Free Web NovelChapter 26: Chapter 26 Hurts
Sylvia’s POV
I clutched the ice-cold glass against my swollen face as I heard the frantic knock at Morgana’s apartment door.
It was Caesar Conrad.
When Caesar burst through the door, his eyes immediately found mine, dark with concern and something more primal that made my skin tingle. He strode purposefully toward me, dropping to one knee before the couch where I sat.
"What happened? Who did this to you? Are you in pain?" His voice was impossibly gentle, a stark contrast to the commanding presence he exuded as the Alpha King who ruled over all American packs.
I instinctively turned away, uncomfortable with both his intensity and my body’s reaction to it. "It’s nothing serious. Just a minor injury."
"Minor?!" Morgana exclaimed dramatically from somewhere behind him. "Look at her face! It’s swollen like a balloon! If I hadn’t gotten ice on it immediately, she’d be completely unrecognizable by now!"
Caesar’s expression darkened further, his eyes flashing with barely contained rage as his fingers hovered near my injured cheek. "How could you be so careless? Does it hurt badly?" The tenderness in his voice was almost my undoing.
I struggled to maintain my composure, trying desperately to put distance between us. "Really, it’s fine. You’re making a big deal out of nothing."
"Making a big deal out of nothing? Your face is completely swollen!" There was a note of gentle scolding in his tone, but wrapped in such concern that it felt more like a caress than a criticism.
Morgana glanced between us. "Caesar, did you bring the medicine?"
"It’s in the car. Go get it," he commanded, never taking his eyes off me.
When Morgana returned minutes later, her expression was comical. "Your Majesty... did you buy out an entire pharmacy?"
Looking over her shoulder, I could see what appeared to be the complete inventory of medical supplies from several drugstores packed into his luxury vehicle’s trunk. Everything from antiseptic sprays to bandages, creams, pills, and even surgical tape filled the space.
Morgana carefully extracted a few essential anti-inflammatory medications from the mountain of supplies and brought them back to the apartment.
"Let me apply this for you," Caesar murmured, his voice dipping into that hypnotic register that seemed designed to make my wolf respond.
He gently guided me to sit up straighter, his touch deliberately light as he began applying the cooling salve to my injured cheek. His movements were precise and tender, as though he were handling something precious and irreplaceable. The mint-scented medication brought immediate relief to my burning skin, but it was Caesar’s careful ministration that sent unexpected shivers cascading down my spine. freewebnoveℓ.com
I stole a glance at him through my lashes and found him completely focused on his task, his eyes filled with such profound concern and something else—something that made my heart pound like a drum. My wolf whined softly, pushing against the mental barriers I’d maintained for three years, urging me to lean into his touch.
The cooling sensation of the medication contrasted sharply with the warm press of his fingertips against my skin. Each gentle stroke of his fingers against my cheek felt like tiny electric pulses, awakening nerve endings I hadn’t known existed. I shifted uncomfortably, turning my face away as heat crept up my neck that had nothing to do with my injury.
"Don’t move," Caesar commanded softly, his voice rough with an emotion I couldn’t—or wouldn’t—name.
His gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that knocked the wind out of me. The air between us seemed charged with something dangerous and magnetic, making it suddenly difficult to breathe. My inner wolf was practically purring, pressing against my consciousness with unprecedented force.
Morgana returned with the medication box, immediately picking up on the tension crackling between us. She cleared her throat awkwardly, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
"I’ll, um... go get you some water," she mumbled, backing out of the room with surprising tact and pulling the door closed behind her.
Alone with Caesar, the atmosphere grew thick with unspoken tension. I attempted to escape his magnetic pull, but he gently cradled my face between his warm palms.
"Be still," he whispered, his voice deep and resonant, sending shivers straight through me. "Let me see what they’ve done to you."
My pulse went haywire as Caesar’s fingers lingered on my swollen cheek. The heat spreading across my face had nothing to do with my injury and everything to do with his proximity.
I turned my head away, murmuring softly, "It’s really nothing. Just a minor injury."
