Blood Floweret

« Chapter Twenty-Six »

"Cassius?" She said, watching for another sign. 

When nothing happened for a long moment, she thought she had imagined his hand squeezing her own. Maybe it was a play of her heart, hoping so badly that he would wake. She held her breath in anticipation, praying, and she focused on reaching him again. Maybe it had actually worked and that's what had drawn a reaction from him.

If you can hear me, She thought, mentally touching their mate bond cautiously, Come back to me. Please. 

Her eyes flickered between his face and his hand. Waiting, watching. For something, anything. A few minutes went by incredibly slow and she exhaled, almost defeated, but just when she was about to lay back down with him, she saw it. 

His eyelids slightly fluttered. 

She froze, wide eyes watching and her heart hoping. She squeezed his hand again, giving reassurance if he needed it, and waited without breathing. His eyelids fluttered again and then a soft groan slipped through his lips. 

Before she could even move a muscle, his eyes popped open. Wild, green eyes connected to hers. A zip of electricity seemed to race across her skin, raising goosebumps in awareness, and she couldn't even blink in fear that this wasn't real.

His lips parted, "Val," It was but a whisper but she had heard him. 

"Cassius," She whispered in relief, tears trickling before she could stop them.

His hand gently reached up and touched her cheek, his thumb wiping away the tear as she leaned into him. "Don't cry," He said, "I'm okay...I can feel him."

"Feel who?" She looked at him, asking, although she already knew what he would say.

"My wolf," Cassius uttered. 

Those words seemed foreign coming from him but she wasn't against it. She knew he had always wanted a wolf but somehow, he had to go through the journey of finding himself first. When she didn't say anything, he pushed himself up. He took ahold of the wires and tugged them from his skin with ease and then he engulfed her in a bone-crushing hug. 

"Thank you," He said, his tears kissing her neck. 

She was overwhelmed with emotion and all she could do was hug him back with equal ferocity and love. She could only imagine how this felt to him. She had been born with her wolf, like all others, so she never knew the pain of missing her other half for half her life. But now he had a wolf and there were so many adventures that came with it. 

Darren burst into the room and only then did they both realize when Cassius had torn the wires out, the heart monitor had flatlined. Cassius pulled away from her with a breathless chuckle, "Oops? I ruined the moment, didn't I?" 

"Not at all," She kissed his cheek. 

Darren was wide-eyed, mouth gaping, and he sputtered, "You're awake?" 

Cassius smiled through teary eyes, "No, I figured I might as well keep my word and haunt all your asses when I die. Scary shit and all." 

Darren smiled and moved across the room to clap Cassius' shoulder, "Buddy, you gave us all one hell of a scare." 

"I would say sorry," Cassius shrugged, his signature silly grin growing on his face, "But I'm not." 

Everyone else had apparently followed Darren and Leroy was the first to appear in the open doorway. There were many gasps and exhales of relief before everyone shoved their way in. Emmett, Deikota, Jasper, Leroy, Beth, and even West had tagged along. 

"Hey guys," Cassius grinned at all of them. 

Emmett ran towards them and leaped onto the bed, like one giant kid, and cried out, "You idiot!" She hung onto Cassius' arm to keep from falling off the bed as she laughed. 

Cassius wailed dramatically, "Ow! Darren, he's hurting me! Jesus, you bear," Cassius swatted at Emmett, "I'm in a hospital bed, can you not? I think my legs are broken." 

Emmett only answered by throwing his arms around Cassius, crushing him in the process, but Cassius didn't seem to mind. His green eyes softened and he hugged Emmett in return. She was precariously perched on the edge of the bed, one leg keeping her from tipping off. Then, after only a second, the two men broke apart, slapping at each other; and if they could hiss like cats fighting, they would have. Everyone onlooked with relief-filled amusement.

"This changes nothing!" Emmett said, climbing off the bed quickly.

"Of course not!" Cassius shot right back, "You're my frenemy!" 

Emmett rolled his eyes and then Leroy was at the bedside. For a moment, Leroy and Cassius looked at each other. She was the only one in the room that could see the vulnerability in their expressions, their silent communication through their hearts, and it was such a breathtaking moment of brotherhood to witness.

Then, Cassius broke into the biggest shit-eating grin, "Awe, you missed me!" 

Leroy rolled his eyes and clapped Cassius on the shoulder, "Of course I did. You're my Beta." 

Cassius crossed his arms over his chest, "Oh? And that's it?" 

Leroy groaned, "And my brother." 

"Fine, I'll accept it," Cassius winked, and then looked at everyone else, "So, what did I miss?" 

Deikota cleared her throat, "Nothing really, the house has been so quiet without you." 

Cassius rose an eyebrow, "Is that so?" His eyes glinted with amusement. 

Deikota walked up and swatted Leroy out of the way, then the pregnant woman reached down and yanked on Cassius' ear. 

"Ow!" Cassius screeched, "What is with everyone hurting me all the sudden? Stop it, woman!" 

"Don't you ever try to leave us again," Deikota threatened. 

Cassius whined, swatting at her, "Alright, alright, fine, whatever you say. No dying, got it. Let go? Maybe just don't take my ear off." 

Deikota grinned, letting go, and then leaned down to give him a brief hug, "I'm glad you're not dead." 

Cassius was rubbing his ear, and he gave Deikota a look, "Yeah, me too." 

Deikota pulled away, giving her a sneaky wink, and Cassius unconsciously leaned back into her as if she could protect him. She intertwined their fingers. West hadn't moved to the bedside, he remained leaning against the doorframe, watching everything with dark eyes. 

She smiled at West and he only nodded in response. She didn't mind his brooding presence as much--now that she knew his story. She had quickly learned that she couldn't judge people by their appearance or their pasts because everyone is capable of change--that she learned personally.  Cassius noticed West, too, and grinned towards the warrior. West wasn't the kind for hugs but his presence said enough--he was always there for the important moments. 

And once more, they were a complete family. 

♦     ♦     ♦     ♦     ♦     ♦

He's awake! And boy, were there some awesome character moments here! I'm making a full swing from Book One, especially with some of the comments made. Oh, the parallelisms, I love it all! 

Now, the true excitement begins! Speaking of which, there are only 12 hours left of 2020! It definitely hasn't been an ideal year but it taught me a lot. As for updates tonight, I have decided that I will update as I get chapters edited (still splurging, don't worry), but I will hang onto a few chapters for us to start the New Year on a good note ;)