ALESSA POV

I didn't even remember how I got here. My mind wasn't with me.

One moment I was sitting on the back of Kai's bike, holding onto his jacket like it was the only thing keeping me upright... and the next, I was on his couch, staring at a wall that didn't belong to me.

His house smelled very nice, it was different from what I expected. It was very clean for a rough and dandy boy. His house didn't reflect his personality. Everything in the house was very expensive for a small biker like him.

"Kai..." I called softly.

He appeared in front of me with a glass of water. "Drink."

I took it, but my hands were shaking too badly to lift it to my lips.

My phone buzzed suddenly.

I almost ignored it... until I saw the message preview from Alicia.

Lydia Wolfe was attacked by two unidentified bikers...

My breath caught in my throat. I picked up the phone and viewed the message. I wanted to teach her a little lesson by sending Alicia my friend but she said she was already attacked.

I looked up at him slowly.

"Did you do it?"

He frowned. "Do what?"

"This," I whispered, lifting my phone. "Your stepmother was attacked on her way home."

Shock crossed his face, real and instant. "How did you hear it?"

I stared at him with raised brows.

His expression changed. "What? No. I didn't even know about that."

But my heart wasn't convinced. "Kai... was that you?"

His jaw tightened. "No. I swear."

Silence fell between us, he looked away. I knew it was him.

Then the words I had been holding back slipped out.

"Did you do it because she slapped me? Are you avenging me?"

His eyes darkened. "I would never hurt someone just because of you. Who are you to me? Why will I hurt my mother for you?"

I searched his face, trying to find a crack in his words. But all I saw was lies, he was trying to hide.

"Really?" my voice low, "everyone keeps saying you are the useless brother of the family with no backbone. But why do I feel you are a wolf claiming to be a sheep?"

"I can be a wolf for you if you want one." he blurted quietly but I heard it.

I smiled. "If you want to be my wolf, you will have to be a blood tasty wolf."

He sat beside me, close enough that I could feel the heat of his body. His ears burned red, I always like how his ears turn red for me.

"You shouldn't believe rumors about me," he said softly. "But more importantly... you shouldn't think I would ever use you as an excuse to hurt someone. You are nothing to me. I only brought you here because grandfather requested."

My chest tightened. "Yeah, I know."

His hand lifted before he seemed to realize what he was doing. His fingers brushed against mine.

The touch was gentle....and I stiffened. My heart skipped a bit for a little touch of him. He stared at me with pity in his eyes.

Why would he look at me like that? He pities me? Why?

Our eyes locked, and suddenly I was too aware of how close we were... of how his thumb was still resting against my skin... of how my breath was starting to match his.

I pulled my hand back, my heart racing and I stood up.

"I want to go to bed," I whispered.

"Yeah,you need to." he said hoarsely. "The room opposite mine."

But neither of us moved away. We stood still staring at each other. I felt like he had more to say.

I laughed weakly. "The room.is upstairs right?."

He said blankly. "Yes."

**********''''''''"

I turned around and wrapped myself around a hard log.

"Why is the pillow so hard?" I thought.

My face was pressed against a broad pillow. I moved my hand around, and it was a hard chest.

Slowly, carefully, I lifted my head.

Kai's face was an inch to mine. His forehead was pinned to mine.

I was in his bed!! curled against him like I belonged there. His arm was draped around my waist, his breathing slow and steady.

My heart slammed so hard, I was sure it would wake him.

Oh no... no, no, no...

I tried to move, but his arm tightened slightly, instinctively pulling me closer in his sleep.

His lip touched my forehead. Heat rushed to my face.

Why did this feel... right?

I held my breath, staring at his lashes, at the small scar on his eyebrow I had never noticed before. This was dangerous. He was so dangerously tempting.

And then...

His eyes opened.

For a second, we just stared at each other. He had no expression on his face. He moved his hand to my hair and tucked it behind my ear.

