Then monitor alarms began to sound off and all hell broke loose; Jackson’s heart had stopped. He flew to the bed, and cranked it down so his brother was flat and started CPR. He knew he had only a small window of time before Jackson would be beyond his help. Pressing on his brother’s chest repeatedly, Colton’s goal was thirty compressions before stopping to check for breathing.
The alarms woke Steel who rushed to his mate and nearly collapsed when he saw Jackson’s blue lips. “What should I do?” he yelled.
“Go get Ian! I need another pair of hands!”
Steel ran for Ian as Colton finally reached thirty. Tilting Jackson’s head back, making sure the airway was clear, he listened for signs of breathing. Finding none, he put his lips to his brother’s and gave a rescue breath—then another before resuming chest compressions.
The door flew open as Ian raced to Jackson, grabbing a defibrillator to use if CPR didn’t work. After repeating the chest compressions and rescue breaths, Coltonglanced at Ian, his eyes full of misery and said, “It’s not working Ian, we have to shock him…now!”
Ian pulled up Jackson’s gown and placed the pads on his chest. “Stand back everyone,” he ordered, as he turned on the machine, watching as it delivered the first shock to Jackson’s heart. After the second shock, a normal rhythm returned and Ian removed the pads.
Colton’s knees were weak and his mind was in turmoil as he thought about how close his brother had come to dying. Regaining awareness of his surroundings, he heard Jackson’s pup wailing, probably due to the noise of the alarms and the shouting going on. But before he could get over to sooth his nephew, Steel was already there, picking up his son and rocking him.
Colton’s eyes shifted back to Ian who was at Jackson’s side. After seeing his grim look, he knew his brother was going to die. Moving closer, he looked into Jackson’s eyes. They were unresponsive to light—an ominous sign. His brother was in a deep coma with neurological damage. Ian glanced over to Steel and then back at Colton, “Stay with your brother, I need to talk to Steel and see what he wants me to do.”
Colton nodded, tears flooding his eyes.
“Steel, bring your son, I want to examine him but don’t want his crying to upset Jackson. Colton is staying with your mate.”
“Okay, but it’ll be quick, won’t it? I don’t want to leave my mate for too long. He needs me.”
“No, I’ll be quick, I promise.”
After Ian ushered Steel and his son out of the recovery room, a silence descended and all Colton could hear was the beeping of the heart monitor telling him that for now, at least, his brother was alive.
Chapter 32
Steel hugged his son to his chest as he sat listening to Ian explain that Jackson was dying. He wanted to scream and howl with grief but could not. No, his wolf was curled up in a ball, keening for his mate. Steel could feel deep grief consuming his soul.Will I die too?Of a broken heart?Ian was speaking but he sounded far away.What did he say?He wasn’t sure but it didn’t matter. Nothing did anymore. His arms tightened on the bundle he was holding. A pup’s yelp penetrated his brain and he looked down to see Jackson’s blue eyes staring into his soul.
It was a sign from Jackson, his lover, his center and keeper of his heart. Yes, Steel would survive. He owed that to his mate—to make sure their son would be loved and taken care of. He looked into his son’s eyes and made that vow again to Jackson. He stood, gently rocking his son and listening to the cooing sounds from a pup who’d never know his other parent. Ian was talking again but he couldn’t hear the words. His heart was breaking and all he could hope for was that a little piece would remain so he could give it to their son.
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So still, my brother is so still.His mind kept saying it over and over, yet nothing changed. Colton looked at the brother who saved him and his brothers after the massacre—took charge even when Jackson’s heart must have been broken as much as everyone’s. While the rest of them were mired in grief, unable to think or act, Jackson persevered—all for his brothers. Now, just when Jackson was on the brink of finding his own happiness, it would be taken from him. Colton’s nephew would grow up without ever knowing how good, caring and loving his father had been.
Birthdays would come and go without Jackson’s joyful laughter filling the air. Colton remembered his brother’s excitement about celebrating the Long Night Moon Festival with his pup, Jackson’s tears when Logan showed him the nursery and the joy he heard in his brother’s voice about having a child. All gone. How would the brothers survive the loss of the heart and soul of their pack? Colton didn’t know—and he doubted they would.
As he stood there, gazing at the face that had sacrificed so much to keep him and his brothers alive, he cursed the Fates for taking his brother away from all who loved him. Then he cursed his own failure to save Jackson and finally he cursed the gods who’d brought so much tragedy to his family. He hung his head, no longer able to look at his brother lying there, waiting for death to come for him. He wasn’t sure if Steel would survive, even with a son to look after. Oh no, and Steel’s parents—Maximus and Oracle—so happy for Jackson and Steel. How would they bear it if Steel died of a broken heart and grief? He wondered if Oracle knew this and if so, how painful it must be for her to stand by and watch the Fates take her son. And then like a beacon of hope, Oracle’s words came back to him…“One day, you will experience great joy because you possess this gift.”And then he knew. He had the power to change the future—the power to give Jackson back the life being stolen from him.
Colton wasted no time pondering whether to use the power given to him by Raphael and the gods—no, his only concern was if he was too late. He reached out his fingers and touched his brother’s chest. Calling on Raphael to help him, he felt the power surge through his body and exit through his fingers while a blinding green light filled the room. Colton could feel a warm buzzingin his fingers. After the light and the tingling faded, Colton removed his fingers, praying to the Archangel Raphael he wasn’t too late while waiting to see a sign from Jackson who still lay motionless on the table.
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Cody knew his brother was going to die tonight and there wasn’t anything he could do to stop it. That was his problem—he suffered pain twice for every bad thing that happened to his family. But tonight he was going to be with his brother when he passed to the afterlife. Something he couldn’t do when his parents and younger siblings were massacred. Creeping downstairs so no one would hear him, he stopped at the bottom step.
The hall was empty as was the nurse’s station where Colton should be.Am I too late? Is Jackson dead?He paused and closed his eyes, searching for Jackson’s life force and, finding it, he was surprised at its strength.Was I wrong? This doesn’t make sense.Softly padding on bare feet down to the recovery room, he paused at the door as he heard voices. Cracking it open a hair, he listened.
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Colton watched the color return to his brother’s face and Jackson’s full lips regain the rosy red hue he was used to seeing. He watched as Jackson’s eyes fluttered open and looked around before reaching to feel his now flat belly. “The baby? My pup? Where is he?” he rasped.
“He’s fine…and right now he’s with Steel. Ian wanted to make sure he was all right since he was a bit early,” Colton said softly. “How about some water?”
His brother gave a short nod and then sipped as Colton held a straw to his lips. After swallowing a fewmouthfuls, Jackson asked, “Can I see my baby? Where’s Steel?” Panic began to set in when he didn’t see his mate.
“Steel and your pup are with Ian right now. He wanted to do another examination just to be safe. Steel has been with you constantly except when you were in the operating room.”
“Will they be back soon?”
