Chapter 224 Adding fuel to fire

Chapter 224: Chapter 224 Adding fuel to fire

_Rowena’s POV_

The silence that followed after Alaric’s question was enough to cut with a knife.

He didn’t let me respond before he glared at Kyle and said, "Put her down.” He even growled, his deep voice carrying a dangerous tone that could crush an omega or so.

Kyle didn’t drop to his knees, or bow, he didn’t even blink. He just adjusted his grip slightly, making sure my swollen ankle didn’t dangle, and offered Alaric a casual, professional smile that was entirely too relaxed for the situation.

"I would love to, Your Majesty," Kyle replied smoothly, his baritone voice completely unbothered by the deadly glare. "Except she has a severe lateral ligament sprain from a hit and run attempt outside the front gates. If I set her down on this hard tile floor right now, she will collapse, and as her attending physician, I am not fond of letting my patients break their faces."

Alaric’s jaw clenched so hard I heard his teeth snap. It was funny, and I wanted to laugh, but I held it back.

Before Alaric could take a step forward to physically yank me out of Kyle’s arms, the doors to the waiting lounge burst open.

Ezekiel stepped out holding a paper cup of iced coffee, taking a slow sip through his straw. "Hey, Rowena, did you get the....”

Ezekiel froze mid-sip.

His eyes darted from Alaric’s thunderous, expression, to me being carried like a bride, to Kyle.....who stood unbothered by Alaric’s brooding eyes.

Slowly, a massive, wicked grin spread across Ezekiel’s face. He pulled the straw out of his mouth and let out a dramatic, appreciative whistle.

"Oh wow," Ezekiel drawled, stepping closer with a delighted look in his eyes. "What do we have here? Rowena, you were gone for fifteen minutes to buy food and you brought back a whole six-foot-two distraction? I am deeply impressed."

"Ezekiel, shut up," I muttered, glaring at him over Kyle’s broad shoulder.

"I will not shut up, this is the most exciting thing that has happened all week," Ezekiel replied cheerfully. He turned toward Kyle, giving him a thorough, approving scan from his expensive shoes to the scar along his jaw. "Hi, I’m Prince Ezekiel. Marchioness Rowena’s brilliant business partner and overall superior friend. And you are?"

"Kyle," the doctor introduced himself, his eyes flashing with genuine amusement as he took in Ezekiel’s energetic personality. "New head of high risk trauma downstairs."

"A doctor!" Ezekiel gasped loudly, clutching his chest with one hand while holding his iced coffee with the other. He shot a glance at Alaric, whose veins were practically bulging on his neck. "A handsome, heroic doctor with a rugged features who from the look of things saved Rowena, the damsel in distress? Oh, goddess....”

"Ezekiel," Alaric barked out, his voice laced with a warning. "Back off."

"I am just appreciating quality healthcare, Alpha King," Ezekiel said innocently, taking another sip of his coffee. He turned back to Kyle, dropping his voice into a whisper that was still entirely audible to everyone in the hall. "So, Kyle... are you single? Because Rowena here is technically unavailable, but she appreciates competence, and frankly, she wouldn’t mind being your friend too.”

"Ezekiel.” I snapped, my cheeks heating up as I pinched his arm. "I am standing right here."

Kyle let out a laugh that vibrated against my hand. "I am single, as it happens. But right now, my primary concern is getting your friend onto an examination table before her foot doubles in size."

"I like him." Ezekiel announced loudly, pointing his cup at Kyle. "He’s useful, he has broad shoulders, and he doesn’t yell at people. Alpha King, take notes."

Alaric looked like he was about one second away from ripping Ezekiel’s head his body.

He took two long strides forward, stopping directly in front of Kyle. The physical tension between the two powerful men was so thick the four guards behind us looked like they wanted to run for the exit.

"Hand her to me," Alaric commanded, his voice dropping an octave lower into a dark, possessive tone. "Now."

Kyle looked at Alaric, then looked down at me, raising an eyebrow in a silent, questioning gesture. I let out a long sigh, realizing this absurd staring contest wasn’t going to end until I intervened.

"Set me down on the bench, Kyle," I said gently, tapping his shoulder. "Before my Alpha causes an international diplomatic incident here."

Kyle complied smoothly, stepping toward the bench against the wall and carefully lowering me down. The moment my hips touched the cushion, Alaric immediately stepped into the space between us, placing his body firmly in front of Kyle to block his line of sight to me.

Alaric dropped down to one knee in front of my bench, his hands reaching out to gently touch my right leg, avoiding the swollen left ankle entirely. His eyes searched my face, filled with a mix of anger, worry, and panic.

"A hit-and-run?" He asked, his voice rough and tense. "Who was in the car? Did you see the license plate?"

"It was a black SUV with tinted windows," I explained, leaning back against the wall as the throbbing pain in my foot flared up again. "No plates. They deliberately rushed off the main lane and accelerated straight toward me on the zebra crossing. If Kyle hadn’t yanked me backward, I would be lying under a chassis right now."

Alaric’s face went deadly pale, followed immediately by a surge of pure, terrifying rage. He stood up slowly, turning his head toward Gabriel.

"Seal the hospital perimeter," Alaric ordered, his tone cold enough to freeze blood. "Check every traffic camera within a five mile radius. I want that vehicle found, and I want the driver dragged to prison before sunset."

"Yes, Alpha." Gabriel bowed instantly and hurried down the hall with two guards.

Meanwhile, Kyle casually stepped around Alaric’s shoulder, pulling a small penlight and a compact medical tool from his coat pocket. He crouched down beside my bench, completely ignoring the murder in Alaric’s eyes as he gently unbuckled the strap on my shoe.

"Let me take a look at that joint," Kyle said, his touch remarkably light and gentle despite his large hands. "This is going to sting a little when I slide the shoe off."

"Go ahead," I said, bracing myself.

As Kyle carefully pulled my foot out of the shoe, Ezekiel leaned against the wall right beside us, looking down at the process with interest.

"You know, Kyle," Ezekiel said thoughtfully, tapping his chin. "You have very gentle hands for a guy who looks like he wrestles bears in the mountains. Rowena, doesn’t he have gentle hands?"

"Ezekiel," I groaned, trying to stay as calm as possible. "I am going to let you go as a friend soon.”

"You can’t do that, Marchioness.” zekiel replied and smiled at me.

Kyle chuckled at our exchange. "The swelling is bad, but the bone isn’t fractured. I’ll take you down to my private clinic on the second floor to wrap it properly. Because it also appears your wolf is dormant.”

Alaric stepped right between us again, his towering frame completely blocking Kyle from touching my foot any further.

"I will carry her down," Alaric stated, his jaw locked tight.

Kyle stood up slowly, meeting Alaric’s glare with a polite completely unbothered smile. "Of course, Your Majesty. Follow me."