Before he could think more, his phone vibrated against the table, nearly toppling off.
He grabbed it and pressed it to his ear. A panicked voice came through: "Omega Boris, there's been a clash between the Western Wind Pack and the Crescent Fall Pack. Multiple wounded. We need every hand we can get. Bring your suppressants—they help with the wolf's bane burn injuries."
He composed himself quickly, switching into his healer's voice. Calm and professional. "Understood. I'll be there in minutes."
When the call ended, he sat still for a few beats, staring into the dim reflection of the cracked mirror.
It wasn't a dream.
The soreness between his thighs, the sticky confirmation on his skin, the ruin of the dress room—it all told the same story.
He'd really done it. He said screw it to everything and given himself to a stranger. It was the boldest, stupidest, most freeing thing he had ever done. But now wasn't the time to process that.
He forced his body upright, wincing, and went to his private cabinet to grab the suppressants.
***
Back in the dressing room after returning, the scene of last night's rebellion lay scattered in disarray. Broken vials, a toppled chair, a cracked mirror with a smudge of blood on its edge. He clenched his hands at the memory.
"Omega Boris," came a voice at the doorway.
Queen Dupont, always regal in her tone, stepped inside with a faint smile. She was a beta, way better than him as she was every man's desire. "I heard you saved several lives again. Especially thanks to those suppressants of yours."
Boris smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Yes. My suppressants, Beta Queen."
Was she mocking him? Or being polite? He couldn't tell.
"You should rest," she said, walking further in and raising a brow at the state of the room. "I was resting all night while you were busy. Now that I'm active, you go rest."
Her eyes swept across the damage to the mirror. "What happened here?"
He turned slightly, keeping his expression neutral. "I was in a rush. The mirror's been needing repairs for weeks. And… since you're active now, maybe you could help clean up."
Queen gave him a curious look but didn't press. She bent down to pick up a few scattered items.
Boris didn't wait, he shuffled out, trying to hide the stiffness in his step. His whole lower body throbbed with every motion. He needed rest. And distance.
But before he could disappear, two figures appeared at the end of the hall—one was the head healer, the other, unmistakably, was Ralph, Beta to Alpha Malakai.
The head healer gestured toward the dress room. "She's the only female healer who was here on duty last night, Beta Queen."
Queen looked up, surprised. "Me?"
Ralph stepped forward, his expression unreadable. His eyes flashed with recognition and glee. She was surely the one the Alpha was looking for. "Come with me."
Queen blinked, then smiled, uncertain. "Where are we going, Ralph?"
The head healer interrupted before she could get an answer. "Hurry up. It is Alpha Malakai you would keep waiting if you choose to talk."