The Healer

Chapter 40

Victor POV

My heart raced, and Ivan howled in joy at finally claiming our chosen mate. Although we could not mark each other, it still didn’t diminish what we both shared. I could feel the bond strengthen as soon as we surrendered our virtues to one another. I could feel Ivan come to the surface and share my feelings and vision as I saw Mystic quickly show herself through Tori’s eyes.

We finished our shower and were getting dressed. I sat on the bed and watched her brush her hair. She looked like an angel, my dark-haired beauty standing before me. My love for her grew with each passing minute. I could not fathom a life without her. It physically pained me to have such thoughts, so I pushed them away and focused back on her. She stared back at me with a grin on her face.

“You look more and more beautiful every day.” Just as I expected, I noticed a deep flush appeared on her cheeks and neck, and I chuckled. Too cute.

“Victor, stop.” She whined as I chuckled again and walked over to her and wrapped her up in my arms. Laying my lips upon hers, I kiss her deeply, praying this feeling never goes away. I could hold her all day for eternity.

“I will never stop” I said in a serious tone, and she wrapped her arms tighter around me.

Suddenly, I felt the pull of a mind link from a pack member trying to reach me. I had forgotten that I closed my link while I was alone with Tori.

‘What is it?’ I growl through the link.

‘Beta, it’s the Alpha. He’s been stabbed!’ I felt myself go rigid and then heard Tori yelling that I was hurting her. I loosened my arms and heard a bang on the door.

Yanking the door open, I see Eric and Tammy standing there with angry looks on their faces. He had obviously been crying but attempted to gather himself before coming to get me.

“Beta Victor, you need to come now!” Eric yelled in an almost panic state.

“What happened?” Tori questioned as she tried to keep her panic away, Tammy wrapped an arm around her shoulders and held her close.

“It’s the Alpha!”

“What happened to my father?!” She screamed while she held onto Tammy.

“The Alpha has been attacked!” I watched Tori’s face twist through so many emotions before settling on pain and fear. I grabbed her hand, and she started shaking.

“I need to help him!” Eric bit his lip, trying not to release his anger on Tori.

“Eric, what happened?” I demanded while pulling Tori into my arms.

“The Alpha was stabbed.” Tori took off out of my arms and ran through the hallway. I followed suit and saw that she was running out the door and towards the hospital. Fear and anger fueled her as she ran across the grounds. I tried calling her, but she refused to stop. We reached the hospital entrance and stepped inside. It was a madhouse. People were running everywhere.

“Beta!” I turned to see one of the nurses jogging up to me.

“Carol, where’s the Alpha?” Tori was clinging to me as if a lifeline. I held her tight and waited for the nurse to answer. She glanced down at Tori and then came back to me. Eric and Tammy came up behind us, waiting for any news.

“They took him up to the Alpha floor to prep for surgery.” I took a step with Tori following before she stopped me.

“I’m sorry, Beta, but the girl can’t go with you. Only high rank and family.” I turned on her and released my Beta aura.

“This girl has more right than anyone to be there. You will not interfere!” The nurse bowed her head.

“I’m sorry, Beta, but it’s hospital policy.”

“She is coming with me. If the hospital has a problem with it, they can come see me!” I grabbed Tori and continued down the hall to the elevator. Once we were all inside, Tori began sobbing. I wrapped her in my arms and gently soothed her by rubbing her back. We stood there in silence until the ding sounded our arrival to the floor.

Stepping out, I saw several people rushing in and out of a room at the end of the hall. One of them spotted me and ran up to me.

“Beta Victor! We have stabilized the Alpha, but we need to get him to surgery to remove the knife.”

“Has he said anything?”

“No Beta, he was unconscious when he came in and hadn’t woken yet. Warrior Teaghan is with him now.” I nodded and guided Tori down to her father’s room. When we stepped inside, it was a horrific sight. Tori sobbed loudly and covered her face with her hands. Tammy squeezed her shoulders in comfort.

He was smothered in tubes and wires and had a breathing mask on his face. A monitor was sounding out each heartbeat. His chest was covered in bulky bandages, stabilizing the knife still protruding from his chest. I had to bite back a growl from my anger. Ivan was pacing in my head, declaring the head of whoever hurt his Alpha.

“Daddy?” I heard Tori whisper as she slowly shuffled up to his bed. She softly grabbed his hand and squeezed. “Can you hear me?” There was no reaction. His heartbeat unchanged in its slow, steady rhythm.

“Beta” I turned to see Teaghan standing off to the side. She bowed her head and then looked longingly towards Rick. A slight glint of jealousy in her eyes as she watched the scene with Tori holding her father’s hand.

“Teaghan.” We stared at him for a moment in silence with only an occasional sniffle from Tori. I put my arms around her and let her lean on me.

“Tori?” Teaghan stepped up and called quietly. Tori looked over at the woman and nodded, recognizing her from the bonfire.

