Mated to the Alpha: Sold to the King

Kaelen POV

"She suffered a severe trauma relapse, Alpha."

The healer stood in my office with a clipboard in his hand, his expression carefully neutral. He had just finished examining Ella, who was still unconscious in her room, and now he was delivering his report.

"Trauma relapse," I repeated. The words felt foreign on my tongue. "Explain."

The healer cleared his throat.

"From my examination and what I’ve gathered from her history, it appears she has experienced significant trauma in her past. Trauma severe enough that her mind found a way to survive by compartmentalizing the pain."

He paused, choosing his next words carefully.

"But when the psychological stress becomes too much, or when something triggers those buried memories, the mind can shut down. It’s a defense mechanism. Her body essentially forced itself into a comatose state to protect itself and heal."

I felt my fists clench at my sides just hearing that.

Outwardly, I remained calm and composed, but inside, something twisted violently.

"She’s a rogue," I said flatly. "She’s probably seen things. Done things."

"Then that would explain a lot," he replied, meeting my gaze directly. "This presents as the trauma of someone who has endured prolonged abuse. Years of it, if I had to guess."

I went completely still while the healer glanced down at his notes before continuing.

"She’s also severely malnourished. Her body has been surviving on very little for what appears to be years. Combined with the stress she’s been under since arriving here and the physical demands placed on her, it’s honestly remarkable that she hasn’t collapsed sooner. Or worse..."

I went very still at those words, my heart racing wildly as the image of her unconscious in my arms replayed over and over in my head.

Or worse.

He didn’t have to finish the sentence for me to know what he meant.

She would have died.

"Leave," I said quietly.

The healer immediately bowed before turning and walking out.

But just before the door could click shut, it was suddenly slammed open, and a furious-looking Darius stormed inside.

"You son of a bitch..." he snarled as he raised his fist and threw a powerful punch straight at my jaw.

I could have easily dodged it, but my mind was too lost in the terrifying loop of her going limp in my arms to even move.

The blow connected heavily, snapping my head to the side.

"I left you two alone for what, just a few hours, and look at what you did!" Darius roared, his chest heaving as he stood over me. "I told you it was my fault! I was the one who walked in on her, yet you still went ahead and took your anger out on her!"

I said nothing, and that only seemed to infuriate him further.

He grabbed me by the collar and repeatedly shoved me backward, feeding the dark, toxic guilt already clawing at my throat until my wolf couldn’t take it anymore and snapped.

"Enough," I growled.

My hand shot out, gripping his wrist before I slammed him hard against the wall.

Before he could recover, I wrapped my hand tightly around his throat and pinned him in place.

"I’ve let a lot of the shit you’ve been doing slide because I consider you a brother," I hissed, my face inches from his as anger simmered in my amber eyes. "But don’t you ever forget that I am still stronger than you. If you push me far enough, I can rip your throat out with a single snap."

Darius didn’t struggle.

He didn’t even try to pry my fingers away, even as my grip tightened and completely cut off his air supply.

His gray eyes remained locked on mine, burning with fury.

For a long moment, neither of us moved.

Then, reluctantly, I released him and took several steps back, putting distance between us.

"You are not allowed to enter her room from now on," I commanded, and his expression darkened instantly.

"I can’t stop the two of you from getting close, even though part of me desperately wants to," I continued, my voice rough. "But the very least I can do now is protect her dignity."

Hearing that, Darius let out a dark chuckle as he rubbed his throat.

"You’re one to talk about her dignity," he spat, adjusting his collar. "You wouldn’t hesitate to fuck her right out in the open just to mark your territory."

I ignored the venom in his words.

Instead, I forced my expression into a mask of calm as I stared back at him, finally voicing the realization that had been forming in my mind.

"I finally figured you out," I said quietly.

Darius raised a brow.

"At first, I was confused about why you were trying so hard to get on my nerves, but I figured it out." I stepped closer. "You wanted to play the hero. You wanted to make me out to be the villain so you could act as her savior. Because why the hell would any sane person openly talk about walking in on a woman, especially someone like you, if it wasn’t specifically to get a reaction out of me?"

Darius’s expression immediately hardened, and his hands curled tightly into fists at his sides, confirming that my assumption had hit its mark.

"I really applaud your dedication," I added, a bitter, humorless smile crossing my face as I took another step forward. "You know, I get it. She looks like the woman who saved you, so you’re obsessed with her."

"No, you don’t," Darius cut in sharply. "You don’t get it."

"But what if she turns out not to be the one?" I pressed anyway. "What if you end up finding the person who really saved you? Then what, Darius? Do you just go back to being completely ice-cold toward Ella? Because that’s how harsh your heart is. It’s only open for one woman."

"You know, I could say the exact same fucking thing about you," Darius shot back.

His eyes flashed dangerously as he stepped directly into my space.

"What if Seraphina returns?"