The Mate He Hates

Amanda’s POV

At first, I wanted to stay back, but Matthew held my hand and signaled for me to leave with him. We walked out of the room but didn’t leave; instead, we remained outside the closed door while the healers were left with him. Tears stood in my eyes, but I held them back and swallowed my pain. Matthew’s grip on my hand tightened, and I looked up at him.

“Take a grip of yourself,” he said, placing a kiss on my forehead before letting go of my hand. “I have to look for other healers,” he said before leaving. Swallowing my pain, I looked at the door, wishing I could go in. I wanted to hear what the healers were saying to him.

“Don’t worry, he will be fine,” Levi, who stood across from me, assured me, and I nodded.

“Damn it!” I heard the loud voice of Alpha Edward from inside the room, and I swallowed my pain.

“Get out!” The angry voice of Alpha Edward erupted from the room, and suddenly the door opened, and the two healers walked out.

“What is wrong with him?” I asked, and the healers shook their heads.

“He is angry with the news of his inability to walk,” one of the healers explained, and I swallowed hard.

“I want to go in,” I suggested, but Levi shook his head.

“I will go instead,” he said, and I frowned.

“Yes, Amanda, Edward cannot bear to see you in his condition. It will kill him,” he said while my frown deepened.

“That is correct, miss. He has to see you only when he wants to,” the healers said, and I looked away. I wished I could go in; I just wanted to see him.

“I’ll go in now,” Levi said, and I watched him open the door and go in, then he closed the door. After he closed the door, I turned to the healers.

“What is the way forward? At least there has to be something that can be done,” I said hopefully, and the two healers stared at each other before looking my way.

“The poison was a dangerous one, and it was luck that he is well and alive, but we doubt that he can use his legs ever again,” they announced the bitter truth to me, and I swallowed my pain.

“At least there can be something that can be done,” I said hopefully, but the two healers sighed.

“Only a miracle will make him use his feet again, my lady.”

I stood there, feeling helpless. My heart ached for Edward, and I wished there was something-anything-I could do to change his fate. The healers’ words echoed in my mind, each syllable a hammer striking at my hope.

The door opened again, and Levi stepped out, his face somber. He walked over to me and sighed. “He really wishes to be alone, and we have to respect his decision,” he announced while I looked at the door, contemplating if I should go in or not.

“He really wants to be alone. Please don’t go in,” Levi pleaded as if he was reading my thoughts.

I heard footsteps and looked up to see Matthew coming with an aged man who, I assumed, was a healer.

“How is he?” Matthew asked, and I let out a tired sigh.

“He doesn’t want to see anyone,” I complained, and Matthew nodded.

“It’s normal for him to feel that way,” he said to me before turning to the healer he came with, who was conversing with the other healers. “Let’s go in,” he told the healer, who nodded and followed him into Alpha Edward’s room.

Anxiously, I waited to hear anything from the room, but I heard nothing. Rather, everywhere was silent, which made me more tense. The silence stretched on, thick and heavy, each passing second adding to my growing unease. I leaned against the wall, my mind racing with worry. I knew I shouldn’t be feeling this way due to all the terrible things he had done to me, but I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t help feeling this pain.

Levi and the other healers exchanged quiet words, their faces etched with concern. Matthew and the aged healer had been inside for what felt like an eternity. I glanced at Levi, who offered a reassuring smile, but it did little to ease the knot in my stomach.

Finally, the door creaked open. Matthew stepped out first, his expression unreadable. The aged healer followed, his eyes grave and tired. My heart pounded in my chest as I searched their faces for any sign of hope.

“How is he?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Matthew looked at me, his eyes softening with worry. “He’s stable for now,” he said slowly. “But it’s as the other healers said. There’s very little chance he’ll walk again.”

The healer nodded, stepping forward to speak. “We’ll continue to monitor his condition and provide care, but the damage is severe. It will take a miracle for him to regain the use of his legs.”

I swallowed hard, the healer’s words a bitter pill to swallow. Tears threatened to spill over, but I blinked them back, refusing to break down in front of everyone. I didn’t want them to know how much I was caring for him, I didn’t want them to know that his condition was affecting me so severely, I mean this was a man I was supposed to hate.

“Can I see him now?” I asked, my voice trembling.

The healer hesitated before shaking his head. “He’s resting. It might be best to let him have some time to process everything, but if you must, then go in quietly.”

“I have to speak to him,” I said and made my way to the door. My hand trembled as I reached for the handle, but I took a deep breath, pushed the door open, and stepped inside.

Alpha Edward lay on the bed, his eyes closed, his face pale and drawn. The sight of him like this made my heart ache even more. I walked over to his bedside, careful not to make any noise.

“Alpha Edward,” I whispered, reaching out to take his hand. His eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, he looked at me, but then he frowned and took his hand away from me.

“You have to leave,” he murmured, turning his eyes away from me.

“Why? Why are you sending me away?” I said, pained.

“Because… because I don’t want you to see me this way, Amanda,” he grunted, and I frowned.

“What way?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Like this,” Edward replied, gesturing weakly to his legs. “Weak and helpless. I don’t want you to see me like this, Amanda.”Material © of NôvelDrama.Org.

I shook my head, stepping closer to the bed. “You’re not weak, Alpha Edward. You’re the strongest person I know. This doesn’t change that.”

His eyes met mine, filled with a mix of pain and frustration. “It does change things. Everything. I can’t lead, I can’t protect… I can’t even stand.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I fought to keep my composure. It hurt to see him this way.

“We’ll find a way. We’ll get through this together.” I didn’t know when that left my lips, but I didn’t regret or take it back.

Alpha Edward turned his face away, his jaw clenched. “You deserve better than this. Better than me.”

I frowned. “I don’t care about that. I care about you.”

He was silent for a moment, and then he sighed deeply. “Amanda, you need to leave. Please. I need to be alone.”

I felt a wave of helplessness wash over me, but I nodded, knowing that pushing him wouldn’t help. “I’ll be right outside if you need anything,” I said softly.

As I turned to leave, I heard him whisper, “You are free to leave.”

I paused at the door, looking back at him. “What did you mean?” I asked with unease and saw him hesitate for a moment before he sucked a deep breath and closed his eyes.

“You are free from this bond, Amanda. You are free to go. I give up. You can leave with Liam. Just go away!”

Anger surged through me, hot and fierce. How dare he push me away like this? After everything we had been through, how could he dismiss me so easily?

“Fine!” I snapped, my voice trembling with anger. “If that’s what you want, then I’ll go. But don’t think for a second that this is what I wanted.” I turned on my heel and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind me.