The Healer

Chapter 42

Merrick POV

I opened the door to see Corinne standing there with tears rolling down her face. I noticed a silver knife in her hand pointed right at me.

“Corinne? What are you doing?” She took a step towards me, and I stepped back.

“You. Are. Mine!” Before I could move, she plunged the knife into my chest, and I dropped to the floor gasping for breath. My head was spinning, and everything was fuzzy.

“Victor….. help.” I mindlinked him just before my eyes went dark, and I passed out.

My mind had awakened before I even opened my eyes. I could hear people talking, an annoying beep, and a rush of air. A strong smell of bleach or cleaner, soft linen and…. Fresh roses and rain. I smiled to myself, knowing that wonderful scent. Teaghan was here. I tried to move my arms, but they felt like they were full of lead. My body was tired and heavy, and my mind was exhausted. I groaned out my discomfort, and a moment later, I felt a warm hand gripping mine.

“Alpha?” I heard her sweet angelic voice call to me. She was gently squeezing my hand to coax me awake. I tried to squeeze back, although very weak, it was enough to get her attention.

“Alpha! Please wake up.” She pleaded with a strained voice as if she’d been crying. I moved my head to the sound of her voice, and slowly, my eyes opened. Blinking to clear my vision, I saw her sitting next to the bed gazing at me with a smile on her face and tears in her eyes. I raised my arm, awkwardly, and softly wiped the tears that had fallen down her cheeks.

“No crying. I am fine.” She squeezed my hand with both of hers and brought it to her lips, kissing it softly.

“I’m so happy you’re awake. I was so scared!” She cried, leaning into my touch.

“It’ll take more than that to get rid of me.” I chuckled then groaned in pain as my ribs were screaming with the strain. I slid my hand around her neck and pulled her closer.

“I’m glad you’re here.” She leaned in and gently placed her lips on mine. It was a soft and warm kiss, nothing demanding. Enough to show her relief and expel her fear.

“Nowhere else I’d rather be.” She kissed me again and then sat back in her chair, still holding my hand.

“How do you feel?”

“My chest hurts, and my head is pounding, but I’m alright. How long was I out?” She shifted in her chair.

“It’s just after six a.m. You’ve been in surgery for over six hours.”

“Where is everyone?”

“They were in the waiting room. Tori said I could sit with you until you woke up. They are waiting to see you.” I nodded. “I can go get them if you like.” She started to stand, but I held her back.

“They can wait. I like you being here with me.” I was rubbing her knuckles with my thumb. She sat on the edge of the bed and brushed my hair from my face. “I’m just glad she didn’t hurt you too.”

“Tori helped you.” Teaghan whispered.

“She what?” I was shocked at what I heard.

“Tori helped heal you.” She repeated with a grin on her face. I could feel tears start in my eyes, and I had to blink to keep them back.

“It’s ok, baby. I know she’s your daughter. She loves you and obviously would do anything to help you.”

I took a deep breath and looked toward the ceiling. Thinking about how Tori put her life on the line to heal me, formed a smile on my face, and brought tears to my eyes again. I have no doubt now that she loves me. She loves her old man, the one who caused pain and heartache to her mother and ultimately drove her away. She has forgiven me and wants a new start. A weight has lifted from my chest, and my heart feels light and peaceful. It can only get better.

I was brought out of my thoughts by a gentle hand to my cheek.

“You ok?” Teaghan asked with a concerned look. I smiled and squeezed her hand.

“Yeah. It’s all good now.” She smiled again. “Besides, I still owe you a date. We never got to enjoy our glass of wine or…” I stated, wiggling my eyebrows at her. She started giggling, and her cheeks blushed an adorable shade of pink.

“Yes! You still owe me a romantic evening.” She threw me a seductive grin and winked. My heart began to flutter. I chuckled, but then my heart began to pound in my chest. Harder and harder. Faster and faster. I could feel my face flush, and I was having trouble breathing. I sat up panting, grabbing my chest, I tried to calm myself, but it wasn’t working.

