A Werewolf's Unexpected Mate

Ace's POV

We stood right in front of the palace exit, and luckily, there were no guards here—thankfully, they were stationed at the entrance. This was our entrance route inside the palace to avoid drawing attention to Ovelia, who was severely injured. With human guests from the royal family present, I knew that if they caught sight of her wounds, their doubts about the peace between humans and Werewolves would resurface.

I shifted back into my human form, cradling Ovelia in my arms, carefully making my way to her room. I instructed Ann to call for a doctor but told her to keep it discreet—no one else could know.

•Ovelia's Room•

I laid Ovelia gently on her bed, pressing the piece of Ann cloth against the gash on her left arm to stem the flow of blood. A wave of sadness washed over me, the wolf within me gnawing at my conscience. I brushed aside the strands of hair that fell across her face, my heart heavy with guilt. She was my wife, yet I found myself torn, still harboring feelings for Eliana.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and I saw Ann enter, accompanied by the doctor and Ray. I told Ann not to let anyone know, but Ray is here. The doctor rushed toward Ovelia, and I pulled up a chair beside the table, making room for the doctor. I stepped aside from Ovelia's side, allowing the doctor to attend to her.

I glanced at Ann, her eyes glistening with tears and then at Ray, whose expression was filled with concern.

"What happened to her?" Ray's voice trembled, panic rising as he took a step closer. "That cut on her arm looks really deep!"

The doctor focused intently on Ovelia, his face set in a mask of concentration. "I need to stitch this wound closed to stop the bleeding," he said, his tone firm yet reassuring. There was a sense of urgency, but also a quiet confidence that simmered beneath his words.

I moved a little closer to the doctor, my heart pounding as I realized the severity of Ovelia's injury. I had only seen it briefly, covered by a piece of Ann's clothing, but now, with the fabric pulled aside, three deep gashes marred Ovelia's arm.

As I processed the scene, I noticed Ray approaching me, his eyes ablaze with anger. Without warning, he swung his fist, striking me hard on the cheek. The impact left me stunned, and I felt the hot trickle of blood running from the corner of my mouth. I wiped it away and shot him a furious glare.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I shouted. The anger boiled within me, a mixture of shock and the instinct to defend myself against the chaos unfurling around us.

Ray's expression was a mix of rage and desperation. "You were supposed to protect her!" he yelled back, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotions.

Ray gripped the collar of my shirt tightly, his voice a mixture of anger and concern. "You're her husband, yet you let her slip out of your sight! You're too busy flirting with that Eliana! Ovelia is a vital figure in this kingdom! If the humans, especially those from the Royal Family, discover something has happened to her and it's at the hands of werewolves, we will lose their trust, leading to a war like in the past! Remember, Ace, you're the next Alpha King!"

I stayed silent, acknowledging the truth in his words. Deep down, I was grappling with self-blame, desperately trying to hide the turmoil within me.

"Sir Ray, enough!" Ann interjected, her voice firm and steady. "The doctor can't focus on saving her if you two are arguing like this."

Ray released his grip, the tension in the air lingering.

"Please, place a thick cloth over Ovelia's mouth so she can bite down. I need to begin stitching her arm wounds," the doctor instructed, his tone brisk but focused.

Ann swiftly complied, gently placing the cloth over Ovelia's mouth, hoping to steady her while the doctor worked. To keep her still, Ray held onto Ovelia's legs firmly while I supported her right arm. Ann grasped her left hand, ensuring she wouldn't move as the doctor began his delicate task.

As the doctor began to stitch Ovelia's wounds on her arm, she stirred awake, struggling against the fabric gagging her mouth. I glanced over at Ann, her face a mask of worry as she fought to restrain Ovelia's flailing arms. Ray mirrored her efforts, gripping Ovelia's legs firmly. I couldn't bear the sight of Ovelia in pain; my heart ached as I leaned closer to her, letting my body and face come into her view. I gently released her right arm, surprising everyone around us. Ovelia dug her nails into my back, tears streaming down her cheeks as our eyes locked.

"Just hold on a little longer," I whispered gently, pressing my lips to her forehead, hoping to convey my strength.

"It's done," the doctor announced, relief lacing his voice.

In that moment, our collective anxiety transformed into a flicker of joy, but just as quickly, Ovelia lost consciousness once more.

The doctor began to wipe away the blood from her arm. As he removed the blood, mixed with foundation, his eyes widened in shock at the bruises that marred her skin. Ray shot a furious glance in my direction.

"She said to me before that she got those bruises when her non-biological parents were beating her. I also saw the large bruise on her back," Ann said, her voice trembling with emotion.

A wave of guilt washed over me; it felt like the weight of responsibility settled heavily on my heart for that bruise on her back.

The doctor gently turned the unconscious Ovelia around, and I felt my anger rising toward him. But Ray held me back, reminding me that the doctor was only doing his job. In that moment, we all caught sight of Ovelia's swollen back, the wounds shocking us into silence.

"That bruise wasn't like that yesterday," I spoke, my voice barely above a whisper filled with disbelief.

My blood boiled as I remembered the black werewolf that had hurt Ovelia. I should have killed him when I had the chance. I carefully slid off Ovelia's dress, leaving her in her bra and panties. The doctor began to assess her bruises and wounds, his hands steady but focused.

Once the doctor was finished with Ovelia's treatment, he stood up and said, "Change her bandages regularly, and apply an ice pack to her bruises to reduce the swelling." His demeanor was calm, yet there was a seriousness in his eyes that underscored the gravity of the situation.

I looked at Ann, and she nodded in understanding, her eyes reflecting a mix of worry and determination.

The doctor stepped out of the room, his expression grave. Ray was already at the door, but he paused, turning to me with a solemn look. "Everything that's happened here will reach King Raymond, and I assure you, the guests won't hear a word about it."

I opened my mouth to respond, but just then, Ray exited, leaving me with a heavy heart. Ann remained by Ovelia's side, holding her hand tightly. Her voice trembled as she whispered, "Ma'am Ovelia, I'm so sorry. I'm your personal maid, but I'm not always there. You've been such a wonderful master. Please, wake up." Tears streaked down her cheeks as she spoke, her sorrow palpable.

I stepped beside her, trying to convey a sense of calm. "No one wanted this to happen. You mustn't blame yourself. I'll keep watch over her. It's time for you to rest now."

With a quivering breath, Ann wiped her tears away. "Please, Sir Ace, take good care of Ma'am Ovelia," she implored, her voice breaking slightly. Then she turned and walked out of the room.

The air was thick with tension, each heartbeat echoing in the silence that followed, as I focused my attention on Ovelia, hoping for a sign of her strength to return.

I settled into the chair beside Ovelia, grasping her hands gently. A profound sadness enveloped me, and beneath it lurked the feral anger of my wolf. This was all my fault; if only I had prioritized Ovelia—my wife—over Eliana. Regret, rage, and sorrow churned within me, a bitter cocktail I couldn't escape.

I glanced at her peaceful face, so I was vulnerable in sleep, and it only deepened my remorse.

As the minutes stretched into hours, fatigue overcame me, and I felt myself drifting. I leaned forward, letting my head rest gently against Ovelia's bedside, the warmth of her presence, a brief comfort against the storm of feelings raging within me.

My eyes fluttered closed, the world around me fading as sleep finally claimed me, but my heart remained tethered to her, filled with a fervent hope that she would awaken.