Rise of the Warrior Queen (Kaia and Silver) novel Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

KAIA’S POV

The walk to the hospital with Gareth was the longest fifteen minutes of my life. Every few steps, I felt him looking at me, like he was waiting for me to say something. But I didn’t. I was tired of the games, tired of pretending like things between us were still normal when they clearly weren’t.

The hospital doors slid open with a quiet whoosh as we stepped inside. I led the way down the white, polished hallways, past the nurses‘ station, until we reached the room where Silver was being kept.

I opened the door–and paused.

Silver was already sitting on the bed. He looked different. Fresh. His long hair was messy, still a little damp from a shower. He wore a pair of fresh jeans and sneakers, clearly from the bag I brought him earlier from Everett. They fit him well, even if the jeans looked slightly tight around the thighs. But what made me smile was the shirt.

He wasn’t wearing it.

He was holding a white button–up in his hands, his brows furrowed in frustration as he tried to maneuver it

over the fresh bandages on his shoulder.

He grunted softly. “Damn it… You have got to be kidding me…”

I couldn’t help it–I cracked a smile. A real one.

“Need help over there, Sir?” I asked, stepping inside.

Silver looked up at the sound of my voice, and his lips curved into a weak smirk.

“Would it make me look like an incompetent brat if I said yes?” he asked with a raised brow.

I grinned. “Maybe.”

Silver groaned playfully and rubbed his hands over his face. “I hate this.”

I actually laughed. A soft, genuine sound I hadn’t made in days. I walked over to him, taking the shirt gently

from his hands.

“Here. Let me,” I offered.

But before I could help him slip his arm through the sleeve, a sharp voice resounded in the room.

“What are you doing?”

I turned, still holding the shirt in my hands, and saw Gareth standing just inside the door, his eyes narrowed

at us.

Silver and I looked at him in confusion.

“What?” I asked, my voice calm but confused at the same time.

Gareth didn’t answer me. Instead, he pinched the bridge of his nose like I was giving him a headache. Thent he turned his gaze on Silver.

“Listen, I don’t know what you’re trying to do,” he said coldly. “Or what your true mission is in this pack. But I

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CHAPTER THIRTEEN

won’t let it happen.”

I blinked, and my hands slowly lowered to my sides, the shirt still dangling between my fingers.

Silver raised an eyebrow. “Mission?”

“I don’t play games with strangers,” Gareth said, his voice clipped. “Especially not ones who show up unconscious with no memory and suddenly get special treatment.”

I opened my mouth, ready to ask him what the hell that was supposed to mean, but before I could speak, the door opened again.

Dr. Grayson stepped in with a clipboard in his hand. “Sorry to keep you waiting, kids,” he said, but then stopped mid–step when he saw the tension in the room. His eyes flicked from Gareth to me, then to Silver. “Everything okay?” he asked slowly

Gareth and I were locked in a silent stare, but it was Silver who spoke.

“Everything’s fine,” Silver said smoothly, even giving the doctor a small smile. “Just a little

miscommunication, that’s all.”

Dr. Grayson didn’t look convinced, but he nodded anyway and came further into the room. He checked Silver’s chart, flipping a page.

“So…” he said carefully, “Kaia, are the papers signed? Is our young guest good to leave?”

I sighed and crossed my arms. “Ask Gareth.”

Dr. Grayson looked even more confused now. His gaze slid over to Gareth.

“Alpha?”

Gareth nodded once, his jaw tight. “They’re signed,” he said. “But I’ll only hand them over after I ask him a few questions.

Silver tilted his head. “Questions about what?”

“About why you’re really here,” Gareth said simply. “And what you want.”

Silver chuckled softly, the sound low and not at all nervous. “You think I planned to get nearly killed and dumped in the middle of nowhere with no memory just to infiltrate your territory?”

“You’re not funny,” Gareth snapped.

“Wasn’t trying to be,” Silver shot back, then looked at me. “Is he always this charming?”

