm suggesting that we take another X-ray from a different angle before making a hasty decision. Amputation is overly exaggerated as a line of treatment." Simon, who had been watching the exchange silently, suddenly smirked. "Do it," he ordered. Her eyes widened. "Alpha, this is ridiculous! You're actually listening to her over me? I have been the pack's doctor and I know what I am doing." "Yes." Her nostrils flared, and I saw the moment her control snapped. "This is because I'm not your Luna, isn't it?" she hissed, her voice shaking with anger. The room went silent. I froze, my breath catching as I realized what she had just said. Simon's expression darkened, the amusement leaving his golden eyes. "You're out of line, Melanie," he said coldly. Melanie's fists clenched. "You've ignored me for months! I've done everything to be by your side, to help you, and now, now you listen to some rogue girl like she's more important than me? So what if she saved you, her job is done. " I took a step back. I wanted nothing to do with this. I didn't want to be in the middle of the psycho drama they have. Simon exhaled sharply, losing patience. "If you can't do your job without bringing personal emotions into it, then leave." Her face twisted in rage. "Are you—" "You have five seconds," he warned. Her breath hitched. She knew he wasn't bluffing. With a furious glare, she spun on her heel and stormed toward the door, but not before snarling at me. "You bitch," she spat. "You think you can waltz in here and replace me? I won't let this go." I lifted my chin, refusing to be intimidated. "That's your problem. Good luck with that." Her eyes flashed with hatred before she finally stormed out. The door slammed shut behind her, leaving a tense silence in the air. Simon leaned back against the bed, watching me with a smirk. "I think you just made an enemy." I sighed, rubbing my temples. "I don't want to be involved in whatever that was." He chuckled. "Too late." I shook my head, focusing back on his injury. "We need to take another X-ray," I said, bringing the conversation back to what actually mattered. "Do what you need to do," he said smoothly. I grabbed the necessary equipment and repositioned his leg carefully, making sure the angle was correct before running another scan.