Chapter 71 Kaden's POV
I had never seen Damian lose his composure before. He was always calm, always professional, always in control, no matter how dire the medical situation.
But when I carried Elara into the medical wing, when he saw the silver burn on her leg, something in his expression cracked.
"What happened?" He demanded, his hands already reaching for her. "Silver? Someone stabbed her with silver?"
"An Erebus follower," I said, laying her carefully on the examination table.
"He was waiting for her to attack when she fell from her window."
"Fell from-" Damian's eyes went wide. "She's pregnant! What was she doing climbing out the windows?"
"Trying to leave the pack trying to protect me from the elders' demands."
Damian's jaw clenched. "Everyone out I need space to work."
"I'm staying," I said firmly.
"Kaden-"
"I'm….staying."
He looked like he wanted to argue, but Elara whimpered in pain and his attention immediately shifted back to her.
"Alright but stay out of my way."
I moved to the head of the table, taking Elara's hand in mine. She gripped it so tightly I felt bones grinding together.
Damian worked quickly, cutting away the fabric around the wound, examining the damage. His hands were steady but I could see the tension in his shoulders and the worry in his eyes.
He really cared about her.
The realization hit me with unexpected force. Damian wasn't just her doctor; he had feelings for her, maybe even loved her.
And why wouldn't he? He had been the one to save her life after the rogue attack. Had cared for her when she had no memory. I had protected her when I was too busy dealing with pack politics.
He'd been there for her in ways I hadn't.
"This is bad," Damian muttered, examining the silver burn.
"The poison has already started spreading. I need to debride the wound. Remove all the contaminated tissue."
"Will she be okay?" I asked.
"I don't know if silver poisoning is serious. And she's pregnant, which complicates everything." He looked up at me.
"This is going to hurt a lot. I will give her something for the pain, but I can't give her too much because of the baby."
"Do what you need to do."
Damian administered a mild sedative, then began cleaning the wound. The moment the disinfectant touched the silver burn, Elara's entire body went rigid.
She growled actually a sound I had never heard from her before. It was low and feral and full of pain.
"I know," Damian said softly.
"I know it hurts but I have to clean it or the infection will spread."
Her hand crushed mine tears streamed down her face.
"Breathe," I said, leaning close to her.
"Just breathe, Elara focuses on my voice."
"It burns.” She gasped. "It burns so much."
"I know but Damian's going to fix it, just hold on."
He continued working, removing dead tissue, flushing the wound each touch of the instruments made Elara cry out.
Then came the stitching needle piercing her flesh made her scream. She tried to pull away but I held her steady.
"Almost done," Damian said, though his voice was strained. "Just a few more stitches."
"Kaden," Elara sobbed.
"Please make it stop."
"I can't, love. But I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."
I stroked her hair with my free hand, murmuring words of comfort. Telling her she was strong that she was brave that the baby was going to be fine.
Finally, after what felt like hours but was probably only twenty minutes, Damian stepped back.
"Done the wound is clean and stitched. I've fixed the broken bone as best I can. She will need to stay off it completely for at least six weeks."
"And the baby?"
"I need to do an ultrasound to make sure there's no trauma from the fall."
He performed the scan while Elara lay there exhausted, barely conscious from the pain medication and emotional trauma.
"Heartbeat is strong," Damian said, and I heard the relief in his voice. "No signs of distress the baby appears unharmed."
Thank the heavens.
Elara's eyes were already closing. The medication was pulling her under.
"Sleep," I told her softly. "I will be here when you wake up."
"Don't leave," She whispered.
"I won't."
Within seconds, she was asleep in my arms. I held her for a long time, just watching her breathe. Grateful she was alive. Grateful the baby was alive. Grateful that Xavier had been there to save her.
Finally, I gently laid her back on the bed and stood.
"Stay with her," I told Damian. "Don't leave her alone for a second."
"Where are you going?"
"The Alpha who saved her is waiting outside. I need to thank him properly for saving her life."
I left the medical wing and found Xavier leaning against the wall in the hallway, his clothes still dirty from the fight.
"How is she?" He asked immediately.
"She will recover the baby is fine thanks to you." I extended my hand. "I owe you a debt. You saved my mate and my child."
Xavier shook my hand firmly. "No debt necessary I'm just glad I was there."
"Still. If there's ever anything you need from Blue Moon Pack, you have it." I said.
"I will keep that in mind." He answered.
We stood in comfortable silence for a moment.
"I should let you get back to her," Xavier said.
"But if you need anything…any help investigating the traitor situation let me know."
"I appreciate that."
Xavier nodded and we continued talking quietly about security measures and next steps.
That's when the medical wing door opened. Damian stepped out, probably to give me an update on Elara's condition.
Then he saw Xavier standing beside me.
He stopped dead the clipboard in his hand clattered to the floor.
All the color drained from his face. His eyes went wide with something that looked like shock and anger and disbelief all mixed together.
Xavier turned at the sound of the falling clipboard.
When he saw Damian, his entire expression transformed. A slow, calm smile spread across his face like he had been waiting for this moment.
"Damian." Xavier said, his voice quiet but carrying an edge of satisfaction.
Damian's jaw clenched. His hands curled into fists at his sides. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same question." Xavier's smile didn't waver. "It's been a long time, hasn't it?"
"Not long enough."
The tension between them was palpable thick enough to cut with a knife.
I looked between them, completely confused. "You two know each other?"
Xavier's calm gaze never left Damian's tense, angry face.
"Know each other?" Xavier's smile widened slightly. "Alpha Kaden, allow me to introduce you properly."
He took a step toward Damian, who stood rigid, radiating barely controlled fury.
"This is my brother.”