Adam's P.O.V.

This is all my fault.

I sat, head bowed, on a bench in the hospital ward hallway; watching as the blood dripping from the wound on my cheek mingled with the pool of tears on the ground between my feet.

I glanced at my hands, which were coated in Viktor's blood, and clenched them to try and stop their incessant shaking.

Closing my eyes, I listened to the murmur of Mrs. Chandler's voice as she thumbed through her rosary with raw fingers, saying silent prayers.

Her husband had succumbed to his injuries just hours earlier and there she was, sitting next to me.

I'm sure the two of us looked pitiful.

Our tear-stained faces and my blood-stained body certainly weren't anything to brag of.

I heard the squeaking of rubber soles make its way over to where I sat and looked up to see a nurse, who was holding a first aid kit, approach me.

"I'm fine," I insisted, dismissing her when she reached out to touch me.

I felt Mrs. Chandler's hand on my back and I sighed, sitting up straight so the nurse could do her job.

"Dr. Zosak sent me," the nurse informed me, putting on rubber gloves.

"Why aren't you helping him?" I asked.

"He's got enough help, Your Highness."

I exhaled slowly, my drive to argue about the matter dissolving with each second that passed.

"Here," she said, handing me an alcohol-soaked towelette to clean my hands with.

I half-heartedly wiped away the blood that stained the creases of my fingers and palms.

The nurse applied an ointment to the cut on my face and I felt the numbness set in quickly.

"This might still hurt," she said, holding up the needle.

I said nothing as she began to stitch up the cut.

As soon as she as was finished, she handed me bandaids and gauze pads for the assortment of wounds along my hands, arms, and torso, which were evident through my bloody shirt.

"Thank you."

She nodded and turned to leave as I placed the bandages beside me on the bench.

"What is taking so long?" I groaned.

"Patience," Mrs. Chandler said.

"I've been patient for four hours."

I took a deep breath as I stood up and began to pace along the hallway.

Vega sat on the floor, her back to the stone wall, watching me as I did so.

"Can I help you?" I quipped.

She said nothing in response as she turned her head and sighed.

I heard the door open on the other end of the hallway and I began to walk swiftly over to Dr. Zosak, who emerged from the operating room.

"And?" I asked.

He pulled the surgical mask from his face to reveal a grim expression.

"Come with me," he said, leading me into the room.

I felt my stomach sink my feet as he did so.

I walked into the operating room as the nurses and other aids were leaving it.

Immediately, my eyes were glued to her and I felt my body go numb.

Her mangled body was outstretched on the operating table, a tube down her throat and a brace around her neck.

Her arms and hands were covered in cuts and scratches, some of which were stitched up. Her pale skin was littered with bruises and her left cheek was swollen and purple.

I couldn't say a word as I stared at the state she was in.

"It was the best we could do for now," Dr. Zosak said with a tired voice.

I walked over to her, taking her cold hand in mine and pulling it up to kiss her battered knuckles. The broken skin was rough against my lips.

I looked up at the heart monitor that sat beside the table she laid on and my stomach lurched with every beep the machine made.

"She didn't turn," I gathered from the indicated heartbeat.

"No," Dr. Zosak confirmed. "But she lost a lot of blood. With the state her body is in, it will be difficult for her to fight off the virus."

I turned to him.

"Virus?"

"Vampirism," he clarified. "Her mother didn't have enough time to turn her, but it still entered her bloodstream with enough volume to begin the process."

"So does this mean she'll turn with time?"

He took a deep breath as he glanced at Evelyn.

"No."

My eyebrows furrowed.

"What does that mean then?" I asked, not seeing the problem.

"It means that the virus will lay dormant in her body for the rest of her life, like the shingles virus. It will still be there, but she wasn't turned fully so she will likely have no sensitivities to the sun she does not need blood to survive."

Again, I looked at him in confusion.

"This sounds like good news," I said. "Why do you seem so apprehensive."

Dr. Zosak glanced at Evie again.

"Her heart was stopped for a very long time and that her brain lost a lot of oxygen."

My jaw clenched as I realized what this meant.

"Brain damage?"

He pursed his lips.

"Maybe, maybe not. She's in the same condition Warren Chandler was in when he arrived, except her body is exponentially in worse shape."

"He died four hours ago," I said through clenched teeth.

"Yes, I know," Dr. Zosak said quietly.

I closed my eyes as I felt the burning of tears return to them.

"Internal injuries?" I asked.

He looked down at the clipboard in his hand and read them off.

"Seven broken ribs, three fractured; punctured right lung; broken femur; shattered kneecap; and a hairline fracture on the back of her skull. Additionally, her carotid artery was nearly severed, but we've repaired it the best we can. The ligaments in her neck are torn for the most part, that's why she's in a brace."

