Broken Souls
Chapter 22: Family

Alpha Aaron’s POV

I hear the bang of the shot ripping through the air, and I turn just in time to see her falling to the ground. I feel like it’s happening all over again: I’m watching my mate fall. Fear and anger are all I feel, and I let it fuel me. I can see the bastard still holding the gun and walking slowly to Kay. I race to her, but someone is there before me. It’s Willow, and Rana is right behind her. They are both running to Kay. I can’t really say what happens next, but as soon as they reach Kay, it’s like a small bomb goes off. I see the Boss and John fly backwards, giving me the opening I need.

The Boss turns just in time to see I’m almost on him, but he just laughs. The shadows around him begin to envelop him, and John’s wolf is cowering at the Boss’s feet like a scared dog. The shadows don’t look like shadows. They look like ink, thick black ink. All the while, he just laughs. I can still hear the laughter. I go to lunge at him, but I end up just jumping through nothing but the air. He’s gone.

My mind races back to Kay, and I run to her, shifting, and sliding to a stop by her. Grandma is holding her shawl to Kay.

“She’s going to be okay, but she needs to get to a doctor. The silver bullet is still in there. They have to get it out.” I scoop Kay up in my arms as Rana tells me to go with Eric’s Beta Logan. He’ll show me to the clinic.

Lucky, it’s close, and doctors are waiting for Kay. The doctor has me lay her in a bed, and they take off with her. I try to follow, but Beta Logan stops me; he also hands me some shorts. I slip them on, but I can’t stand waiting. More wolves are coming in with minor injuries,. Eric, Rana, and Grandma come rushing in.

“I can’t wait here.” I finally growl and rush off to replace Kay.

The doctor isn’t fazed as I burst into the room. I think she expected it. They have Kay on the table, and they are digging the bullet out of her chest.

“How is she?” I know I sound panicked, and I don’t care if I sound weak for it. I start to move closer, and the doctor glances up.

“She’ll be okay. Luckily, he is a terrible shot and didn’t hit anything that won’t heal quickly,” the doctor says then tells a nurse to clean her chest and wrap it.

“She’s going to be out for a while, Alpha, but she’ll be okay,” the doctor says, patting me on the shoulder as she leaves the room.

The nurses have Kay bandaged up, and I can see she’s hooked up to an IV and monitors. I move a chair to her bedside. All I know is I’m not going anywhere until she wakes up. I may never leave her side after this. I can’t believe she wasn’t in the panic room. What was she doing outside? How did that monster replace her, and how did he get away?

I gently take Kay’s small hand in mine, and it feels cold, but the beeping of the heart monitor reassures me that she’s alive. I’m doing everything I can to keep my fear in check. No one needs me to lose my mind and destroy anything.

“Kay, baby, please wake up soon.” I’m almost begging her as I sit and stroke her hair brushing it from her face. I will not lose her, and I will kill that monster. He will not take her from me.

Kay’s POV

That annoying beeping again. It is the first thing I hear, and I hate it. The warm tingling in my hand is nice, though. I open my eyes and blink a few times, adjusting to the light. Aaron’s head is resting on the bed as he holds my hand. His steady breathing lets me know he’s fast asleep. I don’t want to wake him, but my chest hurts, and I’m dying for some water.

I remember the Boss and John, and I clearly remember being shot in the chest with what I can only imagine was a silver bullet. I try to wiggle myself up in the bed, so I can sit, but I’m hit with shooting pain. Aaron’s head quickly shoots up to look at me, and I feel bad I for waking him.

“Sorry,” I start to say, but I don’t get to finish before Aaron is squeezing my hand.

“You’re awake, thank God.” He looks so tired, and I wonder how long I have been here.

“How long was I out for?” I ask.

“Only a day. The silver poison has worked its way out of your body. I think it was the longest day I have had in a long time.” He says, moving closer to me and nuzzling his face in my hair. I know this must have been terrible on him. He has already lost one mate, and I can’t help but feel even worse. I force myself to sit up, and it only hurt briefly. Either that or I just don’t care I have to hold him in my arms.

“You shouldn’t push yourself so fast,” Aaron says, but I don’t care; I just hold my arms open to him. He doesn’t waste much time coming and wrapping me up in his arms. He’s holding me gently, trying not to hurt me, but honestly, this feels amazing just being held by him and holding him, letting him know that I’m really fine. It isn’t long before the doctor comes in.

“Well, hello Luna, it’s nice to see you awake. If I can please borrow you from the Alpha here, I would like to check how you are healing,” the doctor says. She’s a strong-looking woman with blonde hair pulled up in a neat bun and warm hazel eyes.

Aaron kisses my temple and gently moves off the bed. I can’t help but pout a little. The doctor moves closer to the bed, and I read her nametag: Dr. Kelly Andrews M.D.