I swallowed hard, glancing between them. The tension was thick enough to choke on. I could feel Gareth’s possessiveness burning behind every word–even if he didn’t realize it himself. And I could feel Silver pushing, just enough to get under his skin.

“I think we’re done here,” I said finally, stepping back. “Dr. Grayson, is he cleared medically?”

The doctor looked between all three of us like he wished he could disappear. “Uh… yes. His vitals are good. Stitches are clean. He’ll need to take it easy for a few days, but he’s fine to move to a guesthouse or wherever you decide.”

“Great,” I said, turning to Gareth. “Can you give him the paper now? Alpha Sir?”

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Gareth was quiet. Then he slowly walked forward with the papers. He didn’t hand them over, not right away. Instead, he held them just out of Silver’s reach.

“Where were you before this?” he asked.

Silver raised both brows. “Seriously, dude?”

“Answer the question,” Gareth said through clenched teeth.

Silver gave him a long, steady look. Then sighed. “I don’t know. I don’t remember anything, remember? Not even my own name.”

“And you think I’m buying that? The whole ‘I can’t remember anything crap?” Gareth asked with a raised brow

“Look, Alpha Gareth,” Silver said casually. “I have no idea what happened, or who did it for that matter. But whatever it was, I know I wasn’t meant to survive it.”

Gareth studied him, like he was trying to see through him, I knew that look well. He didn’t trust Silver. And maybe he had his reasons.

But right now, he just looked like a jealous, insensitive i***t.

The air in the room was heavy. So heavy, it felt like I was trying to breathe underwater. Everywhere was filled with tension–Gareth’s anger, Silver’s confusion, and my own boiling frustration. My chest felt tight, my fists clenched at my sides, and I tried to keep my voice calm–even though everything inside me was screaming. Silver sighed, his eyes never leaving Gareth “Don’t worry, Alpha,” he said. “As soon as I’m fully recovered, I’ll be out of your hair. With or without my memory.”

His tone was calm, but I caught the edge beneath it. He was tired. Tired of being talked to like he was a problem. Tired of the suspicion, of being treated like some kind of stray dog we picked up off the road.

And I didn’t blame him, I would be too if I were in his shoes.

Gareth scoffed. “And where exactly do you plan on staying until then? Because my pack house isn’t open to strangers–or potential threats.”

That was Gareth. Sharp words. Cold eyes. Always on edge.

I swear I have no idea what Laura sees in him. Or what he sees in her, for that matter.

I stepped in before Silver could respond. My voice was calm, but I made sure it was firm enough that Gareth would understand I wasn’t asking for his opinion.

“You don’t need to worry about that, Gareth. I already have it figured out.”

I turned toward Silver. “He’ll be staying at my house. I’m sure my parents won’t mind.”

There was a pause–just half a second–but it felt like the room had frozen.

Then Gareth’s voice cracked through it like thunder. “Are you out of your damn mind?! That’s not happening!”

I faced him, my brows pulling together. “Why not?”

His jaw tightened, and when he spoke, it was a growl. “Because I don’t trust him! And I’m not letting you bring someone like him into your home.”

I blinked. “Someone like him?” The words stung. Not because he said them, but because of what they meant.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

What he assumed. What he was implying.

“You don’t even know him,” I said, keeping my tone level even as I glared at him.

“And you do?” Gareth snapped, as he took a step closer, his voice lowering “He could be dangerous, Kaia. He could be a murderer or a rapist–what if he tries to hurt you or your family?”

My jaw dropped.

I wasn’t sure what shocked me more–his words or the fact that he said them like they were nothing. Like throwing around that kind of accusation didn’t matter.

Silver stiffened. He sat straighter in the hospital bed, and when he spoke, his voice was a cold whisper. “I beg your pardon?”

Gareth turned toward him, full of heat and suspicion. “You heard me. I don’t trust you.”

