Chapter 17

"The poor Luna. Not even fully mated yet and the Alpha is already on his death bed.” A voice says loudly as growls sound afterwards with these disrespectful words.

"Shut up what if she hears you. Besides the Doctor Rex said there is a chance he will survive." I jolt awake from these words, my eyes scanning for the source when I spot two she-wolves huddled together their eyes darting about. I don’t see any sympathy for the situation and irritation floods me. It is wolves like these that causes disharmony in the pack.

Getting up and slowly walking towards the girls. I feel the eyes of the other on me who wait for a good show even though the door to the shelter is open and we may leave. Standing behind the two she-wolves I let out a warning growl and watch as they stand straighter, fear coursing through them.

"I suggest you both shut up. Talking about your leaders behind their back especially with one of them in the room is grounds for punishment." I ground out letting the power of a Luna suppress them. I let the two girls sweat for a moment as they realize their mistake before turning on my heals and walking away, letting the pressure ease off the two while I take a peek at my daughter who is being fed by Chris.

“Your parents would be proud of you, Luna.” Chris grins, using my new title. I roll my eyes at my cousin before a frown takes over. Where those girls speaking the truth and is Tate injured? As if answering my question, a familiar face bobs in the crowd that makes their way out of the shelter. Mike approaches me and it is then that I realize Eeva and her boys are gone.

"Laina, Doc told me to come get you." His face holds a grim look, one that holds sympathy that is directed at me. I feel my heart drop as dread fills me. Tate is fine, right? Taking a shaky break Chris hands me Julia as Jack comes to stand behind me giving me a shaky smile.

“Okay Mike. Lead the way.” I motion towards the door letting my Head Warrior guide me towards the exit as we climb the stairs and exit the pantry. Chris and Jack stay behind me making sure no wolf can rush ahead of me. I could tell what Mike and Doctor Rex have to say is serious.

Instead of taking me to the front door so that we can drive to the hospital I am lead to another room - one that is guarded heavily. I notice the elevator first, Mike pressing a button that allows our group entry as it ascends. Time feels like it is ticking by slowly growing my anxiety. The elevator holds a sombre atmosphere as we pass each floor until landing on the fifth floor. Rushing out as soon as the elevators open Mike leads us to a set of closed doors his hands shaking as he opens the door. What greets me first is that annoying sound of beeping from the heart monitor. This sound causes my heart to stop momentarily as the scent of blood and my mate reaches my nose.

"Laina." Eeva's strained voice reaches when I slowly pad into the room taking note of the sterile environment. I turn my head to see my sister-in-law walk towards me a strained smile on her face.

"We won and drove them away with no deaths, but-" Her voice cracks as she falls to the ground hugging herself. I stand there, tears falling down my face as someone takes Julia out of my arms. I notice Jack giving me a sad smile as he adjusts Julia in his arms.

"Go to him Laina. Chris and I can take care of Julia." Jack's voice reaches me as he steps away. I give a small nod turning to look at the figure on the bed barely breathing where the sound of the heart monitor beeps away. I hated that noise from my own time in the pack hospital but right now I was grateful for this annoyance. It meant that Tate is still alive. Taking a few tentative steps before rushing to the side of the bed I collapse beside Tate, clutching at the blankets that cover him.

"You...can't...leave...me!" I cry out, hiccupping between each word.

"Please...Tate wake up." I plead burying my face into his side and crying harder. I had already lost a child; I couldn't lose my mate as well. I cried like I did on Kelly's funeral, praying that the Moon Goddess will not take him away from me. Julia needed her father and I needed my mate as well.

…

Beep

That sound is starting to get on my nerves, but it meant that he is alive. That Tate is alive. That I still have hope to hang onto.

Beep

"Hi Tate. The elders and I postponed the attack on Pinepaw till you wake up." I say, my words sounding hoarse. Slowly I put Julia on his stomach, watching her move slightly towards his face. It’s been two weeks since Tate went into a coma. I refused to return home without him, and a room next door was set up for Julia and me to live in while we wait for Tate to wake up.

"Julia is getting bigger, she misses her Daddy." This time my voice is a whisper and I carefully move Julia so that she is by his side moving his arm so that it wraps around her. I hated knowing his life still hung in the unknown.

"Please Tate, it’s been two weeks. We need you." I cry out, my head lowering to the bed as tears flow again for the umpteenth time. I don’t know how long I sat in this position, my body shaking from my sobs. I needed Tate more than ever to open his eyes.

"Laina?" I straighten in my seat and turn to see Doctor Rex standing at the door. His face grim as his lips is set in a firm line.

"What is it?" I ask trying to sound strong, although my tear stained face says otherwise.

"We need to talk. It been two weeks and he is on life support. The coma he is in is getting worse." More tears flow and I try to wipe them away as quickly as I can, but I couldn't help it and in seconds I felt Rex wrapping his arms around me and letting me cry. Finally my sobs came to an end and Rex hands me a handkerchief to wipe my tears

"I'm glad someone can sleep through this." He states and I turn to find Julia snuggled up to the man who stepped up to be her father. Who will forever be her father in our eyes.

"Just continue please." I whisper and I hear Rex sigh. I hated long winded stories and Rex learned to get right to the point with me.

"We need an answer by next week, but wolves can't survive on life support forever. And his time is almost up. I'm sorry you have to go through this but as his mate you decide whether to take him off of it or not." I could feel his eyes on me and I just nod. Finally the door clicked shut and I am left alone with my mate and our daughter. His life is in my hands now and only I could decide if he will stay on life support or if I let him go and join the other side with Kelly and our loved ones.