The Last Crescent

Chapter 34

Greyson

Shortly after walking Neoma back to the Gamma house, I caught sight of my mother and grandmother, both moving swiftly amidst the chaos. They were directing pack members from each clan, coordinating efforts to tend to the injured, their commanding presence giving structure to the madness.

But I was disconnected, detached from it all. My mind kept running through the night's events, replaying them like a movie stuck on an endless loop. The guilt, the anger, the fear—it all churned inside me, a storm that I couldn't quiet.

I glanced down at Neoma, my unconscious mate, lying helpless in my arms. Her chest rose and fell, each breath a struggle as if she couldn't quite get enough air. Despite the bruises marring her soft skin, her face still held a strange serenity. She looked peaceful like she was merely asleep, but I knew better. Every bruise, every cut was a reminder of how close I'd come to losing her.

My wolf whimpered inside me, the ache for her almost too much to bear. I could only stand there, helpless, watching her fight for every breath, praying silently that she would wake up soon and that when she did, she'd be the same Neoma I knew and loved "Greyson... Greyson!" My mother's voice broke through my daze, her concerned gaze locking onto mine. "I said let me take her. I'll take care of her from here, I promise."

I hesitated, glancing back down at Neoma. The thought of letting her go—even into my mother's arms—felt wrong. But I knew I had to. Carefully, I placed Neoma into my mother's embrace, watching as she held her with such care. My mom looked at me, her lips parting as if she wanted to say something, but then she closed them, choosing silence.

"Aya, I've got Neoma. She's in bad shape. We need to get her to the hospital immediately," my mother called out. Hearing the urgency in her voice, my grandmother rushed over, taking the stethoscope from her medical assistant.

She pressed it to Neoma's chest, listening intently before looking up with a firm nod. "Get the ambulance ready. We're taking Neoma and Ava now!" The medical assistant didn't waste a second, sprinting toward the ambulance and pulling out a stretcher.

My heart pounded as I watched them work, my mind spiraling with fear, guilt, and rage.

 I felt powerless, the weight of it crushing me as they loaded Neoma and Ava into the ambulance. Curtis stood nearby, visibly distraught, his face streaked with tears. He protested, wanting to be in the ambulance with Ava, but my mother managed to calm him down, convincing him to take our cars and meet them at the hospital. Reluctantly, he nodded, his voice too choked with emotion to speak.

As it sped off, the ambulance lights flashed, a glaring reminder of the urgency. I stared after it, still feeling numb, the sounds of the sirens fading in the distance.

I walked to my car without thinking, as if I was moving on autopilot. Every step felt heavier than the last. I opened the trunk, took out the sweatshirt and sweatpants I always kept there, and quickly changed. My movements felt mechanical, as though I wasn't truly present, just going through the motions. As soon as I was ready, I climbed into the driver's seat, started the engine, and followed the ambulance. The road ahead was blurry with everything that had just happened. 

It only took ten minutes to get to the hospital, but it felt like hours. My mind raced, replaying every moment, every mistake. I watched helplessly as they rushed Ava and Neoma inside, doctors and nurses from various clans working in a seamless, practiced rhythm. To the humans in this town, this hospital was just another private facility, but for wolves, it was far more. While humans worked here, most of the medical staff were from nearby packs, trusted healers trained to deal with both human and supernatural injuries. Each pack had its clinics, but the hospital was reserved for emergencies like this—when lives were hanging by a thread.