The Alpha's Runaway Queen

Chapter 24 - Heat

Jasmine POV

Shouldn’t I be hiding? On my feet, running away from the hospital?

The man turned, his eyes locking onto mine. For a moment, everything else faded away. It was as if time stood still, and the noise of the hospital disappeared. His gaze held mine, and I felt a connection so deep and undeniable that it took my breath away.

But then, as quickly as it happened, the moment was gone. I blinked and the man disappeared from my sight. I stood there, rooted to the spot. My mind was a chaotic mess of emotions.

“Jasmine!” Sean’s voice snapped me back to reality. He was standing at the entrance, a bouquet of flowers in his hand and a broad smile on his face. “I thought I’d surprise you with lunch.”

I forced a smile, trying to mask the turmoil inside. “That’s so sweet of you, Sean. Thank you.”

As we walked to the cafeteria, Sean talked about his day, but his words barely registered in my mind. It was as if I was still in the lobby with that man. It couldn’t be him. If it were him, he would show himself right away. I must be hallucinating then. I shook my head and forced myself to listen to Sean.

Over lunch, he talked about our future, wedding plans, and moving in together. However, I still struggled to focus on what else he was saying. The weight of the ring on my finger felt heavy, like a promise I wasn’t sure I could keep.

“Jasmine, are you listening?” I heard Sean ask, breaking through my reverie. I looked up at him and saw his eyes filled with concern.

“I’m sorry, Sean,” I said. “I’m just a little distracted today.”

“Is everything okay?” he asked as he reached across the table to take my hand. “You seem…off.”

I took a deep breath as I tried to steady my racing heart. “I’m fine. It’s just…a lot to process, you know? The engagement, my work, the fellowship, everything.”

He squeezed my hand and smiled at me. “I understand. We will take this one step at a time. We have all the time in the world.”

Mildly annoyed, I nodded. His words did little to ease the turmoil inside me. I also wanted to ask why he brought up the questions earlier at me, but then I tried to understand that Sean could be in a bundle of nerves. He could be overly excited, wanting to do everything at once.

As we finished lunch, Sean walked me back to my office. I kept my senses on high alert, hoping to catch another whiff of the scent I smelled earlier. However, the day passed without any sign of him, and I actually believed I had hallucinated that morning.

.

.

.

It was already midnight. I was on extended shift, so I had already advised Sam that I would update him when I was ready to be picked up. The long hours were taking their toll, and my usual steady hands felt shaky. I found myself needing to take more breaks than usual. I would step away from the corridors of the hospital to clear my head.

During one of these breaks, I noticed a strange warmth spreading through my body. At first, I dismissed it as fatigue, but the heat intensified, causing a thin sheen of sweat to break out on my forehead. I wiped it away, trying to stay composed, but the sensation only grew stronger. Then it hit me–my heat cycle. Of course, in the chaos of the engagement, I had completely forgotten about it.

Normally, I would have my special potion to ease the symptoms, a concoction I had perfected over the years after leaving my pack. It was a blend of herbs that helped suppress the worst of the heat without any serious side effects. However, in my rush that morning or probably with the unease with Sean bringing up living together, I had forgotten to bring it with me. Panic began to set in as I realized I would have to endure at least the start of my heat until I could get home.

I took a deep breath and tried to steady myself, but the heat continued to rise, making it difficult to concentrate. I couldn’t afford to be distracted–not there, not at that hour, but my colleagues noticed. One of the senior doctors, Dr. Harris, approached me with a concerned look. I was surprised because he was rarely in the hospital during those hours.

“Jasmine, are you okay?” he asked with his brow furrowed with worry. “You look flushed, and you’re sweating. Do you have a fever?”

“I’m fine,” I replied as I forced a smile. “Just a little under the weather. I’ll take some meds, and I’ll be good to go.”

Dr. Harris wasn’t convinced. He insisted on checking my temperature, and when the thermometer beeped, his expression grew even more concerned. “You’re running a high fever. You get on a bed and rest.”

“I can’t,” I protested weakly. “There’s too much to do.”

“You look like you’re going to pass out any minute. Your health is more important,” he said firmly. “I’ll have someone cover your shift. Go home and get some rest.”

Reluctantly, I agreed. The heat was becoming unbearable, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to function much longer. I thanked Dr. Harris and made my way to the lobby, pulling out my phone to book a taxi. It was the early hours of the morning, and I didn’t want to bother Sean, who was probably asleep. Hailing a cab would be faster, also, than for Sean to come and pick me up. As I waited for the taxi to arrive, I leaned against the cool wall, trying to alleviate the burning sensation coursing through my body.

Just then, a man in dark clothing approached me. Before I could react, he spoke.

“Dr. Jasmine?” he asked. His nose twitched as he got closer.

“Yes?” I replied warily.

“Taxi?” He waved to the black car that rolled at the hospital’s entrance.

I hesitated because it didn’t look like a taxi. I might have booked a different utility service vehicle. However, with my heat and exhaustion clouding my judgment, I allowed him to lead me to the car. The moment I stepped inside, a strange dizziness washed over me. The last thing I remembered was the door closing and the car moving away.