Page 66 of Fated
“She looks so peaceful,” he murmured, entering the room.
I looked back to my mate. He was right, she looked like she was peacefully sleeping. If it weren’t for all the medical equipment around her, you would think she was going to wake up soon. I pressed her hand to my lips and gave her a gentle kiss. Seeing her like this was breaking my heart. I’d never felt so much overwhelming pain.
Kyle walked to the other side of the hospital bed and reached for Keri’s hand. Usually I’d be so possessive of Keri I would tear into him, but I saw my sadness mirrored in his eyes. He needed to be with her just like I did. As angry as I’d been with him, I knew that he did everything he could have to save her.
He was probably feeling worse because he’d witnessed it all. I hadn’t. I couldn’t even imagine what it would have felt like to witness every injury without being able to do anything to stop it.
He looked at me. It was like he was asking for permission so I gave him a nod. He needed this as much as I did. He pulled up a chair and sat down. The two of us sat watching over her as we both contemplated what our lives were going to be like if she didn’t make it.
I lost track of time as I watched her chest rise and fall with every breath. Curtis had been in and out, checking on her vitals. Make no mistake, he was feeling the same as we were, but he was trying to keep busy to deal with it. My stomach rumbled but I ignored it. I didn’t want to leave her. Kyle was still sitting on the other side with his head in his hands.
Scarlett entered the room and I looked up at her.
“You need to see this,” she said to me.
I looked back to Keri and brushed her face. I didn’t want to leave her, but the look Scarlett gave me told me she wouldn’t leave until I came to look at whatever it was. I leaned closer and kissed her gently. I found a little solace in the feel of connection with Keri.
Standing up, I gave Kyle a nod before I followed behind Scarlett. I had no idea where we were going. I just followed Scarlett out of the front of the medical center and came to a sudden stop.
Every member of Keri’s pack was gathered outside, all looking anxious and nervous. I felt my heart burst with pride at the fact that her pack was so worried about her.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Scarlett said under her breath as she stood beside me.
It warmed my heart that they cared for her. She’d fought hard for them and the fact that they were here waiting to hear if she was going to pull through said that she meant a lot to them. I scanned the crowd of anxious faces before I turned to go back. I didn’t go back to Keri; instead, I hunted Curtis down.
“Make sure you update the pack members waiting outside,” I told him. He gave me a confused look.
Clearly he hadn’t been outside.
“Go look outside,” I told him before I walked away.
Keri was lying exactly the same way she had before I left. I couldn’t help feeling a little despondent. I would have given anything to see her wake up and smile at me. There was no comprehending that all the memories I had of Keri would be the only ones I would ever have. Scarlett entered the room behind me.
“You need to go and get something to eat,” she said to me, but I shook my head.
“She’s being taken care of and I’ll sit with her,” she assured me. I glanced at her. She was right; I needed to eat.
Scarlett looked at her brother.
“You, too,” she told her brother but, like me, he was reluctant to leave Keri.
Scarlett put her hands on her hips as she surveyed the two of us.
“Cade and I’ll stay with her while you guys go and get something to eat.”
It wasn’t a suggestion, it was an order. Kyle looked at me and I shrugged. When Scarlett made up her mind there was no changing it. I knew there was no fighting her on this.
As Kyle stood up, Cade appeared behind Scarlett. She’d probably called him through their mind-link.
“We’ll be back soon,” I assured them as Kyle followed me out of the hospital room, leaving Cade and Scarlett to watch over Keri.
I hurried so I wouldn’t be gone for long. I had something to eat and I had a quick shower before I went back to be with Keri. No matter how hard I tried to deal with my emotions of fear and loss, there was no fixing the ache in my chest. It was like a constant pain that wouldn’t go away.
Just as I approached the door to Keri’s hospital room, I heard a sound. It sounded like someone was crying softly. I wasn’t even sure if I’d heard correctly but as I got to the doorway of the room, I could see Scarlett. She was alone as she sat beside the bed and held Keri’s hand in hers. She hadn’t seen me and I watched for a moment as she brushed tears from her face.
I’d never seen Scarlett break down like this and it took me by surprise. I knew that they had been friends before Victor and Keri’s deceit had gotten in the way. Keri also didn’t make it easy for anyone to get close to her. I knew it was her way of protecting herself and honestly who could blame her after everything she’d endured.
I walked in quietly and put a reassuring hand on Scarlett’s shoulder. She looked up at me, her eyes full of tears as she bit her lip.