I let out a sharp breath as I steadied myself on the table.

"Do you need to sit?" He asked.

I shook my head, letting the news lose its shock factor before speaking.

"I need you to be honest with me," I said, my voice breaking.

"Of course."

I swallowed hard, fearing the answer to the question I was about to ask.

"Do you think she'll be okay?"

He thought about it for a moment.

"Permission to speak freely?"

I nodded reluctantly.

"I believe she will," he said. "The difference between your wife and Warren Chandler is a will stronger than any I've ever seen. She's a strong woman, born to be a Luna. If anyone can pull through this, she will."

His words did little to assure me, but I nodded my head.

"Thank you."

When he faltered, I turned to see what he had been about to say.

"There is something you need to know," he said, nervously fiddling with his clipboard.

I nodded for him to continue.

"While the virus will be dormant, there are side effects to it being in her body."

"Side effects? Like what?"

He took a deep breath.

"Vampirism eats away at the Lycanthrope gene. She likely won't be able to shift ever again."

"I think she could live with that," I said slowly.

Dr. Zosak shifted nervously.

"Vampirism is also known for shutting down the reproductive system. I'm not sure that biological children will be a possibility for your wife, Your Highness."

I paled, feeling like I'd been shot.

Dr. Zosak closed his eyes and shook his head.

"I'm so sorry."

I wanted to tell him that it wasn't his fault, but I couldn't make my mouth move to utter the words.

"She's going to be moved into a proper room shortly," he informed me. "I suggest you shower off and take care of any business you have to in the mean time."

He left the room, closing the door behind him as he went.

It was then that my legs gave out and I fell to my knees beside Evelyn's bed.

This is all my fault.

- - -

I did as Dr. Zosak recommended and showered off.

I scrubbed at my body until the blood was gone, tears mingling with the hot water.

This is all my fault.

I changed into a t-shirt and sweatpants, not caring that anyone see me out of my usual business attire.

I grabbed a few things for Evelyn from the bedroom before going back down to the hospital ward.

As I passed Jace's room, I briefly peered inside to see him sleeping, his legs bandaged and braced from his ankles up to his thighs.

Liu was in the next room, her father and mother huddled around her.

I walked past the room where Warren Chandler had been held, listening to the cries of the woman who loved him coming from the dark room.

I stopped for a moment.

I hadn't heard what a broken heart sounded like since my mother died.

I walked past Vega, who was standing in the hallway and staring at the ceiling in deep thought.

I didn't acknowledge her as I walked into Evelyn's room and closed the door behind me.

The nurse handling the bag of blood was startled at the sudden intrusion.

Dr. Zosak was standing at the end of the bed, looking at Evelyn before he turned to look at me.

"We're going to do white blood cell transfusions if that's alright," he said. "It will help fight off infection."

I nodded and took a seat beside her.

Looking at her hooked up to various machines with random tubes and cords attached to her body made an odd feeling creep up my spine.

"Is she in pain?" I asked.

Dr. Zosak shook his head.

"She's being treated with plenty of morphine. It will keep her knocked out, but it will keep away the pain and allow her to get some rest."

He placed a hand on my shoulder.

"She's stable," he assured me. "I'll be here overnight and will check up on her every hour. Let me know if anything comes up."

I nodded, not taking my eyes off of her.

The nurse and doctor left the room and I laid my head down on the cot, right beside her hand.

My fingers toyed with hers gently and I closed my eyes, silently praying that I would wake up from the nightmare I was in.

I heard the door open and I turned to see Victoria walk in.

I said nothing as she closed the door behind her.

"How is she?"

I remained silent.

"Adam, I want to apologize."

I felt my jaw clench.

"I shouldn't have treated her the way I did," she said.

"It took her almost dying for you to realize that?" I asked.

"It took me seeing her mother to realize it."

I raised an eyebrow.

"I had a dream a few nights before you met Evelyn," she said. "There was a girl in the dream with dark, long hair like hers. She was a Vampire..."

I was unamused by her revelation.

"I suppose I thought it was prophetic, especially after I met her," she admitted. "I thought it was her, but it turned out to be her mother."

I took a deep breath.

"Anything else you'd like to add?"

She shook her head slowly.

The door opened again and Xavier walked in as Victoria left.

"I know you don't want anyone in here," he said, "so I'll keep this short and sweet: I'm going to take over for you until she gets better. You need to focus on her. The first thing I'm going to do is plan a funeral for your father."

I growled at this.

"He deserves to be fed to dogs," I said.

