Chapter 52: What’s Wrong?
The drive to Moon-Crest General Hospital is painfully silent.
Adrian barely notices the traffic lights as he tears through the city, his knuckles white around the steering wheel. Nyra sits beside him, twisting her fingers together.
Because no matter what happened, Anna is still her own flesh and blood.
By the time they arrive, the emergency entrance is crowded with other patients and visitors.
Adrian doesn’t slow down. He holds Nyra’s hand tightly, weaving through the small crowd until they reach the front desk.
"I’m Adrian Blackwood," he tells the young nurse at the reception desk. "My mother called. Anna Hale was brought in twenty minutes ago."
The young receptionist looks up, flustered for whatever reason Nyra doesn’t want to confront in that moment.
She looks through the system, shooting Adrian not-so-subtle looks. "Private Emergency Wing. Third floor. Room two."
Then she offers him the private elevator key card with a red face, but before Adrian can collect it, Nyra snatches the card without a second glance.
Adrian lips twitches.
They don’t waste another second. The two of them--plus Julian, who’d walked in five minutes earlier--head toward the private elevators.
The private emergency ward is a completely different world from the chaos downstairs.
The lighting is softer. The corridors are spotless, decorated with expensive paintings and fresh flowers. Every room has frosted glass doors and monitoring equipment visible through the windows.
Before they even reach the second room, Luna Selene rounds the corner looking very worried. Her makeup is smudged, and her hair has the just-woke-up look. It’s obvious they rushed out of the house.
The moment she sees them, she immediately walks over and hugs him and Nyra. "Thank Goddess you’re both here."
"What happened?" Adrian asks. "Where’s Dad?"
"Your father left for the Northern Territories on Wednesday to finalize some deals." She shakes her head. "He’ll return next week."
"And Anna?"
"We’re waiting for the doctor. They’re still examining her."
Almost on cue, the room door opens and a middle-aged doctor steps outside, removing his gloves with an exhausted sigh.
His eyes sweep across the small crowd waiting in front of the room, including the two Blackwood maids who came with the Luna.
He adjusts his glasses. "Are you the family?"
"Yes!" Luna Selene rushes forward. "I’m her current guardian. Her parents are on their way."
Nyra’s stomach sinks at the mention of her parents. She hasn’t seen them since her eighteenth birthday.
"Okay..." The man nods. "But what about the baby’s father? Are you in contact? Can you reach him if possible?"
Adrian steps forward without hesitation. "I am the father."
The doctor’s expression hardens, like he didn’t expect the father to be here. "Then why aren’t you doing your work!?"
Adrian blinks in shock. "What?"
"A pregnant Omega requires consistent exposure to the father’s Alpha scent throughout the pregnancy. It helps regulate stress hormones, stabilize the bond with the fetus, and lowers the risk of complications."
His disappointed gaze doesn’t leave Adrian."But judging from her condition, she clearly hasn’t been receiving nearly enough."
Adrian frowns. "But that’s impossible. We gave her a scent vial for when I wasn’t around."
Luna Selene raises an eyebrow. "And I refilled it myself almost every day!"
The doctor shakes his head in disapproval. "Clearly it hasn’t been enough. Maybe find a way to keep her closer to you."
Then without another explanation, he walks away to answer another nurse calling his name.
Everyone exchanges surprised glances, but Julian is the first to speak.
"... that doesn’t make sense."
"It doesn’t," Adrian agrees immediately. "I’ve always given her my scent."
Luna Selene looks equally confused. "The staff always made sure the vial was full."
Nyra remains quiet, but the wheels in her brain are turning. Something about this feels wrong.
But if her sister is in danger, then it would be selfish of her to...
She slowly lifts her head, looking from Adrian to Anna’s closed hospital door. "We need to talk, but not here," Nyra says quietly.
"Somewhere private."
Luna Selene smiles the moment she sees how her son’s eyes instantly soften as he looks at her. She also notices the mating mark on Nyra’s neck, and her smile widens.
Adrian pretends not to notice as he leads Nyra toward the staircase that leads to the hospital rooftop. Up there, it’s private, and the air is cool.
Nyra lowers her gaze, her fingers twisting together. "...I think... I think Anna should move into the condo with you instead."
Adrian’s smile disappears. "What?"
They were even supposed to head back to the Ashford mansion together to get Nyra’s things, if not for this hospital call.
"If Anna really needs you right now..." Her voice shakes slightly. "Then maybe I should step back until she’s stable. She’s pregnant with your child, after all."
His expression hardens instantly. "No."
"Adrian, I’m serious."
"So am I." His jaw is set tight. "You’re my mate, Nyra. I’m not living with Anna. What if this is exactly what she wants?"
She looks away, her chest feeling heavy. "I just don’t want my sister to die. I know we’re not that close, but I’ll hate myself if she dies."
Adrian pinches the bridge of his nose, looking frustrated. "Nyra! We fought so hard to get here, and I’m not even done making it up to you yet. And now you’re saying I should just take Anna back?!"
"Why are you sounding so shocked?" Nyra retorts. "You have an unborn child on the line, Adrian. An innocent child!"
"I don’t care about that right now!" Adrian snaps. "I’m not giving you up to save a relationship that’s already over."
Nyra frowns and shakes her head. "Well, I care, Adrian. We aren’t that close anyway. Anna is always the one you wanted."
Adrian goes completely still. "...You still believe that?"
Nyra doesn’t respond, refusing to meet his eyes, as she turns on her heels. "My decision is final, Adrian. You can’t change my mind."
She pushes through the rooftop door, leaving Adrian frozen and silently stunned behind her.
The moment she reaches the hallway, she nearly collides with Julian. "There you are," he says, oblivious to the tension radiating from Nyra.
"The old Oracle has finally replied. She’ll see us tomorrow morning. But she said something else too."
Nyra looks up, trying to look composed.
"She said the answer you’re looking for can’t be found unless Adrian comes with you."