Conrad POV
I’m completely numb. I might have lost my brother today. I haven’t been able to mark my mate today. I failed to keep the pack safe today. I was drowning in their sorrow and fear, so I had to turn the bond links off.
I’m standing in the viewing area of the operating theatre, looking at Valen, my best friend, on the table, just knowing he isn’t going to survive this. No one could survive the injuries that Rogue caused.
My mate. My beautiful Moonlight is still going to try. Try to save him for me, but even then, the pack is in ruins. I’m not a fit Alpha. I’m not a fit King.
All I can think about is yesterday when we left the cabin. How I had never been happy. Life had been simple there. Life with just my mate and me. Why did I have to keep fighting? Why do I have to bear the weight of this world? It’s too tiring.
I’m jolted from my thoughts by Mary coming in the door and her eyes going wide at seeing Valen on the table.
She instantly starts praying to the Moon Goddess, but I can’t even focus on what she is saying.
She comes over to me, lifts my face into her hands, and I can’t even look at her.
“Conrad, honey. I know you’re scared, but don’t shut me out“.
“I don’t want to open the bond link. Not yet. I don’t think I would survive if I felt Liam’s fully snap from me“. I can stop the tears in my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall.
Mary just rubs my back as I watch Lewana work down below. It gets to a point where watching him becomes too much, and I have to turn away.
“I don’t think I can lead them, Mary. Not without Liam“.
“If Liam and Valen are returning to the Moon Goddess, then it is his time. If it is, then it’s not your fault. Liam went into battle knowing the risk just as you did. However, it doesn’t look as though your mate is quite ready to give up on him yet, so why are you?“.
I take a deep breath as I’m confused if Mary doesn’t know the severity. “You didn’t see him on the battlefield. No one has survived those types of injuries before“.
“You didn’t have an amazing, qualified vet as a mate before. I want you to try something. Do you think you can try for me?“.
I’m skeptical but can never say no to Mary. “What?“.
“Open the bond a little bit. You don’t have to open your side, but just feel the pack“.
“I can’t risk feeling Liam’s pain again“.
“You won’t. My bond is open to him now. He is in no pain. Your mate made sure of that. Trust me, honey“.
I close my eyes and turn everything inward. I make sure our side of the bond is blocked as I open up to the pack. Instead of a tidal wave of fear and grief, I feel their pride. I feel the determination. Above all, I can feel love. Not for me though.
1/3
For Lewana.
I open my eyes, confused. I stare at Mary, and she smiles at me.
“The second she realised you were struggling, she took over as Alpha. Pups are safe. Pack members are being counted. Patrols have already started again around the compound. Everyone is getting medical care. They have also started referring to her as Luna instead of Lady“.
I pull Mary into my arms and just hold her while I open my bond fully. I use Mary to ground myself as I fully link with everyone again. Fully be a part of the pack again.
I get a mind link from Arthur. “Ready when you are, Alpha King“.
“Seems like you and Lewana have it covered“.
“Don’t be so surprised. I’ve always told you she was better and too good for you“.
I can’t stop the chuckle that leaves my lips. A strange feeling to have at a time like this.
I decide to stay out of the way as Lewana and Arthur clearly have a system set up. I keep getting mind links and updates, and know that all pack members have lived. Some need surgery when Lewana is available, but some of these could even wait for tomorrow. I know Lewana, though. She is not waiting.
She is
She eventually brings Valen out and sets him up in a bay. Mary and I sit with him, and it’s not long before Michelle joins
- us.
She whispers to him, but I think she forgets how good werewolf hearing is. “You would be proud of me today, Beta. I helped protect the pack just like you“.
She kisses him on the head and leaves to join Kimberly and Willow.
I stayed with Valen all night watching the beep of his heart monitor. I know he won’t wake up yet as Lewana has kept him sedated so he can heal a bit more. Was going to try and wake him in the morning.
must have fallen asleep at some point, as I wake when I hear people enter the hospital. They are talking to their other relatives, whom Lewana kept overnight. She is still going. Walking around in her scrubs and giving everyone instructions.
She looks over to me when she notices I’m awake. “Go back to sleep, shadow. You have only been resting for about 2
hours.”
“What about you? Have you slept?“.
“No, not yet. But I did remember to eat this time, which you didn’t“.
The mention of food makes my stomach growl, and I realise she is right.
“I want to be here when you wake him“.
“I want to check on the two princes first in case something goes wrong and I need to put him back under. Go shower, eat, and come back here later“.
I do as my Alpha orders me to, which is a nice change of pace. I always knew she was perfect, but she still surprises me
every time.
