Chapter 17
The merpeople of Pearlport, in the underwater kingdom of Misty Tower, live peacefully, with some working in the supernatural world above. However, their princess, Grace Mistglow, is missing. Princess Mistglow's anger at her parents' plans to marry her to Prince Erik of Neptrin led to her disappearance, prompting her parents, King and Queen Mistglow, to send out a search party. Wanting freedom and independence before marriage, Grace, the wild youngest of four siblings, rejected his proposal. Chester, the eldest, inherited his father's kingdom, ruling alongside his wife. Leon, his second brother, became a high-ranking guard in the supernatural realm, marrying a witch who often visited the underwater kingdom. Their middle child, Jaxson, married a princess from another kingdom. Grace was an only child, so her family spoiled her. Meanwhile, King Theo spent years searching for his long-lost daughter, unaware of her fate or that she had started a family of her own.
King Theo longs for Grace's return, hoping she's safe, married, and has a family; he cherishes the memory of their life together. While going through the picture frame, he felt the images with his hand until his men arrived and handed him a clear pouch with a folder inside, which they then gave to Theo. He opened the folder to find photos of his daughter holding a baby and smiling; subsequent pictures showed his granddaughter at various ages.
"Did you find my daughter or granddaughter?" Theo asked.
"Not yet, sir; we're still searching. We possess additional photographs.”
“Thank you, you may leave,”
After the P.I. left, Theo sat on the couch, looking at the pictures; he planned to show his wife and her brother that Grace was still alive and would soon return home with a new addition to the family. Theo had no idea that his daughter Grace had passed away from an illness; she'd kept it from her family.
As the car arrived at the hospital, the door opened, and Anthony, shirtless, went inside, where Dr. Jones approached him.
"Alpha, what happened to Kathy?"
“My mate Kathy is injured.”
“Alpha, could you move her onto the gurney so I can examine her? Before anything else, you need to wear some pants. The nurse will provide you with a pair.”
Anthony placed Kathy on the gurney as it was wheeled to her exam room for a doctor and nurse to check on her. They removed her blood-soaked clothing to examine her injuries and took X-rays to check for broken bones.
“Doctor, I need you to take a look at this x-ray.”
“Although she has a broken wrist, there's no skull fracture, suggesting a possible concussion. A human hospital is where she needs treatment for her injury.”
“Now that I see her head wound, I'll clean, stitch, and give her antibiotics. Her wrist is broken and needs a cast to heal, even though there is no external bleeding.”
“Yes, doctor,”
In the hallway, Anthony sat in a chair, anxiously awaiting Dr. Jones and an update on Kathy. The door swung open, revealing Kathy on a gurney—her wrist cast, her head bandaged, yet alive. As the nurse wheeled her into recovery, Anthony tried to enter, but Dr. Jones prevented him.
“How is she doing?” asked Anthony
“She is not out of the wood yet. While you're lucky to have her here, she requires treatment at a human hospital. She only has a concussion, and a broken wrist; there's no bleeding. Let her get some rest.
“I plan to remain by her side until she awakens.”
"Alpha, you can sleep on the couch next to her bed."
"I appreciate your help, Doctor."
In the recovery room, Miles and Anthony found Kathy sleeping, wishing she would wake up. Anthony touched her hand; it was cold, and she was attached to medical equipment. He then reached up and gently kissed her forehead.
"I'll be right here beside you when you wake up," Anthony whispered, his breath warm on your ear.
Miles, sensing the depth of Anthony's devotion, offers a quiet nod before bowing out of the room. The gentle click of the closing door leaves a hush in its wake, a sanctuary of stillness for Anthony and Kathy. Alone at her side, Anthony pulls the chair closer and settles in, his hand never leaving hers. The monitors hum softly, each steady beeping a promise that time has not yet run out. He strokes her hair, whispering words of comfort only she can hear, weaving hopes for tomorrow into the quiet of the night.
Darkness surrounded Kathy; she felt no pain and had no idea where she was until a sudden white light appeared. As she moved toward it, a hand seized her shoulder, turning her sharply. It's her mother.
“Mom?”
“Yes, sweetly. My, how you've grown! I regret missing so much of your life.
“Where are we?”
“We are in limbo. I want to share something with you. When you arrive home, find my secret journal. Everything you need to know about me and my family is in this document. If they ever show up, don't worry.”
"Mom, I don't understand what you mean."
“Just read my journal, it will explain everything to you. Before I go, give your father the company; I sold it when I was ill, and all the money is yours.
Kathy disappeared before she had a chance to continue. When she heard her name being called and felt a warm hand holding hers, she looked up to see Anthony looking worried about her, his true colors shining in his eyes. She has to wake up to see his face again, slowly opening her eyes to see herself in a hospital room, filtering through the blinds and painting pale stripes across her blanket. Her head was wrapped snugly in white bandages, and her wrist, encased in a sturdy cast, rested on her lap. Machines hummed softly at her side, their lights blinking serenely. Though the world outside the window bustled with ordinary life, inside the room, everything felt suspended—Kathy’s thoughts drifting slowly between pain and memory, longing for answers that always seemed just out of reach. She heard faint snoring and slowly turned her head to see Anthony asleep on the small couch. Her body ached, but she didn't want to wake him. Kathy lay there, trying to remember her mother's last words before she vanished—that she'd given her the company and all the money from the sale. Lying in bed, she noticed the room was dark, lit only by moonlight. Then a nurse came into the room to check on her to see that she is wake.
"How do you feel?" the nurse asked, her eyes full of concern.
"I'm so sore and tired," Kathy groaned, her muscles aching from the car accident.
"Yes, I can give you a little extra to help with the pain," she said. For three days now, Alpha Anthony has been waiting for you to wake.
"Three days?" he questioned incredulously.
"Yes, please stay still, rest, and the doctor will see you in the morning."
After the nurse left, Kathy had no choice but to rest until morning.