I ignored her, staring at my mate’s breathtaking face. “Please, Caelan, come back to me. You’re my mate. Your place is herewith me. I can’t lose you.” The tears flowed freely now despite my efforts to hold them back. “Please, Caelan. I need you.”
I let a small amount of my amplification ability flow into him, holding my breath as I watched desperately for any sign of improvement.Please, Goddess. Please let my mate come back to me.
Several tense minutes followed, the gentle beeping of the machines the only sound in the room.
“I don’t believe it,” Dr. Eirny gasped as she glanced at the numbers on one of the screens.
“What?! What is it?” I demanded, a slight panic in my voice.
“It’s working,” she said in awe, turning to Caelan and checking him over as his scratches finally healed before our eyes. “His vitals are normalizing!”
“Come on, Caelan. Come back to me, my love. Please,” I urged, squeezing his hand tightly.
I continued to whisper encouraging words to him as several more minutes of intense waiting passed. Anything to convince him to return to me.
“Caelan, please. I love you,” I whispered, pressing my cheek to our clasped palms.
His eyes fluttered open as he gasped. The machines went wild, furiously beeping as his gaze darted around the room. When his sight landed on me, I saw instant relief wash over his face.
“Shade,” he breathed, his voice rough.
He reached out with his free hand, cupping my cheek as I leaned into his touch.
A soft sigh escaped my lips.He came back to me.
Without warning, he yanked me forward, crushing my body against his. I sank into him as he held me tightly. My ear pressedagainst his chest as I listened to the steady, soothing rhythm of his heartbeat.
Caelan was safe, and I was finally home again in his arms. ***
Dr. Eirny stayed just long enough to ensure Caelan and I were all right. Once she was certain we were recovering, she left us to our privacy.
Dillon and Taffy excused themselves shortly after, going to relieve Luna Maty and Alpha Leal from the cleanup in the ballroom. Apparently, my loss of control over my abilities had left things in shambles.
I’ll have to apologize to her. I know she worked really hard on all of that.I lay on Caelan’s chest, content to listen to the sound of his heart and the rise and fall of his breath all night. We’d come too close to losing each other.
“I’m sorry,” I finally managed, struggling not to cry again. “I’m sorry that I hurt you. I never meant for—”
“You have nothing to apologize for, baby,” he interrupted, squeezing me tighter. “You aren’t at fault for anything that happened tonight. Dark Moon carries all the blame for this.” He paused to sigh and shake his head in disbelief. “Well, them and your sister. But Huxley is dead, and we’re both alive.”
He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “That’s all I can ask for.”
“When I got there, you were so covered in blood,” I whispered. “I was so scared. I knew I had to do something, or I’d lose you forever. But I’m sorry that I howled when you were so close. I should’ve thought that through, but I wasn’t thinking about anything past stopping Huxley.”
“I’m fine,” he assured me. “My body has healed. I’m a bit tired, but otherwise, I don’t feel any worse than I do after sparring with Dillon. I’m glad that you stepped in. I wanted to kill Huxley myself, but it’s more fitting that you got to do it. He’s been tormenting you for much longer than he’s been a threat to me.”
We sat quietly for a few moments. I kept replaying the events of the night in my head. Fortunately, everything had turned out fine, but our story could’ve had a very tragic end.
I knew he said he was okay, but I couldn’t help the worry that plagued me. My howl could kill, and he had been exposed to the full power of it for much longer and at a greater intensity than anyone else ever had.
The fact that he was alive was nothing short of a miracle. I sent a silent prayer of thanks up to the Moon Goddess for allowing us both to survive.Maybe my mom was right. Maybe it is a gift.
On with the Plan
SHADE
“Oliver reported that Sunny was captured trying to escape. She’s being held in the basement,” he informed me as we lay tangled together in the hospital bed. The mention of her name left a sour taste in my mouth.
After all we’ve been through together and everything I’ve done for her, she betrayed me. I still feel like I have to protect her though. I have to keep reminding myself of what she did so I don’t do something stupid like demand her release.
