Chapter 10

Killian pov

The weight of Feya in my arms felt like an insurmountable burden, heavier than anything I had ever lifted. Yet, there was no alternative; she was my entire world, and I would do everything in my power to protect her. My heart raced violently within my chest, and each step I took toward the pack clinic seemed to stretch into infinity. Outside, chaos reigned—explosions echoed in the distance, and the ground trembled with the force of each detonation. But none of that registered in my mind. My sole focus was on Feya, consumed by the urgent need to ensure her survival.

“Stay with me, Feya,” I whispered, my voice thick with urgency. “Please.”

I pushed through the clinic doors, my eyes darting around the room in a frantic search. The faint scent of antiseptic mixed with the metallic tang of blood hung in the air, and an unsettling stillness enveloped the space, sending a shiver down my spine. The usual buzz of medical activity was absent, replaced by an oppressive silence that made my stomach churn.

“Doctor?” I called out, my voice strained, but the silence only deepened in response. My breathing quickened, desperation clawing at me.

I ventured further into the clinic, each step feeling heavier as if the very atmosphere had transformed into a dense weight. My gaze roamed across the stark white walls, the medical instruments lying idle, and the oppressive silence that thickened with each tick of the clock.

The office door stood slightly open.

With a surge of anxiety, I pushed it aside, my heart pounding with each cautious movement. And there he was—the doctor. Slumped over his desk, utterly still.

“Doc?” I called out again, my voice trembling. He had to be alive. He simply had to be.

But as I approached, the grim reality struck me too late. His eyes were wide open, yet devoid of life, and a dark pool of blood had formed beneath him. His hands lay motionless, and there was no sign of breath—nothing at all. He was gone.

I recoiled, a chill coursing through my veins. Someone had breached the clinic, someone had taken him from us before we could summon help. And now Feya…

My attention shifted sharply to her form, still lifeless in my embrace. Her complexion was ghostly, her breaths faint, yet something was unfolding. I could feel beads of sweat beginning to gather on her brow, and as I cradled her, I sensed her body temperature climbing. There was a disturbance within her. 

I muttered a curse under my breath. The syringe. The sedative. It wasn’t merely rendering her unconscious—it was doing something far more perilous.

“Stay with me, Feya,” I urged softly, a tremor of fear lacing my words as I pressed my palm against her forehead, the heat radiating from her skin burning against my touch. “You can’t leave me now.”

But the doctor was gone, taking with him any hope of saving her.

“Where are the nurses?” I grumbled to myself, my fingers gliding over her skin, desperately seeking any indication that she was still present, still fighting for her life. But it felt futile. My thoughts raced. What had transpired here? Who was to blame?

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a flicker of movement. A figure crouched low, quaking in the shadows. My body tensed, instinctively preparing for a confrontation, but the voice that emerged was familiar.

“Please… don’t hurt me,” a nurse pleaded, her eyes wide with fear. She was concealed behind a row of cabinets, clutching something in her hands as if it were her only hope.

I stepped closer, urgency spilling into my tone. “I need you to save her. Feya’s in critical condition. The doctor—he’s dead. Please, I can’t bear to lose her.”

The nurse trembled violently, her gaze darting toward the doctor's office. She gestured toward the door, her voice barely audible. “He... he’s gone. Someone came in... shot him.”

I raked my fingers through my hair, my breathing quickening as my thoughts spiraled out of control. “That doesn’t matter right now! She’s in danger. You have to help her. Please.”

She flinched, visibly shaking as she pressed deeper into the shadows. “I—I can’t. I can’t... They’ll kill me. They’re everywhere.” Her voice trembled, each word laced with palpable fear.

I had reached my limit. I refused to let Feya die because of someone else's terror.

“Damn it,” I snapped, my frustration boiling over. “You’re not the one facing death today; she is if you don’t conquer your fear and assist her.”

I inhaled deeply, softening my tone but maintaining its firmness. “I’m not asking you; I’m commanding you. You must help her. I can’t afford to lose her. Do you understand?”

Her wide, frightened eyes met mine, and for a fleeting moment, it seemed as if she might buckle under the weight of my plea. She opened her mouth to object, but when her gaze flicked back to the doctor’s office, her complexion drained further. Her eyes scanned the clinic like a cornered animal, desperately seeking a way out.

She whispered again, "I can’t," shaking her head as she attempted to retreat, but I was resolute. 

“I won’t abandon her. You either come with me, or I’ll carry you there myself,” I declared, my voice icy, fueled by a rage I hadn’t experienced in ages. “She’s my sister. I refuse to let her perish simply because you’re scared.”

The harshness of my words stung, yet they were undeniably true. I couldn’t let her slip away, not now, not when there was even the slightest possibility of her survival.