“I was with him when it happened.” Tori walked out of my arms and went to stand by her.

“May I ask what happened?” Teaghan took a breath before answering.

“Alpha asked me to spend the evening with him. We were on the couch when he asked me…if I would be….” She stopped and glanced at me before looking back at Tori. “… he asked if I would be his mate.” Tori’s eyes went wide. Teaghan’s head was bowed, thinking she was about to be chastised. I smiled when I saw Tori pull the woman into an embrace.

“I’m happy for you! You said yes, right?” The look on Teaghan’s face was almost comical. Not understanding why this woman was hugging her and not attacking her. She slowly brought her arms around Tori and awkwardly patted her back.

“Yes! Of course, I said yes.” Tori leaned back and smiled at her.

“That’s wonderful! He deserves to be happy.” Tori noticed the strange look on her face and frowned. “Teaghan, it’s okay. I’m really happy for you and….my father.” It took her a minute, but then Teaghan’s face lit up, and she started to cry and smile all at once.

“I had no idea!” They hugged a moment longer and then parted. Teaghan noticed Eric and Tammy at the side of the room and bowed in greeting to them.

“Gamma Eric, Gamma Tammy” they nodded in return.

“No titles here, please. We’re all family now.” Tori stated and gave her attention back to Teaghan to finish her story.

“We were in the bedroom when there was an angry knock on the door. He said he’d be back. Something didn’t feel right, so I followed him to the door. I saw Corinne at the door crying. She was holding a knife. I didn’t hear what they said, but she yelled something at him and plunged the knife in his chest. But then she sat down next to him and softly spoke to him.” She finished shaking her head.

“She will pay dearly for what she has done. Even if I have to end her myself!” Tori’s eyes went dark as Mystic flared, sharing their anger. After calming herself down, Tori returned to her father’s side.

I stood there quietly, watching Tori fuss over her father. Fixing his pillow, flattening his blankets, and checking his oxygen mask. Seemingly satisfied, she sighed and held his hand.

“Tori?” I asked, stepping up beside her.

“Hmm?” She answered without looking at me.

“Do you think maybe you could… help him?” Her head whipped around to stare at me. Tammy also looked at me, and I began to feel uneasy.

“I don’t know. Alpha’s are difficult to help. I can try.” She stood and held both of his hands in hers and closed her eyes. For a moment, nothing happened, but then she started to shake, and a sheen of sweat appeared on her forehead. “Victor! I need you.” I stepped up and grabbed her hands so she could siphon my energy. It felt a bit uncomfortable having my life essence drain from me, but I would do anything for Tori and, in turn, Alpha Rick. I was turning weak fast, and I assumed it was because we were trying to heal an Alpha.

“Apache! Let me in! I only want to help!” Tori was screaming at Rick’s wolf. Father or not, he was an Alpha wolf and very prideful. Accepting aid in any capacity is very hard and, in their eyes, weak and demeaning. The frustration on Tori’s face was hard and painful to see. Apache wasn’t letting her in to help. Tori was shaking, and a glaze of sweat was forming on her face. Her skin began to turn red, and I saw a small trickle of blood run down from her nose.

“Damnit, Apache!” She screamed again. I felt Eric and Tammy step up and take our hands as well. I knew Apache was strong, but I would never have thought he’d deny help from his own daughter knowing she was a healer wolf.

Suddenly, all the alarms on the monitors started blaring. The heart rhythm was erratic, and his breathing became ragged and harsh.

“Tori! What’s happening?” I roared as I watched Rick begin to shake and kick his legs.

“I can’t…. it’s too hard…. He’s fighting….” She was gasping for breath and trying to hold on as the medical team came in and started checking on Rick.

“We’re losing him. Get the crash cart stat!” I pulled Tori away as Eric grabbed Tammy, and we all moved to the back of the room as we watched the team try and save the Alpha. They shocked him several times before finally reviving him with a heartbeat.

“We need to get him to surgery now! The silver is spreading more rapidly and it’s working through the heart. If we don’t clean it out now, he won’t make it.” The doctor informed us while the nurses were preparing to move Rick to the surgery suite.

They gathered the monitor; one nurse was squeezing the Ambu-bag for his breathing, and another was setting up the IV’s for transport. As they wheeled him out of the room, all of us stood there watching as they took our Alpha down the hall to the surgery suite. Tori had her arms around me silently crying in my chest. Eric held Tammy tightly as tears fell down her face. I saw Teaghan off to the side, her eyes red and puffy, tears flowing freely as she hugged herself. Tori lifted her head and twisted to look behind us. Noticing how distraught Teaghan was, both Tori and Tammy went over to her and took her in their arms. They all cried together, supporting each other.

“He’s strong. He will make it through.” Eric stated while staring at the girls. I nodded absentmindedly.

“He better.” I answered as I saw Tori watching me. “Or their will be hell to pay.”