Armand's P.O.V.

I smiled as I watched my lovely mate sleeping. A knock on the door had me turning my head as I said

“Come in.”

Jax walked in with and shut the door behind him before he sat down in the other empty chair on the other side of the hospital bed.

“So how is the Luna doing?”

He asked as he leaned back into the seat. I looked back towards Artemis as I spoke softly

“She just went back to sleep not too long ago. She has a lot to learn about life.”

He arched an eyebrow so I continued to talk

“She had a sandwich and said it was the best thing she had ever eaten. She didn’t know the difference between mating and rape…She went through so much that I am surprised she even survived. She didn’t trust the food either..apparently she got used to eating poisoned food. She is funny though.”

I smirked as I remembered her calling Alpha Nate weak.

“She said Alpha Nate must have been weak to have to chain one girl to get his way.”

Jax chuckled when I said that then frowned before he replied.

“I wish she didn’t have to go through all that.” 

I nodded silently in agreement.

*Ring, ring*

Jax pulled his phone out of his pants pocket when it rang. He looked at the screen and scrunched his eyebrows together in confusion.

“Hello?”

He asked after hitting the green answer button. A smile spread across his face once he heard the voice on the other end.

“I am still at the hospital. I came to visit Alpha and Luna”

Jax said with a smile still on his face. I guess it must be Valerian that called. I watched him as I could feel his excitement.

“Yes, I would love to. I can meet you in the lobby..”

He paused waiting for a response.

“I think that should be fine. Let me ask Alpha first.”

He pulled the phone from his ear and looked at me.

“Alpha, Valerian would like to come and check up on Luna. Is that alright with you?”

Jax asked with a hopeful look on his face. I smiled and nodded before turning my attention back on Artemis’s sleeping face. She reminded me of those angels in the paintings I have seen many times. So beautiful and perfect. Moon Goddess, you really blessed me with someone so perfect. I thought to myself. A few moments later there was a knock on the door. Jax stood up and opened the door then moved away wearing a huge smile. Valerian walked in and looked over at Artemis.

“How is she doing?”

He asked as he walked closer.

I looked at him and pursed my lips before I gave him an answer

“I think she’s going to be fine. Thank you for saving her when you did.”

He smiled and took the seat Jax had been occupying.

“It’s my job Alpha, but I would have still done it regardless. Poor girl, she looked so injured.”

He said as his eyes rested on Artemis. I nodded

“Her mental damage exceeds her physical injuries.”

I said as I ran one finger along her hand near me. He frowned as he spoke

“I take it that she had rough life then?”

I nodded in silence and I grasped her hand in mine gently. Jax stood silently by the door staring at Valerian. Valerian looked over at Jax and smirked

“Are you just going to stand there and stare?”

He asked Jax causing him to blush. I snickered at seeing my Beta blush because it wasn’t something I had seen before today. Jax walked over towards my side causing Valerian to frown.

“What…you don’t want to sit with me?”

He asked with a playful pout. Jax gulped and blushed again, but remained silent. Valerian gave the best puppy eyes he could to Jax causing me to snicker again. I covered my mouth trying not to laugh as Jax stood at the end of the bed frozen in place.

“Just go over there already and let me sleep…”

Artemis said softly causing me to burst out laughing unable to hold back. Valerian chuckled as he looked at Artemis who had one eye open. Jax turned a deeper shade of red as he moved closer towards Valerian.

“S…Sorry Luna..”

Jax said as he stood next to Valerian in the chair. Artemis snorted and pulled herself to sit up slightly.

“No worries.”

She said just before she yawned and moved slightly trying to get comfortable again.

She laid back down fully as another yawn escaped her mouth. I smiled at her wiping the tears from my eyes from laughing so hard. Her still open eye trailed over towards Jax and Valerian as it slowly started closing. A small smile graced her lips as Valerian wrapped an arm around Jax pulling him into his lap. A faint giggle let her lips as she fully closed her eye preparing to go back to sleep. Jax’s face was beet red as he was pulled into a sitting position in Valerian’s lap.

“Was that so hard?”

Valerian whispered as he lips were near Jax’s left ear. I snickered as Jax shuddered and tried to pull away. Valerian smiled and wrapped his arm tighter around Jax.

“Nu uh…you aren’t getting away from me that easy.”

He said as he pulled Jax tighter against him. Jax closed his eyes as his neck turned as red as his face. I chuckled and shook my head before turning my attention back to a now sleeping Artemis. I smiled as I wrapped my hand around hers once again.

“You’re strong for a human…”

Jax said after a few moments of silence. Valerian’s chuckle filled the room

“Have to be for my job. We get some pretty heavy people we have to be able to lift…”

He said after his chuckle passed.

“Oh yeah…”

Jax said and I could feel his embarrassment.

“Join me for dinner Jax?”

Valerian asked after a few moments of silence had passed. I looked up to see Jax staring Valerian in the eyes.

“S…sure”

He said causing Valerian to smile widely.

“Have fun you two”

I said as they stood to leave. Valerian smiled wide and intertwined his fingers with Jax’s

“Thank you, Alpha.”

He said as he began to walk towards the door.

