CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

Quil's instincts screamed at him to phase. Every fibre of his being urged him to shift, to let the wolf take over and rid himself of this presence that had suddenly invaded his space. But he forced himself to step back, consciously reining in his power.

Over the past several months, he had gained more control over his shifting, but now, with the Cullen standing before him, it felt like the challenge was harder than ever. His heart pounded in his chest, and the temptation to give in to the wolf's instinct was strong, but Quil remained grounded, trying to steady his breath.

"You know you're not supposed to be here," Quil said slowly, his voice colder than he intended. His eyes narrowed as he sized up the petite Cullen standing before him. She was short, with pixie-like features, and her hair was styled in a choppy, short bob, a stark contrast to the usual calm demeanour that usually marked the Cullens.

His eyes scanned her movements, instinctively searching for any sign of her mate nearby. Though he had gained more control over his shifting, the presence of a Cullen, especially one that had once caused so much conflict in his life, stirred something primal inside him.

But he didn't see Edward. Alice was here alone, and that gave him a slight sense of relief, though it didn't completely quell the tension in his chest.

Alice, for her part, let out a small breath, almost as if she had expected him to react this way. She raised her hands in a gesture of peace as if to show she meant no harm. "It's just me. Only me," she said, trying to ease the unease between them.

Quil didn't lower his guard entirely, but his eyes softened just a fraction. He couldn't afford to let his temper get the best of him, not now. "What do you want?" His voice was still cautious, though he couldn't help the hint of suspicion that lingered in his tone.

Alice hesitated for a moment, her gaze flitting around the area as though she were checking to see if anyone else was nearby. "There's a patient at the hospital... she's been calling for you specifically," Alice said, her brow furrowing slightly as she looked at him. "I don't know who she is... but Edward said she's been asking for you by name."

Quil blinked, processing her words. "What?" His voice was sharp with disbelief. "A patient at the hospital?"

"Yes, I said that," Alice responded, her tone tinged with slight annoyance as if she were frustrated by Quil's scepticism. "I don't have the ability to see past your kind's future, but this... this is the closest I've been able to see. A glimpse of you."

Quil stood frozen, trying to wrap his head around what Alice was saying. He couldn't remember anyone he knew at the hospital—no one he was close to, no one who would be calling for him. His mind was a blank slate, but the uncertainty gnawed at him. Why would someone be calling for him? It didn't make sense. He wasn't even sure he trusted Alice's words, and the more she spoke, the more his doubt grew. He was still unsure of her intentions, unsure of her family. The Cullens had always been a complication in his life, and this sudden appearance of Alice on their land only made things worse.

"I can't just show up at the hospital," Quil muttered, rubbing the back of his neck as he avoided her gaze. He wanted to move past the topic, to ignore it, to keep it from becoming something he'd have to deal with. He had enough on his plate—rogue vampires, the pack, the constant threat looming over their lives. He didn't have time for whatever this was.

"I know it sounds crazy," Alice continued, pushing further, her voice becoming more persistent. "But you need to consider it. She's important, Quil. I don't know who she is, but she's connected to you somehow, and she's in distress."

Quil's hands clenched into fists at his sides. "I can't just waltz into the hospital because you say so," he argued, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "There are too many risks, Alice. With the rogue leeches still out there... I don't have the luxury of doing something like this. I have to think about my pack, my family."

Alice's face softened slightly as she heard the underlying concern in Quil's voice, though her frustration was still palpable. "Carlisle said he wouldn't mind," she added, pressing the issue further. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't think it was important. Edward heard her calling for you, Quil. Please, just... consider it."

Her words hung in the air, a mixture of urgency and quiet pleading. Quil didn't want to admit it, but something inside him told him that maybe, just maybe, Alice was telling the truth. He couldn't ignore the fact that something was pulling at him, some invisible thread connecting him to the unknown patient at the hospital. But that didn't mean he had to blindly trust the Cullens. He had learned the hard way not to trust them fully, especially when it came to things like this.

"I'm not sure Sam would allow me," Quil muttered, his voice strained as he wrestled with the idea. "I don't think he'd be okay with me just showing up uninvited. And with everything going on with the rogue vampires, there's no way I'm putting anyone I care about at risk for something like this."

Alice sighed, clearly understanding his hesitation. She closed her eyes for a moment, almost as if searching for something in her own mind. "I understand," she said softly, her voice genuine. "But you need to consider it. I know it's hard, Quil. I know you've been through so much already. But this... this person, whoever they are, seems important. And I'm not asking you to blindly trust me. But maybe... maybe you could at least go and see for yourself?"

Quil's mind raced. He didn't want to acknowledge the fear that bubbled up in him at the thought of someone else reaching out to him, someone he didn't know.

But there was something in Alice's eyes, a quiet urgency that he couldn't ignore. He hated that he was even considering it, but the thought of someone in distress, someone calling out for him, weighed on him.

He gnawed at the side of his cheek, uncertainty and frustration twisting in his gut. He hated feeling so powerless. And yet, despite everything in him telling him to walk away, to reject Alice's request and avoid this whole situation, the words slipped out before he could stop them.

"Fine," he said through gritted teeth as if the admission was a bitter pill he couldn't swallow. "I'll go see her."

Alice's face broke into a smile, her eyes lighting up with relief and gratitude. "Thank you," she said, nodding eagerly. "Visiting hours have just started again. It's best if we head there now."

Quil didn't move right away. Part of him still wanted to turn around and walk away, but the other part—the part that had once been so sure of his own instincts—now felt unsure, unsettled by the pull of something he couldn't quite understand.

He let out a breath and followed Alice, his footsteps heavy as they both made their way toward the hospital, each step a reminder that sometimes, the unknown was harder to ignore than he'd like to admit.