“Alpha?” Teaghan cried out, trying not to panic. “Rick!” I heard her scream before I fell back on the bed and started shaking. I felt hands on my arms and someone calling my name, but it sounded so far away. I tried to look over to her, and I only saw dark fuzzy shapes. I shook my head, but it only made it worse. My chest was heaving, but I was getting no air. I was reaching out for anything to hold onto when I felt a hand take hold of mine. Something was placed over my face, and a rush of wind hit me. The dizziness was subsiding, but my heart was still racing. Grasping the last tendrils of consciousness, I attempted to speak, but no words came out. What the hell was happening to me? My mind was racing to a million thoughts and memories. Visions of memories played before my eyes. I could feel myself slipping away. The last vision I saw was Tori lying in a hospital bed with Victor sitting next to her. He was crying and holding her hand. This wasn’t a memory, so it had to be a vision of events to come. What happened to my daughter!?

Then it went dark.

Teaghan POV

“Alpha! Rick!” I grabbed his hand and squeezed. I shook him hard, and he showed no signs of anything. His eyes were closed, but his face was flushed red, and his body went limp.

“Help! Please help!” I screamed towards the open door. A moment later, two nurses came running in and went straight for Rick. They checked his eyes, his pulse, and his heart.

“Call a code blue! Starting CPR!” The blond nurse yelled as the other pushed the large red button on the wall. I heard an announcement overhead saying, “Code blue room 120”. The red-haired nurse started CPR and was pumping Rick’s chest as the blond nurse placed an Ambu bag over his face and squeezed every so often to breathe. The doctor ran in and checked the machines first, then turned towards Rick.

“Stop CPR” The nurses pulled away, and the doctor put his stethoscope against his chest and listened.

“Get me the paddles!” The first nurse wheeled over a cart with the defibrillator on it and started setting it up. His gown was ripped off, and the head of the bed was placed flat. Large white pads were stuck to his chest and side while the doctor set the machine and grabbed two handles.

“Charge to 300!” I heard a long beep then silence. “Clear!” He placed the paddles on his chest and pushed the buttons. Rick’s body lurched off the bed a couple of inches. They watched the monitor waiting for an alert of his heartbeat. Nothing.

“Again!” The machine made its beeping sound, and the doctor shocked him again. By now, I was full on sobbing and shaking. I didn’t want to watch, but I didn’t want to leave him either. He was so strong that he had to pull through. I was just talking to him! He promised me a romantic evening for just the two of us!

“Nurse! Take her out of here!” The blond nurse came over and gently took hold of me and guided me out of the room and down the hall to the waiting area.

“As soon as the doctor can, he will come out and let you know what is going on.” I nodded, and she ran back to the room. I paced and paced over every inch of the small waiting area. I had to notify Tori and Beta Victor. I don’t have Tori’s number, and I can’t mindlink her, so I mindlinked the Beta.

‘Beta Victor?’ I called through the link. He didn’t answer right away. A few minutes had gone by before I heard his voice.

‘What is it?’ He sounded concerned and fearful.

‘It’s Alpha Rick’ I hesitated, afraid to say what was happening.

‘What happened?’

‘His heart stopped’

‘We’ll be right there’ He shut the link, and I sat down waiting for the doctor.

About half an hour later, he came down the hall and stopped in front of me.

“Miss Teaghan?” I shot up out of my chair and wiped my eyes.

“Doctor, how is he? What happened?” He took a deep breath and blinked slowly.

“He’s in a coma”

“What?” I grabbed his hand, begging the Goddess that he was wrong.

“The knife he was stabbed with…was poisoned. We are running tests on it as we speak. Apparently, it traveled through his bloodstream, and once it reached his heart, it started to destroy the heart muscle, and his rhythm was interrupted. He stopped breathing, so we had to intubate him. He is currently in a comatose state.” My tears came full blown now. I shook my head and fell into one of the chairs.

“When will he wake up?” The doctor sighed again.

“I don’t know.” He hesitated before finishing. “He may never wake up.”

Oh, my Goddess! How am I going to tell Tori her father may never wake up?