A muscle feathered in Daryn's jaw and he closed his fists. "Where did you see him?" he asked, trying to contain his anger. Daryn's knuckles turned white.

"He was in a speedboat traversing across the surrounding waters," Dawn replied. She was feeling weak. "I saw him two days back too."

​​

"Then why didn't you tell me?" he sounded angry. 

"I— I thought this was just a chance." She looked away from him. "I didn't want to trouble you. You really need this stress-free vacation."

His anger melted immediately. He bent down to kiss her. He should have been the one protecting his mate and this little… At this point of time he wanted to wring Azura's neck. 

Tenderly, he said, "I have asked the caretaker to make lemonade for you. Have that. Are you hungry?" he touched her forehead. 

She shook her head. "I am not hungry." She held his hand and brought it to her lap. "Do you think that Azura's presence is a coincidence?" 

"I will have to find that out, Dawn. Just don't worry about him, okay? I am going out and will check the perimeter of the island along with some more staff. Don't get up from the bed." He sounded worried. "And please don't get anxious. We will sort out this matter." 

"Mhmm." She shifted lower on the bed and Daryn covered her with blankets. "Be safe," she said. 

"Don't worry Dawn."

She closed her eyes wanting to sleep more, and Daryn left. 

He had opened his mind link to find any werewolves in the vicinity. By the time he was out in the open, he was on his fours along with the sailor crew. Five werewolves were around and they came immediately after his call. All of them belonged to an Italian family – mother, father and their three sons, who had come for a vacation on their private resort. They joined Daryn. The entire perimeter was checked but there was no one. 

"You should attend your Luna. We will scour through the palm groves and other parts of the island," said the wife. 

Daryn thanked them and left. When he reached the villa it was evening. Dawn was looking even paler than the last time. The caretaker, an elderly lady, was holding a glass of guava juice for her, hoping that she would drink it, but Dawn didn't feel like it. 

"Thank you Mrs. Rozero. But I won't be able to have anything else," she said in a shaky voice. 

"You are too weak, Ms. Dawn."

Daryn rushed to her side. The caretaker bowed to him. "I think you should call a doctor. She is too sick. She has vomited once more and is not eating anything." 

"Thanks Mrs. Rozero, I will take over from here." Why was he getting a different smell from her body? And that too from the afternoon, ever since she had puked?

The caretaker left after keeping the glass on the table. 

"What's wrong, Dawn? Why are you not eating?" He asked as he drew his gaze back to Dawn's face with wide eyes. "Aren't you feeling hungry after vomiting? You have only eaten breakfast." 

"No, no, I don't feel like eating. "I— I don't know what is going wrong with me." Stars swirled at the edge of her eyes. 

She willed to bring her vision back in focus when saw Daryn, she asked in a feeble voice, "Was everything okay?" 

Daryn sat near her. "Yes dear, there's no one. Perhaps his being over here is just a coincidence. Tonight I will be sending my people to dig more information about him. So don't worry, just relax, love." 

She nodded. 

He placed a palm on her cheek as his jaw slackened. "I don't see that you have fever. Is anything else hurting? I think I have been very rough with you all these days." He regretted the way he was plowing her. But what could he do? Those were his natural instincts. 

"My body feels sore. It aches everywhere. I don't feel like seeing food." 

Her small declaration confirmed that he was indeed very rough with her. Daryn stared at her. His voice became low. "Do you feel you are fainting?" he asked. "Is your head reeling?" 

She nodded, the slight movement bringing along more dizziness. Her eyes began to shut. She fainted.

"Dawn!" Daryn called her. He jumped to his feet and howled. "Stay with me Dawn," he said and patted her cheeks. "No, no! Dawn!" He was so panicky and his wolf was beginning to rise. 

Protect her – his beast commanded. 

He looked frantically around feeling that it was his fault for bringing her over here. His little neotide had fallen ill. He scooped her up in his arms and dashed out to the living room. 

"Mrs. Rozero," he shouted. Guilt stabbed him. Perhaps she wasn't able to withstand his bite. The venom must have been too much for her. Did it poison her? But why after so long? He tried to recollect if she had shown any other signs of sickness previously. Worry stabbed his heart. He roared, "Mrs. Rozero!" 

The housekeeper came running to the living room, wiping her hand with her apron. "Yes, Mr. Silver?" she asked. Her husband also followed her and the two peeked at Dawn. 

Daryn placed her on the couch and said, "Dawn has taken ill. Do we have a doctor around?" All he wanted was to go back to the main city somehow. "Can you help me?" He regretted that there was no doctor on the island. Perhaps it was high time that he opened a small hospital here. He emitted a series of muffled sounds as if in panic. 'I can't lose her! I can't lose her.' "Is she dying?" he asked as his beast tried to come out again. He wanted to protect his mate. 

The lady was on her knees, next to Dawn and placed her hand on her forehead. She looked at her husband who nodded and went to the kitchen. 

"What is going on?" asked Daryn, gritting his teeth. "Will she be fine? Do I have to call for a doctor? Should we take her back to the city?" Nothing made sense. 

The housekeeper held her hand to check her pulse. While she was doing that, her husband came in with a small mug of tap water and a soft white towel. 

"I think she is fine," said the caretaker. "Her pulse is not feeble. I think there is a different issue here." 

Her husband gave the wet towel to her and she placed it on Dawn's head. 

"Mr. Daryn, my instincts tell me that your wife is—" she lowered her eyes. "I may be wrong though—"

"My wife is what?" he snapped at her out of frustration. Then he dug his hands in his pocket and took the phone out to call his staff to arrange for a helicopter. He had to take her to the city without wasting time. His hands fumbled to find the numbers. These two caretakers were moron and he was on the verge of firing them. He looked at Dawn again and his face paled. Perhaps it was her anxiety about Azura. 

"Maybe your wife is pregnant…" 

The phone slipped from his hand as he gave an incredulous stare to Mrs. Rozero. His cheeks flushed red. Slowly, he came near his wife and held her small hand in his palm. Her smell had changed, and he thought it was poison.

"Pregnant…" This wasn't possible.