Melissa's POV
As we pulled up to the hospital, I barely waited for the car to come to a full stop before getting out. There was a tension in the air that from being so close to Knox that I couldn't quite shake, but I pushed it aside as I stepped into the building. Knox followed closely behind. His presence felt like a heavy reminder of the complicated feelings between us, but I was determined to stay focused on the task in front me.. The moment I entered the hospital, the scent of antiseptic and the low hum of machinery filled my senses, bringing me back to familiar territory. A nurse at the reception desk glanced up and immediately went wide-eyed, clearly not expecting the Alpha to walk in with a woman by his side. I turned to Knox and raised an eyebrow. "When were you going to tell me about all the other patients from the attacks?" He looked at me, surprised. "You know about the attack patients?" I gave him a pointed look. "I'm a doctor, Knox. Of course, I made sure to get a report on the full situation of the pack before coming here." He nodded, seemingly impressed, but quickly led me down the hallway to the critical care unit. As we walked, I noticed the worried faces of the staff and the tense atmosphere hanging over the place. Something was definitely wrong in the pack. "What exactly happened?" I asked, needing to know exactly what I was dealing with. Knox's expression darkened. "It's true that there have been strategized attacks on the pack, targeting our people in ways we've never seen before. They're more calculated and they always hit us where we're most vulnerable. With my son sick and no clear successor in sight, people are getting superstitious. They're starting to believe that the pack's strength is waning, that we're cursed or something." His voice dropped, and for a moment, I saw the weight of ruling and protecting thousands of people pressing heavily on him. It was hard not to feel a pang of sympathy. No matter what had happened between us, Knox was still the Alpha, and his people were suffering. I stopped in front of one of the patient rooms, turning to face him. "Will you finally let me treat your son now?" I asked tentatively. Knox hesitated, his usually confident demeanor faltering. "Yes," he finally said, but I could tell there was something more. "What's wrong?" I asked, my voice softening. He looked at me, and for the first time, I saw real fear in his eyes. "Melissa, I'm worried. I'm terrified of what will happen to him if you… if you can't help him. He's just a little boy. My son. And if he doesn't get better…" I reached out, taking his hand in mine. It was a bold move, one I didn't even think about before doing it, but it felt right. "Knox, I won't fail. I promise you, I'll do everything I can. We'll get through this." For a moment, we just stood there, our hands clasped together, the connection between us undeniable. But I forced myself to pull back before the moment could stretch into something more. "Come on, let's focus on helping him." Knox nodded, but I could tell he was still shaken. I could feel his eyes on me as I walked into the room where the medical staff had gathered, and it took all my willpower not to look back at him. I had to stay focused. "Alright, everyone," I said, clapping my hands to get their attention. "I've reviewed the medical records, and I think we need to change our approach on the attack victims. We're going to use a new medicine regimen to speed up the healing process. I'll walk you through it." The staff listened intently as I explained the new treatment plan. I could see their eyes widening with every word. I was used to commanding attention in a medical setting, but there was something different about how they looked at me now. It was more than respect—it was hope. They were counting on me to make this right, and I wasn't going to let them down. As I finished explaining, I caught Knox standing in the doorway, watching me with an expression I hadn't seen on him before. It was a mix of awe and something else, something more personal. I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks, and I quickly turned away, focusing back on the staff. "Let's get to work," I said, dismissing them to their tasks. I started to move toward the next room when I felt a change in the atmosphere. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and I didn't even need to look to know who was there. Susie "Melissa," came my sister's sharp