EMILIA'S POV

Emilia stalked towards Raymond's bed the moment the Elder's had disappeared from the room. Up close, he looked worse than when she’d last seen him—a pale shadow of the powerful alpha she once knew.

Raymond’s breathing was shallow but steady. His once sharp green eyes were dull, barely opening as he turned his head to see her approach. Emilia stopped at the bedside, her arms crossed and jaw clenched. "What the hell is going on with you, Ray?"

He managed a weak smile, his lips barely curving. "Don’t worry about it, Miley," he murmured. "I’ve been through worse. Just need some rest."

"Worse than collapsing out of nowhere...