Chapter 77: Alpha’s Return

Chapter 77: Alpha’s Return
Yuan didn't know if Miss Farrah was just in denial. But that's what Cosette said earlier before she fell asleep.

"We can feel it. As a pack, we are connected. I can still feel the presence of our alpha... of my brother."

"But the machine already showed a flat line."

"We're not normal. You know that. So it's possible there was just a mistake."

The nurse came out of the ER door. She said Aslan needed to be moved.

"No," Miss Farrah said. "You can't take him out of that room. My brother is alive."

The nurse turned to Yuan.

"Sir?" they asked the second in command of the clan.

Yuan sighed. "Give us a few more hours," he said. "Continue monitoring the patient."

The nurse was confused, but she nodded. She said goodbye and went back inside the room.

"Thank you very much," Miss Farrah said.

"If you say he's still alive, I will believe you."

"How's Cosette?" Kieran asked.

"She's asleep. She found out what happened to Aslan," Yuan said. "I thought everything would be okay when she woke up."

"They can sacrifice their safety and freedom for each other," Miss Farrah said. "But now they need to think about themselves more. That's how they can both survive."

They waited in the hallway. Cosette was brought out of her room. She was lying on a hospital bed and was still unconscious.

"Where are you taking her?" Yuan asked.

"We need to check the baby's condition. We will head to the ER."

Yuan paused. He didn't know if it was a good idea for the two of them to be in the same room, to see each other again in an unexpected place and time.

Yuan looked at Miss Farrah and Kieran. Miss Farrah forced a smile and nodded.

"If this is really the last time they'll be with each other, it's better to let them be. Even in this situation, let's let them be together."

Yuan understood what she meant. He nodded. "If that's what you think is best for them."

Cosette was taken into the ER. A blue curtain covered the bed where Aslan was. It was the only thing separating them from each other. One of the nurses pulled back the curtain, and at that moment, after so much suffering, they were next to each other again. Even if it wasn't the situation they expected, their fate still led them to each other.

\--

Cosette was dreaming. In her dream, she was facing Aslan. They were on a road, a wide road surrounded by trees and woods.

"I need to leave," Aslan said.

Aslan was smiling. His face was peaceful. He turned around and faced the wide, endless road.

Cosette grabbed Aslan’s hand. Aslan turned around again. Cosette had never seen Aslan’s face so peaceful.

"Do you really need to? Do you really need to leave us?"

"I waited for you so I could say goodbye. I didn't want to leave you alone-"

"Then don't!" Cosette cried. "Don't leave me."

Aslan gently removed Cosette’s hand from his.

"But I need to do this to save you... you both."

Cosette shook her head.

"Let's save ourselves, with our strength, with all that we are," Cosette pleaded.

"No matter how hard it is, we need to fight together. Don't think about me. I'll fight, Aslan. So let's think about ourselves this time."

Aslan looked at Cosette.

"I love you so much, Aslan. Save yourself, and I'll do the same. Let us save ourselves, and we will save each other."

Cosette reached for Aslan’s hand again. This time, Aslan didn't remove his hand. Instead, he held Cosette’s hand tightly.

"Let's go home," Cosette said.

Cosette prayed for Aslan to never let her hand go. She smiled with tears in her eyes when she saw him nod.

"Let's go home."

\--

Miss Farrah looked at Cosette. She didn't know if she was awake yet. Cosette’s hand moved and held the hand of Aslan, who was lying on the other bed. She held it tightly.

"Is she already awake?" That was the question on the faces of the nurses in the ER.

All of a sudden, a sound caught everyone's attention. It was coming from the machine connected to Aslan. The machine started reading Aslan’s heartbeat again.

The people in the ER looked at each other. One ran to the door and called the doctor. Cosette started to feel immense pain. Every bit of her body was covered in pain. She could feel it in her half-conscious state. She could feel it stopping her breathing, messing with her head, and slowing her heartbeat. But she would fight. For herself. For her child. For Aslan.

Cosette turned and looked at Aslan’s face. She smiled when she felt Aslan holding her hand. The machine continued its monotonous beeping, showing his stable heartbeat. And at that moment, Cosette knew that Aslan was back with her.