Chapter 374

[ 958 words ]

Talia’s POV

By morning, I knew we needed to talk to Solon.

“Let’s have breakfast with Solon at the hospital,” I said to Nolan as I stepped out of the shower, “before the day gets away from us.”

“Sure, I want to see him too,” Nolan responded.

We got dressed and walked over together while the packhouse was still quiet. The hallway carpets were muffled under our footsteps, the air heavy with the smell of spilled wine and distant woodsmoke from the fire pit. Most of the pack was sleeping off last night, and the square outside was littered with confetti and broken cups.

Solon and Leslie were already at the table when we walked in. Leslie smiled at us. “I didn’t expect you two this early,” she said, waving a servant over as we sat down.

“Bring more plates,” she told her. “And tell the kitchen I said thank you for last night; everything was perfect.”

“Yes, Luna,” the servant said before leaving.

Leslie turned to us and said, “You do know Solon arranged an actual chef for your meals at the packhouse. You didn’t have to come all the way to a hospital for breakfast, of all places.”

“I missed him,” I said, dropping into the chair beside Solon.

“More like you are worrying,” Leslie said.

“Maybe.”

“I told you, Talia, that I am okay. There’s nothing to worry about,” Solon said as he put down his spoon.

Leslie’s eyebrows went up, delighted. “Should I be worried you’re reconsidering that trip back to Bloodmoon?”

“I had planned on leaving after the party,” I admitted. “But after what happened, I want to think it over. I might stay a few more days. Nothing’s decided yet.”

“That’s my fault,” Solon said immediately, guilt written all over him. His fingers tightened around his spoon for a moment before he set it aside, glancing down as if he could not quite meet my eyes. “You shouldn’t be rearranging your life around my recovery.”

“It’s not a problem,” Nolan said, stopping Solon before he could feel worse. “Della can wait a few more days to plan her party.”

Solon started eating again, and Leslie poured drinks for everyone without being asked. For a while, it actually felt like a normal family breakfast. Nobody brought up Bloodmoon, Geoffrey, or anything stressful.

As we finished eating, there was a knock at the door. Derek came in with a folder under his arm, scanning his notepad before looking up.

“Sorry to intrude, but we have some requests,” Derek said. “We’ve got families requesting to move into Silverfang and two packs asking for assistance with damages from rogue attacks during the battle.”

I moved to stand, but Nolan placed a hand on my thigh. “You stay here with Leslie and Solon,” Nolan said. “I’ll handle this.”

Nolan kissed my temple and followed Derek out, already asking about the damage before they left. A few seconds later, Leslie stood and put a hand on her stomach for a second.

“Where are you going? You haven’t finished your breakfast,” I said.

“I have a checkup,” she said. “It’s just routine, nothing new, just the same questions as last week.”

“Do you want me to walk with you?” I offered.

“No, I’m fine. Stay with Solon. He’s been stuck here since last night, and you’re better company than the ceiling,” Leslie said.

Once she was gone, Solon turned to me and said, “If you don’t get me out of this hospital, I am going to go insane.” I couldn’t help but laugh.

“I’m serious, Talia.”

“What did your doctor say?”

“That I need to move, but I can’t keep walking around the hospital. I need to get outside and get some fresh air,” Solon said.

“Let’s go to the garden then,” I offered.

We went out to the garden behind the hospital, a smaller, quieter stretch than the one at the packhouse, more shade than my garden. It was a shorter walk than going

to my garden, so Leslie shouldn’t be too upset if she found out about it.

Solon walked slowly, his hand brushing the low hedge to keep his balance. I watched his steps, worried about him.

“You’re already getting stronger,” I told him. “In a few weeks, you’ll be back to normal.”

“Don’t,” he said sharply. “Don’t try to make me feel better. Leslie says I’ll recover if I rest, and I believe her. She’s never been wrong before.”

“I feel there’s a but coming,” I said.

“But it feels different to me. My wolf says this will take a long time.” Solon flexed his hand slowly, checking if it worked right. “If someone challenged me now, I couldn’t win. I don’t have the strength of the Alpha King. I’m not even as strong as an Alpha right now, more like a Beta.”

I didn’t know what to say. My brother was always so confident, and it made me nervous to see him admit how far he’d fallen. He had always seemed unbreakable to me, a force that nothing could harm, just like Father. Now his lack of confidence made me nervous.

‘Do not doubt Leslie nor Camilla,’ my wolf scolded. ‘He will recover.’

‘I know that, but how do I make him believe it?’ I responded.

“Camilla said it would take time, and you have improved so much in just a few days. Give yourself some credit, Solon. You’re still healing,” I tried again, more carefully this time. “That’s not the same as being weak.”

“Isn’t it?” Solon almost smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I used to walk this whole garden no problem. Now I get tired after just a few steps.”

I still didn’t know what to say, so I kept quiet. We walked in silence for a long time. When Solon finally spoke again, his voice shook in a way I’d never heard before, not even when our dad died.

“Talia, do you think I can still call myself the Alpha King like this?”

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