Knot The One They Want

Augi Pov

The scene before me fills me with dread. Yurena, Torin’s mother, lies hooked to a tangle of machines, half her face wrapped in bandages, the other half scarred and pale. Her mates, Miles and Cedric, sit on either side of her, their voices soft, saying random things to coax a smile. But her expression remains detached and hollow, as if reality no longer reaches her.

I clear my throat as I step inside. Both men glance up, their gazes heavy with exhaustion. Yurena doesn’t move, doesn’t even flicker at my presence.

"Oh, Augi, my son, you’re here," Miles says, rising from the edge of the bed. His voice trembles with relief as he strides toward me.

I feel a pang of guilt for coming empty‑handed. I should have brought flowers, a gift, something to soften this moment. "I thought you’d take longer," Miles continues, pulling me into a hug. "It wasn’t long ago that I told you about the situation."

I embrace him back.. "That’s because when you called, we were already on our way. Lorali told us what happened, and we came running."

The moment I say Lorali’s name, the heart monitor beside Yurena erupts, its steady rhythm spiking into chaos. The beeping grows frantically, sending shrills down everyone’s spine.

We all freeze. Miles’s face drains of color. Cedric leaps to his feet, panic flashing in his eyes. Yurena herself remains unchanged—her expression still dead and detached—even as her heart races out of control.

"Doctor!" Cedric shouts, fumbling for the emergency button on the wall. He slams his palm against it, the alarm echoing through the ward. Miles bolts from the room, his voice carrying down the corridor as he calls for help.

I stand rooted, my chest tight, watching the monitor scream.

At that moment, Oracle appears in the doorway. I’d left him at reception, but now he’s here, his face pale as he takes in the sight of Yurena.

"Augi..." His voice falters. "How could an accident alone do this? Look at her." I shake my head, my throat dry. "I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense. No accident should leave her like this. Unless it was intentional"

Oracle steps closer, his eyes locked on the bandages and scars. "It’s like she’s been through war. What aren’t they telling us?" Before I can answer, the hallway erupts with footsteps. Dr. Quid, the Spade family’s most trusted physician, rushes in with a team of nurses. Their movements are fast, efficient, but does little to control the tension in the room.

"Everyone back," Dr. Quid orders, his voice firm. He leans over Yurena, checking her vitals, barking instructions to the nurses. "Stabilize her. Get me the chart. What triggered this spike?"

Miles stumbles back into the room, breathless. "Her son’s omega, Augi mentioned Lorali’s name, and the monitor—" Dr. Quid cuts him off. "Refreain from talking about L, from now on, it clearly affects her badly?"

He says before, showing us all out with the help of his nurses "All of you must leave now."

Miles’s voice breaks after hearing Doctor Quid’s words. "Please, let us stay. She needs us."

Dr. Quid shakes his head. "She needs silence and stability, that won’t happen with you guys here. Out."

The nurses usher us toward the door, their hands quick but not unkind. Cedric protests, his voice rising, but it’s useless. Dr. Quid won’t bend. We spill into the corridor, the door closing behind us. The sound of machines and hurried voices fades, leaving only the hollow silence of the waiting area.

Oracle pulls out his phone, his fingers trembling as he dials. "I’ll call Oril. He needs to know." He waits, listening, then curses softly. "Voicemail. Again."

He tries once more, pacing, his frustration mounting. "Still voicemail. Damn it."

I watch him, my chest heavy. "What will you do?"

"I’ll go to his studio," Oracle says, finally having enough of being ignored by Oril. "If he won’t answer, I’ll drag him here myself." He turns to Miles and Cedric, forcing a faint smile. "I’ll tell them it’s work. They won’t question it."

He squeezes my shoulder briefly. "Stay with them, Augi. They need you."

And then he’s gone, striding down the hall, his phone still clutched in his hand.

Oracle Pov

The drive to Oril’s studio is short, though it feels endless with adrenaline coursing through me. The streets grow darker, more dangerous, until I reach the loft apartment that’s been renovated into his studio. I pound on the door, impatient, my fist striking again and again until finally, Oril opens it having enough of my endless knocking, his face drawn with exhaustion and irritation.

"What do you want?" he groans, clearly unhappy about my arrival.

"For you to answer your damn calls," I snap, pushing past him into the dimly lit studio. The air smells of stale coffee and dust as well of the tears of a full grown Alpha.

"Leave, Oracle," he groans louder, dragging a hand down his face.

I ignore him, scanning the cluttered room before turning back. "Come on. We need you at the hospital. Torin needs you right now." At the mention of Torin’s name, Oril’s face hardens into a scowl. His eyes narrow and his jaw clenches. "Don’t be childish," I press, stepping closer. "You’re still second in command to the pack. You have to step up now that Torin is struggling. This isn’t the time to sulk."

Oril lets out a bitter laugh that feels hollow. "Second in command?" He strides to a desk, yanks open a drawer, and pulls out a stack of papers. He slams them onto the table, shoving them toward me. "You are a lawyer, right? Read."

I frown, picking them up. My eyes scan the words, disbelief tightening my chest. It’s a court document, official, stamped and undeniably real. Torin has removed Oril from his position as second.

My throat dries. "No... no, this can’t be real. Torin wouldn’t—"

"It’s real," Oril cuts me off, his voice breaking. He collapses onto the couch, burying his face in his hands. "My life is over. I’m not second anymore. I’m nothing. And soon, I’ll be in jail for something I didn’t even do."

The papers tremble in my hands. I stare at him, stunned, the weight of betrayal pressing down, I have been nothing but loyal to Torin, how could he do this to my brother, without looking for evidence. "Torin... he actually did this to you?" Oril’s shoulders shake, his voice muffled. "Yes. He signed it. He made it official. I also didn’t think he was capable."

I drop the papers onto the table, rushing to his side. "Oril, listen to me. This isn’t the end. I’ll fix this. I’ll do something. I promise." I will think of something to fix this, my brother won’t go to jail.