Chapter 66 Unwelcome Intrusion
[Lysander]
The medical team was waiting as the helicopter doors opened, stretchers ready. They moved Nyx with practiced care, transferring her from the helicopter stretcher to the wheeled one with smooth efficiency.
"Vitals stable," one of the medical staff reported, checking the portable monitor. "Blood pressure low but acceptable. Core temperature rising—thirty-six point two Celsius now. Heart rate steady at sixty-two."
"The other patient?" I asked as we moved through the emergency entrance.
"Already in treatment room one. Shadowcrest Alpha is with her." The staff member glanced at her tablet. "Her condition is more critical—core temperature was dangerously low. They're warming her slowly with heated IV fluids and thermal blankets."
A coordinator in medical scrubs met us at the entrance, tablet in hand. "Commander Crowley," she said quickly. "We've cleared the fourth-floor VIP wing for the rescue patients. Private rooms with full monitoring equipment."
"Room 407 has been prepared for Mrs. Crowley," the coordinator continued as the elevator doors closed. "Private suite setup, but with full hospital monitoring capabilities."
The elevator ride felt eternal. I kept my hand on Nyx's shoulder, feeling the steady rise and fall of her breathing through the thermal blanket. Still unconscious. Still so pale.
Room 407 was a private hospital room—medical equipment surrounding a comfortable bed, monitors ready, but with large windows showing the mountain view.
"Transfer on three," the medical coordinator directed. "One, two, three—"
They moved Nyx with coordinated precision, settling her onto the hospital bed. A medical team stepped forward—an older male Omega with kind eyes and silver-streaked hair, his badge identifying him as Dr. Harrison.
He conducted a thorough examination—pulse, temperature, checking for injuries. "No major injuries. Mild frostbite on her fingers and toes—should heal completely with proper warming. The abrasions are superficial. Her core temperature is rising—thirty-six point five now. Good progress."
"Then why won't she wake up?" The question came out rougher than I intended.
"Her body pushed beyond normal limits," Dr. Harrison explained gently. "The hypothermia, the physical exertion, the emotional stress—she needs deep rest to recover."
"When will she wake?"
"Could be hours. Could be longer. Her body will wake when it's ready." He checked his notes. "She hasn't eaten since yesterday morning, and burned massive amounts of energy during the rescue. Her blood sugar is low—not dangerously so, but concerning. I'd like to start a glucose IV."
"Do it."
He worked efficiently, setting up the IV. "The drip is slow. It'll take several hours to complete. A nurse will check periodically." He made notes, then looked at me with genuine concern. "You should rest too. There's a family waiting room—"
"I'm staying with my wife."
He nodded without argument. "Of course. There's a chair by the bed. Use the call button if anything changes. I'll send someone with food and clean clothes."
After he left, I pulled the chair beside the bed, holding Nyx's hand. Through our bond, I felt her steady presence, deep in healing sleep.
About twenty minutes later, Nyx's phone vibrated. I answered. "This is Commander Crowley."
"Commander?" Mia's voice, surprised and concerned. "I was trying to reach Ms. Verdant about this afternoon's board meeting—"
"She successfully rescued her sister from an avalanche," I said. "But pushed herself too hard. She's in the hospital now—stable but unconscious."
"She saved someone from an avalanche?!" Mia's voice went up an octave. "Oh my God, that's so badass! I mean—sorry, is she okay?"
"The doctors say yes. She needs rest."
"Of course!" Then, almost dreamily: "Wow. She really is amazing. Beautiful, brilliant, and a literal hero. How is she even real?" A pause. "Commander, you're so lucky. She's like... everything."
I felt an odd twist in my chest. Even her female assistant was half in love with her.
"Ms. Mia," I said, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice. "Do you have a point?"
"Oh! Sorry!" She laughed nervously. "I'll handle everything at the office. The board meeting, the appointments, all of it. Ms. Verdant just needs to focus on recovering. And tell her she's incredible!"
After hanging up, I stared at the phone.
Even the women are obsessed with her, my wolf grumbled.
Apparently, I agreed, not sure how I felt about that.
A nurse arrived shortly after with food and clothes. "Dr. Harrison asked me to bring these. There's a bathroom with a shower if you'd like to clean up."
I looked down at myself—still in the thermal rescue suit, streaked with dirt and melted snow. I definitely needed to clean up.
The hospital room's bathroom was small but functional. I stripped quickly, letting the rescue gear fall in a heap on the tile floor.
The hot water was a shock after hours in the cold—almost painful at first, then gradually becoming a blessed relief. I stood under the spray, feeling my muscles slowly unclench, the tension bleeding out along with the dirt and melted snow.
Five minutes. Just enough to get clean and warm.
I dried off quickly with the hospital towel, then reached for the clothes the nurse had brought—hospital scrubs, simple and clean. I wrapped the towel around my waist and opened the bathroom door.
And stopped.
Selene Blackwood stood beside Nyx's bed, her blue eyes lifting from my unconscious wife to me. Her gaze traveled slowly, deliberately—from my damp hair down my bare chest, lingering on the muscles still wet from the shower, the water droplets trailing down my torso. Her eyes continued downward to where the towel hung low on my hips, then back up with unmistakable interest.