You Want Me Back? Too Bad, My Alpha—I'm Done Waiting

Chapter 4 Chapter 4 I woke up to pain burning across my back. Face down on a strange pillow, the room stunk of herbs and dried blood. Every breath hurt like hell. "Nora?" A rough voice beside the bed. I turned my head with effort. Muddy boots, wrinkled pants, then Declan's face-dark circles, messy stubble, bloodshot eyes. He looked as wrecked as me. "You're awake?" He leaned forward but didn't dare touch me. "Does it hurt bad? The doctor said the wounds were deep, mixed-blood healing takes time, even with pain runes..." I stared at the worry on his face, feeling confused for a second.

There was a time when even a small fever during full moons would have him by my bed all night, keeping me warm, even shifting into wolf form to curl around me, licking my forehead with his rough tongue. But now I was here because of his pack's whip. And when it fell, he said nothing. I closed my eyes and buried my face in the pillow, avoiding his hand. His hand froze, then slowly pulled back. "I know you hate me." His voice was tired. "But Gideon wanted you dead. Twenty lashes was the only deal between keeping their dignity and keeping you alive.

If I'd fought more, they'd have doubled it or worse." I stayed quiet, listening to his weak excuses. He took a deep breath. "Nora, look at me." He tried to turn my face but I dodged. "So," my voice came out like sandpaper, "you think I hurt Ayla too?" The room went dead quiet. I watched Declan's throat work, watched his mouth open but stay silent. That silence hurt worse than the whip. Like a dull knife slowly cutting out my last bit of hope, I laughed, though tears came first.

"Declan Vale," I used all my strength to sound steady, "look me in the eyes and swear-do you believe me?" His face twisted like I'd hit him. "Believe?" Anger crept into his voice. "How can I? The bruises on Ayla are real! Cassia saw you by the crib! The evidence is right there! Didn't I tell you? Just wait, endure a little longer until this is over..." "Until what's over?" Tears fell, burning my face. "Until she has this kid? Then what? Take m and run south? Declan, can we go back to how 11:31 You Want Me Back? 0.7% Chapter 4 Chapter 4 I woke up to pain burning across my back.

Face down on a strange pillow, the room stunk of herbs and dried blood. Every breath hurt like hell. "Nora?" A rough voice beside the bed. I turned my head with effort. Muddy boots, wrinkled pants, then Declan's face-dark circles, messy stubble, bloodshot eyes. He looked as wrecked as me. "You're awake?" He leaned forward but didn't dare touch me. "Does it hurt bad? The doctor said the wounds were deep, mixed-blood healing takes time, even with pain runes..." I stared at the worry on his face, feeling confused for a second.

There was a time when even a small fever during full moons would have him by my bed all night, keeping me warm, even shifting into wolf form to curl around me, licking my forehead with his rough tongue. But now I was here because of his pack's whip. And when it fell, he said nothing. I closed my eyes and buried my face in the pillow, avoiding his hand. His hand froze, then slowly pulled back. "I know you hate me." His voice was tired. "But Gideon wanted you dead. Twenty lashes was the only deal between keeping their dignity and keeping you alive.

If I'd fought more, they'd have doubled it or worse." I stayed quiet, listening to his weak excuses. He took a deep breath. "Nora, look at me." He tried to turn my face but I dodged. "So," my voice came out like sandpaper, "you think I hurt Ayla too?" The room went dead quiet. I watched Declan's throat work, watched his mouth open but stay silent. That silence hurt worse than the whip. Like a dull knife slowly cutting out my last bit of hope. I laughed, though tears came first.

"Declan Vale," I used all my strength to sound steady, "look me in the eyes and swear-do you believe me?" His face twisted like I'd hit him. "Believe?" Anger crept into his voice. "How can I? The bruises on Ayla are real! Cassia saw you by the crib! The evidence is right there! Didn't I tell you? Just wait, endure a little longer until this is over..." "Until what's over?" Tears fell, burning my face. "Until she has this kid? Then what? Tal run south? Declan, can we go back to how 11:31 You Want Me Back? 2% 0.70% Chapter 4 things were?" I knew we couldn't.

Not after he let them whip me, not after he held another woman and their baby while leaving me, not after choosing his family over me every single time. I turned away, showing him my torn-up back, closing him out. He stood there. I felt his stare, heard his breathing. After a while the bed dipped-he sat down, cold fingers touching my hair. "Sleep," his voice cracked. "I'm here. Not going anywhere." Right then- "Bang!" The door flew open. A young guard rushed in, panicked. "Alpha! Miss Ravenna lost control again, throwing things, crying for you!

The doctor says the stress will hurt the baby, might cause early labor..." Declan went rigid. He looked at the door, then back at me, torn and hesitant. His hand was still in my hair but turned stiff. "Declan," I said to the wall, surprisingly calm, "go." Like I'd freed him, he jumped up, talking fast. "Rest well, I'll be right back. The doctor's next door if you need help." He paused, adding what sounded like a promise, "I'll come back as soon as I handle this." His footsteps rushed away. The door closed, lock clicked. I didn't turn around, just stared at shadows on the wall.

Soon even Cassia's crying from next door went quiet. He never came back that night. Next morning a quiet doctor checked my wounds, put on stinging medicine, gave me pain powder and discharge papers. Rain poured outside, sky dark as night. I packed my stuff-some clothes, a bag with half a bottle of medicine. Walking out, icy rain hit my face. I saw that black SUV cutting through rain, stopping in front of me. Window rolled down-Declan driving. In the passenger seat, Cassia wore a soft shawl, holding Ayla. Seeing me, she flinched and grabbed Declan's arm.

"Declan..." Her voice was hoarse from crying, eyes scared as she looked at me. "I'm still afraid... after yesterday... Ayla can't be scared again... could you not make us sit together? Please..." I stood in the rain, looking at my old seat. Cold water ran down my neck, soaking the hospital gown. Dead silence in the car. Wipers scraped back and forth. Finally Declan got out, pulled a heavy umbrella from the trunk, shoved it at me. His fingers were ice cold. Wouldn't look at me. "Rain's too heavy, wait here." His voice mixed with rain.

"I'll take them home, then come back for you." 11.21 You Want Me Back?" 0.8% Chapter 4 He got back in and drove off, crushing through puddles, disappearing in the rain. I held that too-heavy umbrella and waited. Rain slanted in, soaking me. I waited until the hospital clock chimed, until rain got worse, until day turned to night. He didn't come back. My phone was gone, taken during punishment. Our mental link was cut off-he'd blocked me completely. The umbrella broke in the wind with a crack. Rain soaked me through. I stumbled on the muddy road, slipped, fell in a dirty puddle.

Muddy water filled my nose, made me cough. When I finally got back to that cold house past midnight, water dripped from my hair and clothes onto the clean marble. As I leaned against the wall catching my breath, I heard soft crying from the living room. Cassia. "I know you only love her." Her voice was tiny, heartbroken. "But Declan, I'm really hurting... it's so painful... Ayla keeps crying, she's hungry but I can't... The doctor said in cases like this, the father should help..." She sobbed, broken. "Just for Ayla... help me, okay? Just once...

she won't know, she's upstairs sleeping..." I froze in the shadows. Through the cracked door, I saw Declan's stiff back and his clenched fists. After a long silence, his back moved. He raised his left hand slowly toward her clothes, fingers pulling at her collar. His right hand followed, palm covering her breast. Then he lowered his head and pressed his lips there. (0) 600 (0) 11:31 0.996 You Want Me Back? Cedella Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter.

With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella's storytelling style is immersive and addictive-perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.