CHAPTER 242: AN ALPHA AND HIS BETA

Casaio slowly lowered the phone after the call ended. Gabriel’s voice still echoed in his mind — the pain behind it couldn’t be ignored. ’He’s hurting... and I can feel it too,’ Casaio thought grimly.

"Why did Mom do it... and how did she even find out who Riley was?" he muttered to himself, a frown settling on his face.

But there was no time to dwell on those questions now. Confronting his mother would have to wait. First, he had more urgent matters to deal with — Zilia and Idris had to be brought back, and Estelle had been admitted to the hospital. Too much had unraveled in too little time, and it all demanded his attention.

A soft knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Your Highness, dinner has been served," a servant informed politely from the entrance of his private quarters.

"I won’t be joining," Casaio responded curtly, slipping into a long coat. Without another word, he grabbed his car keys from the table and strode out.

As he drove through the dimly lit streets toward the hospital, his thoughts remained tangled in everything that had gone wrong. The vibration of his phone snapped him back to the present.

He found the screen lit up with the name of the warrior chief stationed in Wancia.

"Yes, Sanric? Did you reach Silver Inn?" Casaio asked, eyes fixed on the road as his grip tightened slightly on the steering wheel.

"We’re inside the inn, Your Highness. And, we’ve found Miss Zilia and her brother," Sanric confirmed over the line.

Casaio exhaled a long breath, the weight on his chest easing just a little. "Put Zilia on the phone," he instructed.

Without delay, Sanric handed the device over. "Prince Casaio wishes to speak with you," he said gently.

Zilia took the phone hesitantly, lifting it to her ear in silence.

Sensing her presence on the line, Casaio spoke, his tone firm but laced with restrained emotion. "You and Idris will return by chopper. I’ll come to your apartment to see you myself. And Zilia... don’t ever try something like this again. It only pushes me closer to the edge."

Zilia remained silent, then quietly returned the phone to Sanric without a word.

"Your Highness," Sanric’s voice came through again, "the chopper has already been arranged. I’ll notify you once they’ve landed safely in the capital."

"Alright. Thank you," Casaio said, before ending the call.

He pressed the foot on accelerator and increased the car’s speed. Arriving at the hospital, he let the car be parked at the front entrance. As he stepped out, the guards came rushed there, bowing to him.

He tossed the car keys to one of them. "Take care of it," he said curtly, already striding toward the entrance.

Inside, he made his way through the corridors until he reached the ward where Estelle had been admitted. Two guards stood stationed outside the door.

"Is the doctor inside?" Casaio asked as he neared.

"No, Your Highness," replied one of them.

Casaio slid the door open and saw Estelle lying on the hospital bed. Her eyes were close, but hearing the sound of door being opened, she shot her eyes open.

"Your Highness!" Estelle attempted to sit up, but Casaio pushed her down.

"Don’t sit up," he said. "Sorry for putting your life in danger." He saw the bruises on Estelle’s wrist, which appeared from the tight shackles that must’ve been binding her hands when she was held captive by Luke.

"Please don’t say that. I should’ve been cautious," Estelle said.

Just then, a doctor walked in along with a nurse and greeted Casaio.

"Your Highness, the wolfsbane has been removed from Miss Estelle’s body. The healer checked her as well. But it may take a bit of time for her to heal completely and gain back her strength," the doctor informed Casaio.

"Hmm. Leave us alone," Casaio said.

The doctor and the nurse bowed before walking out.

"Thank you for saving my life. I wouldn’t have minded if–"

"No, Estelle," Casaio said, taking out his hands from the pockets of his coat. "You matter to me. You’re my beta," he affirmed, "and a good friend of mine. I couldn’t let anything happen to you."

Estelle smiled at his words. "I remember the first time Prince Casaio rescued me from my abusive master. He paid off my debts for me. I wouldn’t have come this far if he weren’t there. That’s why I can sacrifice my life for him."

"And I won’t let you sacrifice your life for me. That’s not allowed," Casaio stated.

"I know. But I’m just saying," Estelle whispered. "Luke has an impressive command over the people in Blood Dominion. Are we really going to give up on that land? Your Highness, I think..."

"No, Estelle. Don’t say anything. It was our fault from the beginning. We neglected the wrongdoings and never saw what could be happening with the common people. This pact has to be signed for the peace," Casaio affirmed.

Then, rising to his feet, Casaio continued, "You should sleep now. If you need me, just tell the guards outside. I’ll come right away. Don’t hesitate. Our relationship isn’t merely of an alpha and his beta, but of friends."

"Yes, Your Highness," Estelle said with a smile. She again expressed her gratitude.

As Casaio left the hospital, he didn’t return to the palace. Instead, he went to Zilia’s apartment. Inserting the passcode, he opened the door and walked in.

Scanning his eyes around, Casaio murmured, "She won’t live in this anymore. I’ll take her to the palace and mark her."

’Are you sure about marking her?’ Casaio’s wolf, Kaen, asked immediately.

’Yes. I can’t live without her,’ Casaio said.

’I feel the same. The bond even if it’s severed, the deeper connection couldn’t be. But can we love her the same way as we used to? There’s hate too... But being near her, everything changes,’ Kaen murmured.

’I agree with you,’ Casaio stated. ’I can’t stop the attraction I still feel toward her.’