Chapter 148

Alaric’s POV

Looking over, I almost approach Cara, but she seems dazed. Perhaps reuniting with Mia has affected her. Undoubtedly, she needs a minute to process all that has happened and what it means for her.

Still, I would rather be able to help her through the process. Noel is there, but Cara doesn’t seem to notice him, even as he tries to speak to her.

Concerned, I start to walk toward her. Yet, before I can reach her, the paramedics burst into the warehouse.

By now the trio of kidnappers has been escorted out, and likely the police cleared the room for the paramedics to enter. They look around, and then, spotting Mia, rush toward her and Cara.

With their presence, Cara seems to return to herself. At once, she listens and responds to their questions, while encouraging Mia to do the same.

I stop, watchful. Even Noel takes a few steps back, giving the paramedics room to work. They look over Mia and Cara both. One even comes toward me, as if they want to check me over, but I wave them off.

George only landed one real bite on me, and though the blood remains, drying on my pant leg, I can tell the wound itself is already healed.

The paramedics need to focus on Mia. With her fragile disposition, it’s her I’m most worried about.

The paramedics seem to understand that without me having to even say so.

“She seems okay,” one of them says to Cara. “But we should check her out at the hospital, just to be sure.”

“I’m scared, Mom,” Mia says, curling into her mother.

“It’s okay, honey. They only want to help. I’ll be with you the entire time,” Cara replies.

The paramedics lead Cara out toward the exit of the warehouse. I follow wordlessly behind, watchful. With everything that’s happened, I’m not quite ready to let her go yet.

Cara helps Mia into the waiting ambulance outside, and then steps up inside.

“There’s room for one more,” the paramedic calls.

Immediately I start forward.

“Sir, my apologies,” one of the policemen says. “But we need your official judgements on the accused.”

Damn it all, I’m not about to let work stand between me and my family. Yet as I hesitate, trying to decide what to say to this man, I watch Noel step forward and claim the last spot on the ambulance. With Noel inside, the paramedics close the doors.

I stand there, mournful, as the ambulance drives away with my mate and my daughter. In my heart, I know they are safe, especially with Noel there. But I cannot stop the wave of regret and worry that floods through me.

I want to be the one who is there for them. I want to hold onto Cara while giving Mia support as she is looked over by doctors.

It should be me. Cara is my mate. Mia is my daughter. This is my family.

But to chase after the ambulance, to make a scene and demand they accept me instead of Noel, that is something that might scare Mia. Cara would certainly disapprove.

After everything they’ve both been through, I would rather suffer on my own than to see either of them be hurt further, through fear or worry or otherwise.

As I watch the ambulance drive away, I feel another pair of eyes watching me.

Aidan is watching me closely, maybe seeing my pain. I don’t bother trying to hide it.

To be reunited and then immediately separated from my family cuts me deeply. In my heart, I know they are safe, but I still want to be there. I want to make sure.

“Sir?” the policeman asks me.

Work ever calls me back.

I suppose the one way I can ensure that my family is safe is by making certain those who terrorized them receive the worst punishments.

No more exile. These three will never see the outside of a jail cell ever again.

Cara’s POV

At the hospital, I wait by anxiously as a doctor checks Mia over. Noel and I are standing just outside the examination room, near the window, so Mia can keep an eye on us and remember that she is safe.

Noel, meanwhile, seems more focused on me. I can appreciate this in some sense. After all, I have been through a lot as well, a near death experience, a violent fight. Yet, compared to what Mia has been through, it seems like nothing.

“Are you okay?” he asks me, like it matters. Maybe it does to him. I should be grateful for that, that someone is looking out for me.

But all I care about in this moment is Mia. When she is cleared, then I can worry about myself more. But not until then.

Gently, Noel places his hand on the small of my back, drawing my attention away.

I give him a strange sort of look, likely matching the confusion within me.

“I’m just checking in on you,” he says, by way of explanation.

I step slightly away from him. I’m not ready for any physical touch right now, at least not by him.

Though he is a friend, and I trust him, after being nearly killed, I’m not ready for any touches yet. At least not by someone outside of my family.

Or Alaric.

How strange that my thoughts return to him. Thinking of him, I should have the same reaction as I do to Noel, but it feels intrinsically different inside of me somehow.

Noel is a friend, but Alaric is… more. It’s difficult to explain.

“Cara…” Noel says, and I can see a flash of hurt in his eyes. I’m not ready to explain myself yet.

I can only apologize. “I’m sorry, Noel.”

Looking through the window once more, I see the doctor waving me to come in.

“If you’ll excuse me…” I say.

“I can come in with you,” he starts.

“I’d rather you stay here,” I tell him.

He stills at once. I’m no longer looking to see if the words hurt him but he acts like they don’t.

“I’ll be here,” he says, and I wish I could properly express how grateful I am for him, even if I don’t want him beside me right in this moment.

It’s a complicated set of emotions. I don’t trust myself to properly express it yet.

Walking into the examination room, Mia keeps her eyes on me as the doctor approaches me.

“Physically, she has a few bruises, but is otherwise unharmed. The bruises are already healing, and we can give her a shot to help her healing factor along,” the doctor says. “I’d like to keep her here for a few hours, just to be certain, but at this point, I think, physically, she is in the clear.”

He keeps saying physically which, while great, implies there might be something mentally wrong.

Seeing my concerned expression, he adds, “In times of trauma, it is important that she also receives the right help to… sort through the experience and deal with her feelings. We have someone on staff who can help. If you don’t mind waiting, I will send for her…”

“Please,” I tell the doctor. I want the best for my daughter both physically and mentally.

The doctor nods. “I will call for her at once.”

As he leaves the room, I walk to Mia’s bedside. Immediately, she stretches her arms out wanting a hug. As soon as I give it, however, her tears start.

“What’s wrong, Mia?” I say. “You are safe now.”

“I want Dad…” she cries. “Where is he? Why isn’t he here?”

My heart immediately breaks, and I know I have a desperate call to make.