Stable for Now

They run through the doors, and Doc screams, "This way."

Her beta is carrying her. She doesn't look like she's even alive. Her skin has a blue tint, and her eyes are lifeless. She is still a beauty, even as young as she is. The Alpha is an idiot. He has no idea what he has thrown away. The power he could have if he only treated her with love.

They run into the operating room as the beta lays her on the gurney. The Gamma jumps forward, starting CPR while the crash cart is wheeled in.

I hear the word clear several times, and then finally, someone utters, “Oh, thank the goddess."

The beta and gamma are chased out while the doctor continues to work on young Katia. One of the nurses hands them fresh clothing and tells them, "Go get cleaned up and get something to eat. There's nothing more you can do for our little Luna."

Beta Mark speaks quietly, "Coral, you should be careful what you say. Someone hears you calling Katia that, and you could end up in the dungeons or worse."

"We've been calling her that since she arrived as his chosen mate. Although they aren't mated, thank the goddess, we are keeping her as our Luna."

"And the Alpha?"

"Who knows, maybe one of his wounds will get infected and take him out," she mutters. "Now, that would be justice. The Alpha dies from a wound that a little girl and her wolf gave him while defending herself from rape and murder."

"He is still the Alpha, Coral, and we can do nothing."

"Mark, he is a disgrace! If she lives, we are going to have to watch him torture her every chance he gets. The pack has decided to do whatever we can to make her life easier whenever Alpha Thomas isn't around."

"Our little ghost has to live first. Kelp?"

"She's hanging in there. I can barely feel her, but I can feel her."

"Come on, buddy, let's get cleaned up and put food into our stomachs. Doc will link us if anything happens."

I watched them walk out and hurried out of my hiding spot. Looking through the window on the door leading into the operating room, I saw Katia. She is lying there pale with her eyes taped closed. The doctor put her throat back together and sewed a tube into her throat. It's hooked to a machine and breathing for her. If only she had been older, her wolf would have been more muscular and could help heal her. I was so proud when her wolf forced the shift to keep the rape from happening. She was magnificent, not one scream, and the shift had to be agonizing. A first shift doesn't usually occur until a wolf's 15th birthday. It can last for hours, and elders are there to help the pup through it. She shifted three years early, forced by stress and fear, and it was instantaneous. Her wolf was small like her but fierce and gorgeous. She was black as midnight with the milky white eyes of moon-touched people. Moon-touched ones are so rare. Many believe it to be a myth.

I'm sure her beta and gamma already know. That is likely why the three of them are always together when Alpha isn't trying to tame her. She's building her pack and gathering her protectors.

I am so lost in thought that I lost track of time, and Katia's little pack has returned. I hurry back to my hiding spot to hear the doctor when he comes out to update them.

"Hey guys, they are still at it. Hopefully, it won't be much longer. Doc said she was holding on. He said to talk to her, and even if you get nothing back, talk to her."

Those young men, barely adults aged 20 and 21, sat linking Katia for hours. They never slept. One went to get coffee while the other kept talking to her. They never left again. The Alpha showed up and glanced into the room. He turned and left without saying a word.

Finally, the doctor came out, looking ready to fall over. "I've done everything I can. It's up to our girl now. She's holding her own but isn't out of the woods."

"What the hell does that mean?" they both asked.

"It means the next 24 hours are crucial. Getting her through that alive should put her in the clear."

While they are talking to each other and not paying attention, I slide into the room with Katia. "Oh, my little one, I should never have left you with that woman." Closing my eyes and putting my hand over her forehead, seeing all she has suffered in her 14 years and all she still will suffer. She will have to decide if she will ever find happiness, but I worry she cannot hold out that long. Hearing a noise, I scrambled out and back to my hiding place.

The beta and gamma are carrying cots into the room. They plan on sleeping in there with her and not leaving her side. "Mark, what are we going to do? I mean, how are we going to sit back and watch him continue to torture her?"

"We will think of something. For now, let's get her through this night."

Coral checks her vitals, letting them know Katia is still hanging in there. "Doc says he will be right down the hall if anything happens. He keeps a room to sleep in here on nights too late to head home."

Coral left. The two of them put a cot on each side of her bed. Each laid down and reached up, taking hold of her hands. "If we hold on tight, she can't slip away, right Kelp?"

"Hear that, Katia? We got you. You can't leave us." I heard Kelp whisper as he started to go off to sleep