-Tavyra's POV-

The heartbeat monitor was hiccuping steadily. The poorly-lit room made the mood even more drearier than before. Three people in the pack were killed during the attack. The pack officials requested memorial services for those lost in about two days. Things were not looking well. Zannic sat across from me, on the other side of the bed. His head in his hands, his shoulders fallen. That was the first time I've seen Zan cry, over the body of his father.

I wasn't sure of what to say in times like these, I never have. Zannic hasn't even made eye contact with me yet, this whole time. I felt like I was failing in my job as his mate. I had no idea how to make him feel better. Sad Mate.

There was a light knock at the door and Zan and I stared at the opening door handle. The doctor came in with a clipboard and a grim, saddened smile. Zan stood up from his chair, ready for the news. The doctor spoke softly and with empathy, "I'm terribly sorry. There's nothing we can do anymore." It felt like I've heard this before in TV's shows, movies, and what follows is usually the crying sobs of the family, "We've put him on all the medication we could, he's not in much pain. But his chances are not looking good."

Zan wasn't saying anything, he simply stared at the doctor in silence. The doctor continued, "Alpha Zane is a powerful individual where his wolf could save him in time. However, he isn't very responsive." Zan finally looked over at me and I saw the broken heart and mind through his eyes. It hurt so much to see him like that. As if we could read each other's minds, I hugged him tightly and tried to give him as much care and love I could through my arms. He held me close to him. I had to admit, this was helping me feel better as well. "You two should go home. We'll call you if anything changes."

The doctor left without another word. We stood in each other's arms for another couple moments, letting the information sink in. My parents are already dead to me, I couldn't imagine what he was going through right now. Zan turned around back to his dad, laying in the bed. The only indication of life was the heart monitor. He stepped forward, looking down at his deathly, drained face, almost as if it was paper. I could hear him whisper to his father, "I love you..."

Seeing him talking to his father like that, I felt a bit of joy, seeing him admit to his father what I knew hasn't been said in years between them. Zannic took a big sigh and turned towards me, reaching and holding my hand as we exited the local hospital of the pack.

Together, we confidently strolled back to the pack house. Everybody who wasn't in their house, looking at us, almost asking with their body language, "Is he still alive?" Zan didn't pay them any mind. He simply walked on. I felt so proud of him, but I knew he was going through much more deeper struggles than I could bear. When we walked in the door, there was people around than usual. And those who were around, dragged themselves along from room to room. The only person who wasn't upset was Avery and I'm pretty sure she didn't even understand. She was in the den with Kristy who was playing with her. She watched me and Zan pass the door aand begin to head up the stairs.

I heard her ask, "Why is ev'rabody sad?"

It took a moment for Kristy to answer as our feet ascended up the stairs, "Sometimes, people get sad."

"Why?"

Even halfway up the staircase, I heard her sigh, "Com'on, Avery. It's bedtime."

"Aww."

Zan opened the door to his room and we both entered. There were no lights on. The only source of light in the room was the moonlight shining from the window. It outlined his face and I could see the darkening skin around his eye and the deformity of his lip and the scab that laid over it. This was the first time I got to see the damage on his face. I reached up and gently touched his cheek and the forming bruise under his eye. He slightly flinched, but seemed to be comfortable at my touch.

He chuckled, as he touched his hand with mine, "They kinda hurt a little."

I smiled. After all of this and he was still able to crack a joke. I examined his face, looking for as much emotion as possible, not wanting to say the wrong thing. "You didn't get these during the ambush?" I watched him almost the entire time. His father only hit him once, that would explain the right eye, but I could see discoloration in the left cheek as well, I couldn't figure out where it came from.

His smile faded away as he was remembering, "Me and my father had gotten into a little...disagreement."

I frowned. What father would hit his own and only son? And he looked pretty beat up. In the ambush, he could barely even stand up on his own. "What else hurts?"

He looked down and held his ribs, "I...I think I...cracked a rib..."

I was silently panicking. I could even feel a boiling anger under my skin, I didn't really know where it came from, I didn't really feel that mad, but my body was saying otherwise. "Do we need to go back to the doctors?" I asked him. We were so wrapped up in his dad, I didn't even think about handling his injuries.

He immediately shook his head, "No, no no...I...I just wanna lay down with you..." He quietly pleaded. He looked at me with a silent begging behind his eyes, but I understood what he meant, I've had this weird pull all day to just lay and be with him.

"Ok." I finally agreed. We went over the bed, still in our clothes, and laid in bed. I hugged his arm as I got comfortable under the covers, the stress of a long day starting to hit me. We both put our phones on the night stand and relaxed. The quiet of the house, of the bedroom, not even much movement was going on outside. Everything was simply quite. I couldn't tell if it was a relaxing quite or a dreading quietness.

As we laid in bed, recalling the day that had unfolded, able to get collect our thoughts for once in the day, we were silent.

I closed my eyes, ready to sleep until Zan spoke, "I'm sorry." I kept my eyes closed as I listened to him, trying to avoid the pain of the betrayal, trying to push past it. "This was all because of me...."

I scoffed and sat up to look at him right, "Don't you even do that. None of this was your fault." He avoided eye contact with me as he stared at the ceiling, "Unless you have psychic vision, there was nothing you could do."

He was in his own thoughts, I wasn't even sure he was listening to me 100%, "Dad was struggling back there...I was closet to him....But...I still wasn't there." I let him vent, not knowing what's been on his mind, "I've failed him...If he dies..."

"Shhh." I put my finger to his lips, he brought his eyes down to mine, almost grateful for me shutting him up, "Let's not think about that. Let's think about getting some rest, taking care of your injuries, and moving forward." I saw the corners of his lips gently tug into a smile, "Okay?"

He nodded and kissed my forehead, I felt his muscles relax once again. "Goodnight, my princess."

I couldn't help a blush from rising to my cheeks. I've always enjoyed the treatment Zan gives me. I'm almost spoiled in it. Before I went to sleep, I made sure to compliment him before I drifted off to sleep, "Goodnight, my prince."