Chapter 44

Julian’s POV

After a day, I went to the hospital to check on Elder Jeffers. He had since been moved out of the emergency room and into his own room, so I felt confident that his situation was at least stable, if not improving.

Amber was in her office when I entered. Noah stood to greet me properly, but I held out my hand, indicating to him that everything was okay.

“It’s alright, Noah,” Amber said and Noah sat back down at his chair. Amber stood though and gestured for me to sit in one of the seats facing her desk. “Alpha Julian. I assume you are here to check on Elder Jeffers’s status.”

“Yes,” I said. “Beta has mentioned to me that the family seems conflicted over the treatments…”

I moved to the chair, then waited for Amber to sit. She refused to until I did. Somehow we found ourselves in a politeness standoff. Then, slowly, we each sat down together, watching each other.

Things remained tense even after that. It was still so unusual to treat Amber like this, and be treated similarly coolly in return. It almost felt like we were strangers rather than ex mates and lovers.

But I needed to accept that this was just the way of things now. Amber had moved on before we even separated. I was a fool to think that she’d want me back now. I had to let her go.

I still hadn’t signed the divorce papers, but I had looked at them several times in the past few days. Nearly every hour on the hour.

I knew I had to sign them. I was just still trying to build up the nerve.

“The family’s reaction was about what I expected,” she said.

“How so?”

“Some yelling. A lot of saying that I’m not doing enough. I can work on a cure, but given the weak state of the elder and his advanced age, our options are limited.”

I leaned back in my chair. “What are the options?” I wanted to hear her tell me what was happening, so that I knew how to address the family were they to come to me directly for me to intervene. That happened sometimes, with important members of the council and otherwise.

They always were looking for a miracle, and refused to take the doctor’s word for it that it was time to make plans and let go.

I was no Healer myself. I could only trust what I was told. And even though Amber had cheated on me, betraying me personally, I still trusted her medical advice.

She was a world renowned Healer, and I hadn’t stepped one foot inside an advanced healing college classroom.

So when she told me all the options, I believed her, and when she explained the risks, I understood.

The family wanted to wake Elder Jeffers and push for the forced shift, but the waking of Elder Jeffers might be enough to kill him in his weakened state. The family didn’t believe that.

Everyone was looking for their miracle.

“I’m searching for a way to stabilize him, so that we can at least wake him up,” Amber said. “Once he’s awake, he can make his own choice on how to continue.”

“And a cure?” I asked.

“I’m trying, as is Eric and Craig. Noah’s been running tests. But there is a reason a cure has not been developed yet. It is no easy task. What you are asking me to do is find a way to extend life itself. I wish I could, but…”

“I understand,” I said. Though she was acting coolly and professionally, I knew her well enough to see the stress in her brow and her eyes. She didn’t like being on the backfoot like this, and I couldn’t blame her.

I almost regretted asking her to help the elder like this, but she likely would have stepped in anyway, and there was no one else I could trust so implicitly with his care.

“Any cure I come up with would have to be aggressive,” I said. “But I don’t know how much good that would do. He would need strength to endure, and that’s not something that comes easily. If we couple the cure with a strength potion…”

With a sigh, she shook her head. “No. It wouldn’t be enough. Strength potions are only temporary. He would need a permanent boost to fight off the virus, or it would just return again.”

She rubbed her forehead with her hand, more clearly showing her strength.

Suddenly the phone on her desk began to ring. She sighed deeper and made no motion to answer it.

Noah, a very good assistant, must have seen that she needed someone to run interference. He picked up the phone to answer it himself.

“Healer Amanda’s office. Oh. Hello, Mr. Jeffers. No, we don’t have that cure yet. No, we don’t have him stabilized enough yet to wake him.”

Even without my hyper sensitive Alpha wolf hearing, I would have been able to hear Mr. Jeffers’s reply.

“Get off your ass and do something!”

I recognized that voice. That was Ken, the middle son. He was a socialite, always at the parties, ever a trickster and playboy. I supposed it was nice to see him finally taking something seriously. It was a shame it came with his father on death’s door, and that it was manifesting by yelling at the people who were trying to help him.

Noah handled the yelling with professionalism. “We are working around the clock, Mr. Jeffers. Please have patience.”

Amber stood from her desk and walked toward the window. She looked very small standing next to the oversized glass. Her view looked out over the city.

Standing I moved to join her.

She spotted me, then turned, hiding all but her profile from me.

“The anger comes from a place of worry. I know that, and I’ve seen it before,” she said.

“It bothers you.”

“Only when I don’t know what else to do,” she said. “They don’t want to listen to my recommendations, and I struggle to go against the family’s wishes.”

I inched closer to her, wanting to show some of my support.

We were at a strange impasse in our relationship. Too close for professionals. Too distant to be friends.

I was doing my best, but I truly had no idea how to treat her. Especially in moments like this, I wanted to reach out and comfort her. I wanted to be the kind of man she needed, to support her even when things were hard.

It was impossible now, with all the roadblocks between us. Both of us had our own entanglements, and she had a child with someone else. I couldn’t judge her too harshly for that, I would have one too if not for the miscarriage.

The world seemed set against us being together, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t stand by her side in moments like this.

“You will do the right thing,” I said. “I have total confidence in you. And no matter the outcome, you will have my support.”

Her gaze shifted to me, some surprise in her eyes.

Had she expected me to say something different? Did she think I would turn my back on her?

I wouldn’t do that. Not here. Not like this.

Gently, I reached out and placed my hand on her shoulder.

I didn’t say the words, but I hoped to convey, It’s going to be alright.

For a flash of a moment, I swore I saw a hint of affection in her eyes. But when she blinked, it was gone.

Suddenly, I was too aware of my hand on her arm and I quickly withdrew it, restoring the distance between us.

Still, she said, “Thank you.”

I nodded. “It’s the least an Alpha can do.” Then I turned away.