Chapter 398: Reacting To My Touch

Rebecca’s POV

The moment I stepped into the bedroom, I stopped walking. For a few seconds, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Kaden was lying on his enormous bed, his eyes closed and his dark hair scattered across the pillow. His face looked unusually pale, and even from where I stood, I could see the sweat covering his forehead.

Was this really the same arrogant Alpha King who had spent nearly an hour giving me ridiculous rules two days ago?

"He really is sick," I muttered, taking another step forward.

"I told you," Logan whispered behind me, closing the door. "Now, can we please leave before he wakes up?"

I ignored him and approached the bed, studying Kaden’s face more closely. I had seen him injured before, but I couldn’t remember ever seeing him look this weak.

"Kaden?" I called, leaning slightly toward him.

His eyelids twitched before slowly opening. For a moment, he simply stared at me as though he couldn’t believe I was standing there. Then his eyebrows drew together.

"Rebecca?" His voice was unusually hoarse. "What the hell are you doing in my bedroom?"

I folded my arms across my chest. "Wow. Two days of sickness, and your bad attitude is still perfectly healthy."

Behind me, Logan coughed into his fist, obviously trying to hide his laughter. Kaden turned his furious gaze toward him.

"Logan! Why the hell did you let her in?"

"Well, Alpha, I tried to stop her, but—" Logan began, rubbing the back of his neck.

"But what?" Kaden demanded impatiently.

Logan glanced at me before looking back at him, a mischievous smile spreading across his face. "Your wife came to see you, Alpha."

I immediately glared at Logan. Was he seriously trying to get me annoyed?

Kaden stared at him for a moment before shifting his attention back to me. "Rebecca, have you forgotten the rules we agreed on two days ago?" he demanded, his voice sounding unusually weak despite his irritation.

"Of course not. But I heard you were sick, so I decided to check on you. Is that a crime now?"

"I don’t remember asking you to check on me," he snapped.

"And I don’t remember asking for your permission," I shot back. "Besides, if I’d known you were still this annoying even while sick, I wouldn’t have bothered coming."

"Then leave," he replied, pointing toward the door. "As you can see, I’m perfectly fine."

I stared at his pale face before letting out a sarcastic laugh. "Perfectly fine? Kaden, you look like you haven’t slept in a week."

"Rebecca!"

"What? I’m only telling the truth."

Behind me, Logan chuckled, earning himself another furious glare from Kaden.

"Get her out of here, Logan. I need to rest."

I scoffed and turned toward the door. "Gladly! Believe me, I have better things to do than stand here arguing with a stubborn man who doesn’t even know how to appreciate a visitor."

"Rebecca, please," Logan interrupted, stepping between us. "Kaden really needs to rest. The healers have been trying everything they can, but his fever hasn’t gone down."

I frowned. "What do you mean it hasn’t gone down?"

"He’s been running a high fever since we returned from the wedding. The healers have examined him several times, but they still haven’t figured out what’s causing it."

I glanced at Kaden, who had closed his eyes again. For a moment, I forgot about our argument. Kaden was one of the most powerful werewolves I knew. How could an ordinary fever leave him bedridden for two days?

"Have they checked whether he was poisoned?" I asked.

"Yes," Logan answered with a nod. "They’ve checked for poison, infections, and even dark magic, but nothing has shown up so far."

"Logan!" Kaden growled, opening his eyes. "Stop discussing my condition with her."

"Oh, please, Kaden. Nobody is interested in your precious secrets. I’m just trying to understand what’s wrong with you."

"There’s nothing wrong with me," he insisted, pushing the blanket aside. "I’m just tired."

"Alpha, please don’t get up," Logan warned immediately.

But Kaden ignored him and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. I watched with raised eyebrows as he placed one hand on the mattress and attempted to stand.

"See?" he muttered. "I’m perfectly—"

He didn’t finish. The moment he got to his feet, his body swayed violently.

"Kaden!" Logan exclaimed, rushing forward.

