Fractured

Chapter 42: On The Mend

Asher left shortly after, needing to inform Griffin of my decision and make sure all last minute arrangements were taken care of. Spending the next hour waiting for Doc Havers was mind numbingly long. I resorted to counting the ceiling tiles. One, two, three, four, five.......one twenty-eight, one twenty--

"Alpha Blackwell, how are you feeling?" Havers greeted me. I let out a sigh of relief. I was driving myself crazy, and I was pretty sure I counted a few tiles more than a few times over.

"I am great, never been better," I replied merrily. I could almost taste my freedom. What I wouldn't give for a long run and a nice hot shower. I would have to talk to someone about why it was that we had yet to figure how to get anything warmer than ice cold water from these showers. Havers rolled his eyes something that seemed off for such a serious man.

"Never better?" He asked doubtfully. He peered at me over his thick horn-rimmed glasses, making me feel like a child being reprimanded.

"Well...that may have been a slight exaggeration," I corrected. "I am feeling much better, though." My hands tightened around the white sheet prepared to rip it away and run out the door the moment he gave me the all clear. He did a quick check of my vitals and examined the incision on the top of my head. In true Havers fashion, he said nothing only took to writing in my file with a look of concentration on his face.

"Everything seems to be in order," he said after a few minutes. "Have you been testing the link like I suggested?"

"Yes, I managed to receive a message from Asher earlier, but I still can't seem to get anything out." I couldn't seem to keep the frustration from my voice. Why was the link only coming across one sided?

"Hmm... The fact that you can now receive messages coincides with the reduction of swell in your brain only seem to prove that, this, in fact, is not likely permanent." So did that mean he believed my link would fully return soon?

"Do you have any idea when it might completely heal?" I asked slightly optimistic. Havers hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Well, when it comes to matters of the brain especially in our kind nothing is ever a guarantee. It might return at any moment or possibly never. Though the latter seems less likely with the recent developments." He slowly walked towards the door but stopped short, turning towards me with a small grin on his face.

"Are you going to lay in bed all day?" He asked.

"Uhh. No?" I replied unsurely. The confuse on my face must have been a sight to see because he let out a hearty laugh, not something he was known.

"I already signed your release forms and passed them on to the nurse at the reception desk. Just stop by get your discharge papers and sign the release form." He was out the door before I could thank him.

Hopping out of bed faster than humanly possible, ran to get changed. It was then realization sank in. The clothing I wore here had to be unsanitary, to say the least. It had been saturated in vomit, sweat, and blood, but upon entering the bathroom, I noticed a nicely folded pile of clothing on the counter beside the sink. It had to have been Asher's doing. Griffin surely didn't have the foresight to consider that I would not want to be leaving the medical facility butt naked. Actually, he would most likely prefer if I was forced to do so.

Once freed from the confines of my room, I headed straight for the training room. I didn't need my link to know I would find either Griffin or Asher there if not both.

I had heard their voices before I opened the door.

"I don't mean any disrespect. I am just saying what we are all thinking. How are we supposed to stand a chance if our Alpha is held up in the hospital?" Was that really what my pack was thinking?

"Look you don't have to be here if you don't want to. You had the chance to leave!" Griffin bellowed. "Our Alpha is injured because he was attempting to protect you, to protect all of us from this war!"

"Who's injured?" I asked strolling in nonchalantly. Though I was still sore and my leg had not completely healed, I was determined not to let it show. My pack needs all the reassurance they could get. The slight limping I had been doing the whole way here was gone, and I held my head higher.

"Alpha," Griffin said bowing his head in respect. I could see he was angry with me, but in front of our pack, he was showing me nothing but the utmost respect. Now was the time to show unity.

"Griffin, how are the preparations coming?" I asked looking over the men before me. I noticed, only he only assembled trackers. Ryan stood off to side. His head hung down, his face sullen. I wanted to go and comfort him, to apologize for allowing his father to die, but now was not the time. As if you could sense my gaze on him, he looked up at me. His reaction shocked me.

"I'm sorry," He spoke through the link, then immediately averted his eyes. I wanted to ask what for. I was the one who was sorry.

"Everything's coming along," Griffin said. "In fact, we have just finished up here." Everyone took that as their cue to leave, and soon Griffin and I were alone.

"Are you stupid or did that knock to your head mess you up?" Griffin growled. "I know you care for that she-wolf but to condemn your pack just to placate her?"

"What? Is that what you think? That I would put her before my pack?" I asked feeling disappointed he would believe that.

"Isn't that what you're doing? The moment she gets home, Phillips will come for us, no more preparing. He will release his full fury on us. I thought maybe for just a moment that you wanted to live that maybe you finally got over Olivia's death, but it seems you are still dead set on killing yourself. I am not going to let you destroy this pack in the process." He face was inches from my own, his finger firmly pressing into my chest. I could feel my wolf chomping at the bit to put him in his place. Letting out a deep sighing, I tried to collect my emotions.

"Prepare for what huh?" I said taking a few steps back. "All the time in the world isn't going to change the fact that we are severely outnumbered. You know as good as I do this is a suicide mission. I am not doing this for her or anyone. I am doing it because it is the right thing to do. They deserve to know what happened to their son and bury him according."

"Whatever." He pushed passed me and slammed the door behind him. Raising my hand to run it through my hair, I felt the rough stubble of newly growing hair. Sliding my hand a little further my fingers caressing the thick scar that was now there. How I must have looked to my men. It didn't matter how confident or strong I tried to appear. That large scar was proof that I was still recovering from a severe injury.

Peering around the training room, I turned to leave. I should have stayed and worked out my muscles a little, but I just didn't have it in me to do so. Walking out the door, Griffin just left out I was stunned to see Ryan sitting on the ground beside the door

"Ryan, hey how are you holding up?" I asked taking a seat beside him. The small task taking more effort than I would like to admit and honestly I wasn't sure how the hell I was going to get back up. Ryan didn't answer immediately just fumbled around with the lace on his right sneaker.

'Can we maybe talk in private,' He asked keeping his eyes on his shoe.

"Follow me."

~~~~~~~Author's Note~~~~~~~

As promised here is the second chapter. I hope you guys enjoy. And for those who are big Izzy fans, you'll be happy to hear that after Fractured concludes, I will be starting on the third book of the series Endured. A story from Izzy's POV. I have already begun posting book two Departed (Olivia's story).

What do you think Ryan wants to talk about?

Do you think Griffin's anger is justified?

Please don't forget to comment and vote : )