#Chapter 196 – Only Time will Tell

Sixteen hours later, we’re still in the hospital, waiting for news.

My head hangs, my chin almost touching my chest as I listen to the clock in our private waiting room click. And click. And click. The seconds trip slowly by.

Ian leans against me, Alvin sprawled across my lap. Both, thankfully, are asleep, though they fought it for the longest time. But I’d rather have them this way, peacefully oblivious, rather than enduring the interminable wait.

They’re too young to have to be so patient.

My mother and sister are here as well, Delia having gone back to the cabin to clean up. Rafe is here too, though Bridgette hasn’t joined him. Victor’s parents are on their way, but they were in Europe on vacation when they got the news – it will take them hours more to get here, perhaps even days.

I’m a bit glad of that, actually. Not that I begrudge Victor’s family their right to be here. I just…don’t want to have to deal with anyone else’s emotions. Mine, and my children’s, are enough.

The fewer in this room, the better.

Rafe is the worst at handling the slow passage of time as we wait for news. He arrived about four hours ago, after getting the troops reordered. He also moved my father and Joyce to Victor’s own state-of-the-art incarceration facility, to await judgment from the pack community.

I have no idea where Victor’s little jail is – nobody does, I think. But I’m glad to have those issues off my mind for the moment.

When Rafe first arrived, he paced for hours, staring at the door, growling. I think he wanted to burst into the surgery and force Victor’s body back together, force it to work. Force him to live.

But now, he just leans against the wall, his arms tensely folded across his chest, staring at the floor. Waiting, like the rest of us.

I flinch as the door opens, my entire body going rigid. A man in surgical scrubs comes into the room, looking around at us. Rafe’s head snaps up to look at him. My mother and sister sit up straight in their chairs.

“Is he alive?” The words rush from my mouth almost as one. My boys blink awake next to me, raising their heads to see what the fuss is about.

“He is,” the doctor says, closing the door behind him. A huge exhale of breath leaves me and I press my eyes closed, giving a silent prayer of thanks.

Alive. He’s alive.

“Do you…” the doctor says next, still looking around at us. “Which of you is the next of kin?”

quickly. “Whatever updates you have, you can

fight me on this though, technically, I suppose he would be Victor’s next of kin. As his brother. The boys aren’t yet old enough

And me?

Technically I’m…nothing to him.

a deep breath. “Alpha Kensington is in critical but stable condition. Our team performed several surgeries

had suspected that this was the case, as Victor had been able to use his legs

again to his heart,

take a deep intake of breath here, covering my mouth with my hand. I wait, breathless, for the doctor to

best to repair much of it, but…” he looks at us

Rafe says, taking a menacing step towards him. The doctor, to his credit, only flinches a

looking good for your brother. I could lie and say that he’ll make a recovery but…” the

doctor looks out at the rest of us then. “If I were you, I would be praying for a

help the tears that begin to drip down my cheeks at this news. I don’t even try to stop them. I hear my boys start to cry next to

a few months later – that they will very

and grief, and punches the wall as hard as he can. He shatters through

doctor gasps at this, pressing himself back against

as she stands and addresses the doctor. I suppose,

doctor, for bringing us this news,” she says firmly.

to be stable. So, our advice to you would be to go home and rest.

her mouth to reply but

him?” My voice is quiet, but strong. I begin to wipe

me. “No, unfortunately – he’s resting, but he’s in intensive

growls and the doctor stops talking, his mouth hanging open

they performing procedures on him?” Rafe asks,

– no,” the doctor replies, shaking his head. “He’s just resting under

step towards him, “can’t she see

his brows knitting with confusion. “It’s hospital

this hospital than any Alpha currently at the head of a

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