Chapter 173

Cara’s POV

The diagnosis was difficult to process, and I spent a lot of time in that small room in the hospital, trying to come to terms with everything.

Grayson believed that unless I found my wolf, I would only have a few months left to live. I would of course find a second opinion, but I had no reason to doubt him, especially because my body was already telling me the truth.

I could feel my body’s exhaustion even as I sat there on the edge of the hospital bed. And there was a growing hollow feeling in my chest that should have housed my wolf. But the weakness was the worst. Sometimes, like right now, I felt as if I lacked the strength to stand, even though I wanted to.

The news was a shock, and I knew I needed to deal with it before I tried to return to my family. But I was also worried about Mia. She had only just been given a good prognosis. I should be there to celebrate.

Although, perhaps my presence would bring down the mood of the room. Would my brothers be able to celebrate my daughter’s health, if I was there with my own health waning?

So, not only was my health in decline, but now too would be people’s willingness to be around me.

My misery grew and I sunk down onto the bed. Perhaps if I rested for a while, I’d be filled with more clarity.

Then my phone started to ring.

Rolling onto my side, I reached for my purse and pulled out my phone from within it.

Eamon’s name was on the screen.

My brothers must have told him what was going on. With a heavy heart, I thought of not answering the phone, not wanting his pity as well. But I still loved my brother, and thought I might find some comfort with him.

On my side, I answered the phone and then brought it up to my ear. “Hello?”

“There’s my sister,” Eamon said. There was sadness in his voice, but he was clearly trying to keep the tone light. I appreciated the effort, if nothing else. “Are you alright?”

“Not really,” I answered honestly.

“Understandable,” Eamon replied. “Do you need me to come down there?”

“There’s nothing you can do.”

“I could be there for you.”

“You are here for me now.”

He hummed and let the matter drop. “Colin explained the situation to me.”

“I thought he might,” I said.

“You should know that Landon and I are already scourer the entire continent, looking to find the best doctors for you. No, not just doctors. We are searching for every possible method that could help you find your wolf again,” Eamon said. “There is no corner of this world we will not search, and we will not stop searching.”

I closed my eyes, allowing his determination to wash over me. The strength of his tone and his words seemed to seep into me, helping me build up my own strength and courage.

“I don’t know if it’s possible,” I said. “I’ve been meditating, trying for months to call her back.”

“You’ve been doing everything on your own before,” Eamon said. “From now on, this is a team effort. You will not face this alone.”

“Thank you, Eamon.”

“Mark my words, Cara, we will not lose you to this. I am not giving up my sister so quickly after having been reunited with her.”

“It’s been over six years now,” I reminded him.

“Not enough,” Eamon said. “Not nearly enough.”

I knew my brothers loved me, but to hear it so clearly in Eamon’s voice gave me another boost of courage and strength. Finally, I was able to push myself upright.

I was still terrified over what was going to happen and what I must endure. But with my brothers and my family at my side, I was starting to also believe that anything was possible.

Eamon was always the most sensible of us. If he was this confident that we could find a way to bring back Lucy, my wolf, then I believed him, as I believed him in most things.

“Don’t give up, Cara. I can work like hell on my end, but it won’t mean anything if you give up on yours,” he said.

“I won’t,” I said, only to realize after I said it that this was me making a promise, both to Eamon and to myself. I would certainly have moments of fear and self-pity, but I would never give up. I wanted to live, and I would do whatever it took to make sure that I did.

So I took a breath, and made it a real honest-to-goodness promise. “I won’t give up, Eamon. I promise you. And I promise me too.”

“Good,” he said, sounding a little relieved. “That’s good.”

Alaric’s POV

Ruby’s behavior seemed strange. It certainly told me there was something going on with Cara that I didn’t know about, and that no one was willing to tell me. Cara had to be the one to share it, but how was she supposed to do that when she was locked behind closed doors?

My protective instincts were raging, my wolf pacing angrily across my mind. We were both near-feral with our restlessness.

We’d only just gotten Mia healed, and now something was wrong with Cara? I didn’t know what to do. I felt so powerless, and I hated that feeling.

I was no doctor. There wasn’t a hell of a lot I could do to help. Maybe they all thought I’d just get in the way. Maybe they’d even be right.

It was so frustrating, this not knowing. I loved Cara. If she was hurting, I wanted to be there for her. Knowing I wasn’t welcome at the moment added a whole new layer of anger and self-loathing.

Maybe I should have been a Healer.

“What’s wrong, Dad?” Mia asked, looking up at me.

Immediately, I realized my error. With Mia and Ethan, we were celebrating. Yet I had let my true feelings cross my face. I school those feelings back at once, putting on a smile.

“Nothing’s wrong, Mia,” I told her. “I couldn’t be happier for your health.”

Aidan had glared at me from the start, but now Colin and Ryan were giving me looks of warning.

If they didn’t want me to know what was going on with Cara, then they definitely didn’t want Mia and Ethan to know.

I’d always been pretty good at schooling my emotions. This time though, with the kidnapping, and Mia’s health, and now Cara’s… My nerves were strained in a way they had never been before.

Even now, smiling at Mia, I could feel the great strain of it, as most of me was simultaneously worried about Cara.

If only I could see her, and make sure she’s alright…

The kids must have been worried about her too, glancing at the door as if expecting her to walk through it. Ethan was even starting to seem a bit grumpy himself.

I opened my mouth, about to say something to rally them – though I wasn’t sure what – when Cara actually did walk through the door.

She seemed okay, if a bit tired.

“Mommy!” Mia said, holding open her arms.

Cara immediately went to her and hugged her.

She didn’t look at me once.