Chapter 0073

My gaze locks onto Mr. Sinclair. "Any updates?"

"Nothing significant. They're hydrating her as Dr. Whitmore advised and took more blood to monitor the venom levels."

I drag another chair closer to Evelyn’s bedside, needing to be near her. My fingers brush against her leg—just enough contact to reassure myself she’s still here.

Time blurs until Sebastian rises abruptly. "I have to go. Victor’s trail won’t stay fresh forever. I just needed to see Evelyn before heading out." Good. Now I can reclaim my place beside her, my fingers entwined with hers.

He leans down, sweeping her dark hair from her face before pressing a kiss to her lips. A growl rips from my throat before I can stop it, and Theron shoves me upright.

Sebastian straightens, his eyes flashing as Dorian surges forward. "Stand down, Adrian. We had a deal."

I stalk to the foot of her bed, intercepting him. "She’s my mate. You agreed to keep your hands off her. Don’t ever let your lips touch her again." My voice is pure menace.

His irises darken, the wolf rising to the surface. "She hasn’t chosen yet. She might reject you and pick me instead. That’s her decision."

I’m a second from lunging when both of us are yanked backward. Mr. Sinclair has us by our collars, his grip ironclad. "Outside. Now." His Alpha aura slams into us like a tidal wave before he releases us.

Sebastian and I glare at each other as we stride into the hallway. Only then do I notice the waiting room packed with wolves from both packs, all waiting for news about Evelyn.

As we turn to face off again, Mr. Sinclair steps between us. "Listen up, pups." He spits the word like an insult. "If you two want to measure your dicks, do it somewhere that isn’t my daughter’s hospital room. Neither of you is proving you deserve her. A real mate puts her first—above your egos, above your titles. A worthy mate wouldn’t be too busy playing Alpha to notice she’s still unconscious beside you!" His roar echoes through the silent corridor.

His voice drops to a lethal whisper. "Until you can prove you’re worthy of my daughter, neither of you will step foot in her room again."

"You can’t do that!" I snarl. "She’s my mate!"

"Then you should’ve thought about that before starting a pissing contest at her bedside."

My chest heaves. He’s banning me from Evelyn? Out of the corner of my eye, I see Sebastian’s jaw twitch, his teeth clenched hard enough to crack bone.

"And if either of you pups,"—he drags out the word—"think you can get past me?" Evander surges forward, and Mr. Sinclair’s eyes burn molten gold. "Try me."

He waits a beat before turning on his heel and disappearing back into Evelyn’s room. My father steps up behind us, gripping both our shoulders.

"And that, young Alphas, is why Grant Sinclair was once called the Grim Reaper of Blackthorn."