+15 BONUS
Chapter 61
Lyra arrived midway through the wait, bringing food that I couldn’t eat and news from the pack that I
barely registered.
At some point, Alexander’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, murmured something under his breath, and stepped out of the room to take the call.
Alexander returned, his expression carefully neutral. “Pack business,” he explained briefly.
I studied his face, noting the slight tension around his eyes. “What is it? And don’t say ‘nothing‘–I can tell
something’s wrong.”
He hesitated, then sighed. “Alpha Foster’s been making noise at the borders. Nothing serious yet, but he’s
been sending scouts.”
My blood ran cold. “He’s looking for Felix.”
“He won’t find him,” Alexander stated with absolute certainty, a dangerous edge entering his voice. “And
if he tries to enter BlackWood territory, he’ll regret it.”
The predatory gleam in his eyes should have frightened me. Instead, it made me feel protected in a way
I’d never experienced before. Alexander would defend us–not out of obligation, but because we were his
to protect.
Hours stretched on like taffy, pulling my nerves taut until I thought they might snap. Alexander remained
a steady presence beside me, his hand rarely leaving mine. When exhaustion finally overtook me, I rested
my head on his shoulder, his arm around me providing a safe harbor in the storm of my anxiety.
“Sleep if you can,” he murmured against my hair. “I’ll wake you the moment there’s news.”
I must have dozed off despite my determination to stay alert, because the next thing I knew, Alexander
was gently shaking me awake.
“Summer,” he said softly. “Dr. Miller is here.”
I bolted upright, instantly alert, heart hammering against my ribcage as I met the doctor’s gaze. His expression gave nothing away, and for one terrible moment, I feared the worst.
“The surgery was a complete success,” he announced, his professional demeanor softening into a genuine smile. “Felix did beautifully.”
Relief hit me like a physical force, making my knees buckle. Alexander’s arm around my waist was the only thing that kept me upright as tears of gratitude spilled down my cheeks.
“The prosthetic is responding perfectly to the neural connections we established,” Dr. Michaels continued. “With his accelerated werewolf healing, I expect him to adjust quickly, though we’ll keep him
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Chapter 61
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for observation tonight and possibly tomorrow.”
“Can I see him?” I asked, my voice cracking with emotion.
Dr. Miller shook his head apologetically. “He’s still in recovery and hasn’t regained consciousness from the anesthesia. We need to monitor him carefully during this critical period. The first few hours are crucial to ensure the prosthetic integrates properly with his neural pathways.”
My face must have shown my disappointment, because he quickly added, “I promise you can see him the moment he wakes up. For now, the best thing you can do is get some rest yourself. He’ll need you at full
strength when he comes around.”
Alex’s hand found mine, squeezing gently. “We’ll stay,” he said firmly. “Summer needs to be here when
Felix wakes up.”
After a brief discussion with hospital administration that I was too exhausted to follow, Alexander managed to secure us a small private room adjacent to Felix’s recovery area.
“You should try to get some real sleep,” he said, guiding me to the narrow bed. “I’ll wake you the moment there’s any news about Felix.”
“What about you?” I asked, noting the shadows under his eyes.
He smiled, brushing my hair back from my face. “I’ll be fine. Alphas are built to endure.”
“Even Alphas need rest,” I countered, patting the space beside me. “There’s room.”
For a moment, he looked tempted, then shook his head. “If I lie down with you, sleep won’t be what’s on
my mind.”
The heated look in his eyes sent warmth spreading through my body, momentarily distracting me from my worry. “OK.” I murmured.
“Definitely.” He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. “Now sleep. I’ll be right here.”
As the hours stretched on, my body eventually gave in to exhaustion.I drifted into an uneasy sleep, dreaming of my son with two perfect, matching eyes, running freely through the forest without fear or
pain.
