Stuck with the enemy

Chapter 19: I am No Bandage

Spoiler alert!!! First kiss 💋 is coming!

Derek's Story

I stood waiting, my heart pounding as I stared at the closed door. Finally, it opened, and the doctor emerged, his expression seemed grave—too grave. I rose from my seat the moment I saw him, practically holding my breath.

"Alpha Derek," he began, his voice calm but somber. The suspense was agonizing, every second stretching longer than the last. I swallowed, preparing myself for the worst.

"Your father made it through the surgery. We'll be transferring him to the ICU, but the first 24 hours are critical."

Relief surged through me, but that relief was laced with dread. Those 24 hours loomed like a shadow over us. He had survived the surgery, but we weren't out of the woods yet.

I slipped a hand into my pocket, fumbling for my phone. I dialed Julia, grateful that at least we had some good news, though part of me was still coiled tight with worry.

"Julia, Dad's out of surgery. Where are you?" I asked, a trace of impatience creeping into my voice. I remembered that she'd left with my Deniz to see that boy... Tommy, wasn't it?

"Seriously? I'm on my way!" she said excitedly before hanging up. I pocketed the phone, still tense but grateful she'd be here soon.

Just then, the doors swung open again, and the stretcher carrying my father emerged. For a moment, my breath caught as I took in the sight of him. He lay there, surrounded by wires and tubes, his face pale and still—so unlike the strong, indomitable man I had always known. The rise and fall of his chest were steady, but the sight of him so vulnerable sent a sharp pang through me. He was a fighter, but seeing him like this was a reminder that even he was not invincible.

Just then, Julia appeared from around the corner, her face lighting up with relief the moment she saw Dad.

"Father, thank the Holy Moon you're still with us!" she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.

"Where have you been?" I asked, unable to keep a slight edge from my tone. The tension had been eating at me for hours, and I couldn't help it.

Julia barely seemed to notice, her expression calm as she replied, "I was meeting Tommy," she said lightly, as if she hadn't picked up on my frustration.

"Oh, really?" I replied, struggling to keep my voice even. "You went to meet a boy while Dad was in surgery?"

Julia's eyes flashed, finally noticing my tone. "Derek, it's not what you think," she said, her voice soft but firm. "Tommy saved our Dad's life. The least I could do was go and thank him." Her gaze softened as she added, "I just... I just wanted to make sure he was alright."

I took a breath, forcing myself to relax. I couldn't exactly argue with that, and maybe I was being too harsh. After all, we owed Tommy a lot. But in this moment, my emotions were running high, and it was hard to think clearly.

"Fine," I replied, rubbing the back of my neck. "Just... stay close, alright? We still don't know how things will go."

Julia nodded, her expression one of understanding as she moved closer, wrapping her arms around me. For a moment, we simply stood there together, two siblings bound by worry and relief, standing vigil as our father was wheeled down the hall to recovery.

It was a long, silent walk as we followed behind, watching the medical staff carefully tend to him.

---

Twelve hours had passed, and my father still hadn't woken up. I'd been watching the clock, counting every minute that slipped by as he lay motionless. My patience, which had already been wearing thin, finally broke. I had to speak to the doctor again, even if it was just to hear the same reassurances.

On my way to the doctor's office, I noticed Deniz stepping out of Tommy's room. She was with that guy, Jacob, and they were laughing softly about something.

What's he doing here? The thought flared hot in my mind, jealousy rising unbidden. Deniz hadn't even noticed me standing there, but she looked... happy with him. I pushed the feeling down, knowing it was the last thing I needed to think about right now.

Finally, I reached the doctor's office, knocked firmly, and opened the door as he called me in.

"Alpha Derek," he greeted me, his expression serious as he motioned for me to sit.

"What's going on with my father?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady. "It's been twelve hours, and he's still not awake. You said he'd have a good chance of recovery, so what's happening?"

The doctor nodded slowly, his face carefully neutral as he searched for the right words. "I understand your concern, Alpha Derek. Your father's condition is stable, but..." He hesitated, choosing his next words carefully. "If he doesn't wake up within these initial 24 hours, there's a very real chance he may slip into a coma."

The doctor's words hit me like a punch to the gut. A coma. The word echoed in my head, cold and hollow. I could feel my control starting to slip, the rawness of the night's events crashing down on me.

Seeing my expression, the doctor added, "I wish I had more certainty to offer you. Right now, all we can do is wait and monitor his condition closely. Sometimes, patients just need time."

"Time?" I scoffed, my voice barely more than a whisper. "He's the Alpha. He doesn't have time to just... lie there. We don't have time..." My voice trailed off as I tried to keep my emotions in check.

The doctor sighed, giving me a sympathetic look. "I understand this is difficult. The next hours will be crucial."

Without another word, I turned on my heel and left the room, barely able to contain the frustration building up inside me. I needed air—space to breathe, to think. The walls of the hospital felt like they were closing in on me, suffocating me under the weight of everything that had happened tonight.

I pushed open the doors and stepped outside into the cold night air. The quiet was almost unbearable, amplifying every thought, every fear. I clenched my fists, struggling to keep the emotions that had been churning inside me under control. But it was too much—too much to bear alone.

The anger and helplessness I'd been holding back finally broke through. I let out a raw, agonized scream, the sound tearing through the stillness.

"Why?!" I yelled into the empty darkness, my voice cracking. My fists slammed into the nearest tree, over and over, until the bark bit into my skin and pain shot up my arms. But it didn't matter. Nothing mattered in that moment except the ache in my chest and the overwhelming sense of helplessness I couldn't shake.

The cold air stung my lungs as I took deep, ragged breaths, trying to calm myself. I leaned against the tree, resting my forehead against the rough bark, feeling utterly drained. How had everything fallen apart so quickly?

I turned my head to the side, and there she was. My Deniz. She was standing frozen, just near the edge of the stone wall, where she'd risen when she'd heard me shout. She looked so beautiful; it nearly unraveled me. In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to forget—to forget who I was, to forget the hatred I carried for her family. All of it vanished as I looked at her.

I took a few quick steps toward her, my heartbeat roaring in my ears. She didn't say a word, just stood there, staring at me with a mix of worry and fear. Her eyes dropped to my hand, which was bruised and bleeding from where I'd clenched it so tightly.

"Are you... alright?" she finally murmured, her gaze darting to my injured hand. I could see the urge in her eyes, the way she wanted to reach out and take my hand, to heal the wound.

I forced a small smile, trying to keep my voice calm, even though my insides were anything but. "You can't be my bandage, Deniz," I said, my tone laced with a hint of irony. "Just like I... can't be yours."

She looked at me, confused, her eyes searching mine, and that look—it broke something inside me. I couldn't hold back anymore.

Before I knew it, I'd closed the distance between us. I reached out, pulling her close to me, and without another thought, I kissed her.