Axel's POV

Every bone in my body stiffened as she collapsed on me and crazy thoughts immediately began to fill my head. What if she were dead? Was I the cause of whatever was going on with her?

“Pink. Can you hear me?” I shook her lightly but she didn't move. With every second that passed, she turned paler and fear gripped me in the worst way possible as I mindlinked Jake.

“Get the doctor here. Now.” I ordered and picked her up before placing her on the bed. My heart pounded so loudly that I could barely hear anything anymore. In years, I have never been this worried or scared about anyone the way I was so scared right now.

Pushing the windows open, I began to notice how cold her body had become. Her pale body contrasted greatly with the pink dress on her, and for the first time, I found myself praying to the moon goddess.

Was she suffering because I had defiled her? Was she in this situation because of me? If that was the case, I would rather be punished than watch her suffer.

I placed my hands on her neck to feel her pulse and panicked when I felt nothing. My heart nearly stopped working when I pressed deeper until I found a pulse, weak but steady.

“Where the fuck is the doctor? Fucking drag him here right now!” I yelled into the mind-link, and I knew Jake would scold me later, but I didn't care. Thallyne was all that mattered right now and she was dying.

The worst part was that there was nothing I could do about it.

The door burst open a few seconds later, and the doctor rushed in. He was roughly dressed to show how he had been rushing here and he rushed over to her side, placing his fingers on her neck and temples.

“Touch her inappropriately and I'll kill you. If she dies, I'll kill you.” I growled, my eyes narrowing at him, and he nervously gulped while Jake snickered, but I ignored him. I wasn't in the mood for his jokes and mockery now.

I watched as the doctor injected something into her veins and my eyes widened when her body began to regain color. Her pale face regained color, her cheeks tinting slightly to her natural blush and a sigh of relief escaped my lips.

“She's stable and alright now, Alpha Axel.” The doctor said as he wiped the sweat off his forehead and I moved over to her side. I placed my fingers on her neck and when I felt the strong, steady pulse, I let out a sigh of relief.

“What the hell happened to her in the first place?” I questioned in confusion and he sighed, taking off his gloves.

“I have a rough idea but before I jump to conclusions, did she show any symptoms before slumping?” He asked and I remembered what she had told me before she collapsed.

“She experienced pregnancy-like symptoms but she's never been defiled. She felt dizzy, nauseous, and always tired.” I explained, ignoring the teasing look that Jake shot me and the doctor nodded in understanding.

“Well, those aren't just pregnancy symptoms. She was poisoned, Alpha.” He explained and it felt like I had been doused with cold water. “The poison had seeped into her organs because they were supposed to be slow. If you weren't there when she slumped, in ten minutes she would be dead.”

My head pounded harshly as his words rang over and over in my head. Poisoned. Someone had poisoned her slowly.

“Will she be okay?” I questioned, my hand touching hers gently and he nodded quickly as he handed me a bottle.

“I already injected an antidote into her bloodstream. Make her take this every morning. Just one tablet for the 20 days will flush the poison out of her system. She will be fine.” The doctor concluded and I slipped the bottle into my pocket before shaking hands with him.

“Thank you for coming on short notice. I won't be able to see you out, unfortunately.”

“I understand, I'll be on my way now.” He said and the moment he turned, I could have sworn I saw him wipe the sweat off his forehead before dashing out.

“What do we do now?” Jake asked as I stood up and sucked in a sharp breath to keep myself steady.

“Find the culprit,” I said coldly as I glanced at Thallyne one last time before walking out of the room. Jake followed behind me and I just knew he was dying to say something.

“If you've got something to say, spill it,” I said in annoyance and he snickered in amusement.

“For a maid you claim you don't care about, you seem to know a lot about her,” Jake muttered behind me and I shot him a glare that shut him up at once.

“Summon everyone at once. Every single being in the mansion, bring them to me now.” I ordered and he glanced at me for a while.

“Including Drary?”

“Especially Drary and his fucking concubine.”

Jake disappeared after that order while I stood by the side, my jaw hurting from clenching it too hard. The fact that someone had deliberately tried to get rid of her under my roof was insane. What if I hadn't summoned her then? She would have collapsed and I just knew no one would have tried to help her.

The thought of losing the one girl who awoke something in me again made my hands tremble as I placed them in my pockets. One by one, the maids and guards gathered in front of me while Drary and Gwendolyn came in last.

My eyes scanned the faces of everyone in front of me, reading their body language to see who would give themselves away.

“There has been a case of poisoning in my mansion.” I started coldly and gasps escaped everyone's lips, including Gwen and Drary. “I'm not here to play around, step out if you were the one.”

Nobody moved. Everyone murmured to themselves.

“May I ask who got poisoned?” Gwen suddenly asked, a look of worry on her face and I just knew she was pretending at once.

“Thallyne.”

She scoffed after my words and my eyes narrowed in anger.

“You summoned us all here because a mere wolfless omega got poisoned? What use is she to us anyway? Wouldn't it be better if she died? I'm not saying I poisoned her though.” Gwen muttered with a nonchalant scoff and my hands clenched into fists at her words.

“Get her.” I gestured for the guards to apprehend Gwendolyn, but Drary immediately stepped in, protecting her from them.

“Whoa, chill out, Dad. You're getting all worked up for a slave? Do you feel bad for her because I rejected her? She should know her place and if she got poisoned, we all know she deserved it. Leave my baby out of this.” He muttered mockingly as he grabbed Gwen's hand and walked away, shooting me a mock salute.

He knew I couldn't touch him. I had made that promise since he was dropped off on my front porch years ago, and now he was using it against me.

“She's awake.” Jake suddenly mindlinked me and I glanced at the maids who kept their gazes on the floor in fear.

“You're dismissed. But when I find the culprit, I'll use them as an example to everyone.” I growled in anger and returned upstairs in a hurry.

The moment I opened the door, Thallyne was nowhere to be found in the room.