The Wrong Brother's Temptation novel Chapter 177

Chapter 177

Sienna

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“Standing up to the elders like that. Talking back to Johanson in front of the entire pack. Most people would’ve stayed quiet and hoped it ended faster.”

I shrugged, eyes fixed on the dark liquid in my hands. “Somebody had to.”

He was quiet for a long beat. When he spoke again his voice was lower, and more careful.

“You really like him, don’t you?”

The question took me by surprise. He had asked it softly, in a tone that didn’t even demand an answer but it still managed to knock the air out of me.

I had no answer ready. None that made sense or didn’t terrify me.

Aaron kept going, almost like he was thinking out loud rather than talking to me.

“I thought this was just some casual thing between you two. Given how you both are literal opposites of each other. But after what I saw today…” He trailed off, waiting for me to complete the line.

I had no words to add to it except ‘I don’t know‘ because I wasn’t sure what to say.

Ideally, I could tell him about my unstable wolf, my scent affecting Connor…just end this fake dating with him and confess my feelings…or what I had for him before Connor showed up and turned my world upside down.

I entered this fake dating thing knowing certainly well that I was never going to feel anything except hate for Connor.

But, now I wasn’t sure what I felt for him or Aaron. My mind was a confused mess, unsure if this confusion was the fault of my wolf or myself.

It used to be so easy to share everything with Aaron earlier. Even now the words were on the tip of my tongue. It would be easy to hand him another piece of the mess so I wouldn’t have to carry it alone.

But the words refused to come out so I took another sip of coffee to buy time.

“Your girlfriend won’t like you being here with me all night.”

Aaron’s mouth twisted into something wry. “I’ll manage. She is the last thing you should worry about”

Not really. She was the reason for all my current problems but most importantly, she was the reason Connor was in the hospital.

Did Aaron not see it?

“Is Sandra really the one you…”

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The Wrong Brother’s Temptation

“Are you falling for…”

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We both opened our mouths at the same time and stopped abruptly. I could feel the half–formed questions hovering in the air between us but the words died unfinished when the double doors of the operating theatre

swung open.

Dr. Hale stepped out, pulling his surgical mask down. His eyes looked tired but no longer grim.

I was on my feet before I realized I’d moved, nearly spilling the coffee. Aaron’s hand caught my elbow to steady me.

“Careful”

“Connor…how’s he?” I blurted out, my heart hammering against my ribs.

“He’s out of danger,” the doctor answered and relief crashed through me so hard my knees nearly buckled. Aaron’s arm slid around my waist, keeping me upright.

“The Bloodroot suppressed his healing for longer than we expected, and the physical trauma was extensive, but the worst is over. He and his wolf are both exhausted so they’ll need time to heal and lots of rest.”

I sagged against Aaron, breathing for what felt like the first time in hours. “Can we… can I see him?”

Dr. Hale hesitated so I clasped my hands together. “Just five minutes. Please.”

He gave it some thought and nodded reluctantly.

“He has been shifted to the private room.” The doctor pointed at a door. “You don’t get a minute over five. Try not to wake him.”

“Thank you.” The words tumbled out raw and I was already running towards the door when Aaron reminded

1. me.

“Be quiet, Sia”

I nodded, wiping my clammy palms on his jacket and pushed the door open slowly, like the room beyond might shatter if I moved too fast. The private room was dim, lit only by the soft glow of monitors and a single lamp near the bed.

Connor lay still against the white sheets, bandages wrapped thick around his throat and across his torso. An IV line trailed from the back of one hand. The other rested on the blanket, fingers slightly curled.

I approached him on silent feet. Up close the damage was even clearer with the blood and muck wiped off his

now clean skin.

His fingernails were chipped, some completely gone from the way he had clawed at the stone armrests while forcing his wolf down again and again. Fresh stitches disappeared under the edge of the huge bandage on his neck that looked even more raw and mangled without the blood smeared all over him.

His breathing was slow, still a bit ragged and he looked so vulnerable now.

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Nothing like the intense, dominant alpha heir and bully who found everything silly or not worth his

attention.

He almost looked like the boy from the cottage, one desperate for his mom’s love, for his father’s appreciation…like all that lethal intensity had been temporarily borrowed by sleep.

I reached out and carefully slid my fingers beneath his damaged hand, mindful of the IV. His skin was warmer than it had been in the arena.

Connor stirred upon the touch and a soft, pained sound escaped him. His brows drew together restlessly. I tried to pull my hand away but his fingers seemed to want the cold seeping from my hands.

“Shh.” I whispered, thumb tracing the least injured part of his knuckles. “It’s okay. You’re safe. Just rest. I’m right here.”

I wasn’t sure if he could hear me right now so I just sat beside him quietly, pushing the hair out of his face.

His breathing evened out again and the tension in his face eased a fraction.

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