I reacted before I could think, rushing to Kaden’s side and grabbing his arm while wrapping my other arm around his waist to keep him from falling.

"Are you crazy?" I demanded, struggling to support his weight. "What the hell were you trying to prove?"

Kaden groaned, gripping my shoulder to steady himself. "Let go of me, Rebecca."

"Gladly! Just try not to fall on your face first!"

Logan hurried to his other side, and together, we helped Kaden sit back on the mattress. He was breathing heavily, and when I touched his forehead, I nearly jerked my hand away.

"Moon Goddess! Kaden, you’re burning up!"

"Rebecca, take your hand off me," he grumbled.

"Will you shut up for one minute? I’m trying to check your temperature!"

Before Kaden could respond, Logan suddenly caught my wrist.

"Wait," he said, staring at Kaden.

I frowned. "What?"

"Alpha, how are you feeling?" Logan asked carefully.

"What kind of stupid question is that?"

"Just answer me, please."

Kaden opened his mouth to respond but stopped, looking confused. "The dizziness..." he muttered.

"What about it?" Logan asked.

"It’s gone."

Logan touched the other side of Kaden’s forehead, then looked at my hand, which was still resting against his skin.

"Rebecca, I think his temperature is dropping."

I stared at him. "What?"

"His fever. It’s not as high as it was a few minutes ago."

"That’s impossible," Kaden muttered.

"Perhaps the healers’ medicine is finally working," I suggested, removing my hand.

But barely a minute later, Kaden suddenly shivered. His breathing became heavier, and he pressed a hand against his temple.

"Alpha?" Logan called anxiously.

"I’m fine," Kaden muttered, although his voice sounded strained.

Logan touched his forehead again, and his expression changed. "His temperature is rising again. Rebecca, touch him."

I stared at Logan as though he’d lost his mind. "Excuse me?"

"Please. Just put your hand on his forehead again."

"Logan, what the hell are you doing?" Kaden demanded.

"Alpha, please. I think I’ve noticed something."

I hesitated before reluctantly placing my palm against Kaden’s forehead. After several seconds, his breathing became steadier, and the tension in his face gradually eased.

Logan’s eyes widened. "Moon Goddess. It really is happening."

I immediately pulled my hand away. "What is happening?"

"Your touch," Logan replied. "I think your touch is helping his fever."

For a moment, neither Kaden nor I said anything. Then we both exclaimed at once, "That’s ridiculous!"

Logan ignored us and hurried toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Kaden demanded.

"To get the head healer. She needs to see this."

Before either of us could stop him, he rushed out of the bedroom. I turned toward Kaden, who was already glaring at me.

"Don’t even think about touching me again," he warned.

I scoffed. "Trust me, Kaden. I would rather hug a cactus."

"Good."

"Perfect!"

We glared at each other before I moved toward the chair beside his bed. I had barely sat down when Logan returned with a middle-aged woman carrying a medical bag. She wore a white coat over her clothes and hurried toward Kaden.

"Your Majesty," she greeted respectfully. "Beta Logan tells me there has been a change in your condition."

"Logan is exaggerating," Kaden muttered, rubbing his forehead.

"No, I’m not, Alpha," Logan replied. "His fever went down when Rebecca touched him, and it rose again when she moved away."

The healer looked at me. "Your Majesty, would you mind placing your hand against His Majesty’s arm for a moment?"

I glanced at Kaden, who looked equally displeased. "Is that really necessary?"

"Please. I’d like to confirm something."

I sighed and reluctantly moved closer to the bed. Kaden gave me an irritated look as I placed my hand against his bare forearm. The healer took out a small enchanted thermometer and checked his temperature. After a few moments, her eyebrows rose.

"Interesting," she murmured.

"What?" I asked impatiently.

"His temperature is dropping."

Logan smiled triumphantly. "I told you!"

The healer checked Kaden’s pulse before asking me to remove my hand. After waiting a short while, she examined him again, and her expression became serious.

"His temperature is rising again."

I stared at her. "So what exactly does that mean?"

