Chapter 312 Moonlight Prayers
Author
Elara woke up in a hospital bed with an IV in her arm and Hannah asleep in the visitor’s chair.
"What time is it?" she asked.
"Seven-thirty. You’ve been out since around ten last night."
"Shit. The babies—"
"Are fine. Doctor said you were dehydrated and running on fumes. They gave you fluids and let you sleep."
Elara sat up. The room spun a little. "Dominic?"
"Same. Stable. Sleeping off the anesthesia."
"I need to see him."
Hannah stood up. "Visiting hours start at eight, but I know a nurse who can let us in a few minutes early."
The ICU was quieter in the early morning. Just the steady beep of machines and the soft squeak of nurses’ shoes on linoleum.
Alpha Dominic looked like hell. Pale. Bandages everywhere. But he was breathing on his own.
Elara pulled up a chair. Took his hand.
"So," she said, keeping her voice conversational. "This is dramatic, even for you."
The heart monitor kept beeping. Same steady rhythm.
"Vincent’s already talking about taking over the company. I told him he’d bankrupt us in a week." She squeezed his fingers. "So you might want to wake up before he sells your Porsche."
Nothing.
She leaned back in the chair."The babies have been kicking all night. I think they know something’s wrong."
"I told them you’re taking the world’s longest nap. "
Her voice got quieter. "I’m not good at this waiting thing, Dom. Never have been. So if you could hurry up and open your eyes, that would be great."
The nurse poked her head in. "Mrs. Wolfe? You’ve got about five more minutes."
Elara nodded. Looked back at Alpha Dominic .
"I’ll be back in a few hours. Try not to do anything stupid while I’m gone."
She kissed his forehead and walked out.
Because that’s what you did. You kept going.
After the doctor’s morning rounds, Yardley and Vincent arrived.
"Elara, go home and rest," Yardley said. "We’ll stay with him."
"Dr. MacDonald said his vitals are strong. He’s stable. Don’t wear yourself out."
Elara nodded. "Okay. Thank you."
Vincent tried for a grin. "Dominic would kill us if you got sick waiting for him. Go eat something. Sleep. He’ll wake up soon."
--
Hannah drove her back. But at a red light, Elara spoke suddenly.
"Can we stop at the Moon Goddess altar?"
Hannah frowned. "Elara, you’re pregnant. The lunar energy there might be too intense—"
"I need to go," Elara said quietly. "Please."
Before she got pregnant, she’d prayed to the Moon Goddess for healthy pups. A few weeks later, she found out she was expecting twins.
She wasn’t deeply religious like some wolves. But right now, she wanted to believe the Moon Goddess might hear her.
"Just this once," she said. "I won’t feel right if I don’t."
Hannah sighed. "Okay."
They drove to the sacred site in silence.
The Moon Goddess altar was hidden deep in the forest, where ancient oaks formed a natural circle around a stone altar. Even in daylight, the place hummed with power. Moonlight seemed to linger here, caught in the silver leaves.
Elara walked to the altar and knelt on the soft moss. She placed her hands on the cool stone and closed her eyes.
[Moon Goddess, please. He’s the Alpha King. The father of my pups. Don’t take him from us.]
The wind stirred through the trees, carrying the scent of wild jasmine and something ancient. Something listening.
Hannah stood at the edge of the circle, watching her best friend pray with everything she had.
She used to think Elara’s feelings for Alpha Dominic were more about security than love. A strong Alpha. A good provider. But watching her now, Hannah knew better.
This was the kind of love that could survive anything. Or destroy you if you lost it.
Moon Goddess, Hannah prayed silently. Don’t let her go through that. Bring him back.
After twenty minutes, Elara stood up. Her face was calm, but her hands were shaking.
"Ready?" Hannah asked.
"Yeah." Elara touched the altar one more time. "Let’s go home."
She’d done what she could. Now all she could do was wait.
And trust that the Moon Goddess was listening.