Silver’s eyes

darkened. His jaw flexed. “I don’t know what your problem with me is,” he said tightly, “but I won’t sit here and let you insult me. I may have lost my memory, but I haven’t lost my dignity.”

“What was that?” Gareth took another step forward, fists clenched at his sides. “You think you can come into my territory and disrespect me like that? Who the hell do you think you are?!”

And just like that, the room felt like it was about to explode

I could almost see it happening in my head–Gareth lunging. Silver defending himself, the whole thing ending with someone bloody on the floor.

But before it could come to that, before anyone could make a move, a calm voice cut through the tension in the room.

“Alright, enough, kids. Please,” Dr. Grayson said,

His voice wasn’t loud, but it was enough. Like flipping a switch

Everyone stilled.

The doctor raised his hand slightly, like he was asking permission to speak, and we all turned to him. Even

Gareth backed off–just a little.

Dr. Grayson looked between the three of us. “I understand there are concerns, and I have a suggestion that might put this to rest.”

He turned to Silver, his expression turning calm and kind. “Son, if you’re okay with it, my mate and I would be

happy to have you stay at our house. There’s more than enough space, and we wouldn’t mind

all. Only if you’re comfortable with the idea.”

For a second, no one said anything.

Silver blinked. He didn’t even seem to know how to respond.

Honestly, I didn’t either.

company at

I glanced at Dr. Grayson, surprised. That wasn’t what I expected. Not from him. He was always the one telling people to be cautious, to think things through, to follow protocol.

And yet here he was–offering his own home like it was nothing.

But I guess our past does have a way of popping back up every now and then. The poor man and his mate

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

were probably just looking for company–someone to keep the house warm and actually make it feel like

home.

When Silver turned to me, I shrugged. I didn’t know what to say. I hadn’t seen it coming either.

Silver nodded slowly, his voice quiet. “If you’re sure, then… yes. Thank you.”

Dr. Grayson smiled, his eyes lighting up as if he’d won something. “No need for thanks, Son. We’re happy to help. Like I said, we wouldn’t mind the company at all.”

Then he looked at Gareth. Is that alright with you, Alpha?”

Gareth looked like he was going to explode. His jaw was clenched so hard I thought I heard it creak. He didn’t answer right away–just stared at Silver with fire in his eyes.

Finally, after several seconds, he raised the folded discharge papers and slapped them hard against Silver’s

chest.

“Whatever,” he muttered. “But I wouldn’t get too comfortable if I were you. I’m watching you.”

With that, he turned, stormed out of the room, and slammed the door behind him.

For a moment, the room was quiet. No one spoke.

Then, after a while, Dr. Grayson turned to Silver, his voice warm again as he asked, “Have you had anything to

eat yet?”

Silver looked genuinely confused, like the thought hadn’t even occurred to him until he was asked. “Uh_no,”

he said, shaking his head.

“Come on, then,” Dr. Grayson said, motioning toward the hallway. “Let’s get you something. I’m sure there’s

something leftover in the staff kitchen. Or we’ll find something from the cafeteria,”

Silver hesitated for a moment, then nodded slowly.

I helped him put on the shirt, but he couldn’t button it up because of all the bandages, so he left it open.

As they turned to leave, I followed without thinking. Something about Silver’s silence tugged at me. Something about his loneliness–the way he looked surprised every time someone offered him kindness-

made my heart ache.

He wasn’t just some stranger.

He wasn’t just a mystery to solve or a threat to assess.

He was lost.

Confused.

Alone

And even though I couldn’t explain why, I felt like I needed to help him. Like it was my responsibility.

Maybe I was being foolish.

Maybe Gareth was right.

But standing there, watching Silver walk ahead with Dr. Grayson, I didn’t feel scared.

I felt the need to help.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Because no matter what Gareth thought, Silver wasn’t some monster.

He was just a man with no memory, no name, and no place to go.

And for now he needed help.

And I would offer him that help however I could.

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