“A... Alec...?” I manage to whisper.
“Nora? You’re awake? Y-You must hold on, I... I’ll bring you there, and...”
Alec? Why would Alec save me? Am I dreaming again? Is this really my brother? I’m so confused... His hair’s longer. His voice’s raspier than I remember... What happened to him?
“I’m so sorry, Nora... When I heard he had you... I knew... I knew I had to come and...”
He keeps talking, most of it doesn’t even make sense, and… I’m too tired... I struggle for a bit, but the darkness wins again...
Chapter 17
I slowly wake up to the beeping of machines. Everything is so white... It’s blinding me. I close and open my eyes several times, making sure I’m awake. It feels like I’ve had a very long dream...
Something smells good. Flowers... roses? I turn my head slowly and notice several pastel-colored bouquets all around me. This hospital room... I have a strong impression ofdéjà-vu. About the pain, too. It’s a quiet pain, though, like from behind a wall. I recognize the effects of some painkillers... My leg and stomach feel the worst, but it’s bearable. What I can’t endure, though, is this hole I feel inside my heart.
“Nora?”
I turn my head. Bobo is leaning on my bed, looking very worried. He is using crutches, and his usual braids are undone. He looks so tired... I feel his big hand on mine.
“Can you hear me? How do you feel?”
“I can... Bobo, where is Damian?”
He lowers his head and avoids my gaze. “You... You should rest, Nora. You’ve been in the coma for four days. It’s probably best if...”
“Bobo.”
I use my Alpha voice. I want to know where my mate is, right now. Why can’t I feel him? Is he too far? I’ve never felt this horrible void since I met Damian. I need him.
Bobo hesitates and slowly makes a head movement, gesturing behind me. I turn around to my left and finally notice the other bed. Oh, Moon Goddess, Damian...
I start crying as soon as I see him. He’s so horribly pale! For a second, I even think the unthinkable, but a slow beeping is echoing next to him—a very slow beeping. My mate looks like he’s in a deep sleep, not moving an inch; I can’t even see his breathing. Machines are surrounding him, one helping him breathe, others linked to his arms, tubes going through and through. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. How did Damian become like this? How is he even alive? And why can’t I feel him at all!
Tears are pouring down, and I breathe erratically, unable to calm down. I want to move, to want to go to Damian, but Bobo’s hands grab my shoulders, keeping me down in bed.
“No, no, Nora, you have to stay put, please.”
“Bobo, why is he like this? Why is Damian like that?” I ask, desperate.
“He... he was shot, Nora, remember?”
Shot? The gathering... Now I suddenly remember everything—the Gold Moon’s bombs in the stadium, the surprise attack. I remember the gunshots, each one of them. My Damian, lying on the ground, bleeding. Bleeding so much...
“I can’t feel him at all...” I whisper, in shock.
I can’t. My wolf is going nuts. Damian is right here, I can see him with my own eyes, so why can’t I feel him at all? I look at him, and it’s like I’m staring at an empty spot. I can’t accept it, I can’t.
“When will he wake up?”
A long silence follows. I notice we are not alone. Liam is sitting right next to Damian’s bed, his head on the mattress. He’s sleeping, but his eyes are red, and he looks like a mess...He’s holding his brother’s hand tightly. It breaks my heart to see the usually smiling Liam like that. I reach for Bobo’s big hand again, but I can’t stop looking at Damian.
“Bobo, when will he wake up?”
Once again, no answer. I try to hold back my tears.
“Bobo, when!” I scream. I can’t take it: this heavy silence, this awkward and wary atmosphere.
Bobo raises his head to meet my eyes with a somber and sorry look. “Nora, the doctors said he will... probably never wake up.”
