Chapter 20

CHRISTOPHER

One moment, Scarlett and Caroline were right beside me, and the next, an explosion rocked my world, leaving me disoriented. The force of the blast threw me against a wall, and I think I blacked out for a few seconds. When I opened my eyes, I frantically searched for Scarlett and Caroline, but all I could see was David’s silhouette through the dust cloud caused by the explosion.

Then I heard her. Scarlett’s voice was soft, but unmistakable, calling my name.

I tried to get up, but my body wasn’t cooperating. I needed to find them, to touch them, to reassure myself that they were okay. And then there was Anthony. The thought of him made my desperation spike.

I helped David to his feet. He seemed okay, and together we started looking for a way out.

I promised Scarlett I’d find a way out. Even though I could barely see, I felt along the exploded walls, desperate to find them. But there was nothing. We circled the area, but the infirmary and the part of the tunnel they were in were blocked.

“Stop what you’re doing. I need access to them. Now,” I ordered, my voice echoing in the tunnel. I was the one in charge, but in that moment, it felt pointless. I’d never felt so powerless in my life. And for an alpha, there’s nothing worse than feeling powerless.

David and the other subleaders were running around, doing their best to find a way through. But there was nothing I could do. I dropped to my knees, the pain of hitting the hard floor nothing compared to the pain in my heart. The thought of my family in danger and being unable to help was unbearable.

I started to pray, begging the Goddess to keep them safe. My world was spinning, and I was on the verge of letting my instincts take over and start digging with my own hands. But then David’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Alpha, we have engineers who specialize in mining.”

I looked up to see a group of men studying the landslide. I just nodded and went back to my prayers. “There’s a risk of more landslides. They need to stabilize the structure first. It should take at least two hours.”

Two hours. The words echoed in my head.

I was about to start digging myself when David’s words stopped me. ~There’s a risk of more landslides.~

Hearing Scarlett’s screams made everything worse. I wanted to take her pain away, to bear it myself. But then I heard a word that filled me with terror. “Preeclampsia.”

My chest tightened, my breathing became erratic, and I thought I was going to pass out. “What?” I yelled, my voice echoing off the mine walls. “You didn’t just say what I think you said…”

Then I heard murmuring. It sounded like Scarlett and Jack talking.

“Scarlett, are you okay? Talk to me,” I yelled, punching the wall in frustration. But I immediately regretted it. I couldn’t risk causing another landslide.

“I don’t want to scare you, but I think I’m having preeclampsia.” Scarlett’s voice was steady, but I could sense her fear. My mate was scared, and I was powerless to help her.

The thought of Anthony being born now, of my son coming into the world in these circumstances, was unbearable. If history was repeating itself…

Scarlett screamed again. Another contraction.

“Let’s take your blood pressure.” Jack’s voice was calm, but I could hear the worry in his tone.

I heard the sound of something metallic, and my anxiety increased. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the engineers and workers starting to stabilize the structure. I just prayed they would finish in time.

“Scarlett, how?” I asked, my voice filled with disbelief. I couldn’t believe the moon would do this to me again. It would be too cruel. And I knew I couldn’t handle it.

The next few seconds felt like an eternity. “Pressure is 210/120.” Jack’s voice was shaky. “It’s too high.”

“But how? I had an ultrasound yesterday; everything was fine. Anthony was developing well, and the placenta was intact, with no sign of detachment…” Scarlett’s voice trailed off. “It was the silver.”

Silver? How?

“I was hit by silver from the waste pools. It burned my back, and that must have caused preeclampsia.”

“Could it be that Violet’s preeclampsia was caused by silver poisoning?” The question slipped out before I could stop it. My first mate had been poisoned.

“Probably,” Scarlett said, her voice steady. But it did nothing to calm my nerves.

Scarlett screamed again. Another contraction.

“The contractions are very close together. We need to deliver this now.” Jack’s voice was filled with urgency.

“No,” I yelled. This couldn’t be happening. Scarlett’s birth needed to be perfect; it needed to be safe. “We need to get you to a hospital. It can’t be here. Anthony isn’t ready. He can’t be born like this.” If Violet died from preeclampsia in a hospital, what were the chances for Scarlett?

I wanted to give in to despair, but I knew I couldn’t. I had to stay strong for them, even though it felt like my world was falling apart.

“Christopher, there won’t be time.” Scarlett’s voice was weak, and I knew she was right.

“Scarlett.” Her name came out as a plea. “History is repeating itself. Both my mates had preeclampsia; both were poisoned by silver. I lost Violet, and I thought I lost Caroline. I can’t lose you both.”

“I told myself I ~couldn’t~, but deep down, I knew the truth. I ~couldn’t bear~ the thought of losing her and Anthony.

Scarlett’s voice rang out, filled with a stubborn determination that was uniquely hers. “History won’t repeat itself,” she declared. “We know what we need to do now. Jack will get the anti-silver serum, and I’ll administer the treatment while we deliver the baby.”

“Scarlett, are you certain this will work?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

She didn’t answer right away. I knew she wasn’t sure. I knew she was just trying her best. And as if she could hear the doubts swirling in my mind, she finally spoke, echoing the words that had been haunting my thoughts.

“This is our best shot.”