#Chapter 195 – Between life and death

Moments after I meet Rafe on the field, a group of us are rushing back towards the house. Rafe is shouting commands down the line of the radio on his shoulder, ordering one of the re-fueled helicopters to come to the back lawn.

I’m at the head of the group, leading the way back to the house, Rafe behind me, a collection of medics moving swiftly behind him, carrying their medical packs and a stretcher. My boys trail after the medics, holding each other’s hands.

They were quite brave before – upstairs, when they did their jobs in the interrogation of my father and Joyce. But now, I know that they’re wondering the same thing I am. Was it worth it? Was it worth the extra time it took, to discredit them – to end the war?

Or should we have just used the time to concentrate on getting Victor out?

Or, on just saying our goodbyes?

I feel my face drain of color at the idea and push myself faster through the door of the house, down the hallway, down the stairs, into the basement.

I don’t let myself think it. Don’t let it even be a possibility. That he might have…

While we were gone…

I sprint to the back of the room, gasping as I arrive at the open door to Victor’s cell –

He’s there, of course, but so pale –

I fall to my knees next to him, taking his cold face in my hands, whispering his name –

But there…yes. His eyes are closed, but I feel the faint puff of his breath against my fingers as they press against his lips.

He’s still breathing, barely – but he’s here.

directly at Rafe, who kneels next to

alive,”

work to shake him off but he looks at me seriously. “Let them do their

only be in their way if I stay as close to Victor as I want to. As I feel myself needing

side of Victor. They check his vitals and work to see if they can move him, but any movement elicits a groan from him. They murmur

was. I don’t need a medical

side, and I drape my arms over their shoulders. The three of us stand perfectly still as the medics

says, looking up at Rafe and I. The other medics work to bandage him while she speaks. “We’re going to patch him up as best we can, as quickly as we can, and then move him

that I understand, and she turns back

they work quickly. I don’t say a word as I watch them – I don’t

have to lift Victor to slip the stretcher beneath him. Victor lets out a heavy groan that makes Rafe cover his face with his hand, that makes Alvin’s hand snap up and grab

it’s done in what feels like a second. They secure the straps and then the head medic looks to me, nodding. I nod back and head out

head back out onto the lawn. The chopper is waiting there, its blades spinning. It’s not a medical helicopter at all – just one of Victor’s small military helicopters. As we

move. They are a silent mass, but I can almost feel their sadness, their worry, their support. Victor has done so much for them, for these members of his pack. Given them

would never abandon

tired mind and heart as we cross the field and the medics start

turns to Rafe and I. “We can take one of you,” she says, looking between us. “The helicopter can’t handle more weight than that. Just me, and

to me, instantly decided. “You go,” he says, and gestures around to the

for even a moment until he gets into that hospital. “My mother and sister – they’re upstairs. They’ll take care of the boys, they’ll bring them

in touch,” he says, and then hesitates, looking at his brother. But then he briskly shakes his head. “No goodbyes,” he says, his jaw tight. “It’s not

as his brother’s, almost as strong. “Thank you,” I murmur, my forehead against his chest.

lets me go after just a moment and gives

wrap each of my boys

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