CHAPTER 70: WHAT WAS THAT?

Elias’s hands reached for the hotel room’s telephone, his heat making every movement feel like wading through quicksand. The vanilla scent of his pheromones still hung in the air, mixing with the metallic tang of Nathan’s blood, creating a disorienting haze. He dialled the front desk, his voice tight but controlled.

"Hi, I need an emergency first aid kit," he said, trying to sound casual despite the urgency.

The receptionist’s voice was sharp with concern. "Are you hurt, sir? Do you need an ambulance?"

Elias forced a laugh, though it came out strained. "No, I’m fine. Just need the kit. Please."

"Room number?" she asked, her tone sceptical.

"214," Elias replied, glancing back at Nathan, who was slumped on the bed, his face pale and his breathing shallow.

"We’ll send someone up right away," the receptionist said, and Elias hung up. He shuffled back to Nathan, kneeling beside the bed to check his condition.

The knife was still lodged in Nathan’s abdomen, blood seeping slowly around it. Elias’s stomach churned... he was a medical student, not a surgeon, but he’d learned enough to know Nathan needed help fast.

’I should call Dr Harris,’ he thought, ’or an ambulance.’ But Nathan’s earlier plea... ’no police, no media’... echoed in his mind. Nathan didn’t want this getting out, and Elias, despite his frustration, felt a pang of sympathy.

’He’s in bad shape. I can stabilise him, then get him to a hospital later.’

Nathan stirred, his eyes fluttering open.

"You... still here?" he mumbled, his voice weak but laced with that teasing tone.

Elias glared at him, his patience thin. "Yeah, unfortunately for me since it’s my room. Stay still, okay? I’m getting a first aid kit."

Nathan’s lips twitched into a faint smile.

"You’re... too nice for your own good."

"Save it," Elias snapped, but his expression softened as he saw the pain in Nathan’s eyes. He didn’t know who this guy was... some rich kid, probably, given the designer boxers that had some designs on them... but he couldn’t just let him die. The doorbell rang, and Elias hurried to answer it, finding a hotel staff member holding a small red first aid kit.

"Here you go," the staff member said, peering past Elias into the room. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, thanks," Elias said quickly, taking the kit and closing the door before the staff could ask more questions. He locked it, his hands trembling as he carried the kit to the bedside and opened it. The contents were basic... bandages, antiseptic wipes, a small pair of scissors, and a surgical needle with thread.

’Not ideal,’ Elias thought, ’but it’ll have to do.’ He wasn’t sure if the knife had hit any organs, but he couldn’t leave it in much longer.

"Okay, Nathan," Elias said, his voice steady despite his nerves. "I’m gonna take the knife out. It’s gonna hurt, but I need you to stay still."

Nathan nodded weakly, his eyes half-closed.

"Do it. I trust you."

Elias snorted, shaking his head.

"You don’t even know me." He grabbed a pain reliever from his own stash, handing it to Nathan with a glass of water from the nightstand. "Take this first. It’ll help a little." He’d already given Nathan a sleeping pill earlier, hoping it would keep him calm, and Nathan swallowed the painkiller with a grimace.

Elias took a deep breath, steadying his hands. He cleaned the area around the knife with an antiseptic wipe, his movements were careful but quick.

"Here we go," he said, gripping the knife handle. He pulled it out slowly, wincing as Nathan groaned in pain, his body tensing. Blood welled up immediately, and Elias pressed a wad of gauze against the wound, applying pressure to stop the bleeding. "Hang in there," he said, his voice tight.

Nathan’s hands clenched the bedsheets, his face pale.

"Fuck, that hurts," he gasped, but he managed a weak grin. "You’re... pretty good at this."

"Shut up," Elias muttered, focusing on the wound. Once the bleeding slowed, he cleaned it again, then threaded the surgical needle with shaky fingers. He’d practised suturing in class, but this was different... real blood, real stakes. He worked carefully, stitching the wound closed as best he could. The result was messy, the stitches uneven, but it held. He covered it with a bandage, taping it securely, then sat back in the chair, panting from the effort.

"Done," he said, wiping sweat from his forehead. His heat was still pulsing through him, making his head spin, but the pain reliever he’d taken earlier was dulling the edge. He glanced at Nathan, who was unconscious again, the sleeping pill and painkiller pulling him under.

’Good,’ Elias thought. ’He needs to rest.’

Elias’s own exhaustion was catching up, his body aching from the heat and the stress of playing doctor.

"I should sleep too," he muttered, but before he could move, there was a knock at the door. His heart jumped, and he sprang to his feet, assuming it was the hotel staff checking on the first aid kit. He glanced at Nathan, making sure he was covered by the blanket, then opened the door.

To his surprise, Jace and Rowan stood there, their faces etched with exhaustion from their day at the health centre. Jace’s eyes were sharp with concern, while Rowan’s were softer but no less worried.

"Hey, Elias," Jace said, his voice tight. "You didn’t show up for dinner. Are you better?"

Elias forced a smile, his heart racing as he glanced back at Nathan’s still form.

"I’m fine," he said, stepping halfway out the door to block their view. "How was the health centre?"

Rowan shrugged, his hands in his pockets. "Tiring. There were lots of patients, but not enough staff. You missed a long day."

Jace leaned closer, his nose twitching as he caught Elias’s vanilla scent.

"Your heat’s still bad, isn’t it? You sure you don’t need to go to the matching centre?"

Elias’s cheeks flushed, and he shook his head quickly.

"No, I’m good. The pills are helping. I’ll be better by morning."

Rowan tilted his head, his expression sceptical. "Are you sure? You look like you’re about to pass out. Want me to grab you some dinner? I can bring it up."

Elias nodded, grateful for the offer. "Yeah, that’d be great. Thanks, Rowan."

Just as he started to close the door, a low groan came from inside the room. Elias froze, his blood running cold. Jace and Rowan’s eyes widened, their gazes darting past him.

"What was that?" Jace asked, his voice sharp.