Ava’s POV
The continuous beeping of the monitor was a brutal reminder of reality. I sat alongside Ava’s bed, my hand laying over hers, careful not to disrupt the IV line slithering into her arm. She was pallid, her breaths shallow yet constant. The wound had been worse than I’d imagined, and every second she hovered between life and death felt like an eternity.
I’d failed her. I’d pledged to protect her, and yet here we were.
The door creaked open, and Callum walked inside, his presence a mix of authority and tiredness. “How is she?”
“Stable, for now,” I answered, my voice empty. “But she lost a lot of blood.”
He nodded, his eyes lingering on Ava’s lifeless form. “She’s strong. Stronger than any of us gave her credit for.”
“She shouldn’t have had to be,” I screamed, rage surging to t
