Chapter 154

3rd Person “Shhh, you’re gonna wakes him!” Paisley, whispered, scolding her brothers when they started to get a little too rowdy at Ethan’s bedside.

“When is he gonna gets up, anyway?” Parker frowned. “He’s been sleeping forevers!”

“Mommy says we haves to give him time.” Riley reminded him, peeking up over the edge of the bed.

“He looks really sleepy.”

“Well a course he does.” Ryder responded wryly, everyone looks sleepy when they’re sleeping.”

“You know what I mean.” Riley countered archly. “

Like he needs rest.”

“Are you pups being good?” Linda’s voice sounded at the doorway. She’d been checking in at the nurses station when the pups disappeared from her side. Of course, it didn’t take her long to find them at all. They’d been trying to sneak into Ethan’s room all night, not understanding the hospital’s rules about visiting hours.

“Yes Auntie Linda.” They chimed in unison.

“Are you sure about that?” Ethan’s groggy voice surprised them all, and five sets of feet left the ground as they positively leapt into the air.

“Daddy!” Ryder, Riley, Parker and Paisley were instantly at his side, clambering around him in excitement.

“Hello pups.” He grinned, still not awake enough to open his eyes. “I’m sorry if I scared you.'”

“We weren’t scared Daddy!” Parker insisted. Riley nudged him with her elbow, and he flushed. “At least not very scared.”

“You were so brave” Paisley praised. “We couldn’ really see the fights, but we could hear you!”

“You were really mads.” Ryder adds, his eyes going wide at the memory.

“Are you all okay?” Ethan asked, reaching for them blindly. The pups went to him promptly, snugling up against the bed and eyeing the narrow mattress as if trying to figure out if there was room for them too.

Where’s your Mommy?”

“We’re fine. Mommy too – but she’s in another room” Parker explained.

“Can we gets in bed with him?” Riley asked, turning to Linda.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Their aunt cautioned. “The doctor still has to come give his post-op report.”

“Post-op?” Ethan repeated dazedly. “I had surgery?

“Yeah, I’m afraid they won’t tell me any more details about what happened since l’m not family. And Jane’s in a completely different ward!”‘ Linda shared.

She’s okay,” She added, sensing Ethan’s sudden worry.

“But she was pretty bruised up between Anita and the guards – they wanted to do some extra tests just to make sure she wasn’t injured internally.”

Ethan grunted, his brow furrowing with concern.

They couldn’t put us in the same room?”

She’ll be here as soon as they release her.” Linda promised. “You’re just in different departments.”

Ethan grunted again, not seeming to care for this idea. “ls there any news about Eric?”

“He’s here too – under observation” Linda explained. “He’s been in the dungeons for weeks being interrogated. He’s very thin and worn down, but he said thank you for killing his father”

Ethan chuckled, “d do it again if I could.”

“Knock knock” A bright, unfamiliar voice prompted Ethan to peek one eye open. A doctor in a white coat was leaning against the door frame, looking in on the scene with a somber smile. “Are you awake Mr. Blackwell?”

“Mostly.” Ethan murmured, absentmindedly petting the pups. He was coming back to himself a little bit more with every moment that passed. “Will I be released soon?”

“If l could have a moment alone with the Alpha?”

The doctor requested, looking to Linda.

“Of course” She agreed. “Come on kids, let’s go see if we can find some breakfast.”

“But we wanna stay with Daddy!” The pups protested.

“Oh yeah, more than you want… waffles?” Linda dangled the idea, knowing the children must be starving. They’d been up most of the night, and waffles were a sweet treat they didn’t get very often.

Four little heads turned in her direction, and four pairs of eyes widened with intrigue. “Waffles?”

“Uh-huh” Linda confirmed knowingly, “with butter and syrup, or ooh, strawberries and whipped cream?”

“It’s okay little ones.” Ethan laughed. “I won’t be offended if you pick waffles over me.”

“Are you sure?” Paisley inquired, reaching out to stroke his cheek.

