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“Alive. Unconscious.”
“Paige? Milo? Piper?”
“Alive.”
“The others?”
“All twenty pack members made it back.” I close my eyes.
“And the warriors?” No one answers. I already know. Seven wolves who left home this morning expecting to return tonight. Three seriously injured. Michael unconscious. Joshua taken. Me, barely conscious. We enter the hospital. Chaos surrounds us. Then I hear a baby crying. Arlene. Pups. My eyes open. Searching the hospital for my family.
Then I see Justin, Jace, and little Jocelyn in a room as I roll pass on my hospital bed.
“Jasmin?” The nurse beside me looks away.
“She went into early labor when Joshua was taken.”
My stomach drops. “The pup?”
“Alive.”
“And Jasmin?” She doesn't answer fast enough.
“Jasmin?”
“She lost consciousness after the delivery.” I stare at her.
“What do you mean?”
“She hasn't woken up.” The hallway blurs. Joshua doesn't know his pup came early. Jasmin doesn't know Joshua was taken or if he is still alive. Michael's family almost watched hunters take him. Seven families are about to learn their wolves are never coming home. And somewhere in this hospital are twenty people who survived because seven warriors didn't.
A stretcher passes me. Paige walks beside it. Michael. Milo holds his father's hand. Piper is crying. Paige sees me. “You saved my mate. You saved my pups. You kept coming back for us even when you could barely stand. I was wrong about you. I'm sorry.”
“Take care of Michael.”
Tears fill her eyes. “I will.”
I stare at the ceiling. I’m wheeled into a hospital room, the doctors work on me, and no matter what they do… I don’t flinch, I don’t move, I don't groan.
My wolf stirs. Then I hear a soft sniffle. “Darian.”
33
Arlene’s POV
Martha takes one look at my face and reaches for the children.
“Go,” she says. “I'll take care of them.”
I rest a hand over my stomach. Our youngest shifts beneath my palm.
“Mommy?” Darlene asks.
“I'll be back, sweetheart.”
Damian steps closer to his sister. “Don't worry, Mom. I'll watch after Darlene like Dad said before he left.”
I pull him into a hug. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