"A minor injury?" Caesar’s voice carried a note of barely contained anger. "Your face is completely swollen like this and you call it minor? Tell me what happened. Now."
The command in his voice—subtle but unmistakably Alpha—made my wolf want to submit completely. Instead, I found myself recounting everything that had happened at Vertex today, the words spilling out before I could stop them.
As I finished my story, Caesar’s expression darkened dangerously. The temperature in the room seemed to plummet. He pulled out his phone and dialed his assistant, his voice like arctic ice: "Find everything you can on someone named Leo."
The cold authority in his tone was nothing like the gentle man who had just tenderly applied medication to my face. This was Caesar Conrad, the Alpha King who ruled all American packs with absolute power—a side of him I rarely witnessed up close.
"Caesar..." I tugged lightly at his sleeve, then shook my head wearily. "Let it go. It’s better not to blow this up into something bigger. I didn’t really lose anything."
I didn’t want him worrying about me or fighting my battles. The last thing I needed was to appear weak—not when I’d spent three years carefully constructing my new identity.
Caesar studied me, complex emotions flickering through his dark eyes. He respected my wishes enough to set down his phone, though I could tell it killed him to back down. He carefully packed away the remaining ointment, returning it to the medicine box.
"Does it still hurt?" he asked softly, his fingertips ghosting over my swollen cheek with such tenderness that my wolf whined.
I instinctively pulled back from his touch, uncomfortable with how much I craved it. "It feels much better now. Thank you."
Caesar withdrew his hand, glancing at his watch. "It’s nearly noon. You must be hungry."
I was about to decline when my stomach betrayed me with an embarrassingly loud growl. Heat crept up my neck as I offered him a sheepish smile. "I guess I am."
The restaurant Caesar brought me to was elegant but understated, clearly catering to high-end clientele. He navigated the menu with practiced ease, ordering several light dishes while thoughtfully asking about my preferences and dietary restrictions.
"You seem very familiar with this place," I observed, watching him interact comfortably with the staff.
Caesar’s lips curved into a slight smile. "I used to conduct a lot of business meetings here."
When our food arrived, I found myself without appetite despite the delicious aromas. Caesar noticed immediately and placed a tender piece of fish on my plate.
"Try this," he encouraged. "It’s incredibly fresh."
I managed a few bites before setting down my chopsticks, the food turning to cardboard in my mouth despite its obvious quality.
"What’s wrong?" Caesar asked, his eyes searching mine. "Not hitting the spot?"
I shook my head. "No, it’s not that. I just... don’t have much appetite."
Caesar’s gaze softened with concern. "Don’t let what happened at the company eat at you. You’re doing excellent work, Sylvia. I believe in you."
His voice carried such warmth and conviction that it felt like a physical caress. I felt myself relaxing slightly, as though wrapped in warmth. His presence had a calming effect that both soothed and unsettled me—my wolf responding to his Alpha energy in ways I couldn’t control.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to push down the uneasiness lingering in my chest.
"Actually..." I hesitated, then decided to share my suspicions. "I don’t think Leo’s actions were as straightforward as they seemed."
Caesar raised an eyebrow, his expression sharpening. "How so?"
"He’s always been arrogant, throwing his weight around, but this attack felt... deliberate." I watched Caesar carefully as I spoke, noting how his fingers began tapping rhythmically against the table—each tap seeming to echo in my chest.
"And," I paused, gathering my courage, "while I was collecting evidence, I heard Leo mention Zane’s name."
At that name, Caesar’s tapping abruptly stopped. Something cold and dangerous flashed in his eyes, there and gone so quickly I might have imagined it.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice taking on a sharp edge. "You’re suggesting that Leo might have connections to Zane Thorne."
A knot twisted in my stomach at his tone, anxiety prickling along my skin. My wolf tensed, sensing the change in atmosphere.
Just then, a commotion at the restaurant entrance drew my attention. I turned instinctively and found myself locking eyes with a familiar, venomous gaze.
Chloe Vale stood at the entrance, her arm possessively linked through Zane’s.