"Allessa...? You sleep walk again?" he murmured, voice rough with sleep.

"I..I..I'm sorry," I whispered quickly. "I think I was sleepwalking. I didn't mean to.."

He didn't move, didn't pull away. Just looked at me like he was afraid I might disappear. Suddenly he pulled away, almost pushing me down. His elbow hit my forehead as he stood up.

"Shit!!" I winced, touching my forehead.

"You okay?" he asked softly. "I am sorry.

"I should go back to the couch." I tried to sit up, but his hand tightened gently on my wrist. Not stopping me...he rubbed my forehead gently.

"Wait for me, let me go get an ice block," he said quietly.

My chest tightened. This was wrong!! I was still married. He was my husband's brother. This could ruin everything.

But I didn't move, my body instantly obeyed. He supported my head as I laid back on the bed.

And then the door burst open. "Kai, you won't believe what...."

Jace stopped dead. His eyes widened. "Oh... damn. I am sorry, I had no idea Alessa is here."

He tried to turn away but instantly turned back. His eyes shone. "What? Alessa!!"

I scrambled out of the bed instantly, heart racing. "It's not what it looks like!"

Kai sat up, running a hand through his hair. "Jace, knock next time."

"I did knock," Jace said slowly, still staring at me. "You just didn't answer... because you were busy sharing beds with your brother's wife?"

"I sleepwalked," I blurted.

Jace blinked. "That's... actually worse."

Kai shot him a warning look. "Why are you here?"

Jace's expression shifted. "Because there's something you both need to see."

He held up his phone.

"There's a video trending online," he said quietly. "Someone leaked hospital footage... and a fake health report."

My stomach dropped. "What report?"

Jace swallowed. "They're saying you are mentally ill. That you were treated in a mental home before. And now people are claiming you are unstable and dangerous. The Hospital said they mistakenly hired a mentally ill patient as a doctor."

My hands suddenly felt itchy, I scratched it helplessly. I whispered. "How did they know? Who leaked it? Who said it?"

Kai instantly grabbed my hands with a smile "Its fine Alessa. Its a false report. A fake news."

I pushed his hands off. I was taken aback. "You knew I was sick?" I asked surpirsed then I recalled what he said when he woke up. "You also knew I sleepwalk? How? When? Did you leak my report to them?"

He shook his head. "Alessa, its a fake report you shouldn't worry." Kai's hands closed around my shoulders. Firm and Steady.

Jace said softly. "You shouldn't worry about this yet. Your grandfather heard it and fainted from anger."

ALESSA'S VIEW

The Hospital felt louder than usual, maybe it was just my heart beating. It was wild echoing in my.ears as I ran into the white corridor.

My chest was tight like something was pressing down on it.

Grandpa...

The words from Jace kept replaying in my head.

He fainted. After seeing the news.

My stomach twisted violently.This was my fault.

If I hadn't...

If that report hadn't leaked..

If they hadn't said those things about me.... 

"Room 16... second floor..." I whispered under my breath, my eyes scanning every door I passed. "Where is it...?"

Everything felt too loud. Their  footsteps were louder in my ears. The distant beeping machines and the murmurs of nurses.

Even my own heartbeat sounded wrong. I turned the corner quickly...

Suddenly, someone grabbed my wrist. I gasped, my body jerking back instinctively.

"What do you want?!" I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended, my breath still shaky.

Kai. Of course.

Why was he always...everywhere.

He didn't answer me, didn't even look annoyed.

He just pulled me slightly back, his grip firm as he positioned me against the wall, half-hidden.

"Look." His voice was low.

Like none of this was urgent. Like I wasn't falling apart right now.

"I don't have time for your childish plays."

I frowned, irritation rising but I followed his gaze anyway.

And then...My chest tightened.

A group of reporters crowded outside a hospital room down the hallway. Cameras lifted, Microphones ready. Waiting and Watching out.

