Rowan's POV
Sweat beaded across my forehead as pain ripped through my gut like a rogue claw. I pressed a hand hard against my stomach, fighting for breath, each wave sharper than the last.
Not again…
I remembered this pain from years ago—back when Audrey slipped bitter herbs into my tea and the agony vanished almost instantly.
Audrey…
Instinctively, I dug out my phone and dialed her number.
"The number you have dialed is no longer in service. Please check the number and try again."
I froze. I'd expected her to answer immediately—as she always did.
What? Did she block me?
A low growl rumbled in my chest. How dare Audrey cut me off?
The flare of anger only twisted the pain harder, and I doubled over, convinced I might actually die right here in my own den.
"Rowan! Something's wrong! Fen's having an allergic reaction!"
Lisa burst into the room, clutching Fen in her arms.
The boy's face was flushed red, rashes crawling across his skin. He whined in pain, his small body weak and trembling.
Lisa's eyes widened when she saw me half-collapsed on the couch. "Rowan—what's happening to you two?"
Fen too? This couldn't be a coincidence.
I forced myself upright, panting. "Maybe… the BBQ was too spicy for my stomach. I—"
Before I finished, Lisa dissolved into tears. "I didn't know! I just wanted to celebrate our new home… I'm so sorry…"
Her crying only worsened the pounding in my head, like someone beating a war drum between my ears.
If Audrey were here, she would be calm. Quick. Efficient. She always knew exactly what to do.
Damn it.
Why was she on my mind again?
Did she really think blocking me would drag me back to her?
My vision dimmed with anger. I snatched my phone and called my assistant. "My stomach's tearing itself apart. Get an ambulance. Now."
I expected the hospital to fix it. But the pain was worse than before—deep, gnawing, primal. Even the injectable pain meds didn't touch it.
I snapped at the medical staff like a cornered wolf. "Are you all incompetent? Can't you treat a simple stomachache?"
"Please calm down, Alpha—Mr. Blackthorne," the doctor said carefully. "Maybe we should… call Mrs. Blackthorne. She might—"
"Shut up."
I barked it so sharply the room went silent.
So that was Audrey's game—cutting off contact so I'd crawl back begging for her help?
Absolutely not.
Hours later, the storm finally passed. The pain eased. Fen's allergic reaction settled, too.
But we both looked like we'd been dragged through hell and rolled in it.
"Dad…" Fen whispered from his hospital bed, "I feel awful. Can I have some water?"
I sat slumped on the nearby couch, pale as moonlight. Irritation prickled up my spine. "Can't you see I'm sick too?"
Ungrateful pup. Couldn't he suffer quietly for once?
"Rowan, don't be angry," Lisa rushed to say. "I'll get it."
She brought him a cup of water, but Fen took one sip and sputtered it right back out.
"This water's bitter! I want sweet water!"
Lisa's face crumpled. "What? It's just plain water."
"It's bitter! I don't want it!" Fen wailed, thrashing in frustration.
I ran a hand over my face, temper thinning.
Ned, my Beta, cleared his throat. "Alpha… when Fen got sick before, Mrs. Blackthorne always made him honey water."
Lisa blinked helplessly. "Where am I supposed to get honey here?"
I sighed sharply. "Ned. Honey. Now."
Ten minutes later, Ned returned with a jar. Lisa mixed it quickly and handed it to Fen, but after one sip he gagged again, crying harder.
"It doesn't taste right!"
Lisa stood frozen, tears streaming down her face. "Rowan, what do we do?"
I rubbed my temples, ready to explode.
How should I know?
Audrey always took care of Fen. She never asked me for help, never let me deal with these small, constant pack issues.
Finally, at the end of my patience, I almost snapped at Fen—almost ready to smack some discipline into him.
His crying eventually wore him out, and he drifted to sleep.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. Nothing was going my way tonight.
Fen was a handful. Lisa was useless—only knew how to cry along with him.
Then Ned stepped back in. "Alpha… the company has a situation."
I rose immediately. "Stay with Fen. I'm going to the office."
Lisa's voice cracked. "Rowan, it's so late… If you leave, what do I do? I can't manage Fen alone!"
She'd never cared for him even one day by herself. Tonight's chaos over a single cup of water had already broken her.
I let out a long exhale. "Audrey's still angry. She's not coming back anytime soon. You'll just have to endure for a couple of days. Once she regrets it and returns, you won't have to worry."
Lisa sniffled. "Alright…"
***
Audrey's POV
Meanwhile, Dorian and I ate the takeout he ordered. I hadn't expected my birthday to unravel this way—free yet oddly hollow. I'd lost my husband and my son on the same night.
My phone rang.
I answered reluctantly.
Before I even spoke, Lisa's panicked voice burst through. "Audrey! Fen had an allergic reaction! He's in the hospital! You need to come take care of him!"
I set down her fork, lips curling into a cold smile.
"How exactly did that happen?"
"I—I don't know! Maybe he ate something wrong!"
I knew Fen's allergies better than anyone. I'd guarded his meals, ensuring he never came close to danger.
He hadn't had a single attack in years.
And after one night with Lisa, he ended up in the hospital?
Laughable.
"If you won't tell me the truth, then forget it," I said and moved to hang up.
Lisa panicked. "H-he ate… Spicy BBQ. Just a little!"
I let out a sharp laugh. "More like half the serving."
Lisa whimpered, "Audrey, your son is sick. Don't you care?"
My son?
The words sliced me cleanly.
I had poured my heart and soul into Fen. Loved him. Protected him. Nursed him through every fever.
But he was never mine.
He was Lisa and Rowan's pup—never mine.
My expression hardened. My voice went cold. "I can't come. Take care of him yourself."
And I hung up.
I inhaled deeply, steadying the roaring storm inside me. I would not break. Not here. Not now—not with Dorian and his daughter nearby.
When I finally lifted my gaze, Dorian was watching me carefully, his dark wolf-eyes steady, concern etched in every line of his face.
"You alright?" he asked softly.