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That’s when Edward and the other warriors burst into the clearing, also in wolf form. They quickly surrounded and subdued both Rogues, ensuring they stayed alive for questioning.
But all I could focus on was Caelan.
The silver knife was still embedded in his chest. His breathing was labored, and his powerful legs were beginning to shake,
“Caclan, hold on, I mind-linked him desperately. “Help is coming.”
His wolf eyes met mine. Even as pain wracked his body, I could see the relief there. Relief that I was safe.
“Are you hurt, Sabi?”
“I’m fine. Don’t talk, just breathe.”
But I could see the wolfbane was already affecting him. His black coat was losing its glossy sheen, and his massive frame was beginning to tremble uncontrollably.
He collapsed onto his side, the knife still protruding from his chest.
His massive wolf eyes fluttered closed.
And he went still.
We rushed to the hospital in the ambulance – Dad, Marcus, Katherine and me, all surrounding Caelan’s unconscious form. Victoria had taken a terrified Daisy home to rest.
The doctors diagnosed high-concentration wolfsbane poisoning. A toxin so potent it could kill even a Lycan King. The poison had already spread through his circulatory system, turning his blood an unnatural deep purple color. They wheeled him into surgery immediately.
During the surgery, I learned that Blair had also been brought to the hospital shortly after us. She’d been pulled from the lake with only minor water in her lungs. There were no serious injuries, and though she hadn’t woken up yet, she was stable.
The waiting room became our prison. I paced the same ten-foot stretch of linoleum until my feet ache.
Katherine sat hunched in a plastic chair, her makeup long since cried away. “Please, God,” she whispered over and over. “Please let my son live.”
Marcus stood off to the side, looking quite calm.
Dad kept his arm around me when I finally collapsed into the chair beside him.
When the doctor finally emerged for the last time, his surgical cap hung limp in his hands. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his voice was hoarse from hours of intense concentration
“The surgery was successful His Majesty is out of immediate danger.
Katherine launched from her chair. “Thank God! Thank you, Doctor!”
“We managed to flush most of the toxin from his system. The doctor explained. But his body has been through severe trauma. The next twenty-four hours are critical. We need to monitor him closely for any complications.”
Marcus gripped the doctor’s shoulder. Can we see him?
“He’s being moved to the VIP recovery suite now. You can visit him.”
We followed the doctor to a private room where the nurses transferred Caelan to a hospital bed. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor filled the otherwise silent room.
I checked his vitals once more before sinking into the chair beside his bed. I took his limp hand in mine.
Marcus stood at the foot of the bed, his hands gripping the railing. Katherine hovered near Caelan’s head, gently stroking his hair. Dad sat beside me.
A knock on the door interrupted the tense silence. Beta Edward entered, his expression grim.
“I have the preliminary investigation results,” he announced, looking around the room before continuing. “We’ve confirmed that Lucian helped Blair escape and return to Blackwood territory. The Rogues we captured are suspected to be Lucian’s men, though they refuse to admit working for him.”
“You said it was who?! Katherine suddenly shouted. Lucian?!”
She whirled toward Marcus, her eyes blazing with a fury that transformed her elegant features into something almost feral. ‘I told you years ago that bastard couldn’t be allowed to stay!
Marcus made a gesture for Edward to leave, and Edward nodded before walking away.
“If anything happens to Caelan- Katherine’s voice dropped to a dangerous pitch as she jabbed a finger at Marcus, “I will personally send someone to kill your bastard!”
Dad shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
“Katherine, Marcus finally spoke, his voice hollow. “I truly had no idea she would keep the child secretly. Or that she would raise him.”
Dad cleared his throat softly. The sound seemed to remind the two that they weren’t alone, but neither acknowledged him.
None of it registered with me. The family drama unfolding behind me might as well have been happening on another planet. The only sounds that existed in my universe were the rhythmic beeping of the machines and the thunder of my own heartbeat.
My fingers moved mechanically over Caelan’s wrist, counting the beats. One. Two. Three. I’d check again in five minutes. Then again five minutes after that. As if my vigilance alone could keep him tethered to this world.
If I could go back in time, I would never have rushed in there alone. This is my fault. Caelan almost died because of me.
The guilt crushed down on my chest. I should have waited for backup.
“Sable. Tell me what happened. Exactly what happened.” Katherine suddenly called out to me, snapping me out of my thoughts. I stared blankly for a moment before coming back to my senses.
My fingers tightened around Caelan’s limp hand.
I met her gaze. “During our engagement ceremony, someone lured Daisy into the forest. When I found her… My voice caught. “Two Rogues were using her as bait.”
“And you went after them alone?” Katherine’s voice rose.
“She’s my sister.” The words came out steadier than I felt. ‘I couldn’t just wait when they threatened to hurt her.”
Katherine’s face grew harder.
I managed to free Daisy, but then they attacked me with a silver blade coated in wolfsbane…” I swallowed hard, the memory burning. “Caelan arrived just as one of them was about to kill me. He threw himself between us.”
My throat closed up. The poisoned blade went into his chest instead of mine.”
Then Katherine exploded.
“You stupid, reckless girl! Her voice cracked like thunder How could you be so irresponsible?
“You should have waited! Called for help! My son nearly died because of your thoughtless heroics!
‘Katherine Marcus started.
“No! She whirled on him before turning back to me. Do you have any idea what you’ve done? What you’ve cost us?”
Tears burned behind my eyes, but I held them back.
“If you’d been smarter, more careful, none of this would have happened.” Katherine’s voice grew shrill. “Your recklessness almost cost me my son!”
That’s when Dad shot to his feet.
“That’s enough!” He shouted.
Katherine spun toward him. “Excuse me?’
“My daughter risked her life to save her sister. Dad stepped forward. “And you have the nerve to blame her for getting hurt in the process?”
“She was irresponsible-
“She was brave!” Dad’s voice boomed through the hospital room. “What would you have done if it was Caelan who’d been kidnapped?”
Katherine’s mouth opened and closed like a fish.
“And let’s not forget,” Dad continued, his tone growing deadly quiet, “this whole mess started because of your family’s enemies. My daughters were targeted because of Blackwood business.”
Marcus stepped between them. “Rodrigo, I’m sorry.” Then he turned to Katherine.
“Kathy, there is no reason to blame Sable. You’re being rude.”
Katherine stared at all of us, her breathing heavy and uneven. Then her gaze fixed on me with pure venom.
“Fine.” Her voice dripped with disdain. “I’ll go see Blair instead. At least she doesn’t endanger my family.”
She stormed toward the door, shoving past Marcus when he tried to intercept her. The door slammed behind her with enough force to rattle the walls.
Marcus ran a hand through his hair, looking between Dad and me. “I’m sorry, Rodrigo. She’s just scared-
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