Chapter 176


    Chapter 176 idental injury


    ASHER


    Much to our shock and concern, Ector Felix’s condition worsened upon reaching the military base.


    It had been a difficult journey back to thepound. Ector had been reluctant to leave his home, so a


    mild sedative had to be administered to transport him.


    Upon arrival, Ss and I carried him inside, where a host of military personnel were awaiting our return.


    A gurney was procured immediately, and the Beta and I carefully set him on the cart.


    I was grateful that no one seemed to question the identity of the poor, frail man that the Alpha King and


    Beta had brought into the facility. It was one of the perks of being the ruler of Wega- discretion was


    the name of the game. I couldn’t be questioned by anyone, no matter their rank, for fear of punishment.


    Of course, I wasn’t that type of ruler by any means, but when it came to Ector Felix, I wasn’t going to


    risk his safety by someone asking questions.


    The gurney was wheeled into a private room, and once the doors were closed behind us to grant some


    privacy, we eased him into the bed provided.


    Though he was somewhere between conscious and asleep, he was shivering like crazy, so one of the


    female healers tucked him into a swath of thick nkets. Ector’s breath wasbored and his chest rose


    and fell with what seemed to be quite


    a bit of effort.


    He awoke every so often, though his green eyes were zed over and a sheen. of sweat covered his


    brow. He didn’t seem all that aware of his surroundings, but he began to panic a few times over the


    course of an hour. Each time, he would look around in fear, but the moment he noticed me, his


    temperament shifted and he seemed to rx. I was grateful my presence wasforting, considering


    that he had been banished by the royal family.


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    However, when Ector was alone with the base’s resident healer, he would panic again and attempt toExclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    flee. After a while, the healer was forced to administer another round of sedatives.


    After a brief and hasty examination, the healer, a woman named Marya, emerged from the infirmary


    and joined us out in the waiting room.


    “Your Majesty?” the curly-haired woman prompted me, and when I rose from my stiff chair and


    approached her, she offered me a polite bow of respect. “I’m so sorry to keep you waiting.”


    “It’s no trouble at all,” I assured her and then I took a short breath. “How is he?”


    “Not as well as we wish he was,” Marya sighed, and she pushed her sses her nose. “Your Majesty,


    the patient needs urgent medical attention and a thoroug diagnosis. The root cause of his fever is


    unknown and given his fragile m ental state, there’s a high risk of self-harm, or worse, if he doesn’t get


    some real help. His condition is weak and we’re worried about what he might do without further


    intervention. We have great facilities here, but he needs the kind of care that only the capital can


    provide.”


    As her words entered my mind, I realized we had only one option.


    We had to bring Ector back to Anemond immediately.


    Leaving him here at the military base was too dangerous. Without my presence, he could hurt himself,


    and if we didn’t get him the type of medical intervention that only the capital was capable of, he could


    die.


    I nodded at Marya. “Thank you for assessing him. I’ll make the arrangements at


    once.”


    The healer nodded at me and then offered me a small bow. “Of course, Your


    Majesty.”


    As I exited Ector’s room and stepped out into the hall, my head swam with a million thoughts. I had to


    arrange discreet transportation at once. I couldn’t risk anyone recognizing Ector, at least not yet.


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    Just as I considered Lancel as a possible driver, I caught sight of Ss. The Beta’s already serious face


    appeared even more grave than usual, and there was a strangeck of light in his golden eyes.


    I was about to open my mouth to ask my brother-inw what was wrong when suddenly, a familiar cry


    pierced through the air. The terrible sound made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and when I


    turned around quickly to determine the source of the noise, I caught sight of Lancel, who held a


    sobbing Marco in his


    arms.


    “Daddy!” my son cried out, and he reached his small arms out toward me. He tugged and pulled at


    Lancel, but my most trusted guard held him steady.


    “Marco?” I asked in surprise. “What are you-”


    My voice suddenly caught in my throat as my eyes trailed down to the young prince’s left leg. It was


    heavily bandaged but still, dark red blood seeped through the dressing.


    I could feel myself grow pale as my own blood chilled in shock. Concern bloomed within me and I


    began to shake with worry as I approached him.


    But before I could reach my injured son, Adalyn appeared and I stopped in my


    tracks.


    “This is my fault!” the sobbing woman wailed, her gold eyes full of anger and tears. “Oh, Asher, it’s all


    my fault!”


    “What’s going on?” I asked as a lump formed in my throat. I nced over at Ss, who looked equally


    rmed, and then turned back to Lancel. My guard’s face was solemn, but his eyes were weary with


    despair.


    “The fault is mine, Alpha,” he blurted out as he continued to restrain the poor boy. “The mishap is my


    doing.”


    I noticed that just beyond us, a small group of people had formed just down the hall. A handful of


    military personnel studied the strange scene, and I could hear a few of them whispering about the royal


    family.


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    I wasn’t a fan of scenes, and this disy was definitely terrible.


    “Okay, let’s go somewhere else to discuss this,” I suggested gently in ant attempt to diffuse the


    situation. “Somewhere more private.”


    Marco continued to cry, but Ss, Lancel, and Adalyn simultaneously nodded in agreement. Without


    another moment of hesitation, I guided them down another corridor and down the stairs. I led us into


    the nearest meeting room and then locked


    the door behind us.


    Everyone sat down in the chairs, with the exception of Marco, who remained in Adalyn’sp. Adalyn


    stroked his dark curls in an attempt to soothe the boy, and it somewhat worked.


    Once everyone was situated, I turned to Lancel.


    “Lancel, speak first,” I demanded. “What happened? What’s going on here?”


    “Alpha, I was apanying Prince Marco on a forest run,” he exined. “He tried crossing over a


    branch, but it was toorge and it snagged on his leg and caused an injury.”


    “Why was Marco even allowed in the forest in the first ce?” I asked sternly. “He’s far too young to go


    out there.”


    “He insisted on ying out in the woods after missing out on the Hunting Festival,” Adalyn spoke up.


    “He’d received that viper bite, remember? So he wanted to go out there and see the forest.”


    I felt my gaze turn icy as I focused it on my wife. I stared at her for a moment and then practically


    growled.


    “Why are you even here at the military base, Adalyn?”


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