For a long moment, she stared at me, her body quaking so violently that I feared she might shatter. Finally, she offered a small, resigned nod, her shoulders sagging in defeat.

“Alright,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “Alright, I’ll assist you.”

I nodded sharply, a wave of relief washing over me. Without another word, I hurried to Feya’s side, being careful not to jostle her as I gently placed her on one of the examination tables. I pressed my hand softly against her cheek, willing her to awaken, to reassure me that she was still with us.

The nurse approached cautiously, her hands trembling as she gazed at Feya with wide, fearful eyes. Yet, she didn’t hesitate to step forward, her training taking over despite her evident fear. She gently opened Feya’s eyelids, checked her pulse, and then gathered several supplies from a nearby counter, her breath coming in shaky gasps.

“She’s too pale,” the nurse murmured, almost to herself, as she prepared the necessary tools. “This isn’t merely a tranquilizer. There’s something seriously wrong with her system. I need more time to get ready... but I’m not sure we have it.”

I gritted my teeth. "Do whatever it takes. I’ll do anything, just don’t let her die.”

The nurse acknowledged my presence with a nod before swiftly redirecting her focus to Feya, her movements imbued with an unexpected urgency. Her hands moved with remarkable skill, yet the fear etched across her face was unmistakable. She shared my dread, fully aware of the gravity of the situation unfolding before us.

I remained rooted in place, observing her every action as she fought to stabilize Feya. The cacophony of explosions outside continued to reverberate, plunging the world beyond these walls into turmoil, but none of that mattered to me anymore. My entire universe was confined to this room, where Feya’s life dangled precariously.

As the nurse pressed on, her actions grew increasingly frantic, a clear indication that she was grasping the severity of Feya’s condition. “This is serious,” she whispered, beads of sweat forming on her brow. “The needle... it’s having a detrimental effect on her body. Her heart rate is spiking. We must intervene immediately, or she won’t make it.”

I stepped closer, oblivious to the escalating noise from outside and the tremors that rattled the floor beneath me. My hands shook as I clutched the edge of the counter, desperate for stability.

“Just save her,” I implored, my voice strained and barely coherent. “I’ll do anything necessary.”

The nurse paused once more, her gaze darting between me and Feya, uncertainty etched on her face. After a moment, she inhaled deeply and nodded, her voice trembling as she hastened her movements. “I must give her this antidote. It will slow her system down and help restore her stability.”

I tightened my grip on Feya’s hand, anchoring her to me. “Please, hurry,” I urged, desperation lacing my words.

With swift precision, she prepared the syringe and injected Feya with the antidote. I held my breath, each second stretching into what felt like an eternity, the air thick with tension and anxiety.

Then, as if the universe itself paused, Feya’s body convulsed slightly. A hint of color returned to her cheeks, and her breathing became more rhythmic. I released a sharp breath, relief flooding through me, yet I refused to let go of her hand.

“Will she be alright?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

The nurse nodded, though her complexion remained ashen with worry. “She’s stabilizing. She should be okay now... but we need to keep a close watch on her. She requires time to heal.”

Time... That was the one luxury we couldn’t afford. The explosions were drawing nearer. Yet, at this moment, my sole focus was on the woman I cherished, the last family member I had.

I couldn’t take my eyes off Feya as the nurse worked. Every breath she took, no matter how shallow, was a gift. My heart hammered in my chest, the weight of the world pressing down on me. Her face, still pale but slowly returning to some semblance of normalcy, was a sight that both terrified and gave me hope.

The nurse, still visibly trembling, stepped back for a moment, wiping her brow with the back of her hand. Her hands had slowed, but she was still working with methodical precision, trying to ensure that Feya would not slip away from us.

“She's stabilizing, but I need to monitor her vitals closely. The needle... it’s left traces. She'll need more than just this antidote,” the nurse said, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s too dangerous. If this was a lethal dose—”

I didn't let her finish.

“Don't say that,” I interrupted, my voice rough with emotion. “She won’t die. She can’t die. Not like this.”

The nurse didn’t meet my eyes. Her hands continued to press gently on Feya’s chest, checking her pulse. The silence between us was suffocating, but there was nothing to say. I couldn’t afford to hear her doubt. I couldn’t even let myself believe it.

I leaned over Feya’s body, brushing her damp hair back from her face. "Stay with me, Feya," I murmured softly. "Please, don't leave me. I’m right here. I won’t leave you. Not now. Not ever."

Feya’s eyelids fluttered slightly, and I froze. My breath caught in my throat as her lashes twitched, her chest rising and falling in shallow, unsteady breaths.

"Feya?" I whispered, my voice thick with emotion, the words choked with a desperation that made my chest tighten.