Hidden Killers: Shadows in the Dark (Book 3)

7 - Colt POV

The agonising slow beats coming from the heart monitor is the only thing keeping me present.

The heat that was radiating off of Abby were beginning to subside as her body passed through the first stages of the conversion treatment.

Apart from Dr. Moss and the odd nurse coming in to check on the progress plus provide us with some light refreshments, no one had come into room to check on us. Or, should I say, no one dared enter just in case I was still in a fowl mood.

Or, they hate us for what we have done.

But we don't care about that, do we Ash?

No. I wanted to bite her to save her life. Like you said to those witches, I would do it again if I had to.

At least we are sticking together.

Us, and the others in this room.

Helen, yes. Jason and Talia... they are on the fence.

Do not get me wrong, I believe they are happy at the fact that Abby has a chance of coming back. However, they are letting the worries of what was to come cloud their optimism.

Let's address those.

One - Abby not making it through the conversion. The first stages are the worst part of the whole process. Her body is now acclimitising whilst adapting in preparation for shifting and it is no longer trying to fight off the venom that coursed through her veins.

The only part left to worry about was the final stage, where her brain functions would develop in incorporate her new heightened senses as well as gaining her wolf counterpart. This would result in a seizure which could again, result in death or being brain dead, but my mate was a fighter. I had every faith that she would make it through and I would be able to hold her in my arms, telling her everything was going to be alright.

Two - the point where I would be arrested and put on trial by the Council. Well, I presumed that they were allowing me time to be with my loved ones during these strenuous times, or they had yet to be informed of the circumstances, because they, along with the other Alphas and Lunas, were still here but they had not brought it to my attention yet.

But, if they did demand that I stand trial, I would gladly explain how this was to save a life and that that should be at the forefront of any decision made. I want to avoid jail time. I don't care if I was stripped of my Alpha title. As long as Abby was alive at the end of it, everything would be worth it.

I will find a way to be with my mate again. And our son.

*Knock knock knock*

"Come in." I respond as I turn towards the door, not letting go of Abby's hand as I see Dan walk in somewhat more sheepishly compared to usual.

"Alpha." He addressed me. That was not a good sign - he never called me by my title.

"What is it, Gamma?" I was on edge, so I returned fire by referring to him by his title.

That seemed to straighten his spine - his face remained sullen but he squared off his shoulder. "I am afraid we have terrible news."

My eyes fix on the scene behind him as he steps to the side. Siobhan has her hands on an incubator. Inside, the tiniest little pup I had seen.

Siobhan was trying to hold back her sobs but failing. "We tried-... Sorry."

My legs move me towards him before they give out. Asher was in my eye line as I fell to my knees next to him. The sound of cries filled the room accompanied by Ash pining inside my head as the news sunk in.

My son... dead..?

I looked over his features through my tear soaked eyes. He was so small, he would only have been a couple of months through the pregnancy at this point. His skin almost looked translucent but I could see some resemblances to myself and Abby in him.

"No... no! Not my son!" I wailed as I placed one hand on the incubator, other other covering my eyes.

How could this be happening?

This night was supposed to be the best night of my life. Abby was to be my Luna and we were to celebrate the night away.

So why was I on my knees in the hospital mourning the death of my son whilst waiting to see if my mate would be joining him or if she would come back to me.

And to add to that, it has been less than half the year since I have lost my parents.

Moon Goddess, why must you punish me? Have I offended you?

A pair of arms encircle me - Helen. "We are here, Colt. We will go through this together." She tries to comfort me whilst choking on her own tears. Jason and Talia soon join us as we all cry on the floor together.

"We will give you all some time alone." Dan ushers Siobhan out of the room as they gently close the door behind them.

My eyes return to my son. All the milestones that are now fading into the gloom. Teaching him about the ways of pack life whilst watching him go to school for the first time. His first shift into a wolf. Our first runs and play fights. Him making friends with all the other pups.

Would he have wanted to become the Alpha? I could have helped him make that decision but I would make sure he was prepared for it either way.

"I want to hold him." I eventually spoke, breaking the silence created by our sobs as we grieved as a family. "I want to hold my son. I want to hold Asher."

The others slowly stand to give me room to move. My feet shakey, my legs tremble and my knees are buckling, I steadily rise to my feet before making my way over to the incubator one step at a time.

The lid was cold to the touch as I slowly lifted it off of my son, handing it to Jason so he could put it to one side.

My hands rest either side of him, carefully caressing his skin. He was so cold to the touch that I had to stop myself from sobbing again.

The others come to stand at my side as I slowly move my hands underneath him and bring him towards me, letting my arms turn so that I was cradling him into my chest.

He was so tiny compared to my frame - my hands could cover his whole body in my embrace.

I looked at his face. He looked so peaceful, as if he had just being laid down for a nap.

But the texture of his skin and not seeing a rise and fall of his chest just continued to reaffirm the horror I was living in.

"He's beautiful." Helen sadly cooes next to me as she rests one hand next to him, stroking a finger gently down his cheek. "Just like his parents." She gives me a squeeze as she rests her head on my arm.

Words were failing me. I wanted to stay something. I felt like I needed to say something.

Instead, I turned around and walked my son over to his mother, careful not to sit on her or pull any of the wires as I perched next to her.

I used a free hand to gently take one of Abby's hands and bring it so that it rested on Asher, hoping that feeling our son would calm her through her conversion and bring her back to us.

"Abby, this is our son, Asher."