The Gift chronicles novel Chapter 1

Book 1 Chapter 30

Alpha Cain's POV

I immediately reached for Ares as her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she started falling to the floor from her knees.

I caught her, feeling her warm blood ooze on to my arm from where it rested under her back. Her eyes were closed, her breathing shallow.

I made a huge mistake.

I wanted her submission, but I didn't know the price would be so high. Why would she submit after she already endured the punishment? Did she think I would keep lashing her until she submitted?

I mindlinked the pack doctor, telling him to run to the medical center, and that I would be there with Ares in a second.

I picked her up, careful to minimize my contact with her back. Her back looked gruesome. It didn't even resemble human flesh anymore, more like a slab of raw meat. Ordinarily, she should have been able to heal quickly, but my fire made it harder for her to heal.

I began sprinting in my human form towards the pack medical center, where the doctor was already waiting.

"Help her, please," I begged him, desperation clouding my voice.

"Of course, Alpha. Put her on that bed, face down," He told me, pointing to one of the hospital beds. I obliged his request and helplessly stood around waiting as he grabbed different medical supplies.

He worked on her back for awhile, applying different herbs and ointments, until he stepped back, his face grim.

"What?" I growled, not liking the look on his face.

He jumped from my tone, probably fearing a beating. "The good news is, she will live through this. The bad news is, she is in a coma. I reckon that she is in this state of lacking consciousness in order to numb her from the pain while her body heals itself."

I looked at my mate in regret, sadness, and guilt. Her back looked no better than it did when I came here, not that I blamed the doctor. Her face, however, was completely peaceful. I had never seen that look on her face before, and it filled me with sorrow.

"When will she awaken?" I asked gruffly.

The doctor hesitated. "It's difficult to say... Assuming she wakes up, it could be days, likely weeks."

My eyes narrowed. "Are you saying there's a chance she won't ever come out of this coma?"

He gulped fearfully. "There is always the chance that when someone enters a comatose state that they will never wake up. It's in the Moon Goddess's hands now. All we can do is pray that she has mercy on your mate."

I nodded, dropping to my knees in prayer as the doctor hooked her up to an IV drip. When I finished praying, and I had much to pray for, the doctor told me that they wouldn't be bandaging the wounds because she will be able to heal herself faster if she is unrestrained and is airing out the wound.

I grabbed Ares' hand gently, as if she were made of glass, and didn't say a word.

What could I possibly say?

--

Two weeks went by and Ares' back had made tremendous progress in recovering, but she showed no signs of awakening from her coma. My wolf was frantic at all times, coming out over the slightest irritant.

I slept in a chair in her room every night, willing her to wake up. I knew the closer we were, the higher chance there was of the mate bond helping heal her.

Many pack members steered clear of me the past two weeks, knowing the status of my mate and knowing that my wolf was on edge.

I only left her side when I had urgent pack matters to deal with, and rushed back as soon as I could.