-“Have fun with your mate bro”-

I mind-linked to Jax. Jax smiled and nodded before he spoke

“Thank you Alpha. I will check in later.”

He said. I smiled and shook my head slightly noticing he was still beet red. As they opened the door I decided to add something else

“Hey! Use Protection!”

I hollered loud enough it echoed down the hall out of the open door. Jax turned to look at me redder than before and I laughed loudly. Valerian looked at the ground also turning a shade of red. I noticed Doc and a nurse at the station covering their mouths trying to hide their snickers.

-“I’ll get you for that!”-

Jax said in mind-link causing me to laugh harder. I let go of Artemis’s hand to clutch my sides as I laughed. Valerian and Jax left while I was still laughing.

-“That was hilarious! You’re funny!”-

I heard Arya’s voice in my mind. I wiped my eyes again as my laughter died down.

“Thank you Love”

I said in reply. I could hear her giggle echo in my mind causing Tafari to stir. He wagged his tail in my mind and let out a happy yip.

-“Hello Tafari..It’s good to talk to you again.”-

Tafari stretched out in my mind and gave as much of a smile as a wolf could.

-“Hello my love. How are you feeling?”-

He asked as he curled up again waiting for her reply.

-“I’m worried…”-

She said softly with a hint of sadness in her voice. I mentally furrowed my eyebrows together.

“How come?”

I asked her. She let out a sigh before she replied.

-“I know that Artemis didn’t ask to have a pup, but if this one dies too she will hate herself even more. I don’t think she could handle that. She is also of course worried that you won’t accept us fully. My own concern is for her and of course for the pup…It isn’t yours so what would we do if you hate it?”-

I frowned inwardly and looked outwardly at Artemis.

“I fully accept you both. I know the pup isn’t mine, but give me some time and I can accept it since it is part of you both.”

I said and then Tafari added his own input.

-“I absolutely detest that the pup isn’t mine, but I am willing to accept it as well. I don’t want either of you hurt. This time will be different. We will all make sure the pup survives.”-

I was so proud of his answer. I could feel Arya’s happiness and relief at his response. A loud beeping interrupted our conversation. Artemis’s heart monitor was shrieking loudly as her heart rate began to drop. I jumped up startled and ran to open the door quickly. As soon as the door was open I was hollering for Doc.

“DOC!!!”

My voice echoed through the now empty hallway. I waited for a few moments and sighed in brief relief as Doc came running into the room with two nurses. They began to examine Artemis and a look of horror crossed their faces.

“Alpha, we need you to move!”

Doc said hurriedly as the nurses unlocked the wheels of Artemis’s bed and began to move her I.V.s around. They also placed an oxygen mask over her mouth. I moved as they quickly ran out of the room towards to O.R. I walked as far as I was allowed and waited impatiently near the O.R. doors. After two hours they still hadn’t come out and I began to pace the hall. Worry covered my whole body since I didn’t know what had happened. I began to pace faster unable to sit still as I waited. I was sure that worry shone in my eyes.

“Alpha?”

I heard a voice speak, but I ignored it. The person trying to speak was not someone I cared to talk to.

“Alpha can I help you calm down?”

She asked. I growled at her and glared as I briefly paused my pacing.

“Get away Sabrina..”

I said harshly and continued to pace once more. My eyes flickered back towards the O.R. doors waiting for someone to update me. I could mind-link Doc, but I didn’t want to distract him while he tended to my mate. Sabrina left with a huff as she realized that I still refused to speak with her.

She had tried to get in my bed once without my permission. I was saving myself for my mate and she had tried to trick me. I only didn’t kill her because she is a pack member and it was a first offense. I told her that if she ever tried it again I wouldn’t hesitate to kill her. She still continued to try and catch my eye, but even Tafari doesn’t like her. I heard him whimper as he was also filled with worry. Another hour passed and I finally sat in an empty chair near the O.R. I put my head down into my hands and let out a sigh. I knew I had Alpha duties to attend to, but I couldn’t leave while my mate was here. I frowned and let out a worried sigh as yet another hour ticked by. My phone rang and I pulled it out of my pocket to see the screen flashing Jax’s name.

“What?”

I asked shortly in no mood to be nice.

“Alpha, Luna’s parents would like to see her…”

He said. I let out an annoyed growl

“Well no one can see her…”

I said with a huff. I heard his worried tone when he asked

“Is everything alright?”

I growled lowly letting my agitation slip through in my voice

“No..no it’s not…”

I didn’t wait for his response as I hung up. My wolf and I were on edge as we still waited for an update.

“Alpha?”

A female voice asked softly causing me to look up at her.

“How is she? What happened?”

I asked standing up quickly as I recognized the nurse from earlier. She frowned

“She’s alive. One of her broken ribs slipped and punctured her lung. Doc was able to fix both, but it took longer since she is pregnant. We had to wait for the O.B. to join the room and monitor the baby. Her lung had collapsed completely, but we were able to repair it. She will be moved back to her room in about a half an hour.”

The nurse said and I let out a sigh then nodded.

“Thank you.”

I said before she turned and walked back behind the O.R. doors. I went back to Artemis’s room and waited for her to return.