He turned his head to look at Declyn. "I've been working on this, modifying it so the government can't trace it. Now's the time to see if it works. If it doesn't, he's dead and so are..."
He turned to stare at Deja, never finishing his thought.
"Give it a try."
He turned it on and started taking care of the worst of Enzo's wounds. Several hours later, he stepped back.
"All we can do now is wait."
They nodded and left the room.
"Ven."
"I'll stay here, Alpha, if that is okay with you." He took a seat in front of the door. "I'll call if anything happens."
He pulled his phone out of his pocket and gave them a tired smile.
"I know they will be happy to have you close."
He was beginning to wonder if they even knew he was here. He had been watching over them for five days, and they hadn't moved. Tristan grunted every time he was in the room, saying Enzo was the same. Cait told him to have faith it would all work out, and he sat in front of the door wondering if he was going to lose the family he had just found.
"Ven." It was soft as if carried on a breath, but he heard her call his name. He stood and straightened his shoulders before he opened the door.
Deja was lying under the cover with a smile on her face.
"You're back."
"Where did I go?"
"I have to tell Tristan and Cait you're awake, then I'll tell you all about it."
"Wait, can I have some water first?"
"No, not until they say you're healed."
He ran out the door before he remembered his phone in his back pocket. He called the healers, then Declyn.
"How long has Enzo been out?" She turned to her side to look at him. "I feel sore like somebody beat me up. Did I get into a fight? I remember the Thalians coming after me; I killed them."
She stopped and stuck the heel of her hand into her mouth and rocked a little.
"I had to, Ven. They would have killed me and maybe Jessie and the children."
He reached down and hugged her, not knowing what else to do. She sniffed and hugged him back.
"I killed them. You just wounded them, but we protected our families. War isn't pretty, and people die."
"You're right. I just never thought I'd see a war in my city."
"Can I get in on some of that love?"
They looked around to see Enzo smiling at them.
"Group hug." They held onto him tight.
"Casualties?" He looked at Ven.
"We lost four."