Caelan nodded; he had never witnessed this before and could easily envision the terror of suffocation. “Very well, when you are prepared.” He merely desired the removal of the tube from her neck. To enable her independent respiration, she observed Maurice cover the end of the breathing tube with his gloved thumb, stood still, and awaited her normal inhalation and exhalation.
He acquiesced and appeared satisfied. The trachea is restored by her wolf. Are you prepared for this, Caelan?”
Caelan stood firm; he had already informed the man of his intentions. “Proceed,” he declared.
Observed as Maurice deactivated the IV, ceasing the fluid administration, detached it from the cannula in her wrist, and connected a pre-filled syringe to it. Flushed the cannula and then remained stationary, observing. Upon the initial indication of movement, her eyes fluttered beneath her eyelids as he extracted the tube from her neck.
Daisy’s eyes opened abruptly after 10 seconds upon realising her inability to breathe; her hand instinctively grasped her throat, and he could perceive the palpable fear emanating from her, manifesting in waves directed towards him. Maurice seized both her hands and restrained them to prevent her from scratching her own neck. It probably still pained and remained heavily bruised.
Caelan inclined directly over her visage. “Daisy, direct your gaze towards me,” he implored.
Her eyes, filled with panic, darted to his, brimming with fear and distressed by the sensation of suffocation. “It will be alright,” he assured her softly yet assuredly. “Amelia is administering healing; please remain composed.”
Caelan observed tears streaming from her eyes; she appeared profoundly frightened, a state he had never witnessed before, and he found it unsettling. Terrified due to her inability to inhale or exhale at that moment, he observed her frantic attempts to do so.
He extended his hand and caressed her face softly, attempting to console her. “Have faith in me.” It will be fine; it will only take a minute. “I am present; concentrate on me.”
Her grey eyes were fixed on his, the silver hue somewhat excessively bright, he observed. He commanded her undivided attention, which was advantageous; however, she continued to grapple with Maurice to extricate her hands. “Silence, endeavour to compose yourself.” “I shall not depart,” he conveyed to her gently. Caelan maintained unwavering eye contact with her, perceiving each moment as interminably prolonged. He could not fathom the duration each moment seemed to her.
It was one minute and seventeen seconds of her gasping for air before she exhaled and inhaled again, as he gently touched her face and whispered, “You’re alright now.” A wave of relief enveloped him.
Maurice released her, prompting her arms to extend towards Caelan. He assisted her in sitting up as she encircled him with her arms, drawing her gently to his chest and holding her closely as she clung to him. Her face pressed against his chest as she sobbed silently and uncontrollably, likely reflecting on past events or overwhelmed by her own fear of the situation. She was grasping him firmly, seeking solace at that moment.
I perceived Maurice patting him on the back and observed the man departing. Only he and she occupied the room at that moment; he remained silent, allowing her to respond as she deemed necessary. He was aware that she would remain unable to speak for a day or two; had she been without the wolf, she would likely have never recovered from the injury and would have been permanently mute.
Offered a prayer to the Goddess for the restoration of her wolf.
He stood with one hand caressing her hair while the other held her tenderly against his body, as she leaned into him, seeking solace in the manner he understood best. Her sobs gradually diminished as she leaned against him. “Caelan,” her soft, sorrow-laden voice resonated through the mind-link.
All will be well. “I assure you,” he said reassuringly.
Do not terminate his life. “He is my father,” she pleaded for the man’s life to be spared.
“He is alive,” Caelan informed her, yet how could she pose such a question? He was unaware.
This was the second assault on her within a fortnight. How could she not be infuriated with that man? What was her rationale for not seeking justice on her behalf? He was quite pleased to do it, as was Mason. How was Amelia agreeable to this?
“I implore you, Caelan,” she pleaded.
Caelan sighed and raised her chin to gaze at him, her attractive grey eyes with a hint of silver still faintly shimmering at the edges. An issue he has not yet addressed. Examined her attractive eyes for any indication whatsoever. It was not merely sadness regarding the situation; there was an absence of any other emotions, including anger. “Very well,” he communicated to her gently. Without a moment’s hesitation or concern for onlookers, he bent down and gently pressed his lips against hers. He observed her eyes flutter shut almost immediately, while he closed his own, feeling her lean into him, embracing the kiss. Caelan tentatively brushed his tongue against her lips, which parted for him.
Caelan stood and kissed her, one hand entwined in her hair while the other gently embraced her body. He permitted himself to hold, touch, and kiss her in a manner he had never allowed before, feeling an urgency he could not resist at that moment.
He needed to be near her, having almost lost her for a second time, and he was determined to prevent that from happening. Uncertain of the duration of his presence, she permitted him to kiss her with gentle tenderness. Upon its conclusion, she did not withdraw from him; instead, she reclined her head against his chest, deriving solace from his presence, while he remained still, permitting her to do so. Glad to have the opportunity to provide her with that.
His gaze shifted to the right, indicating his awareness of another presence in the room, now that he was no longer preoccupied with the kiss that had entirely captivated him, rendering everything else insignificant. Mason stood just inside the room, an eyebrow raised and the left corner of his mouth slightly upturned, appearing amused by the scene before him.
