Page 107 of Rejected By My Stepbrother Alpha
The Fog
Asher
Time meant nothing.
That was what I’d learned in this endless state of darkness and fog. It felt like I was lost, stumbling around in my own head, searching for a bright light, but when I found it, I didn’t move toward it. Because I remembered that old saying.
Never go toward the light.
Sometimes, I would hear snippets of conversations, but I had no idea what was real and what was a dream. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t make out what the voices were saying. Occasionally, I even heard a door opening and closing. After a while, a sound broke through the fog in my head, and I sprinted toward it, trying like hell to capture it.
It was the sound of my Mate sobbing.
Ivy!
I tried to reach for her, but I was lost in the fog again.
Then, an unexpected voice floated through my head.
Healer Emery.
“I’m so sorry, Ivy. I’m not sure if Asher will ever be able to wake upfrom his coma,” my pack healer said with remorse in his voice. “The dosage of drugs in his system was enough to be fatal. I’m not sure how he managed to transform into his wolf and fight in the battle.”
“Because he was protecting his family,” Ivy said thickly. The love of my life was in emotional distress, and all I wanted to do was reach out and comfort her. But I couldn’t fight through the fog. “He was able to break through his restraints and fight because he loves his son and me.”
I do! I love you and Adrian more than anything!
I wanted to scream this out loud, but I couldn’t. The fog was closing in on me, and I was losing my fragile grip on consciousness.
“His injuries are extensive,” Healer Emery explained in a gentle voice. “I don’t know if his body is strong enough to heal itself as well as the damage to his brain. I’m doing everything I can, but the results of his latest MRI are very concerning.”
“He’s strong enough to wake up,” Ivy said fiercely through her tears. “He will come back to me. I don’t have any doubts. He just needs time to heal.”
“I truly hope you’re right,” Healer Emery replied, but I could tell that there was doubt in his voice.
Fear that I’d never wake up paralyzed me, and I began to panic because I couldn’t feel my body. Then, I felt the slightest pressure, and from the way my heart raced, I knew that the pressure was from Ivy holding my hand. I tried to reach out to her. I tried to ask her if our son was all right.
But the fog enveloped me in its strong embrace, and I knew no more.
After that, I was in and out of consciousness. I tried my best to focus and wake myself up, but I couldn’t find my way through the heavy fog that covered my mind.
The next time that I was aware enough to hear someone talking, it was Beta Flynn.
“I’m not sure if you can hear me or not, Asher, butit feels wrong not to give you an update on the outcome of the battle,” he said in that no-nonsense way of his. “Ivy took care of Evelyn, and as soon as Silas’ guards saw that you killed their Alpha, they tried to run away in fear because our guards vastly outnumbered them. Our warriors managed to gather them all up, and they are now in the pack’s prison.” He paused. “Your family and your pack need you, Asher. Please…please wake up.” Flynn’s voice held more emotion than I’d ever heard come from him.
I wanted to thank him for the update, and I had a lot more questions, but I blacked out as soon as he finished talking.
The first time I heard my son speak, relief spread through me that was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.
He’s all right!
I felt another slight pressure on my hand and knew that Adrian was gripping my hand with his small one.
“Dad, please wake up,” Adrian said in a quiet, shaking voice. “I can tell that Mom is trying to be strong for me, but she cries all the time ever since you fell asleep and can’t wake back up.” I could tell that my son was crying now, and it killed me that I couldn’t comfort him. “Everyone says that you need time to heal, but can you please wake back up? Please? For me and for Mom. Uncle Damian got me a slice of key lime pie from the diner, but I don’t want to eat it without you.”
My heart shattered, and I tried to run through the fog toward my son’s voice, but it was impossible.
The next thing I was aware of was Ivy’s sweet voice. I tried hard to focus on what she was saying, and after a moment, I realized that she was reading Goodnight Little Shifter. I held onto those familiar words and allowed memories of my father and my son to calm me. Right before I blacked out again, I silently swore to my Mate that I would find my way back to her and our son.
