Chapter 488
“Juniper got unconscious!” The voice of Jace, the spy Gabriel had employed to keep a close watch on her, was the first thing Karmen heard over the phone in the morning.
“What? Why? Did you take her to the hospital?” Karmen demanded, his mind instantly racing to the potential implications.
“Yes, I’ve admitted her,” Jace confirmed quickly. “I can’t risk being seen by anyone here, so you should come p>
“Sure. Thanks, Jace. Send me the address right now,” Karmen said, lowering the glass of fresh water onto the kitchen counter with a sharp clink.
“I’ve already sent it,” Jace replied.
“Alright. Thanks.” As the call ended, Karmen immediately checked his message inbox, confirming the location. Without delaying a second, he moved swiftly, heading for the front door. However, the moment he crossed the living room, his mother’s voice stopped him dead in his tracks.
“Karmen, can we talk?” Norma inquired from the center of the living room.
“Not now, Mom. I have some urgent work,” Karmen replied, already halfway to the front door, barely slowing his stride.
“At such an early morning hour?” Norma’s face creased into a deep frown. “You always find a way not to talk to me, don’t you? Fine, go, but return early. I have something important to discuss with you,” she asserted, the final words carrying a definite warning.
“Hmm. Sorry, Mom.” Karmen offered a clipped apology, not looking back. He stepped out of the house, immediately taking the car keys from the chauffeur waiting outside the porch, and slipped behind the wheel. Turning the engine over, he drove straight out of the compound.
Arriving at the hospital, Karmen spotted Jace, who was wearing a mask and a cap, making him nearly unrecognizable. Jace quickly pointed out the private room Juniper had been admitted to, and then, without a word, vanished down a side corridor.
Karmen hurried into the room. Just as he reached the bedside, the doctor on rounds stepped in, noticing Karmen’s presence.
“Are you with her, Karmen?” the doctor asked, a gentle but professional concern in his voice. This was Wilder.
“Hey! Yes, I’m with her,” Karmen confirmed, stepping closer to the bed where Juniper lay pale and still.
Wilder gave a sympathetic nod. “The woman has been starving herself for days,” he stated plainly. “And as far as I remember—isn’t she Juniper? I overheard some nurses gossiping about her, mentioning the recent news p>
“Oh. Is there anything major to worry about?” Karmen asked, suddenly tense.
“Yes, there is,” Wilder stated gravely. He reached down and gently pushed the sleeve up on Juniper’s left hand, revealing the wrist. “I noticed these marks. I think she’s trying to self-harm herself. I suppose it’s all tied to what’s happening with her right now. Because she’s an alpha, she can’t get hurt. But if she keeps doing it, then she may lose her wolf. Traumas usually lead to the wolf to suppress p>
Karmen nodded slowly in understanding, his gaze dropping to the IV drip supplying fluids to Juniper. “When will she wake up?” he asked, his voice subdued.
“Soon,” Wilder replied. “Given the circumstances, I suggest you inform Prince Dominick about her condition p>
“I will. Thanks, Wilder,” Karmen said. The doctor left the room, and Karmen immediately pulled out his phone to call Dominick.
A few rings later, Dominick answered, sounding distracted. “Yes, Karmen?” He was in the middle of fixing the buttons of his shirt.
“Juniper is admitted to the hospital, Your Highness,” Karmen informed him.
Dominick instantly felt a surge of panic, a deeply ingrained instinct, but he ruthlessly suppressed it. He reminded himself that he had severed all ties; he had nothing to do with her anymore.
“Don’t inform me about anything related to her,” Dominick asserted. “She is no longer my mate p>
“Understood, Your Highness,” Karmen stated in a humble tone, though he risked one final attempt. “But I thought maybe you would still want to come p>
“No. Don’t contact me regarding her,” Dominick stated.
“I get it,” Karmen replied. He barely registered the click as the call disconnected.
He slipped the phone into his coat pocket, his attention immediately returning to the hospital bed. Karmen pulled the empty chair closer to the bedside and slowly lowered himself onto it.
A sudden voice sliced through the silence. “Karmen, what are you doing here p>
Karmen’s head snapped up as he spotted Aisha, holding a report in her hands.
Aisha’s eyes shifted from Karmen to the unconscious figure in the bed. Her confusion instantly morphed into shock. “Isn’t that Juniper? What in the world happened to her?” Aisha inquired. “I heard in the news about her,” she murmured.
“She starved herself,” he answered simply, the statement hanging bleakly in the air.
“Let’s go out,” he opined, keeping his voice low and nodding toward the door. He was keenly aware of the other patients nearby, their privacy protected only by thin curtains, and he didn’t want their distressing conversation to disturb anyone.
He walked over and smoothly pulled the privacy curtains completely closed around Juniper’s bed, giving her some measure of peaceful sleep. Then, he turned back to Aisha. Together, they stepped out of the ward and into the quieter, more impersonal space of the corridor.
“What were you doing here?” Karmen asked, now that they were in the open.
Aisha held up the report in her hand. “I came for my test results,” she briefed him, her voice still laced with concern over Juniper. “My pheromones have been acting strange for the past few months, and the doctor noticed it. She recommended some tests to figure out why p>
“I hope everything is fine now,” Karmen replied.
“Yeah. I’ve to take some pills,” Aisha replied. “Are you still upset with me? I’m so sorry for hurting you. If I knew you had feelings for me, I would have never asked you to help me p>
“It’s fine. Let’s not talk about it anymore,” Karmen stated.
“Your mother and I had a talk,” Aisha revealed.
“What? Why did you talk to her?” Karmen frowned.