chapter 196 By All Means

chapter 196 By All Means
Lyra's POV

I was reading through another medical research paper about lunar eclipse curse treatments when Marcus appeared in the hospital doorway, his expression unusually tense.

"Lyra," he said quietly, approaching my chair beside Dorian's bedside. "We have a situation outside."

"What kind of situation?"

"There are werewolves gathering outside the hospital. A lot of them."

This was it. The moment I'd been dreading for weeks. Word had finally gotten out about Dorian's condition, about his inability to lead the pack. Werewolves wouldn't tolerate an unconscious Alpha, especially not one who might never wake up.

I remembered those dark days months ago when whispers about Dorian's condition had reached certain pack members. There had been whispered discussions about impeachment, about finding a replacement Alpha who could actually lead. It had taken all of Dorian's remaining strength and political maneuvering to silence those voices then.

But now? With him unconscious and showing no signs of improvement? The pack wouldn't accept a leader who existed only in name.

"How many?" I asked.

"At least fifty, maybe more arriving every hour."

I closed my eyes, feeling the familiar weight of despair settling over me. I wasn't ready for this fight.

But I had to face them. As Dorian's mate and the acting leader in his absence, the responsibility fell to me.

"I'll go talk to them," I said, slowly rising from my chair. My hand instinctively went to my rounded belly, where our unborn child moved restlessly, perhaps sensing my distress.

Marcus looked uncertain. "Are you sure? I could handle this for you."

"No. They need to hear from me directly."

I took a moment to compose myself, smoothing down my blouse and running my fingers through my hair. Whatever was about to happen, I needed to face it with dignity.

But when I stepped outside the hospital's main entrance, the scene that greeted me was nothing like what I'd expected.

The gathered werewolves weren't carrying weapons or wearing the grim expressions of revolutionaries. Instead, they were holding flowers.

Dozens of pack members stood in the hospital courtyard, their arms full of wildflowers, roses, and carefully arranged bouquets.

An elderly woman stepped forward from the crowd.

"Luna Lyra," she said with a respectful bow of her head. "We heard that Alpha Dorian is unwell. We wanted to bring these flowers to show our support and wish him a swift recovery."

I stared at her in shock, unable to process what I was hearing. "You're... here to support him?"

"Of course," said another voice from the crowd. A middle-aged man I recognized as a pack warrior stepped forward. "Alpha Dorian led us through the vampire war. He saved countless lives, protected our families, kept our territory safe. When we heard he was sick, we couldn't just stay home and do nothing."

"He's a hero," the elderly woman added firmly. "Whatever illness has struck him down, we know he'll fight through it. "

More voices joined in, creating a chorus of support and admiration:

"He risked his life for us countless times during the war."

"Remember when he personally led the evacuation of the southern settlements? He could have sent others, but he went himself."

"My daughter owes her life to Alpha Dorian's quick thinking during the vampire siege."

"He never asked us to sacrifice anything he wouldn't sacrifice himself."

Tears began streaming down my face as I listened to their words. These weren't pack members looking to replace their Alpha. These were people who genuinely loved and respected Dorian, who wanted nothing more than to see him recover.

Elena, who had been quietly watching from beside Marcus, suddenly tugged on my sleeve.

"Mama," she said in her clear, innocent voice that carried across the courtyard, "is Daddy a great Alpha?"

The question seemed to hang in the air, and I realized that every single person in the crowd was waiting for my answer. Elena looked up at me with those amber eyes so like her father's, her expression serious beyond her four years.

I knelt down to her leve.

"Yes, sweetheart. Your daddy is a very great Alpha. He's strong and brave and kind, and he loves our pack more than anything else in the world. "

The nods and murmurs of agreement from the crowd confirmed that they felt the same way.

She stepped forward and handed Elena a small bouquet of white lilies. "These are for your daddy, little one. Will you take them to him?"

Elena accepted the flowers with the solemnity of someone much older. "I'll tell him they're from all the pack members who love him."

-

One month had passed since that day at the hospital, and I was now six months pregnant.

Dorian's condition remained unchanged. His vital signs were stable, but he showed no signs of waking up. I'd taken over more and more of his Alpha responsibilities, with significant help from Caleb's younger brother, Ethan, who had stepped up to serve as our new Beta.

The Shadow Pack laboratory continued their research into developing an antidote based on my parents' notes, but progress remained frustratingly slow.

Every spare moment I had, I returned to Dorian's side. The hospital had become my second home, and the staff had grown accustomed to my constant presence.

Today, Clara was with me, having insisted on keeping me company during one of my long vigils.

"You should get out more," she said gently. "It would be good for you and the baby to get some fresh air, to see something besides these sterile walls."

I looked up from the medical journal I'd been reading, another fruitless search for any information that might help Dorian's condition.

"I'm fine here, Clara. Someone needs to stay with him."

"The medical staff is excellent. He's not alone even when you're not here." She reached over and placed a gentle hand on my arm. "Lyra, dear, When did you last do something just for yourself?"

The truth was, I couldn't remember.

"The baby needs you to take care of yourself too," Clara continued.

I glanced at Dorian's peaceful face. The thought of leaving him, even briefly, felt like abandonment.

But Clara was right about the baby. I could feel the child's movements becoming stronger and more frequent, and my medical training told me that my constant stress couldn't be good for either of us.

"Maybe a short walk," I conceded. "Just around the hospital grounds."

Clara's smile was gentle but relieved. "That's a start. And perhaps tomorrow we could venture a bit farther? Did Joey invite you to join her farm tour?"

I nodded, though my attention was already being drawn back to Dorian.

As I prepared to say goodbye for the day, I leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.

"I'm going to go for a walk," I whispered against his skin. "Clara thinks the fresh air will be good for the baby. But I'll be back soon, I promise. "