Counterback of the Despised Luna by Diana West

Chapter 133 An Anxious Night

A chill settled deep in my bones.

A%97%]

Finished

The warehouse could have exploded at any moment–long before we arrived or long after we left. Yet, of all the possible times, it happened the instant Caden and I stepped inside.

Could that truly be coincidence?

The thought barely had time to take root before the emergency room doors swung open. A doctor emerged, his expression unreadable as he pushed a hospital bed into the hallway. Caden lay upon it, motionless.

A tightness gripped my chest. I rushed forward, my voice unsteady. “Caden! Can you hear me?”

But he did not stir.

He lay as still as stone, his face devoid of color, his usual warmth and strength stripped away. White bandages wrapped around his head and leg, darkened by the slow seep of blood beneath them.

Something twisted inside me, sharp and unbearable. My throat ached, and tears burned at the edges of my vision.

“Alpha, you must steady yourself.” Freya’s voice echoed in my mind, firm yet soothing. “Grief will not serve him now. Breathe. Stay clear–headed.”

She was right. I had to pull myself together. For him. I inhaled deeply, forcing the tremor from my hands before turning to the doctor. “Will he be alright?”

Even as I spoke, dread curled in my stomach, bracing for the answer I already feared.

The doctor met my gaze, his expression heavy. “Mr. Holbrook sustained severe injuries–head trauma and a fractured leg. The damage to his skull is our greatest concern. We’ve done all we can, but his condition remains critical.”

The words struck like a blade.

Critical. A word that meant everything and nothing.

Caden had thrown himself in harm’s way without hesitation, without thought for his own life. And now, because of me, he lay here, caught in the fragile space between life and death.

wavered, my

hesitated, then exhaled slowly. “It’s impossible to say. He might wake

finish. He didn’t need to.

understood the underlying message.

might never wake

guilt, helplessness. I could do nothing but hold onto him, my fingers wrapping around his hand as if sheer will alone could pull him back

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17 Mar

133 An

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Finished

He’ll make it through this. But you need

without hesitation, my voice steadier than I felt.

They understood it was useless. The doctor wheeled Caden into a private room, and I followed, taking my place beside his bed. His face, so familiar, seemed impossibly distant

you have to

vast, broken only by the soft, rhythmic beeping

knock sounded at the door. I stood, crossed the room, and pulled it open.

Jones?” I

the doorway, his gaze flickering toward the hospital bed. “Mr. Holbrook … is he

“He’s still unconscious.”

heavy breath escaped him. “I never imagined this would happen. But he’s

exploded the moment we arrived in Fostrau. That can’t be

darkened. “It happened too fast. The

my voice steady but tight. “Two bodies? Do we know who they

is that they were warehouse employees. We need DNA testing to confirm.” Jones paused, choosing his words carefully. “There’s a chance they were behind the contamination in the raw

they tampered with the

Sinclair.” He gave a sharp nod and

beside Caden’s bed. He lay motionless, his

blanket higher, tucking it around him. My fingers curled around his hand, gripping it as if holding

stretched

bones, yet my thoughts refused

midnight, a knock broke the silence.

rose and opened