Ethan caught her tiny hand and brought it to his l!ps. “I promise, go on now.”

As the pups skipped out with Linda, the doctor came forward. Ethan studied her expression, feeling a fresh wave of unease. The truth was that he’d been trying to piece together the events at the palace ever since waking. He felt very foggy, and his body was still heavily under the influence of anesthesia.

Still, he remembered his last thoughts before passing out, and he’d been trying to move his legs all through the conversation with the pups – to no avail.

Tell me,” He prompted the doctor. “The surgery was on my spine?”

She nodded. “l’m very sorry, Mr. Blackwell.” His heart sank, and Ethan suddenly felt like his entire world was slipping away. “You came in with a very acute spinal cord injury. You were bitten near your lumbar and while the laceration itself didn’t sever the cord, it did result in significant swelling and bleeding, enough to cut off the nerves your brain uses to communicate to your lower body. We went into the OR hoping to drain enough blood to reduce the swelling and repair the injury, but unfortunately we were unsuccessful.”

“And what does that mean exactly?” Ethan questioned, fearing he already knew the answer.

“l’m afraid you’re looking at a total loss of function from the waist down. There’s a possibility that one day the condition can be reversed with physical therapy and additional surgeries, but in all likelihood, the condition is permanent.” The doctor replied gently.

“You’re saying I’m paralyzed?” Ethan clarified, the words feeling very strange and foreign on his tongue.

I’ll never walk again?”

“I’m sorry, but yes.” The doctor confirmed.

Will l be able to shift?” Ethan couldn’t process any of this information, but the questions continued pouring out of him. He had to know how bad things were before he could begin to wrap his brain around this. “What about s*x?”

“I’m very sorry, Ethan.” The doctor’s apology was all the answer he needed, and he almost wanted to cut her off before she could finish, but he held himself back.

“Neither will be possible.”

“Does my mate know?” He choked.

“No” The doctor sighed.”You’re not legally married at the moment, so we didn’t have the option without speaking to you first.”

“Goo” Ethan nodded. “Not a word about this to anyone.”

On the other side of the hospital, Jane was getting some very different news. “It’s confirmed Mrs.

Blackwell, you’re pregnant.”

Jane beamed so brightly the doctor couldn’t help but laugh. “Good news, I take it?”

“The best news.” Jane hiccuped, wiping tears of joy from her eyes. You have no idea what this means to me.”

“I have some idea.” The doctor smiled. “But you have to start being more careful! No more racing into danger and fighting wolves twice your size.”

‘Trust me, that was a fluke -I don’t normally do that sort of thing.” Jane promised.

“We’ll get you on some prenatal vitamins immediately. You’re a little underweight and l’d feel much better if you put on a few pounds before we release you.” The doctor advised, eyeing Jane’s chart.

“Oh please don’t make me stay until then” Jane begged. “l promise I’ll get really fat when I go home, I’ve been under a lot of stress and it will be easier to take care of myself if my life can get back to normal sooner rather than later.”

“Okay, but I want you to make yourself an appointment with your OBGYN as soon as you get home.”

The doctor cautioned. “And you need to rest in the meantime”

“l don’t know if that’s entirely possible. I have four pups already and my mate just had surgery.” Jane shared.

This baby needs you to take it easy, Jane.” The doctor replied sternly. “Every time you feel yourself getting stressed again, just remind yourself of that.

“Okay” Jane nodded, taking a deep breath. It was daunting to think about the mess waiting for them back home, but the idea that she and Ethan were going to have another baby… that they could go through it all together this time… made her happier than she’d been in a very long time. She was still grinning like a fool as she departed the office, already dreaming of the tiny life growing inside her.

How would the pups react to learning they were going to have more siblings? Would Ethan want to get remarried? Oh Goddess, what if she was carrying multiples again? Could she really handle growing their pack? Remembering the doctor’s words as her thoughts began to spiral, she focused only on the joy. Whatever else happened, she was going to have another precious pup, another love of her life.

And speaking of the first love of her life… l can’t wait to tell Ethan.

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