Chapter 311 The Longest Wait
Author
Mercy General Hospital, Trauma Unit
11:23 AM
Dr. MacDonald walked over to the waiting area. "Mrs. Wolfe? Your husband needs immediate surgery. The bullet is lodged near his subclavian artery."
"What are the risks?" Elara asked.
"Nerve damage. Possible paralysis in the arm. There’s also a chance of cardiac complications during surgery."
Elara’s face went white, but her voice stayed steady. "What are his chances?"
"Seventy-thirty. He’s young, strong. Good vitals."
She took the clipboard. Scanned the consent forms. All the legal jargon about not suing if things went wrong. She signed without hesitation.
"How long?"
"Could be anywhere from four to eight hours. Depends what we find in there."
The surgery began at 11:45 AM.
Elara sank into a plastic chair. The waiting room smelled like disinfectant and burnt coffee. CNN played on the overhead TV, volume turned low.
Nancy sat down next to her with two cups of coffee from the vending machine. "This stuff tastes like motor oil, but it’s caffeine."
"Not hungry."
"I know. But the babies need fuel."
Alpha Hunter arrived shortly after, alone.
He’d made Elizabeth stay home. She had her own health issues, and they couldn’t have the whole family falling apart at once.
"Elara, go home and rest," Alpha Hunter said gently. "We’ll stay here. The moment the surgery’s done, we’ll call you."
Elara shook her head. "Thank you, but I need to be here."
She couldn’t leave. Not now.
Yardley stepped out of the elevator, his face grim but determined. "Elara, we got Jack."
He tried for a reassuring tone. "The FBI task force just took down his entire operation too. It’s over."
He was trying to lift the crushing weight in the waiting room. But Elara’s mind was locked behind those operating room doors.
"Thank you," she whispered. Then her voice turned sharp. "I’m sorry I caused so much trouble."
Her voice cracked. "Jack was probably after me. Not Dominic."
"Elara, stop," Alpha Hunter interrupted, his tone firm but kind. "Don’t go down that road. If they’d taken you and the pups, it would’ve been a bloodbath. The doctor said the surgery has good odds. Focus on that."
He squeezed her shoulder. "Dominic’s survived worse. He’ll pull through this too."
Elara looked down at the leather wallet in her hands. It had been found on Alpha Dominic when they pulled him from the river.
Inside was a small silver charm he’d bought for the twins back in Charleston. A little wolf pendant with two tiny stones.
The charm had a bullet hole clean through the center.
Elara stared at it. The little wolf pendant was ruined. Just like everything else.
She didn’t believe in God or luck, but she found herself praying anyway. Just let him wake up. Please.
The surgery dragged on for six hours. Then seven. Then eight.
More people arrived. Vincent. Xavier. Hannah.
Hannah looked devastated. "Elara, this is my fault. If I hadn’t invited you to the ceremony, none of this would’ve happened."
Elara finally broke. She grabbed Hannah and held on tight, tears soaking into her friend’s shoulder.
"It’s not your fault," she whispered. "It’s that bastard Jack’s fault."
Vincent stood near the far wall, arms crossed, jaw tight. He always gave Alpha Dominic shit about everything. Called him a control freak. A workaholic.
But now, with his brother fighting for his life behind those doors, Vincent’s eyes were bloodshot.
Finally, after eight hours, at 7:52 PM, the OR doors opened.
Dr. MacDonald pulled down his mask. He looked tired but relieved.
Everyone rushed forward.
"The surgery was successful," he said. "We got the bullet out. No major nerve damage. But the next seventy-two hours are critical. If he wakes up within that window, he should make a full recovery."
Elara’s knees almost gave out. "Can I see him?"
Dr. MacDonald nodded. "ICU. But only for a few minutes. He needs rest."
Elara pressed her face against the ICU window. Inside, Alpha Dominic lay motionless. Bandages wrapped around his shoulder and chest. Tubes and wires everywhere.
Her heart clenched.
"Elara, let’s go home," Alpha Hunter said softly.
Before he could finish, her vision went black.
She’d been running on pure adrenaline for over twenty hours .
The moment her body felt safe, it shut down.