Chapter 200 One of the best
_Rowena’s POV_
I turned on my heel and walked straight out of the hospital room because Kristy’s ungrateful mouth was beginning to push me past my limits.
I had no desire to stand there and listen to her shower Brielle with praise while bitter insults at my family. The door closed shut behind me, thankfully cutting off the sound of Brielle’s sweet, fake voice.
Alaric stepped out into the hallway a few seconds later, his long strides easily catching up to me as I walked toward the glass exit doors. He reached out and gently took my hand, pulling me to a stop near the empty waiting lounge.
"Rowena, wait," Alaric said softly, his dark eyes searching my face with genuine concern. "Do not let Aunt Kristy get under your skin. She is in a lot of pain, and her pride is severely wounded right now."
"I am fine," I replied, taking a deep calm breath to center myself. "I am not angry with her, but I refuse to stay in a room where I am clearly not welcome."
Alaric looked down at our joined hands, pausing for a moment before he asked the question that had clearly been weighing on his mind. "Can you really build an advanced mechanical leg for her? Did you perhaps major in biomedical engineering or science at a university I do not know about? I have reviewed your personal file many times, and I never saw any official record of you attending a higher institution."
I looked up into his handsome face, keeping my expression completely unreadable. "You do not need to worry about my methods. I said I will handle it, and I intend to keep my word."
Before he could push me for more details, I gently pulled my hand out of his grip, gave him a small nod, and walked out into the afternoon sunlight.
The truth was far more personal than any university degree. My late brother had always been completely obsessed with science, advanced mathematics, and modern technology. Long before our family was torn apart, he spent every single night tucked away in his workshop, dreaming of becoming a world class robotic engineer one day.
When I was younger and my wolf spirit was just beginning to awaken, I used to sit quietly in the corner of his room, utterly fascinated by the many circuit boards and mechanical parts spread across his desk.
At first, I secretly read his engineering textbooks while he was away, trying my best to memorize the complicated formulas and technical diagrams.
One day, when he eventually caught me reading his notes, he did not turn me away. Instead, he laughed warmly, sat me down beside him, and began personally teaching me on the fundamentals of robotics, nerve sensors, and modern mechanics. Literally everything he knew.
Because of those late-night lessons with my brother, I had a deep knowledge of how to build a fully functional prosthetic leg. I was not one hundred percent certain that I could pull off such an advanced project all on my own, but I was at least eighty percent confident that I could bring my brother’s old theories to life.
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_Alaric’s POV_
After Rowena left the building, I stood near the main entrance of the hospital, staring down the corridor while processing everything she had just said.
I was about to turn around and head back toward my aunt’s room when a familiar figure stepped out of the private elevator at the end of the hall.
It was Celeste.
I was actually urprised to see her in the VIP medical wing, considering she was usually stationed at our PI headquarters working on the Drake investigation.
Celeste maintained her usual professional posture, dressed in a black suit with her hair pulled back into a tight bun.
The moment her eyes caught sight of me, she walked over with calm steps and offered a respectful bow.
"Alpha," She greeted smoothly, her voice cool and composed.
"Celeste," I acknowledged, nodding my head. "What brings you to the central hospital today? I thought you were busy checking the city surveillance footage for our morning briefing."
"I came here to personally check on Thomas as Rowena insisted," Celeste explained calmly, adjusting her dark blazer. "He is Kaelen’s younger brother, the one Rowena helped save from that dangerous situation a few days ago at the other hospital. He is recovering remarkably well under our medical team’s care."
I nodded slowly, remembering the incident. As I looked at Celeste, a sudden wave of curiosity washed over me, pushing me to ask the question that had been lingering in my mind ever since Rowena made her bold declaration to my aunt.
"Celeste," I called out, stepping slightly closer. "Did Rowena ever major in advanced science or mechanical engineering? She just promised Kristy that she could build a fully functioning prosthetic leg in three weeks, but her official record contains no higher institute background."
A small knowing smirk touched the corner of Celeste’s lips. She looked at me with a glint of deep pride in her eyes, showing a rare moment of personal emotion that she usually kept hidden behind her professional mask.
"Rowena never needed a formal university degree to master those concepts, Alpha," Celeste said confidently, her voice filled with pride. "My cousin is great at many things that do not appear on standard paper records. She is, without a doubt, the most brilliant, creative, and remarkably intelligent woman I have ever known in my entire life."
I stood completely frozen for a second, thoroughly wowed by Celeste’s intense words.
Celeste was widely considered to be one of the most brilliant tactical minds and intelligent individuals in our entire pack territory.
She rarely gave out praise to anyone, yet here she was, speaking about Rowena’s intellect with so much confidence and total awe.
When I didn’t day a word for a while, he smirked again and gave a slight bow. “I’ll be on my way Alpha, I need to check on the kid.” she said and I nodded.
Watching Celeste walk down the hallway toward Thomas’s room, a realization finally settled deep inside my chest.
I had spent so much time trying to protect Rowena from the political problems surrounding us that I had completely failed to see the incredible depth of the woman standing right beside me.
I truly did not know Rowena as well as I thought I did, but I was suddenly determined to learn every single secret she possessed, and her capabilities.