#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?”

are,” I say quickly. “Whatever updates you have, you can

Victor’s next of kin. As his brother. The boys aren’t yet old enough to qualify, even

And me?

Technically I’m…nothing to him.

stable condition. Our team performed several surgeries – the wound

a collective breath of relief. Not his spine. Good. I had suspected that this was the case, as Victor had been able to

continues, his voice dour. “There was extensive damage done to his muscular structure and especially to his left lung, which collapsed. And then again to his heart, which was…well, he was again lucky there. The bullet only grazed his heart, it didn’t penetrate it, but it did do

of breath here, covering my mouth with

able to do our best to repair much of it, but…” he looks at us and shakes his head. “Even with the Alpha’s increased rate of healing…the

you saying to us, doctor?” Rafe says, taking a menacing step towards him. The doctor, to his

I could lie and say that he’ll make a recovery but…” the doctor slowly shakes his head, holding Rafe’s gaze. “It would take a

at the rest of us then. “If I were you,

don’t even try to

to hear – a few months later

turns then, letting out a roar of dismay and grief, and punches the wall as hard as he

pressing himself back against

as she stands and addresses the doctor. I suppose, dealing with Alphas her whole life, it’s nothing

news,” she says firmly. “And what can we expect

hours’ time. Until then, we expect Alpha Kensington to be stable. So, our advice to you would be

her mouth to reply but

strong.

resting, but he’s in intensive care – it’s not hospital policy

stops talking, his mouth hanging open as

performing procedures on him?” Rafe asks,

shaking his head. “He’s just resting

continues, taking a step

brows knitting with confusion.

“My brother has directed more money, time, and attention into the development of this hospital than any Alpha currently at the head of a pack,” he growls. I blink – I hadn’t

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