“I’m going to need to remove the dressing,” Dr. Andrews says, and I nod as she pulls down the gown and begins pulling the gauze and tape off. When I wince, Aaron growls a little. I can’t help but smile at him.

Once the bandage is off, I can look down and assess the damage for myself. The wound is pink and raised with a few black and purple lines that look like spider webs coming off it. It’s mostly closed, and I’m sure in a few days, I’ll just be left with the pink scar on the upper left side of my chest.

“It’s healing very well, and I don’t see any reason that you can’t leave the clinic this afternoon. I would like you to stay here in our pack for a couple more days, though. I don’t think traveling home yet would be a good idea. I would like to check it again before you leave,” Dr. Andrews says.

I feel a little conflicted about staying. I want to get to know my new family, but I don’t want to be away from home and that family as well. Aaron must be able to read my face, and once the Dr. puts fresh dressing on my wound, Aaron is back on the bed, holding me close.

“A few days won’t be that long, and you can get to know Rana and Eric better. Maybe you and Rana can start to plan your Luna ceremony,” Aaron says, kissing my temple.

“I know. I just miss home a little. It’s nice to have a home, but you are here, so I’ll be fine.” I say, leaning into him as he holds me closer.

I must have dozed off because I woke up to Aaron gently stroking my hair.

“We can go now if you want,” he says once I open my eyes. I’m eager to leave the clinic. I don’t like the antiseptic smell, even though I mostly smell Aaron’s wonderful cedar scent. The antiseptic smell keeps making me feel sick, so I start climbing out of bed.

My feet hit the cold, smooth floor, and I wobble slightly. Aaron is quick to wrap an arm around my waist to keep me from falling over.

“I’m okay now, really,” I tell him.

“Just don’t go too fast, okay. You have some clothes in the bathroom, and I need to go sign a couple of things. I will be right back.” Aaron says, giving me a kiss on the head and slowly letting go of me. He stays a moment as I walk to the bathroom. I think he wants to make sure I am really okay before he goes to sign stuff.

I get to the bathroom and replace I look better than I thought I would all things considering. I get dressed and try and run my hands through my hair in an attempt to untangle it. By the time I’m done and walking out of the bathroom, Aaron is back along with Rana and Grandma. I’m so happy to see them; Aaron told me that after I was shot, the Boss and John escaped in shadows. Something about that sounded familiar from my reading, and I want to go and try to replace that book again. He also told me that the rogues soon retreated, and they managed to capture a few for questioning. I am mostly relieved that there were no major injuries other than me.

“Oh, my dear Kay, you look much better. That must be one strong wolf you have.” Grandma says, and I can feel Diana puff up at the praise, making me giggle.

“Well, honestly, she is amazing, and I’ve felt worse. I’m simply happy to get out of here. I hate the smell of the antiseptic.” I say, and I don’t miss the way Aaron tenses. I can’t help but feel like I said something wrong.

“Well, let’s just get you out of here so you can rest, and tomorrow we can start planning for your ceremony,” Rana says quickly, and I can tell she is excited.

“Okay, but can I borrow a book from the library?” I ask, hoping Grandma won’t ask why. Of course, she instantly asks, and I have to tell her why I want it. She can always tell when I try and lie, so I gave up a long time ago. Grandma just tells me not to worry about it now, and all I need to do is rest. She’ll look at the book and see what she replaces. I can tell she already has a good idea of what might be happening, but she’s not ready to share, and arguing will do nothing.

I sigh as we finally leave the clinic. The fresh air feels so good. It took a little convincing, but Aaron finally says we can walk back to the pack house. Grandma and Rana talk happily about the colors of gowns they wanted me to try as well as flower arrangements. I am happy to let them plan the whole thing. It doesn’t matter to me, but I know Oriel will want to help as well and will be hurt if she doesn’t get to.

Aaron has his arm around my waist as we walk back. The evidence of the attack has already been cleaned from the streets. Everything seems so peaceful and right. My little family seems to be getting larger all the time. Soon, I will be the Luna of a whole pack; everything is good except for the one nagging feeling of dread. The Boss and John are very much alive and can replace me; they can hurt me. I will not let them hurt my family, though. Something dark is helping them, and we need to be ready for whatever it could be.

Aaron gives me a little squeeze, and I look up at him with a small smile trying to hide my thoughts.

“Don’t worry; we will stop him. I’m not letting him hurt you again,” Aaron says in a voice full of emotion and warmth.

“I won’t let him hurt you either,” I say, stopping suddenly and wrapping my arms around his neck. I don’t care that it makes my wound hurt, and I don’t care if I open it up again. I just need to hold him and hold on to everything I have. I need my family, and I won’t lose them now.