The Mate He Hates

Amanda’s POV

Pain racked my entire body, threatening to overwhelm me, but I held back the tears. This was supposed to be what I wanted-to be free from this man. So why did I feel such intense pain and a desperate hope that he would take back his words?

“Please, both of you, stop this madness!” Matthew pleaded, but Alpha Edward remained silent, his eyes fixed on me.

“You go first. Reject me, so the pain will be less for you,” he urged, causing my anger to flare. I folded my arms defiantly.

“You go first. You were the one who brought up the topic of rejection in the first place,” I sneered.

Alpha Edward swallowed hard, gathering himself for what he was about to say. Our eyes locked, and I could see the determination in his gaze. He was so determine in rejecting me, and it tore my heart into pieces. It felt like I was about to lose something incredibly precious.

Please, something, someone, stop him!

“I… Alpha…” My heart pounded in my chest, a knot forming in my stomach.

The door to my room burst open, and a panicked maid rushed in. “Miss Amanda, something is wrong with Liam.”

A wave of dread washed over me as the maid’s words sank in. Liam? My son? I turned away from Alpha Edward, my rejection temporarily forgotten.

“What happened?” I demanded, rushing toward the maid.

“He’s in his room, and he’s barely breathing. Please, come quickly!” she pleaded, her voice trembling with fear.

Without a second thought, I bolted out of the room, Matthew hot on my heels.

We reached his room, my heart racing. Liam lay on his bed, his face pale and his breaths shallow. Panic surged through me. I dropped to my knees beside him, taking his hand.

“Liam, can you hear me? Stay with me, please,” I whispered, my voice breaking.

Matthew knelt beside me, checking Liam’s pulse. “We need to get the healer, now,” he said urgently.

I nodded, tears blurring my vision. “Go, get the healer,” I choked out.

As Matthew rushed out of the room, I felt a presence behind me. I glanced back to see Alpha Edward wheeling himself in, his face a mask of worry and concern. For a moment, our eyes met, and something unspoken passed between us. But there was no time to dwell on it.

Alpha Edward wheeled himself closer, his hands trembling slightly on the armrests. “Amanda, is he…?” His voice broke, the strong Alpha facade cracking.

“He’ll be okay, Edward,” I whispered, more to convince myself than him. “The healer will be here soon.”

“What happened…” he paused and took Liam’s free hand into his. “Buddy, stay with us.” He pleaded, his voice breaking down with emotion as if he wanted to cry.

We stayed by Liam’s side, waiting for the healer. Every second felt like an eternity. I prayed silently, begging whatever higher power existed to save our son.

When the healer arrived, they sprang into action, assessing Liam’s condition with practiced efficiency. I watched helplessly, clinging to the hope that they could save him.

Finally, the healer turned to me, his face unreadable. “Miss Amanda, your son is stable for now, but he needs to be monitored closely. We’ve done all we can, but the next 24 hours are critical.”

I nodded, barely able to speak. “Thank you,” I managed to whisper.

As the healer left the room, I felt a surge of relief, but also a gnawing fear. I turned to Matthew, who had returned and was standing beside Alpha Edward. “He has to be okay. I can’t lose him.”

Matthew squeezed my shoulder reassuringly. “He’s strong, Amanda. He’ll pull through.”

I glanced over at Alpha Edward, who was still watching Liam. His eyes had never left Liam. But then I noticed something in his eyes-a flicker of fear and deep concern-that made my heart ache even more. The man I was supposed to hate, the man who wanted to reject me, was here, and his worry for Liam was as if his world were crashing down with Liam.

“Why is he not opening his eyes yet?” Alpha Edward asked impatiently and worriedly.

“That is because he is sleeping, Alpha Edward, he is fine,” Matthew assured him. But Alpha Edward sighed, his hand still holding Liam’s while his eyes were still fixed on him.

“I won’t let anything happen to him,” he said, his voice filled with a desperate determination.

“Where are the doctors?” Alpha demanded.

“On their way,” Matthew responded. “They will be here soon.”

Just then, a knock landed on the door, and two doctors were escorted in by a female servant. “Alpha, Beta,” the doctors greeted with a bow.

I stood up, relieved but nervous. “Please, help him,” I said, stepping aside for the doctors.

They quickly assessed Liam, their serious expressions making my heart race with fear. I could barely breathe as I watched them work, each second feeling endless.

Matthew stayed by my side, giving me support. Alpha Edward never left Liam, his eyes full of worry. Despite everything, his genuine concern for Liam softened something inside me.

Finally, one doctor looked up. “He’s stable but still very weak. We need to monitor him closely and run tests to find the cause.”

I nodded, my voice shaky. “Thank you.”

The doctors set up equipment and took Liam’s blood before leaving.

After they left, I went to sit by Liam’s side. The tears I had been holding back came spilling, and I couldn’t hold them back.

“He will be fine,” Alpha Edward whispered, more like he was assuring himself than me.

“Alpha, I have to leave. There is a situation I need to handle,” Matthew announced, while Alpha Edward nodded, giving him the go-ahead. Matthew moved over to me and gave me a kiss on the forehead. “Liam will be fine,” he assured me, and all I could do was nod.

Matthew left the room, leaving me with Alpha Edward to look after Liam.Material © NôvelDrama.Org.

An awkward silence hung in the air as we both stared at one person, Liam, one person that connects us, one person we cared and loved so much.

“Has something like this ever happened?” Alpha Edward asked, and I shook my head, “Liam is a healthy kid,” I responded, and Alpha Edward sighed.

Silence. Silence. Silence.

We just kept staring at Liam for hours.

The room was steeped in a tense quiet, interrupted only by the soft hum of the medical equipment monitoring Liam. My eyes never left my son, even as exhaustion tugged at my eyelids.

Alpha Edward sat nearby, the weight of unspoken words heavy between us.

Finally, Alpha Edward broke the silence. “Amanda,” he began, his voice soft and hesitant, “about what happened earlier…”

I tensed, not wanting to revisit the painful conversation about rejection. “Not now, Edward. Let’s focus on Liam.”

He nodded, but I could sense he wasn’t finished. “I just… I need you to know that I never wanted this. Any of it.”

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “And yet, here we are.”

Edward sighed deeply, his gaze fixed on Liam’s frail form. “I was trying to protect you,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Protect me?” I echoed, incredulous. “By pushing me away? By rejecting me?”

He clenched his jaw, struggling to find the right words. “You deserve better than me, Amanda. I thought… I thought if I let you go, you could find happiness, real happiness.”

“Don’t you dare decide what’s best for me,” I shot back, my voice trembling with emotion.

Edward’s eyes were filled with a mix of regret and sorrow. “I’m sorry,” he said simply. “I’ve made so many mistakes.”

I looked away, the pain of his words cutting deep. “It’s too late for apologies, Edward. Our son is lying here, fighting for his life, and all I can think about is how much he needs both of us.”

He nodded, his eyes never leaving Liam. “You’re right. For Liam’s sake, we need to be strong. We need to be here for him. So let’s keep the rejection aside for now and focus on Liam,” he pleaded, and I gulped hard. Why did I feel so relieved to hear that from him?