Chapter 255 A Dish for the Alpha’s Parents

Chapter 255: Chapter 255 A Dish for the Alpha’s Parents

After dinner, Mrs. Jones cleared the plates while Eira lingered near the kitchen island. She kept thinking about the meal, and about the way Alpha Killian had watched her eat it.

Mrs. Jones stacked the bowls and smiled.

"You know, that was the first time Alpha Killian has ever cooked for anyone."

Eira looked up. "Anyone?"

"Anyone. Not his father, not Luna Seraphina, not even his sister. No one in this family has ever tasted food made by his hands."

There was something tender in her voice. It made Eira’s chest tighten.

"Then maybe Killian should cook for his parents sometime," Eira said carefully. "They might like it."

Alpha Killian had been standing near the hall, checking his phone. At the sound of his name, he looked up.

His silver-gray eyes found Eira’s across the room.

"All right," he said.

Eira blinked. "You heard that?"

"I heard you."

--

The next morning, Mrs. Jones drove to the old Sterling estate with three insulated containers of spicy shrimp linguine resting carefully on the passenger seat.

She wore a smile the entire way, as if she were carrying a secret too good to keep.

Alpha Julian and Luna Seraphina were already seated at the long breakfast table when she arrived.

Sunlight poured through the tall windows, lighting the polished wood and the silver coffee service.

"Good morning," Mrs. Jones said. "The young master sent breakfast for both of you."

Alpha Julian lowered his newspaper. Luna Seraphina set down her coffee.

They exchanged a curious look.

"What did Killian send?" Luna Seraphina asked.

Mrs. Jones placed the containers on the table. "Spicy shrimp linguine."

Alpha Julian’s brows rose. "He sent pasta?"

"He made it himself."

The room went silent.

Mrs. Jones opened the first container and continued with great pride.

"He peeled the shrimp, cooked the linguine, made the garlic and lemon sauce, and added the chili flakes himself. He even finished it with fresh parsley."

Alpha Julian stared at the food as if it were evidence in a criminal investigation.

"That boy can barely chop an onion," he said. "When did he learn to cook shrimp linguine? And since when does he even eat shrimp linguine?"

"He does not," Mrs. Jones said.

Luna Seraphina’s eyes narrowed with sudden understanding. "Then who was this for?"

Mrs. Jones smiled. "Miss Crawford asked him to make dinner for you both."

Luna Seraphina’s expression softened.

"So Eira suggested it."

"She did."

A quiet warmth settled over the table.

Alpha Julian picked up his fork. "Choosing the right mate can change a man."

Luna Seraphina covered a smile with her coffee cup.

Mrs. Jones set the second container beside her. "Changing the wrong mate can change a man too."

--

Across town, Alpha Killian was reviewing a contract when Susan called.

"Mr. Sterling, Dr. Crawford isn’t answering her phone or the lab line. I need to update her about tomorrow’s hearing."

"What happened?"

"Both defendants have been ruled medically unfit to appear. Alpha Sebastian is still hospitalized, and Serena’s attorney submitted records requiring strict bed rest after the miscarriage."

Susan paused.

"The judge granted a one-week continuance."

Alpha Killian’s expression hardened. "I’ll tell Eira."

He ended the call and pressed the intercom.

"Miles. My office." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

Miles arrived moments later with his tablet in hand.

"Go to Mercy General," Alpha Killian said. "Find out what happened to Alpha Sebastian and Serena. I want the hospital reports, the court filings, and the escalator footage."

"I’ll get it."

An hour later, Miles called from the hospital parking garage.

"Start with Sebastian," Alpha Killian said.

"He collapsed from exhaustion and severe emotional strain. The doctors found no structural injury, but he’s unconscious and running a high fever."

"And Serena?"

"Her injuries were worse than expected. She lost the pregnancy and suffered permanent damage. The doctors aren’t sure she’ll be able to carry another child."

Alpha Killian’s face remained unreadable.

Miles lowered his voice. "There’s more. Serena’s bloodwork came back positive for syphilis."

The room went quiet.

"Mercy General has begun testing staff members who may have been exposed," Miles continued. "They’re arranging treatment where necessary."

"If Serena has it, Alpha Sebastian may have it too," Miles said.

"He can deal with it."

"Should I schedule a full screening for Dr. Crawford?"

"No." Alpha Killian’s voice turned firm. "I already took her. Her results were negative."

Miles let out a quiet breath.

Alpha Killian looked toward the dark windows, his thoughts already shifting to the hearing.

"Get the surveillance footage from the escalator. I want every angle, including the moments before Serena kissed him."

Miles paused. "You think the fall was staged?"

"I think we stop guessing when we have proof."

"I’ll send the footage to Susan as soon as I get it."

"Do that."

--

That evening, Alpha Killian went down to the underground research wing.

The security doors opened only after the scanner recognized his face. Inside, the lab glowed with cold blue light. Monitors covered the walls, coffee cups crowded the workstations, and the air smelled of disinfectant and overheated equipment.

He stopped beside the nearest technician.

"Where’s Dr. Crawford?"

The technician glanced toward the sealed processing room. "Still inside. She locked herself in this morning."

"How long has she been working?"

"Since before sunrise."

Alpha Killian’s jaw tightened. "When is she coming out?"

The technician gave him an apologetic look. "Hard to say. Once she gets into a flow state, she forgets everything else."

"Food?"

"She refused lunch."

"Water?"

The technician hesitated. "She drank half a cup of coffee."

Alpha Killian’s silver eyes turned cold.

Eira had missed several days of work while they were in Reed territory. Now she was trying to recover the lost time by treating her own body like another disposable resource.

"Bring her something warm," he ordered. "And don’t let her replace dinner with coffee."

The technician nodded quickly.

Alpha Killian returned to his office and told security to notify him the moment Eira left the lab. He tried to work, but every few minutes his gaze returned to the phone on his desk.

By eight, no one had called.

He went back downstairs.

Professor Davies and Claire were leaving the research wing when they saw him.

"Mr. Sterling," Claire said. "Are you here for Eira?"

"Is she done?"

Davies shook his head. "Not even close. She gets locked into the work and refuses to stop until the problem is solved."

"The only time she ever broke that habit was when..." His voice trailed off.

"When Sebastian needed something," Alpha Killian finished.

Neither of them contradicted him.

Rowan stirred beneath his ribs.

[She used to give Sebastian every minute of her life.]

Alpha Killian’s expression hardened.

[She doesn’t have to give me anything.]

The wolf went silent for a moment.

[Then stay until she chooses to give it.]

Alpha Killian took a seat outside the glass doors.

"Does she set an alarm?" he asked.

Claire shook her head. "No. She says her body knows when it has had enough."

"That is not a system."

"We know," Davies said. "You should tell her."

"I have."

"And did she listen?"

Alpha Killian looked through the glass at the woman bent over her monitors.

"No."

Claire hid a smile. "Then you may need to try harder."

He gave her a flat look, but he did not leave.

For the next three hours, Alpha Killian worked from a laptop security brought downstairs.

At eleven, the automatic doors finally slid open.

Eira stepped out with one hand pressed to the back of her neck. Her hair had come loose, and fatigue shadowed her face.

Then she saw him.

Alpha Killian rose from the glass chair.

"Finished?"

Eira blinked. "When did you get here?"

"A while ago."

"You were waiting?"

"Yeah."

His silver eyes held hers.

"I was waiting for you."