Draven’s violet eyes remained fixed on mine, and I could see him fighting to stay conscious.
The minutes until the paramedics arrived felt like centuries. When they finally came, they gently moved me aside to work on Draven.
As they prepared him for transport, I walked over to Howard, who lay handcuffed on the floor, grimacing in pain.
Part of me wanted to kill him-Rory certainly did, snarling for blood within me.
But death would be too merciful for what he’d done. I wanted him to suffer for years, to grow old in a cell, knowing he’d failed.
I stared directly into his hateful eyes and pressed my foot down on his bullet wound. Howard screamed in agony.
“You know, Howard,” I said in an ice-cold voice, “I could kill you right now, and everyone in this room would swear it was self-defense.” I increased the pressure, watching him writhe. “But that would be too kind. I want you in prison. I want you locked in a filthy, freezing cell with no visitors, no comfort. I want you to lose your mind from isolation. And I’ll spend every cent of my fortune if necessary to make sure you never see daylight again. I hope you live a very long, very miserable life.”
When I stepped back, I noticed the investigators around me smiling with satisfaction.
Jace stood behind me, nodding approvingly.
“Consider it done, Luna Caroline,” he said. “Our friend here will become very popular in prison, and you won’t need to spend anything to ensure he receives a proper welcome. Now go with Alpha Draven. I’ve already contacted Nina to get help with the children.”
“Thank you, Jace. Thank you all,” I said gratefully before rushing to join Draven in the ambulance.
His face was pale, but he was still conscious, his eyes finding mine.
“The children?” he whispered.
“Safe,” I assured him, squeezing his hand. “Everyone’s safe.”
In the ambulance, the paramedic worked quickly to stabilize him. “The bullet missed his heart, but it’s close to a major artery. We need to get him into surgery immediately.”
When we reached the hospital, they whisked Draven away, leaving me in the waiting room where Ryan, Joseph, Clara, and Eleanor were already waiting. Eleanor rushed forward, embracing me tightly.
“He’ll pull through,” she whispered fiercely. “Draven’s too stubborn to let that bastard win.”
Joseph was already on his phone. “I’m arranging blood donors. We’ll have more than enough.”
Clara took my hand. “The children are safe. I’ve spoken with Mabel. Extra security is at the house, and both Luke and Kyle are there helping with the little ones.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, my legs finally giving out as I collapsed into a chair. Now that the adrenaline was fading, the reality of what had happened hit me with full force.
Eleanor sat beside me, holding my hand tightly. “Breathe, Carrie. Just breathe.”
Six agonizing hours later, a surgeon in blood-stained scrubs approached us. I rose to my feet, my heart pounding.
“Luna Caroline? I’m Dr. Wright. I performed Alpha Draven’s surgery.” He looked exhausted but offered a small smile. “The surgery was successful. We removed the bullet, and while his condition remains critical, his prognosis is good.”
“When can I see him?” I asked, my voice breaking.
“He’s in recovery now. Once he’s moved to the ICU, you can sit with him. He’ll likely remain unconscious for 24 to 48 hours while his body recovers from the trauma and blood loss, but he’s strong.”
“When will we know he’s out of danger?” Ryan asked, his arm around my shoulders.
“If he remains stable for the next 12 hours, we can be cautiously optimistic,” the doctor replied. “His wolf healing will help enormously once it returns;the suppressant should wear off within 24 hours.”
I closed my eyes, relief washing over me. “Thank you, doctor.”
As the doctor walked away, Eleanor squeezed my hand. “See? He’s going to be fine.”
I nodded, tears streaming down my face. Draven was alive. My mate, my love, the father of my children was going to survive.
Now I just had to wait for him to open those beautiful violet eyes again.
Caroline’s POV
I sat beside Draven’s hospital bed, my hand tightly gripping his.
Thirty-six hours had passed since his surgery, and he still hadn’t opened his eyes.
The doctor had just assured me he was stable and that we simply needed to wait when I felt the slightest pressure against my fingers.
My head shot up instantly. Those beautiful violet eyes I’d been desperate to see were finally open, bringing light back into my world.
“Draven, my love! Finally…” I couldn’t stop the smile spreading across my face. “Don’t move, don’t touch anything. I’ll get the doctor.”
I rushed to the nurses’ station across from the ICU room and quickly informed them that Alpha Draven had regained consciousness. Within seconds, I was back at his side, clutching his hand again.
“My love, I was so scared,” I whispered, feeling tears of relief threatening to spill.
Dr. Wright entered with a confident smile. “So our most-visited patient has finally decided to join us. Alpha Draven, I’m Dr. Wright. You’re here because you sustained a gunshot wound. I need to examine you now, so please follow my instructions.”
The doctor performed a thorough evaluation, checking Draven’s strength, reflexes, and monitoring his vitals. After completing his assessment, he explained that he would remove the tube, warning Draven that his throat might feel irritated for several days afterward.
“Now tell me, how do you feel?” Dr. Wright asked.
“Alive,” Draven answered with a weak smile. “But in a lot of pain.”
“That’s to be expected. You underwent a six-hour surgical procedure to remove a bullet and have been unconscious for almost two days.” The doctor proceeded to explain Draven’s condition in detail, outlining the recovery process ahead.
Once we were alone, Draven turned his tired eyes to me. “Sweetheart, tell me what happened. Why do I remember seeing you in that office?”
“Because I wasn’t going to hide in a corner knowing you were in danger,” I replied firmly, giving him a serious look.
His gaze softened. “How long have you been here at the hospital?”
“Don’t worry, I’m a responsible mother,” I assured him. “I come in the morning, have lunch at home with the children, then return in the afternoon. The guys have been taking turns during the nights, though ICU visitation is limited. Ryan is coming to stay overnight once you’re moved to a regular room.”
Draven winced suddenly. “What happened to Howard?”
More Kickass Werewolf Reads
Dive into our collection of free werewolf romance novels—where fierce Alphas, daring heroines, and heart-stopping twists await. Every story burns with forbidden desire, loyalty, and destiny. Don’t wait—here’s a world where love bites hard and nothing is stronger than the call of the mate.
Leave a Reply