Alpha Damon (Sienna) novel Chapter 287

Ethan:

“She hasn’t woken up yet?” I asked, voice low as I pushed open the door.

No matter how hard I tried to calm myself down, I couldn’t. I was as restless as my wolf. Even the idea of her being as injured as she was wasn’t one that I liked, and the fact that I didn’t understand anything that she had said just kept playing in my mind.

Sienna shook her head from the chair beside Delilah’s bed. “No. But she’s stable. The doctor said it was exhaustion… and whatever else she went through. She’s going to need to get a little rest and I’m guessing that she’s going to need a lot to recover, but she’s getting there. You don’t need to keep worrying yourself, Ethan. You yourself need to rest. You’ve been badly injured.”

“I don’t want to leave her like this. I already lost her once, I don’t want to lose her again.” I said, looking at Sienna, whose eyes softened.

I stepped in slowly, eyes locked on Delilah. She looked like she was dreaming. Or running from something in her sleep.

“She fought like hell,” Sienna said, glancing at me. “Tried to save everyone she could. I heard from the pack members. She refused to allow me to leave. He told me to keep my daughter and the pack safe. She told me that they were going to need me inside but she went to risked herself and went.”

“If this does not describe loyalty, family and friendship, I don’t know what does because anyone else would have said that this is not my war. This is not my pack to take care of. And yet she did everything in her power to do so.” Sienna whispered softly.

“She did,” I murmured. I had no words to say how grateful I was for her, and I had no words to describe how much I was admiring her right now.

I moved to the edge of the bed and sat down, careful not to jostle her. My hand brushed hers. Her fingers were cold. I hated that. Even the idea of her being asleep like this was not one that I liked. Should be standing. She should be here by my side. She should not have endured what she did. And yet here she was.

Now more than ever, I wished that she was awake fighting me. I did not mind chasing for her. I didn’t mind wanting to claim her and her pushing me away. As long as she was awake.

Sienna stood. “I’ll give you two a minute. Is Lysandra…?”

“She’s okay,” I said, cutting in. “Eating. Talking a little. That seems to me like she seemed to have recovered from the mist as well. I don’t know how to explain it, but something in her just seemed to snap.”

“Good,” Sienna said, voice gentler now. “We all needed that. She needed to get her strength back. She stood as well, and she fought. I didn’t expect it, and yet she kept those that she could save.”

“That’s good. At least she managed to do something for herself. She’s able to recover herself.” I sat in. Sienna nodded. She put her hand on my shoulder, careful not to hurt me, knowing that I was still injured, before nodding as she took a step away.

She stepped out, closing the door behind her. I sat in the silence. Just her and me.

“You said it’s not over,” I whispered to Delilah. “What did you see? What is it that happened? What did she tell you that made you so convinced that it wasn’t?”

I sighed and leaned forward, elbows on my knees, staring at the ground like it might answer me.

“I keep playing it back,” I went on. “The mist, Carter, the look on your face right before you collapsed. You were scared. And you’re not the type to scare easy. You are not the type to just stand back, and yet you seemed to want everyone to stand back and raise themselves.”

She didn’t move. Just breathed. Deep, steady breaths.

I glanced up again and shook my head. “You drive me insane, you know that?”

Still nothing.

“I never planned for this. Not you,” I admitted, voice rough. “I thought you were the enemy. Or maybe I wanted you to be. That way, I could keep my distance. That way I wouldn’t be so drawn to you, so attracted you wouldn’t be something that I was appealed to, someone that could hurt me. And yet here you are. Not only are you someone that can hurt me, but someone that has captivated more of my thoughts than anything else.”

Sienna stepped back inside. “Carter’s still unconscious. Damon wants us all in the strategy room in an hour.”

“I’m not leaving her.” I said, looking at her over my shoulder. “She needs me here by her side.”

Sienna nodded. “I’ll make sure no one asks you to. But you know that even Damon needs you right now. There is a lot for him to handle. And the pack also needs you, Ethan.”

She walked over, laid a hand on Delilah’s arm. “She’s stronger than she looks.”

I exhaled, standing, brushing my knuckles against Delilah’s cheek. “Yeah. She is.”

As Sienna turned to leave, I asked, “You think… she’ll be okay?”

Sienna paused. “She’s a fighter, Ethan. And trust me, she would not want you mourning over her like this. She would tell you to go and take care of your things. You of all people should know that.”

The door clicked shut again.

And I sat back down, gripping Delilah’s hand tighter than before.

“I’m ready,” I whispered. “Whatever it is, I’m not letting you face it alone.”