Chapter Four: Bloom

The doctor ran a routine check-up on me. I was still in a state of bewilderment. Everything happened too fast. Not to mention the unnatural events that occurred right before my eyes. I had still not processed that I was a werewolf. And here, my entire species was unveiled in front of me in less than a day. I wondered if the doctor was aware that we were wolves. Wouldn't I get caught if he tested my genes? I wondered. The doctor gazed into my eyes and smiled as if he had read my mind. He took a small sample of my blood. "Don't worry. I belong to your family as well," the doctor said. I was taken aback by his sudden comment. My family? Did he mean that he was a werewolf like me? I thought. Did he also belong to my grandpa's pack? I wondered. "It's still not confirmed if she is from the family or not," Caspian said calmly. He was standing near the window, facing outside. "Anyone can be considered blind if they can't see the similarities between this young lady here and the Alpha Lord," the doctor said calmly. "You don't need to look too closely to realize they look the same." Caspian turned to the doctor, frowning, and said, "It's hard to believe a prodigy like you analyzes things based on external features." The mockery was evident in Caspian's tone as he lit his cigarette, leaning aimlessly on the window. I noticed the tattoo of a black dragon on one of his forearms. The doctor went close to him and removed the cigarette from his lips. He leaned close to Caspian as their faces were inches apart. "What a pity that the next Alpha leader of the white wolves acts like a mafia member inside hospital walls? How many times do I need to warn you not to smoke in here?" the doctor asked, throwing the cigarette away. "And as for my analysis, ever heard of doctors who could diagnose just by looking at their patients?" the doc asked. "Perhaps you are refusing to accept it because you think the pack will choose the Alpha Lord's blood instead of you?" My eyes widened, realizing why the thugs were calling Caspian alpha. Caspian was an alpha wolf and the next on the throne for my grandpa's pack. The doctor did not wait for Caspian's response as Caspian stared at him bitterly. The doctor took the blood sample and left the room. I could tell that they were not on good terms. I was left alone with Caspian in the room. I was biting my lower lip. It was awkward to be around him when he ordered the thugs to kill me not even hours ago. It was apparent that Caspian was still skeptical about me. Nevertheless, I could tell that he disliked me. Could it be that what the doctor said was true? Did Caspian despise me because he believed I would steal his crown? "Don't get your hopes too high," Caspian said calmly. "Even if you are the granddaughter of the Alpha Lord, a rogue like you isn’t worth anything," he added. I clenched the white blanket over my body. Indeed, anyone would be mad if someone appeared just out of nowhere, threatening their entire life's hard work. However, I did not come here to snatch anything away from anyone. I only came here to find my family. After spending my entire life as an orphan, did I not deserve this much warmth from my grandfather? I was lost in my thoughts. Caspian seemed unprepared by my gloomy expression. The doctor returned shortly. "Why this long face?" he asked me gently. "Don't mind what this thug says," the doctor said while gently placing his hands over my knees. The doctor applied a small amount of pressure on my knee, extending it abruptly. I cried out in pain as I felt the twist on my ligaments getting fixed. My eyes fell on Caspian. I was surprised to see the anxiousness on his face. He loathed the rogues. Then why did he care if I was hurt? As his eyes met mine, he fixed his composure, looking away. "You have healed completely now, young lady," the doctor said, smiling. He looked at Caspian, noticing my gaze. "Don't get distracted when your doctor is treating you. It might break their heart, you know," the doctor said, sulking like a child. I turned to him, realizing I was gawking at Caspian. I felt my cheeks heating up. "Thank you," I finally managed to speak after ages. "I would be happier to learn your name instead," the doctor said. "Bailey," I said in a tiny voice. "What a lovely name. They call me Doctor Prodigy. However, that sounds really cliche. You can call me by my name, Athereld," the doctor said, placing bandages over the cuts on my thigh. His slender, long fingers came in touch with my skin. His hands were cold. I shivered slightly at his touch. Suddenly, Caspian came and grabbed the wrist of the doctor. "This is supposed to be the job of the nurses. Don't you have a lot of free time today for being a prodigy?" Caspian asked. "It's an honor that the greatest business tycoon has the time to get concerned about my duties. But I love to take care of my patients myself," Athereld said. They seemed like wild dogs barking at each other. I wanted to rest. It was too much for me to take in just my first day in the city. I never imagined I would find my grandpa like this. Everything was so foreign to me. Caspian possessed supernatural abilities. Even a month ago, I was just an ordinary school girl. If someone were to tell me about the wolves and the mythical creatures, I would have laugh it off with my friends. However, since I started feeling the changes within my body, my sanity was getting weary deliberately. I wondered how my uncle was doing. Now that I had found my family, I could return to him. That I believed, unaware of the events that were to be unveiled. Athereld discharged me from the hospital. Caspian didn't need to carry me this time. But it was still exhausting to walk by myself. It would be better if I could lean on something, I thought. As we came to the ground floor, my eyes almost went blind by the camera flashes. The hospital security was struggling to deal with the reporters attempting to come close to us. The men from earlier in black suits following Caspian hastily went forward to stop the reporters from getting close to us. However, their never-ending questions didn't fail to reach us. The reporters were getting crazy about my identity. I realized it was Caspian they were actually curious about. All of them were going wild over the fact that Caspian had brought a woman to the hospital himself. I realized that though my family was a mafia gang, they held a sophisticated position in society. Apart from their hidden identity and the gang act, they were successful businessmen in front of the world. Caspian was one of the youngest billionaires, holding the most significant status in my grandpa's business. I wondered what chaos would befall if the world were to find out that this man was a mafia leader. Not to mention not even a human.