reborn. - ONGOING

5.

Stiles Pov. A few months later

The sharp scent of disinfectant filled the air, that distinct hospital smell that made my stomach churn. Suddenly, Scott approached, dark circles etched under his weary eyes. Clearly, he hadn't slept much, just like me. "Hey, Stiles. How's she doing?" he asked, his voice laced with genuine concern.

"I don't know, man," I replied, my voice heavy with uncertainty.

Allison joined us, slipping into the conversation. I hadn't even noticed her until now. She wanted to know if the doctor had given any updates or if the nurses had mentioned anything.

Shaking my head, a wave of desperation washed over me. Please, God, let Ava be okay. I wasn't the religious type, but in that moment, I silently pleaded with any higher power to save her.

"Damn, Stiles, your shirt... Were you with her when it happened?" Scott's voice sounded alarmed.

I looked down and saw my shirt stained with blood. A heavy sigh escaped me, the memory of the scene vividly playing in my mind—Ava lying there, her head resting on my lap, gasping for air.

"Yeah..." I whispered, the words barely audible.

Silence settled around us, occasionally broken by the distant voices of nurses or other patients. I doubted they heard me, but the firm grip of Scott's hand on my shoulder confirmed otherwise.

"Nothing's gonna happen to her, Stiles," he reassured me, his voice hoarse yet resolute. I mustered a weak smile and leaned back against the bench. What time was it anyway? I needed to let my dad know where I was, in case his colleagues hadn't already informed him. After a while, Alli sat down beside me, reaching out to hold my hand. She was wearing pink pajamas; Scott must have pulled her out of sleep. I turned to him and asked if Melissa knew about the accident.

"Yeah, she said she'll come later with your dad," Scott responded.

So, I didn't have to be the one to break the news. Whether I had the strength to do it was another question altogether.

"What about Derek?" Alli asked, her question catching me off guard. I looked at her, confusion furrowing my brow. Scott seemed like he wanted to intervene, but it was too late now.

"You didn't notice? Derek was closer to her than any of us, well, except maybe you, being her ex," Alli revealed, unknowingly fueling a surge of jealousy within me.

I tried my best to push aside the envy coursing through my veins. Not now, Stiles, not now. Distractedly, I heard Scott responding to Alli.

"I'll call him in a few minutes. Let's wait until the doctors update us on her condition," Scott declared, his belief in Ava's recovery unwavering. And my thoughts mirrored his. She had to pull through. Ava couldn't just die now. We needed her.

"Hey, Stiles, everything's gonna be alright," I heard my best friend's voice. He sat down next to me, and Allison joined in, wrapping me in a comforting embrace. It had to be hard for him too. Not only was someone from his pack is in danger, it was also his sister and he couldn’t do anything about it. It's only been a few months after the Breakup and it didn't matter how much I tried, I couldn't stop caring about her, eventhough it seemed like she already moved on.

I couldn't tell if minutes or hours had passed when the doctor finally emerged from the operating room. We looked at him with hopeful eyes, silently pleading for good news. But I could read it in his expression. I'd seen that look before, five years ago when my mom passed away.

“Is any of her family present?” Scott stepped forward, his voice filled with a mix of worry and determination. She's my adopted sister, so yeah." Just then, my dad, the sheriff, and Melissa approached us. Turns out they knew the doctor, adding another layer to this messed-up situation.

"What's going on, Mitch? How is she doing?" Melissa's voice trembled with worry, mirroring the chaos in my own head.

"I'm sorry, she didn't make it." The doctor's words hit like a punch to the gut. Time seemed to slow down, and Melissa gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Allison's tears started flowing, and Scott, our fearless alpha, fixed the doctor with a look of pure, unadulterated anger.

"They couldn't save her? How the hell did you let this happen? That's your damn job!" Melissa pulled Scott toward her, trying to calm him down. "We did everything we could, I swear."

"You didn't do a damn thing," Scott spat at the doctor, his voice laced with venom.

The doctor quickly apologized, probably wanting to avoid any further awkwardness. Meanwhile, my dad reached for his phone, calling his colleagues to get some answers. I just stood there, lost in a sea of empty thoughts, tears streaming down my face. Scott let out a frustrated and painful growl.

How the hell were we supposed to move forward from here? Nothing would ever be the same again. Ava was the heart of our pack, and I was only beginning to grasp the magnitude of what we'd lost.

Melissa took charge, talking to the doctor, sorting out the practicalities since Ava had been adopted by them. Everything felt numb, detached from reality. I glanced at my best friend, his eyes now shining red, revealing his supernatural side. I couldn't find the words, so I just pointed at his eyes, a silent acknowledgement came from him. Scott tried his best to calm himself down, but under these circumstances, it was hard. I turned to Allison, her body trembling with grief. I held her tight, feeling her nails dig into my back as she surrendered to the overwhelming emotions.

I stared at the cold, marble-white floor, unable to fully process the fact that she was gone. The familiar scent of disinfectant wafted through the air, a stark reminder of this sterile and devastating reality. I couldn't even apologize for all the hurtful things I said to her after our breakup. I was powerless because she was gone. Forever.