Chapter 103 Nosebleed

Something in Alpha Killian’s chest pulled tight. [Ungrateful.]

The driver tossed Eira’s two bags in the trunk, climbed in front. "We heading out, Alpha Killian?"

"Drive," Alpha Killian said, flat.

"Wait." Eira’s voice cut in at the exact same second, calm but firm.

The driver’s eyes flicked to the mirror, then just... stayed put. Not his fight.

Alpha Killian shot him a look anyway. "I said drive."

The driver didn’t move. Eira gave him a small nod, thanks, then turned back to Alpha Killian, steady as ever. "I lived in that place four years, Alpha Killian. Maybe you’ve never had to fight for somewhere to call your own. I have. I’m not walking out and leaving it trashed."

Something flickered across his face at that, the edges of it going soft for half a second.

"Growing up, you don’t get to keep much of anything," she added. "That apartment was mine, for a while. I want to leave it decent."

Her eyes didn’t waver. Clear straight through.

Alpha Killian felt that land somewhere he didn’t expect.

Still, he didn’t cave. He jerked his chin at the driver. "Go handle it."

The driver started to climb out.

"You don’t know the code," Eira said.

The driver froze halfway out of his seat, looked back at Alpha Killian, silently asking what now.

Alpha Killian sat there a beat, jaw working. Then he shoved the door open and got out himself.

"Fine. Let’s go." He stood by the car, arms crossed, waiting.

Eira raised an eyebrow. "Changed your mind fast."

"Didn’t change anything. Just moving things along." He was already walking.

She rolled her eyes and jogged a step to catch up.

Back upstairs, Alpha Killian dropped onto the sofa like he owned the place, arms crossed, watching her dig a rag out from under the sink.

"You’re really doing this," he muttered, half to himself.

Eira wiped the sofa down till it gleamed, scrubbed the shoe cabinet, swept the floor clean, bagged the trash, hauled it up with both hands.

"Alpha Killian, done. We can go."

Alpha Killian let out a cold laugh. "Not even one last look around?"

She missed the edge in his voice completely. Shook her head. "Nothing left to see once it’s clean."

His eyes dropped to the bag in her hands. He reached for it. She beat him to the elevator button instead.

Doors dinged open. "Almost missed it," she murmured.

Alpha Killian gave up on taking the trash from her.

Floor numbers dropped. Felt like walking away from her old life one number at a time.

Hit the lobby. Her eyes stung, just a little. Corner of her mouth curved up anyway.

Alpha Killian caught both, the red rimming her eyes and the smile. Didn’t say a word.

--

Eira stood in front of the green dumpster outside, dropped the black bags in one by one. Peeled off her gloves, tossed those in too.

Her palms were red, slick with sweat.

A folded square of fabric showed up in front of her face.

She turned. Alpha Killian was holding out his pocket square.

"That’s not for wiping sweat," she said. "It’s decorative."

"You know a lot about that, huh." Alpha Killian’s tone came out sharper than he meant.

He regretted it the second it left his mouth. He knew exactly where she’d picked that up, years of taking care of Alpha Sebastian.

Just thinking about that guy made his jaw clench.

"Let’s go." His voice landed harder than he wanted it to.

Eira started walking, climbed back in the car. Alpha Killian followed.

Engine started up.

"You’re a mess," Alpha Killian said, looking her over.

The driver handed back wet wipes without a word.

Alpha Killian grabbed her chin, held her still, started wiping her face down. Grip too tight.

She winced, tried to pull back.

"Hold still." He kept going, her cheeks going pink from the rubbing.

"Take a hint," he muttered. "Quit saying yes to everyone who asks you for something."

Let go. Her jaw ached, skin stung, nothing broken.

She stared at him a beat. He let her.

Then pulled out her phone.

[Lila. New rule. Something this small happens again, don’t call your brother. Deal?]

Alpha Killian had been scowling since the moment he walked in.

Lila was elbow-deep in lab work. No reply.

--

Cleaning had worn Eira out. Her eyelids kept drooping, she’d blink them open, fight it a second, then they’d sink again. Her head dipped forward little by little.

Alpha Killian pressed a loose fist to his mouth, hiding the edge of a smile.

He kept her in his peripheral vision.

This time her eyes stayed shut. Out cold.

His voice dropped low. "Slow down. Turn the heat up."

The driver eased off the gas, bumped the temp up to seventy-eight.

The car hit a speed bump, barely a jolt, but Alpha Killian’s eyes cut to the driver like a blade. The driver pretended not to notice.

Both of them checked on Eira. Still out. Deep asleep.

She must be running on empty.

A few minutes later, weight settled against Alpha Killian’s shoulder. Her head leaned into him, hair spilling across his chest, the ends brushing his hand.

He went rigid.

Only dared glance at her sideways. Hair covered half her face, but he could make out the bridge of her nose, the curve of her mouth through the strands.

His fingers twitched. Barely grazed the ends of her hair resting on his hand.

His expression went dark. Unreadable.

An hour later, the car pulled up outside 9 Southridge Estate Drive

The driver stepped out quiet, opened the door careful, shut it just as careful, then left.

Just the two of them now.

Alpha Killian didn’t move an inch.

Sun dipping low.

Eira stirred, eyes fluttering open. Driver’s seat, empty. She clocked her own position.

Head shot up.

Crack.

Skull straight into Alpha Killian’s nose.

She froze. [Oh no.]

Alpha Killian pressed his lips together, hand flying up to cover his nose. Eyes on her, half-lidded, unreadable.

"I’m so sorry, Alpha Killian—"

Then she saw it. Blood leaking between his fingers.

Her eyes went wide.

He felt it too, warm, steady, dripping.

Eira moved fast. "Head down, not back. Tilt forward." She grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand away, pinched the bridge of his nose herself. "I’m calling Dr. Wood."

Before Alpha Killian could even wonder how she had Barry’s number, she was already dialing.

"Dr. Wood, Alpha Killian’s got a bloody nose. 9 Southridge Estate Drive."

Pinching alone wasn’t cutting it fast enough. Eira’s eyes swept the yard, landed on a scraggly patch of weeds growing along the fence line.

Yarrow. Feathery leaves, little white clusters. Old trick. Worth a shot.

She jogged over, pinched off a few sprigs, came back working them between her palms until they broke down into a rough green paste. Rolled two small plugs.

"This is gonna feel weird for a second."

Alpha Killian eyed the tissue-sized green plugs like they were about to bite him.

Absolutely not.

His hand was already soaked in blood.

Eira didn’t care. Leaned in close, tugged at his wrist.

Didn’t budge.

She pulled again. Blood kept coming. Her patience snapped.

"Killian."

Full name. No title. Voice dead firm.

Alpha Killian’s heart skipped.