Alpha Your Warrior Ex-Wife is Back (by Aurora Starling) novel Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Gideon’s POV

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I knocked once before entering. The scent of blood hit me first–not as fresh as it had once been, but still sharp enough to turn my instincts alert. Raven was hunched over on the small sofa, clutching the hem of her shirt, clearly caught off guard. As soon as she saw me, she screamed, trying to cover herself with her ruined shirt like I was an intruder instead of someone who just wanted to help.

“Easy,” I said, holding up the small jar in my hand. “It’s medicine. “Her eyes narrowed. “You could’ve sent someone. You said you were going to send someone.”

“And have them botch the job?” I stepped closer, slowly, making sure my presence didn’t come across as a threat. I could feel the ripple of tension in the room, hear the subtle shift in her breathing. “I figured you wouldn’t want anyone else seeing that wound anyway.”

“I can manage,” she said flatly. “I’ll call a maid.”

I raised an eyebrow. “To do what? Stand three feet away while you wince and strain trying to reach your back?”

She didn’t answer. Just stared at me like I was trying to pry open something I had no right to touch.

“I’ll be quick,” I said. “Just let me apply it and wrap it. No one else has to know.”

There was a long silence. I could hear the faint ticking of the clock on the wall, the hum of wind brushing against the windowpane. Finally, she gave a reluctant nod, turning so her back faced me. She pulled her shirt away again, slower this time, revealing the gash that ran along her back. It was angry and red, partially scabbed but still fresh enough to need attention.

I dipped two fingers into the ointment and began applying it gently. Her skin was hot under my touch, tense but not trembling. To my surprise, her wolf responded–not with resistance, but calm. The aggressive aura that usually clung to her like armor eased, if only slightly.

“You’ve got good healing,” I murmured. “Shouldn’t scar if you take care of it.” She didn’t answer.

Still, I noticed the way her breathing slowed. The tension in her shoulders lessened, just a little. Her wolf trusted me… even if she didn’t.

I couldn’t help it. Something about being this close to her stirred something I couldn’t place. A memory buried deep, clawing its way up like it was trying to be remembered. My hand paused for a fraction too long, and without thinking, I reached up–toward her mask.

The moment my fingers neared it, she jerked away, pulling her away from me and spinning like I’d tried to strike her.

Chapter 26

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“Don’t,” she snapped. Her eyes were wild, irises glowing with fury.

“I wasn’t going to take it off,” I said quickly, backing a step away. “I just… I’m sorry. That was out of

line.”

She stood, gathering her coat in stiff, deliberate motions. “I don’t need your apologies. Or your pity.”

My brow furrowed. “Pity? I wasn’t-”

“You were,” she cut in, voice sharp. “From the moment we met. That’s why you treat me better than your own future Luna, right?”

Her tone was ice, colder than it had been even when I first brought her into the pack.

She looked at me like I was a stranger, maybe even something worse.

I stepped forward. “Why do you hate me so much?” She paused, her hand on the doorframe, spine rigid. “I don’t hate you,” she said. “I just don’t trust you.”

“Because of what you said earlier? About the rogues?”

She turned halfway, her mask catching the light. “They weren’t like the ones we used to fight in Ivan’s territory. These moved with purpose. Coordination. Almost like… they were sent.”

“Sent?” I repeated, voice low. “You think they were ordered?”

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Chapter 27