Counterback of the Despised Luna by Diana West

Chapter 133 An Anxious Night

A chill settled deep in my bones.

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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.

up?” My voice wavered, my lips barely forming the

impossible to say. He might wake tomorrow

didn’t finish. He didn’t need to.

the underlying

might never wake at

through me–fear, guilt, helplessness. I could do nothing but hold onto him, my fingers wrapping around

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this. But you need rest too, Ms. Sinclair. You’re

The words left me without hesitation, my voice steadier than I felt. “I’ll

private room, and I followed, taking my place beside his bed. His

you have to wake up.

room felt vast, broken only by the soft, rhythmic beeping of the

a gentle knock sounded at the door. I stood, crossed the room, and

it, Jones?”

his gaze flickering toward the hospital bed. “Mr. Holbrook

“He’s still unconscious.”

“I never imagined this would

arrived in Fostrau. That can’t be a coincidence. Did you find

“It happened too fast. The firefighters discovered two bodies

voice steady but

is that they were warehouse employees. We need DNA testing to confirm.” Jones paused, choosing his words carefully.

it. I need to know if they tampered with the materials–and if they had

He gave a sharp nod and turned to

sank into the chair beside Caden’s bed. He lay motionless, his face pale against the sheets, his breathing slow and

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

night stretched on.

yet my

midnight, a

rose and opened the