"I’m not entirely certain, Your Majesty," she admitted. "We’ve been investigating His Majesty’s illness since it began, but we still haven’t identified the cause. However, it appears that physical contact with you temporarily helps stabilize his condition."

Kaden frowned. "And what exactly are you suggesting?"

"I’d like to try something that might help His Majesty rest more comfortably while we continue investigating," she explained.

"What kind of treatment?" I asked suspiciously.

"Prolonged skin-to-skin contact."

I blinked, and Kaden stared at her in disbelief. For a moment, the entire bedroom fell silent before we both shouted at the same time.

"HELL NO!"

Logan immediately turned his face away, but not before I caught the enormous grin spreading across it.

"Your Majesties, please allow me to explain," the healer said.

"There is nothing to explain!" I exclaimed, pointing toward Kaden. "You expect me to lie beside this man?"

"And who told you I want her anywhere near me?" Kaden snapped.

"Your Majesties, this is purely a medical suggestion," the healer explained patiently. "His Majesty’s temperature appears to respond to the Queen’s touch. If we maintain that contact for a longer period, we may be able to keep his fever under control."

"Then she can hold my hand," Kaden argued.

"That is another possibility, Your Majesty. However, a larger area of contact may produce a stronger effect. I would like to test whether it helps."

I stared at her in disbelief. "You’re seriously asking me to cuddle him?"

Logan made a strange choking sound behind us, and I immediately turned toward him.

"Logan, if you laugh one more time, I swear—"

"I’m not laughing, Rebecca!" he protested, covering his mouth.

The healer sighed. "Your Majesties, I understand that this arrangement may be uncomfortable, but His Majesty’s condition has not improved despite our treatments. I’m simply suggesting something that might provide relief while we continue searching for the cause."

I opened my mouth to refuse again, but Kaden suddenly bent forward, pressing a hand against his chest as another violent shiver passed through his body.

"Alpha!" Logan exclaimed, immediately moving toward him.

The healer hurried forward and checked his temperature again. Her expression tightened.

"The fever is rising rapidly."

Kaden’s jaw was clenched, and although he was clearly struggling, the stubborn bastard still looked determined to pretend nothing was wrong.

The healer administered another dose of medicine, but after several minutes, his temperature remained dangerously high.

I shifted uneasily in my chair.

"Rebecca," my wolf suddenly called.

"What?" I replied through our mental connection.

"Just help him."

I frowned. "You heard what the healer suggested, didn’t you?"

"Yes, and I also heard that he’s getting worse."

"That’s not my fault."

"I never said it was," she replied quietly. "But you can help him, Rebecca. So why are you being stubborn?"

I looked at Kaden again. He had closed his eyes, and sweat was running down the side of his face. Seeing him like that made me uncomfortable, especially knowing that the healers still had no idea what was wrong with him.

I let out a frustrated sigh.

"Fine! I’ll do it."

Everyone turned toward me, and Logan’s eyes widened.

"Really?"

"Don’t make me change my mind," I warned, glaring at him.

The healer looked relieved. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Hold on!" Kaden protested, forcing his eyes open. "Who said I agreed to this?"

I turned toward him. "Oh, please, Kaden. Don’t flatter yourself. I’m only doing this because I don’t want you dying before our ninety days are over and making me a widow."

"I’m not dying!" he snapped.

"Good. Then stop looking like a corpse!"

"Rebecca!"

"What?"

"Your Majesties, please," the healer interrupted. "Arguing is not going to help His Majesty’s condition."

I took a deep breath and looked away. "Fine. But I have conditions."

Kaden scoffed weakly. "Of course you do."

"First, this is strictly medical. Second, you keep your hands to yourself. And third..." I turned toward Logan and pointed a warning finger at him. "If you tell anyone about this, I will personally make sure you regret it."

Logan raised both hands, struggling not to smile. "My lips are sealed, Rebecca."

"Good." I turned back toward the healer. "Now, tell me exactly what you want me to do."