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I shake my head. We’ve had no word yet, and every moment is killing me.
Charles puts a hand on my back.
“Alpha Raines, I am so sorry-”
“No!” Charles says, cutting me off. “None of that. She loves you, and I can see how you feel about her. Besides, that young man fighting for his life saved her. The doctor who called us told us what the police said. He turned the vehicle to protect her.”
I swallow hard, loving Crow so much in this moment, acknowledging that I’ve loved that alpha since the day I met him. He’s been my brother, my best friend, my lover, my family, my companion, and my teammate.
I look at Hunter, seeing the knowledge in his eyes, too. Hunter…who has been my shadow, a step behind me, watching my back, looking after us, feeding us. Hunter, who always seems to know what we need before the rest of us do. Why didn’t I realise what this was?
“It’s going to be okay,” Charles says and pats my back.
“How do you know?” I ask him.
“Because I will allow nothing less. I am, after all, Charles Raines. Nothing and no one can stop me.”
I exchange a puzzled glance with Hunter, but he soon refocuses on Bethany’s face.
She wakes up twenty minutes later. Wayne and Auggie squeeze in on the other side, while Hunter, Charles, and I take up one side, and Sol the end of the bed.
She looks around, and her eyes find mine.
“Bethany, you’re all right. It’s okay. You’re safe now.” I try to keep my voice as low and comforting as I can.
She blinks, and I hate the swollen bruises that are forming. She moans and opens her jaw gingerly.
Her fingers cling to mine, growing in strength as the moments tick by. She searches the room, and then looks back up at me, her eyes wide with panic.
“Where’s Crow?” her voice comes out a croak. “Where’s Oli?”
I open my mouth, but I don’t have words.
“Where’s OLI?” she shouts, her voice breaking. She starts sobbing and pulls her hands free of mine. She grabs at the IV lines, ripping them out of her arms.
Wayne and Hunter grab her at the same time, trying to protect her injured arm, but she thrashes, crying out louder.
“He’s alive? Tell me he’s alive!”
“He’s fine. He’s going to be just fine,” Wayne says, and I look at him sharply. If Crow doesn’t make it, she will never forgive him, and I can see that he realises it.
“Hunter, get in the bed,” I snap. “Omega, stop. You need to calm down.”
My bark drags her into obedience. Even if she wanted to, she has no way to fight me. The doctors arrive in a rush, and we all step back while they put her IVs back in. I see the doctors whisper, and then a drug is pushed into the line.
Hunter crawls up on the bed, wrapping himself carefully around her. “I’m not going to leave you. I’m not going anywhere.”
Her eyes are so swollen she almost can’t see, and her lip has split and is oozing again.
“He will be alone. He can’t be alone,” she whispers.
I glance at the others and nod. “He won’t be. I’ll be with him.”
She lets out a low, sad little whine, and then collapses into unconsciousness again.
“Saint-” Hunter begins.
“I’ll bring you news if I hear anything.” With only a slight hesitation, I lean down and press my lips against his ear. “I love you, Hunter.” It’s the first time I’ve ever said it to him, but it’s the truest thing I’ve ever said. I refuse to acknowledge his surprise, just quickly leave the room. Charles catches me by the arm outside and hauls me back.
