Alaric growled in my mind. “Howard will pay for this with blood.”
I couldn’t disagree. The waiting room door opened as Alpha Gerald and Marla, Eleanor’s parents, rushed in, followed by Teresa and Michael, Nate’s parents.
Teresa’s eyes were red but determined. “Where is my son?” she asked.
“Still in recovery,” I explained, standing to greet them. “The doctor said immediate family can see him once he’s moved to ICU.”
Teresa nodded stiffly. She was a formidable she-wolf, the one who had risked everything to help us rescue Liam. Now her own son was paying the price for her courage.
“This is Howard’s doing,” she stated flatly. “Because I helped with your son.”
“Yes,” I admitted. “And I take full responsibility-“
“Don’t,” she interrupted. “I made my choice knowing the risks. My only regret is not killing that monster when I had the chance.”
Alpha Gerald placed a hand on my shoulder. “What’s being done to find him?”
“Everything possible. The Alpha Council has investigators working around the clock, and I’ve doubled security for everyone connected to me.”
Teresa nodded. “Good. Because when my son recovers, and he will recover, I want Howard in chains.”
A nurse approached to inform us that Nate had been moved to ICU. The parents went in first, while Eleanor paced anxiously. When her turn came, she squared her shoulders and walked in .
She returned ten minutes later, eyes haunted. “He’s so pale,” she whispered. “There are tubes everywhere. He doesn’t even look like himself.”
I embraced her tightly. “He’ll come back to us.”
My phone vibrated with a text from Mabel, “Caroline knows something’s wrong. She’s upset.”
“I need to go home and tell Caroline,” I said to Eleanor. “Dr. Molina should come with me to monitor her condition.”
“Go,” Eleanor insisted. “I’ll stay here.”
“You’re coming to our house tonight,” I said firmly. “No arguments. It’s not safe for you alone.”
Ryan volunteered to drive Eleanor to our place later. I left with Dr. Molina, my mind churning with worry for both Nate and Caroline. How could I tell my pregnant mate that our friend was fighting for his life because of us?
At home, I found Caroline sitting up in bed, her expression anxious. “What’s going on?” she demanded immediately. “Everyone’s been acting strange, and Mabel took my phone. Is it Howard?”
I sat beside her, taking her hands. “Caroline, I need you to stay calm for the babies.”
Her face paled. “Just tell me.”
“Nate was attacked outside his workplace. He’s in the hospital, in critical condition.”
“Oh my God,” she gasped, tears filling her eyes. “How bad?”
Dr. Molina moved closer, monitoring Caroline’s reaction. I explained Nate’s injuries as gently as possible, watching her blood pressure monitor closely.
“It’s Howard, isn’t it?” she asked, voice breaking. “He’s targeting the people who helped us.”
“Yes,” I admitted. “The investigators believe so.”
Caroline’s breathing quickened dangerously. “This is because of us… because of me…”
“No,” Dr. Molina interjected firmly, pressing a blood pressure cuff around Caroline’s arm. “This is not your fault. Howard is responsible for his own actions.”
“Eleanor?” Caroline asked through tears. “How is she?”
“Devastated but strong. She’ll be staying here tonight.”
Dr. Molina frowned at the blood pressure reading. “You need to calm down,” she told Caroline, reaching for her medical bag. “Your pressure is rising, and that’s dangerous for the babies.”
Dr. Molina administered a mild sedative while I held Caroline’s hand.
“I want to see Eleanor,” Caroline insisted.
“Once you’re stable,” Dr. Molina countered. “The babies are the priority right now.”
By the time Eleanor arrived, Caroline had calmed enough that Dr. Molina allowed a brief visit. The two women embraced tearfully while I watched from the doorway, my heart heavy with responsibility.
Later that evening, Jace and Magnus arrived with news. We gathered in the living room, with Caroline resting on the couch.
“We reviewed security footage from the parking garage,” Jace reported grimly. “Three attackers, all professional fighters with criminal records. We’ve identified and arrested two of them.”
“Three against one,” Ryan muttered angrily. “Cowards.”
“One confessed it was Howard’s order,” Magnus continued. “Said Howard specifically mentioned Teresa needed to learn not to interfere in other people’s business. This was revenge for her helping rescue Liam.”
Caroline made a small sound of distress, and I moved closer to her.
“The question remains,” Magnus said, “how did Howard know Teresa was involved? That information was never made public.”
“The mole,” I growled. “Someone in my company or pack is still feeding him information.”
“We’re closing in on Howard,” Jace assured us. “The apartment lead was solid. He may have slipped away this time, but he’s running out of options and allies.”
“Not fast enough,” I said, my voice hard. “I want everyone protected. Eleanor, you’re staying here until Nate recovers. Ryan, I want you to coordinate with security to ensure everyone connected to us has protection.”
“Already on it,” Ryan nodded. “Joseph offered his building’s security team as well.”
As our friends departed, I sat beside Caroline, who looked exhausted.
“We’ll get through this,” I whispered, squeezing her hand. “All of us together.”
I kissed her forehead, wishing I could promise her that was true.
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