Chapter 228 Impending Chaos
_Rowena’s POV_
The door clicked shut as Alaric walked out, leaving me alone in the room.
I leaned back against the pillows, crossing my arms as I stared at the closed door. A cold feeling settled over my mind.
Brielle thought she was playing a master stroke with her cheap photos and fake scandals.
She truly believed that throwing a low level media smear at us would drive a wedge between Alaric and me, or force him into a forced political marriage to save his public image.
I already knew stories like this, they were old and not reliable anymore.
Another thing she failed to understand was that I didn’t operate on emotions, jealousy, or pathetic noble drama. I operated on hard logic and strategy.
A knock sounded at the door, pulling me out of my thoughts.
"Come in," I called out.
The door pushed open, and Ezekiel strolled inside, carrying a tray of food. He used his foot to kick the door shut behind him, a wicked knowing smirk plastered across his face.
"Those nurses said I can’t bring food in here, I didn’t even care about their words and just came straight," Ezekiel said, putting the tray down and pulling up the chair Alaric had just vacated. "Time to eat, my dearest Rowena. I saw the Alpha King marching out of here looking like he was ready to reduce the earth to ash. Care to tell me why?”
I took a spoon from him and dug into the meal, letting the rich taste settle on my tongue. "He told me the truth about what happened at the resort, and I believed him."
Ezekiel paused, his eyebrows shooting up in absolute shock. "Wait... he actually confessed to you? Just like that? No hiding it, no lying, no excuses? The photos are viral as we speak.”
"None," I said, a small, proud smile touching my lips. "Brielle tried to drug him and frame him for a scandal, but Alaric walked straight in here and laid out every single detail. She completely miscalculated how strong our trust is."
Ezekiel let out a loud whistling laugh, shaking his head in sheer delight. "Unbelievable. That poor girl thinks she’s playing grand chess, but she’s really playing tic tac toe against a grandmaster. So, what’s your next move, Marchioness? What’s Alaric upto?”
"Alaric will strip the Logan family of their political backing and financial privileges," I replied with a shrug, what punishment was better than that? "That handles the threat. But Brielle’s arrogance needs a far more direct, embarrassing defeat. She needs to lose the one thing she values above everything else, her reputation as a medical genius and her social standing among the citizens."
Before Ezekiel could respond, another knock sounded at the door.
Kyle stepped into the room, holding a small silver tray with fresh medical tape, cooling gel, and a clear set of what looked like digital ankle X-rays. He nodded politely to Ezekiel before stepping up to the side of my bed.
"Am I interrupting your master evil plans?" Kyle asked with a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.
"Not at all, Dr. Kyle," Ezekiel chimed in cheerfully, leaning back in his chair with his hands folded behind his head. "We were just discussing how to properly ruin a fraud. Feel free to join in."
Kyle let out an amused breath as he set the tray on the nightstand. He carefully lifted my injured left foot, applying a layer of soothing, cold gel over the swollen joint. His hands were remarkably steady and gentle, despite his massive frame.
"Well, as your attending doctor," Kyle said calmly, keeping his focus on my foot, "I suggest you take care of your physical body first before you go around conquering the territory. The X-rays show no hairline fractures, but the tissue is severely inflamed. You need to stay off this foot for at least forty eight hours."
"Forty eight hours?" I raised an eyebrow, looking down at him. "I have a major mechanical showcase scheduled with the royal board on Thursday, Kyle. I don’t have time to lie in a hospital bed."
"Then I will simply issue a strict medical order restricting your movement," Kyle replied without missing a beat, looking up to meet my eyes with a calm stare. "You can build all the mechanical marvels you want from a wheelchair, Marchioness, but you will not walk on this joint until I clear you."
Ezekiel burst into a fit of giggles, pointing at Kyle. "Look at that, a doctor who actually bosses you around. I love this guy already."
I rolled my eyes at Ezekiel’s ridiculous comment, though I couldn’t deny that Kyle’s firm, no-nonsense attitude was refreshing.
He didn’t tip-toe around my title, nor did he shrink away from Alaric’s terrifying Alpha aura earlier. He was entirely confident in his own authority as a physician.
"Fine," I conceded, letting out a small sigh. "A wheelchair for forty-eight hours. But only if you clear me to attend the pack council assembly tomorrow morning."
Kyle finished securing the fresh elastic bandage around my ankle, pinning it in place with speed. He stood up to his full height, wiping his hands on a clean cloth.
"If the swelling goes down by tomorrow morning, I will personally wheel you into the council chamber myself," Kyle offered easily.
"Oh, please do.” Ezekiel nodded, rubbing his hands together in glee. "Please wheel her in yourself. I want to see the look on Alaric’s face when he sees you pushing her chair. His veins are going to pop straight out of his forehead.”
"Ezekiel, if you don’t stop looking for cheap entertainment, I am going to tell Pierre." I warned calmly, not bothering to look at him.
"You wouldn’t dare," Ezekiel growled, taking a bite of my own food.
Kyle picked up his tray, offering me one last warm, reassuring smile. "Rest up, Rowena. The cooling gel will take effect in about twenty minutes. Call the desk if you need anything."
"Thank you, Kyle," I said sincerely.
He gave a polite nod to both of us and walked out of the suite, closing the door behind him.
I looked over at Ezekiel, whose grin hadn’t faded for a single second. "What?" I asked, frowning slightly at his expression.
"Oh, nothing," He drawled innocently, swirling the liquid in a paper cup I hadn’t noticed earlier. "Just observing the fascinating dynamics of this hospital. You know, for a stoic engineer who claims to have no interest in drama, you certainly attract some very high tier men."
"Kyle is just doing his job as my doctor, Ezekiel," I stated flatly, shifting into a more comfortable position on the bed.
"Sure he is," Ezekiel snorted, shaking his head. "And I’m just drinking coffee for my health. Either way, tomorrow morning at the council assembly is going to be an absolute bloodbath. Brielle and her father have no idea what’s coming for them."