"I can't say yes, Elias." Bitterness edged my voice. "I can't bring myself to trust your promises so easily anymore."
Elias's bloodless face went even paler. Looking at him like this, I couldn't help remembering how he had charged into that church without hesitation. My resolve softened despite myself.
"I'm sorry, Serenity, I..."
"I don't want your apology." I bit my lip. In the end, I left him an opening. "What I want to see is action."
His head snapped up. Disbelieving joy blazed in his eyes.
"You mean?—"
His expression reminded me of Arian. When my son wanted candy, he looked at me with that same cautious, hopeful gaze.
So the son took after his father.
The discovery left me feeling both touched and amused.
I kept my expression stern. "I won't agree to marry you. But I can give you a chance to win me back. Just a chance. Whether you can make it count is up to you. Elias, you'll have to prove to me that you truly love me."
Elias's face broke into an excited grin. He suddenly leaped up and threw his arms around me!
"Yes! Yes, I promise! I'll do it. Please, just watch me—" He babbled on as I squirmed uncomfortably and tried to push him away. "What are you doing? I didn't give you permission to hug me. Let go?—"
But I stopped mid-sentence. Elias's body had gone terrifyingly cold, and his voice had cut off. His weight grew heavier and heavier against me. The emergency treatment had barely helped. His wounds needed real medical attention and he had been shot with silver bullets!
Panic seized me. I quickly looked at his face and found he had fallen unconscious. I couldn't even feel him breathing!
"Elias? Elias!"
I held him tight, desperately calling his name. Just then, I finally heard the rescue team outside the cave. They shouted our names. After I responded, a medical team rushed in and took us both away.
And that was how Elias and I were separated.
My injuries weren't serious. After a day or two of observation, I was discharged. But Elias remained in the ICU with no signs of waking.
The doctors said the silver bullets had damaged his internal organs. Whether he survived would depend on his will to live and an Alpha werewolf's healing ability.
As for when he would wake up—no one could answer that.
During his coma, the documents he had signed remained in effect. The divorce and property division agreements all required my attention. And then there was Arian?—
He moved out of the Vernal mansion and came to live with me. Custody was officially transferred to me.
Not everyone in the Vernal pack was happy about this, but Herman, following Elias's orders, forcibly suppressed any objections. When I brought Arian to visit Elias, I ran into Herman. He stood outside the ICU window, looking more haggard than I had ever seen him.
"Luna, the doctors say the Alpha's condition is still critical. The odds of him waking up aren't good. Please prepare yourself."
Arian clutched my leg in fear. Sorrow flowed through Herman's eyes, but he didn’t shield the boy from the truth.
"And, Young Master Arian, if the Alpha dies, you will become the new Alpha of the Vernal pack. Whether or not you want that position, you need to understand this reality."
"I…" Tears welled in Arian's eyes. I gently stroked his head.
I lifted my gaze and told Herman firmly, "Elias won't die."
Herman said painfully, "I don't want to believe it either! I want him to survive, but?—"
I cut him off, raising my voice. "Elias will wake up!"
