Chapter 174 Kaden's POV
I paced the perimeter of the camp like a caged animal.
Hours had passed since Elara left, since Marcus and his team followed her trail. Since I had heard nothing about what was happening.
Every minute felt like an eternity, every sound made me jump, thinking it might be news.
"Alpha, you need to rest," one of the warriors said. "You have been pacing for hours."
"I can't rest, not until I know they are safe."
"Standing here won't make them come back faster."
"I know, but I can't just sit and do nothing."
Then I heard it, vehicles approaching, fast and urgent. I ran toward the sound, heart pounding.
Marcus's convoy came into view, moving at top speed. The vehicles skidded to a stop and Marcus jumped out of the back seat.
He was carrying Elara, her body was limp. Covered in blankets, but I could see the blood soaking through.
"Medical tent! Now!" Marcus shouted.
I ran alongside him. "What happened? Is she-"
"She is alive but barely, multiple gunshot wounds, stab wounds she needs immediate treatment."
Behind us, another scout emerged from the vehicle. Carrying Adrian, my son was crying loud, distressed cries that made my chest ache.
"She got him back," Marcus explained as we ran. "Killed everyone who tried to stop her. But she took serious damage in the process."
We burst into the medical tent, the new doctor, a woman named Dr. Chen who had stepped up after Damian left, was already preparing equipment.
"Put her on the table," Dr. Chen ordered. "And if someone takes the baby, I need space to work."
Marcus tried to hand Adrian to a nurse, but my son screamed even louder.
"I will take him." I said, reaching for Adrian.
The moment he was in my arms, his cries changed slightly. Still upset, but not quite as desperate he knew his father's scent, his father's voice.
"Shh, little one, mama is going to be okay, the doctor is helping her."
Dr. Chen was working quickly, cutting away the bloody blankets and assessing Elara's injuries.
"Three gunshot wounds, one to the shoulder, one to the abdomen. One grazed her thigh, multiple stab wounds, severe blood loss."
She looked up at me. "Alpha, I need you to leave. I can't work with you standing over me."
"But-"
"She needs surgery now and you need to take care of your son. He is traumatized and needs his father."
She was right. Adrian was still crying, his little body shaking with distress.
"Save her," I said. "Do whatever it takes."
"I will, now go."
I left the medical tent reluctantly, still holding Adrian. He wouldn't stop, wouldn't calm down, just kept crying and crying.
I tried everything, rocking him, talking to him. Walking around the camp, nothing worked.
"He might be in pain," One of the nurses suggested. "From the stress, from being taken. Let me get something to help."
She returned with a small dose of infant pain reliever, we administered it carefully. Within minutes, Adrian's cries began to quiet, his tiny body relaxed, his eyes grew heavy.
Finally, he fell asleep in my arms exhausted from his ordeal.
I stood there holding him, watching his peaceful face. This tiny person who had been through so much in his short life.
Stolen, carried away by enemies, rescued by his mother who'd fought through hell to save him.
"You are safe now." I whispered.
"Both your parents are here, we are not letting anyone take you again."
Hours passed. I sat in a chair outside the medical tent, Adrian sleeping in my arms.
Warriors came and went, giving reports. Updating me on camp security on scout positions.
But I barely heard them, all my attention was on that tent, waiting for news about Elara.
Finally, Dr. Chen emerged tired but not devastated, which was a good sign.
"She's stable," the doctor said.
"I removed two bullets, the third had passed through cleanly. Repaired the stab wounds, she lost a lot of blood, but she will survive."
Relief flooded through me. "When will she wake up?"
"Could be hours, could be tomorrow, her body needs time to heal. But she is strong, she will pull through."
"Can I see her?"
"Briefly, but don't wake her, she needs rest."
I carried Adrian into the tent. Elara lay on the bed, pale and still. Bandages covered most of her torso. IVs ran into both arms.
But her chest rose and fell steadily, she was alive.
I sat beside her bed, still holding our son. "You did it, you saved him, you are both safe now."
She didn't respond, didn't move but I stayed there anyway, keeping watch over both of them.
After a while, I placed Adrian in the bassinet the nurses had set up beside Elara's bed then I kissed her forehead gently.
"Rest, heal. I will keep you both safe while you do."