She exited the cells and took only three steps forward. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, gazing directly at Caelan, who was approaching them, “It’s entirely my fault.” Then she collapsed.
Mason sensed his heart shattering; this was the moment.
She was not merely unwell; she was terminally ill and had maintained her composure to obtain answers, sustaining her strength for that purpose. She had confided in him about her fatigue, which was genuine, as she had suppressed her condition. In a final dialogue, she harnessed her power, utilising it in some manner to preserve her existence in pursuit of the truth.
Her eyes radiated with intensity throughout the journey; she exerted all her power to arrive here, seeking answers to the questions that remained inexplicable to both her and Caelan.
Mason apprehended her and laid her on the ground, gazing down at her with tears streaming from his eyes; he had only recently acquired her as a sister, finally received the truth, and now she was departing from him. It was profoundly painful on multiple levels; he had failed to protect her and prevent Rose. She was unaware of the imminent peril posed by her own family.
Her final utterance was, “Inform him, Mason, everything… Caelan, convey this to him.”
Caelan was present to witness her final words; anguish surged within him as he knelt beside her. As her eyes closed and her heart ceased to beat, she remained selfless even in her dying moments. Caelan needed to understand that the events that transpired were not his fault; it was Rose who was responsible for their predicament. Despite her impending demise, the woman exhibited a complete disregard for her own well-being.
Who was she, and what was her significance? Excessive concern for others, yet a complete lack of self-regard, even in the presence of mortality. She was aware of her impending death and disclosed it to no one. Did not wish for anyone to preoccupy themselves with it.
Mason knelt, gazing at her lifeless form, then shifted his gaze to Caelan. The man extended his hands as if to touch her, yet appeared immobilised. Damaged, Mason recalled having witnessed this previously, when she was merely 17. It was a shock. However, whether he would endure it this time, fully aware of her significance to him, was a different issue than he faced previously.
No!He perceived Caelan’s whisper, laden with profound anguish. Subsequently, he positioned himself on his knees, placing his hands upon her chest. “No,” he bellowed defiantly as he commenced chest compressions, attempting to revive her. “Summon Maurice,” he commanded Mason. “Obtain the defibrillator immediately.”
The anguished howl in the distance roused Mason from his stillness, captured his complete attention, and he instinctively recognised it as his mother. She had just experienced the separation from her own child, and it was inflicting pain upon her.
“Maurice, bring the defibrillator to the cells immediately,” he communicated through the mind-link.
Arriving shortly, in approximately five minutes. She anticipated the impending collision.
“Accelerate immediately,” he bellowed at the man. If he had been aware that she would crash, why was he not present already?
Mason was powerless to alleviate his mother’s suffering.
It is likely that no one was aware of their connection. He was aware that Caelan had acknowledged the anguished cry, had briefly directed his gaze at him, before redirecting his attention to Daisy.
Mason was uncertain of its efficacy, given that she had plunged a silver dagger into her chest. She had likely sustained a minuscule nick to her heart, an injury undetected during the ultrasound assessment of her wound when he hurried her to the pack’s hospital, as the bleeding seemed to have ceased.
A protracted and agonising demise, it was unsurprising that he experienced a persistent ache in his heart throughout; however, she had persevered long enough to obtain answers. Extremely powerful. He inclined over her form and inhaled on her behalf; she was resilient and would persevere. She would endure; it was imperative. Neither he nor Caelan were likely to endure her death unscathed.
Mason would provide respiration for her while Caelan endeavoured to circulate blood throughout her body to sustain her and attempt to revive her, both resolute in their refusal to abandon her. Neither of them would permit her to depart from them again.
“Awaken, Daisy,” he shouted, “Inhale, for heaven’s sake.”
They continued administering CPR several minutes later. “Where is Maurice?”Caelan rebuked him sharply.
“He will arrive in approximately one minute.”
A scream erupted from Daisy, and her eyes opened as she began to breathe. Caelan forcefully displaced Mason to gaze down at her, exclaiming, “Daisy,” with palpable relief in his voice. He then embraced her, drawing her tightly against his chest. His eyelids were shut.
“Caelan,” she sighed softly. “Mason?”He perceived her inquiry.
He could not suppress a smile as she enquired about him. “Right here,” he replied, observing her become limp in Caelan’s embrace, prompting the man to look down at her with concern.
He observed her respiration and recognised that they were both attuned to her heartbeat. It was present. Caelan’s gaze shifted to Mason’s, where he discerned a sense of relief. “We must bring her indoors.”
“Concurred.”
Maurice finally arrived, stating, “Wait, let me examine her first.”
Caelan reclined her back down to allow Maurice to conduct a complete set of observations, after which she permitted Caelan to lift her once more.
They were all traversing together. Caelan began to head towards the pack-house with her, but Maurice halted him by placing a hand on his arm. “Hospital Caelan, she remains unwell.”
Caelan gazed down at her, appearing somewhat conflicted to Mason; the man likely desired to escort her to his suite. That is where she was technically situated. As Maurice was about to turn and proceed, Alpha Kaiden emerged from the pack-house and snarled at them all.
“Release her; do not lay a finger on my Mate.”
Caelan and Hudson responded with loud, aggressive snarls, drawing her close to their bodies, asserting, “She is my mate.”
“She certainly is not,” Kaiden bellowed at him.
Mason observed Hudson’s surface completely and then Kaiden’s wolf, forcibly extracted Daisy from Caelan’s grasp, and realised an Alpha versus Alpha confrontation was imminent over the unconscious woman in Caelan’s hold. Endangering her immediately after her return.
Initiated a multi-line mental connection: ‘Father, Ronan, Alpha unit.’ Caelan and Kaiden, both seemingly Daisy’s companions, are likely to engage in a confrontation in front of the pack house now.