My fingers started trembling before I could stop them.

No...Not here. Not now!!

My teeth sank into my nails, biting hard, my breath turning shallow.

"They are... here...for me? " I whispered, my voice barely audible.

My head started spinning.

What if they saw me?  What if they asked me questions?  What if they...

A hand suddenly grabbed mine.

Firm and Warm. I froze.

"Stop that." His voice cut through my thoughts.

I looked up at him, my heart still racing.

"I...."

"You look weak."

His words hit harder than they should have. Like a slap. My lips parted, but no defense came out.

Because he was right. I felt weak. I hated it. But I still had to be.

Before I could say anything else, he shrugged off his leather jacket and dropped it over my shoulders. He put his biker helmet on my head. 

It was too big and too heavy. It swallowed me completely.

Warmth wrapped around me instantly, carrying a faint scent that was... him.

"Wear it."

My fingers clutched the edges without thinking.

"I will handle it."

Wait...what?

I barely had time to react before he turned and walked away. Straight toward them. My heart jumped.

Is he crazy?

I stood there, frozen, my body still trembling but my eyes followed him.

He didn't hesitate or slow down. Just walked into them like he belonged there.

"Why are you outside my father's room?" his voice cut through the noise, loud and irritated.

The reporters turned immediately, cameras flashing to life. He covered his face instantly.

"Isn't this the room of the grandfather of the doctor with mental illness?" one of them asked quickly. "The one who killed a baby? We are waiting for her."

My breath stopped. My fingers tightened painfully around the jacket.

Even from here, it felt like the words were thrown directly at me. Like they knew. Like they were looking at me.

Like I was already exposed. Kai didn't react. Not even a flicker.

"I don't care," he said flatly. Cold and Detached.

"I don't want to know." he barked.  "Leave here this instant.." His words felt heavy and Commanding.

For a second, no one moved.

But one came out. "We are just doing our job here. You can't just send us away. We want to interview her and know why she isn't locked up in the psychiatric ward. Why is she out harming people?"

Then... "Hey!" I flinched slightly at the sudden voice.

Jace appeared out of nowhere, holding a camera like he had every right to be there. Like he was fucking one of them!!

"What are you all doing here?" he asked, almost casually. "Alessa's grandfather is in Room 16. Second floor."

My eyes widened. What? Before I could process it, everything exploded.

"Room 16?"

"Second floor!"

"Move, move!"

They rushed past. Fast, Loud and desperate.

I instinctively turned my face away, lowering my head, my fingers tightening around the jacket as they brushed past me.

Don't look at me.  Don't recognize me. Don't stop!!

But they didn't. They just ran. And then... they were gone.

Just like that the hallway fell quiet again.

My breath came out slowly, shakily, like I had been holding it for too long.

I didn't even realize my shoulders were tense until they dropped slightly.

When I looked up again, Kai was already walking back toward me.

Like nothing had happened.  Like he hadn't just saved me. Earlier in his house, I rejected him and Jace to go with me. But without them I wouldn't have seen my grandfather today.

My chest tightened slightly. He stopped in front of me. Too close.

For a moment, I didn't know what to say. Didn't know what I was feeling.

Relief? Embarrassment? Something else...?

Then his hand reached out. He took mine firm and warm.

My breath hitched slightly.

"You can go in now," he said.

I looked up at him. His eyes moved over my face briefly, like he was checking something.  Or Judging me.

"Put yourself together." My fingers tightened unconsciously in his grip.

"You're not a kid." The words stung and I chuckled slightly.

But somehow... They also steadied me. I swallowed hard. Pulled my hand away gently.

Adjusted the oversized jacket around me. And without looking back again...

I walked toward Room 16.

My heart is still pounding. But this time... I didn't stop. 

Immediately I opened the door. Grandfather threw his glass cup at me. It hit my forehead before I could dodge it.

I felt warm blood gushing out of my forehead.