"Don't let one mistake negate all the man did his entire life. He's still your father," Xavier said. "The people have lost a former Alpha Superior and they'll want a memorial. You don't have to come, I understand if you don't."

I couldn't argue with him, not while I was holding my dying mate's hand.

"I also wanted to give you this," he said, approaching me.

In his hand was an envelope. I took it from him and inspected it, noticing the cardstock paper and the masculine writing on the front.

It was addressed to Evelyn.

Before I could ask Xavier who it was from, he spoke.

"It was found among her father's effects."

I nodded placing it on the table beside her.

"This is all my fault," I muttered silently.

Xavier sighed and pulled up a chair next to me.

"Why do you think that?"

"If I had let her see her father, he would have told her everything before it was too late. I could have sent her away and none of this would be happening right now."

Xavier pondered this for a moment.

"You had no way of knowing why he wanted to speak with her. For all you knew, he was a drunk, abusive father who she was constantly on the run from. You did what any mate would have done: you protected her. He could have told you everything just as easily as he could have told her. Don't beat yourself up over it."

I stared at Evelyn as he spoke.

"How do I justify letting her get hurt? I killed Viktor with my own two hands, easily. I could have killed her mother as well, but I didn't."

"Side effect of having a woman who stands up for herself," Xavier said. "She didn't need a knight in shining armor, she just needed a sword."

We were silent for a few moments before he stood up and put an arm on my shoulder.

"If there's anything I can do, let me know."

I stopped him before he reached the door.

"Bury her father and Warren Chandler," I said.

He nodded and left the room.

I turned to look at Evelyn, who looked startlingly at rest.

"Please be okay," I whispered, laying my head on the bed beside her.

- - -

For two weeks I sat beside her as she slept.

Dr. Zosak said she was improving dramatically, but I wouldn't believe it until I could talk to her and see her eyes open again.

It was late one night that I sat in my chair beside her, reading Anna Karenina to her.

I was bored out of my skull, happy to be nearing the end of the book when I felt my eyes begin to droop. I fought sleep for a few minutes before I finally put the book down and laid my head down next to her body on the mattress, a move that had caused my back to suffer tremendously in the past few weeks.

I was sore, stiff, and exhausted.

It was the longest I had ever gone without shifting, but I refused to leave her side for longer than half an hour.

I put my hand over hers and prayed for the millionth time that day that she would wake up.

Drowsiness set in and my eyes closed.

I had almost fallen asleep when I felt it.

Her hand moved.

I immediately sat up and looked at her closely.

This wouldn't be the first time I had imagined it. I was almost afraid that I would be the one who went insane next.

I stood up abruptly, my chair falling backwards onto the ground when I saw her eyes begin to flutter.

"Evie..." I whispered.

She hummed and I smiled.

I ran to the door and opened it, immediately spotting the nurse coming out of Liu's room.

"Get Dr. Zosak," I commanded.

She noticed the smile on my face, her own face lighting up as she realized what this meant. The nurse took off down the hallway and I turned back to face Evelyn, whose eyes were opening slowly.

I sat down next to her on the bed and took her hand in mine.

"Evie..."

Her eyes opened and I saw a faint, tired smile dance across her lips.

I kissed the back of her hand and smiled.

"Good morning."

I heard the door open and Dr. Zosak rushed in, smiling when he saw her.

"Look who's awake," he said.

He walked over and began to check her vitals, ordering the nurse to take blood.

"How are you feeling?" he asked her.

"Sore," she muttered, her voice hoarse.

"I'll bet," he said, laughing. "You wouldn't believe the number of bones you broke."

"Oh, I would," she said grimacing.

Dr. Zosak and I both laughed.

"Feeling any discomfort?" he asked her.

She nodded.

"I'll get you some more morphine. Talk to this guy for a few minutes while I go get it. I think he's missed you," he said to her, winking.

She looked at me and I smiled.

I saw tears welling up in her eyes and I kissed the back of her hand.

"Am I a Vampire?" she asked slowly.

I shook my head and I saw the relief flood her body.

"Liu? Jace?" She asked.

"They're fine," I said.

We were silent for a few moments before she asked another question.

"Viktor?"

"Dead," I assured her.

She nodded in contentment.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too."

Dr. Zosak entered the room again and gave the nurse a vial of something.

"That will make you feel a little better, but it'll also make you sleepy," he warned.

"Oh, she's got no problem with sleeping," I assured him.

Even in her weak and tired state, she still managed to glare at me playfully.

"Rest up," I whispered. "Just make sure you come back to me."

I watched as her eyes began to get heavy again and I sighed once they were closed.

Please come back to me.

- - -