He had not entered, yet he was receiving frequent updates from Helen. Brianna’s condition remained unchanged; she remained unconscious. Helen resumed her previous role as a nurse by drawing blood for the doctor and conducting all necessary observations. The pack doctor accomplished her desires without difficulty.
Positioned in the doorway at 2300, I held the door ajar for him to enter the room. He maintained a light footfall; however, despite the appearance of Logan being asleep, Rowan was alert, and a low growl emanated from the wolf just two steps into the room. He exhaled audibly.
However, Helen placed a hand on his chest to prevent him from exiting the room and subsequently provided a comprehensive nursing handover. He smiled at the woman, who took her time explaining the situation before enquiring if he had any questions.
He understood that she was merely allowing him time within the room; despite his inability to approach and position himself beside Brianna, he could observe her throughout. He did not require the nursing handover; she was merely assisting him, and he was aware of it. Appreciated her affectionate disposition.
He exited the room a few minutes later.
This would be an arduous journey. He reseated himself and eventually dozed off, awakening to Helen’s voice in his mind. “Ryder…” Brianna is awakening.
He became awake and alert immediately, as did Aiden, attuning their hearing to the room. Logan was evidently still asleep. Desired to strangle Helen for the first time since his father had introduced her into their household.
Upon revealing to Brianna that she was a Luna, he desired to be the one to communicate this to her directly and provide an explanation. It appears Helen had alternative intentions.
She emitted a horrified gasp of ‘no,’ indicating her realisation that she had been Marked, specifically by Aiden.
He appeared unaware of Helen’s identity and proposed to inform her companion of her awakening, who was already cognisant. He awaited her response to this information and requested her patience, which elicited a sigh from him, although he did not anticipate a warm reception or expressions of joy. A portion of him had wished she would desire to meet him.
I overheard Helen inform her of the pack’s enthusiasm regarding their Alpha discovering his Luna. He was uncertain of its veracity. Luca was presently overseeing the pack-house and was aware that the man had directed the pack to refrain from disturbing him, owing to Brianna’s condition.
Logan was awake, acknowledged her greeting, and discerned the joy in her voice, pleased to see him, consistently offering a smile for the boy, irrespective of the circumstances. The boy resumed sobbing as Helen emerged in the adjacent hallway. “She remains fatigued and exceedingly perplexed.”
“Mm, Aiden marked her while she was in a state of unconsciousness,” he affirmed. Undoubtedly, she was perplexed.
“I received communication from Luca,” she acknowledged succinctly.
Upon hearing the word ‘dad’ uttered by Logan, an expression of unadulterated joy illuminated his face, an involuntary reaction he could not have suppressed. The small child brought him joy and elation. The boy had acquiesced to him. He sighed upon hearing the boy inform Brianna that Aiden had bitten her and that Rowan was exceedingly angry.
He experienced heartache upon hearing Brianna inform Logan that he would still not be able to see Layla in her wolf form.
Aiden experienced anguish at the prospect that his wolfen mate might choose not to reveal herself. Perhaps it may not be feasible at all. Years of suffering had diminished her wolf to a mere semblance of its former self. Most probably endured excessive suffering. He was uncertain whether Layla was unwilling or incapable of participating.
Both he and Aiden understood that her remark, “just leave it for now,” indicated that the decision was not hers to make. Only Layla possessed the authority to make that decision. If she is currently unable to do so, there exists a possibility that, should she restore her wolf to full strength, she may be able to shift in due course; however, this process could be protracted, necessitating patience from all involved.
He smiled when Logan referred to Nolan as Uncle Nolan, felt a hand on him, and had not even heard the man approach down the hall, also noticing Nolan’s smile.
“The boy is fond of me,” he smirked before entering the room, exhibiting no hesitation. It appeared to Ryder that everyone would be permitted entry into that room except for him.
Prevent that man from informing Brianna that something was amiss with Stella, although he remained unaware of the specifics.
Witnessed her actively confront the man. She had assumed the role of Luna, and he was powerless to act without her consent, particularly in regard to taking her son from her. Nolan exited the room, shrugged at him, and remarked, “Tried,” followed by a smirk, “She knew I couldn’t proceed without permission,” before sauntering down the hallway.
Heard Logan refer to his mother as mean and laughed. I heard her response: “What did I do?””
“Rowan claims you are preventing my father from being present by having me here.” This made him smile, as Logan consistently referred to him as dad. He genuinely appreciated it. I merely needed to surpass Rowan.
“He is not as foolish as one might think,” Brianna responded, followed by the sound of the boy’s laughter.
It was reassuring to observe their rapid and harmonious interaction; she would be fine, and with her consciousness restored, perhaps Rowan would relax and permit him to enter and see her. Subsequently, there was an absence of activity, presumably resting in unison.
She appeared less angry about being marked by them and more astonished, having already leveraged that information against Nolan to prevent him from bringing Logan in to permit Ryder’s entry into the room; she resignedly settled back down, indicating that she would still have to wait.
Nolan’s Perspective
Observing Stella restrain Rowan, he noted that she bore no injuries whatsoever; not a single scratch or minor cut was visible, as all of Rowan’s claws had retracted to prevent any harm to her. He recognised that they loved her far more than he had anticipated, likely as much as they loved their own mother.
