The door to Yuki’s private room opened, and she froze in the doorway. Her face drained of colour the moment she saw the woman sitting comfortably beside her bed.
"Eloise..." Yuki breathed, the name leaving her lips like a curse.
Eloise looked completely at home. One leg was crossed over the other, and a stack of Yuki’s study notes rested casually across her lap. She flipped through the pages with an almost curious expression, occasionally pausing to read something before turning to the next page. The sight made Yuki’s stomach drop. A cold warning settled over her instincts. Something was wrong.
Eloise lifted her head and offered her a soft smile. "Oh, you’re here," she chimed pleasantly, as though she had been waiting for a friend rather than someone she had every reason to avoid. That smile only made Yuki’s uneasiness deepen.
"What are you doing here?" Yuki asked bluntly, making no effort to exchange the fake pleasantries Eloise clearly expected.
The smile on Eloise’s face faltered for half a second. She recovered quickly, releasing a light laugh as she closed the notebook and placed it neatly on the bed.
"Come on," she said in a coaxing tone. "Stop acting as though we’re enemies. I heard you were in the hospital, so I thought I should come and say hello."
Her voice was sweet. Far too sweet. Yuki’s fingers curled around the arms of her wheelchair.
"As you can see, I’m fine," she replied coldly. "You can leave now."
Instead of taking offence, Eloise’s smile widened.
"I can see that." Her gaze travelled briefly over Yuki’s body before returning to her face. "There’s no need to rush me out."
She stepped closer. Yuki immediately felt Olivine’s hands tighten around the wheelchair handles behind her. Eloise noticed the movement. Her eyes flickered towards Olivine, and for one brief second, the warmth disappeared from her expression. Olivine instinctively flinched beneath that stare, her fingers loosening from the handles as though she had touched something hot.
Eloise leaned closer to Yuki, lowering her voice until it was barely more than a whisper.
"You don’t fool me, Yuki."
Yuki’s jaw tightened.
"This weak little act won’t work."
"It isn’t an act," Yuki hissed, keeping her voice low despite the anger simmering beneath her skin.
Eloise gave a quiet chuckle.
"Sure it isn’t." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "And it better be real. You should really stay away."
Yuki almost laughed. The audacity. She slowly tilted her head, studying Eloise’s face before leaning closer herself.
"Instead of worrying about me," she whispered calmly, "you should worry about who their second-chance mate will be."
Eloise’s expression changed. Only slightly. But Yuki caught it. Her smile disappeared, and her eyes hardened.
"I’m no longer a threat, Eloise," Yuki continued, a faint sneer touching her lips. "The triplets hate my guts. I’ve already accepted the rejection. So why are you still worried about me?" she said in a taunting tone.
Eloise remained silent. Her fingers curled slowly at her sides. Yuki watched her carefully, the corner of her mouth lifting.
"Unless..." she murmured, "you’re not as confident about your position as you pretend to be."
Eloise’s teeth clenched. For a moment, the room seemed to shrink around them. Whatever response was forming on Eloise’s lips died when a knock sounded against the door. Both women turned.
Clara stood in the doorway holding a small medication tray. Her brows furrowed as her gaze moved between them.
"Sorry to interrupt," Clara said politely, though confusion coloured her voice. "It’s time for the patient’s medication."
Eloise’s smile returned almost instantly.
"Of course," she replied smoothly, picking up her handbag. "I was just about to leave." She turned towards Yuki, her expression once again sweet and perfectly composed. "Take care of yourself," she chimed softly.
Yuki said nothing. She simply watched Eloise walk past her and leave the room. Clara’s gaze followed her until she disappeared down the corridor. She knew Eloise well enough. As the Beta’s daughter, Eloise had grown up around the hospital and the upper ranks of the pack. Clara had seen her countless times over the years and knew exactly who she was.
What Clara didn’t know was why Eloise had come to see Yuki. The details surrounding Yuki’s relationship with the Ravencourt triplets had been deliberately kept out of public knowledge. Only a handful of people within the highest levels of the pack knew about the bond, and Clara was not one of them.
As far as Clara was concerned, Yuki was simply a young woman who had nearly died and happened to have attracted the attention of someone from the Beta’s family. Still, something about that encounter had unsettled her.
The moment Eloise’s footsteps faded down the corridor, Clara turned back towards Yuki and stopped. Yuki was standing without support. Her legs trembled beneath her, and her brows were drawn tightly together as she fought through the discomfort, but she remained upright.
"Careful," Clara warned softly, immediately stepping closer.
Yuki swallowed against the ache spreading through her legs. "I’m fine," she insisted, although the strain in her voice betrayed her. She slowly lowered herself onto the edge of the bed. The moment she was seated, her shoulders sagged, and she released a long breath through her nose.
Clara watched her carefully before setting the medication tray on the bedside table. "Who was that?" she asked gently.
"Eloise," Yuki replied.
Clara nodded. "I know. She’s the Beta’s daughter." Her expression tightened slightly. "I meant, why was she here?" she pried.
Yuki’s gaze drifted towards the closed door. "She came to visit," she replied.
Clara raised an eyebrow. "That didn’t look like a friendly visit," Clara remarked.
Yuki remained silent. Clara studied her face for several seconds before asking more carefully, "Did she say anything that upset you?"
"No." The answer came too quickly.
Clara narrowed her eyes. Yuki sighed and rubbed her temple. "I said I’m fine."
Clara didn’t press further. She could tell Yuki was lying, but whatever had happened between the two women, Yuki clearly wasn’t ready to discuss it.
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