I screamed as I turned around to catch my father, his heavy frame collapsing into my arms.
His weight dragged me down until I was kneeling on the floor with him cradled against me.
"Daddy, please! Please wake up!" My tears poured freely, soaking through his shirt. "Don't leave me, not now. Please."
The room erupted into chaos.
Wolves shifted uneasily, instincts flaring at the sight of their Alpha falling. Betas and omegas rushed forward, peeling him from my arms despite my cries.
"Gabrielle!"
I froze at the sound of my little sister's voice cutting through the panic.
She stood a few steps away, trembling, her wide eyes glassy with fear. I wiped my tears quickly and forced myself to look strong for her.
"What's wrong with Daddy?" she whispered.
"Nothing. He's going to be fine." My voice cracked, but I forced a smile as I took her hands.
Her nanny hurried over, reaching for her. I crouched and kissed my sister's forehead. "Go with Nanny Leah, alright? I'll be back as soon as I can. Be strong for me."
She nodded hesitantly, then hugged me tight, her little voice muffled against my shoulder. "I love you, Gabrielle. No matter what."
The words shattered me. My throat burned as I held her tighter.
It made me delighted to know that even after what she had seen, what she had witnessed.
She still loved me.
"I love you too," I whispered, kissing her cheek before letting her go.
I turned back just in time to see the ambulance doors about to slam shut.
I put hand to stop them and was about to hop in when they stopped me.
"Not more than one family member is a allowed." The paramedics said.
Confused, I looked in, and to my horror, my stepmother was already inside, sitting across from where my father lay, her hand possessively resting on his chest.
"I'm his daughter!" I cried out, shoving toward the door.
"And I'm his wife," Lydia sneered at me.
"Stepwife!" I spat, but the paramedics cut me off.
"We can't waste time, he's critical!" The door was slammed shut in my face and the vehicle roared to life, speeding away in a convoy of flashing lights.
My heart hammered with desperation.
One of the Betas climbed into a black Benz, and without hesitation, I jumped in beside him. "Drive!" I ordered, clutching my skirts.
The guilt gnawed at me as the car sped toward Cherrywoods Hospital.
My father had never been this sick, never fallen this hard, not even when the curse weakened him. Was it me? Had my rejection, my crippled wolf, broken him too?
Minutes later, we screeched into the hospital.
I bolted barefoot across the lobby, gasping out his name as the nurses directed me to his wing.
My heart pounded as I shoved past guards, ignoring their protests.
Lydia was waiting at the door. Her face was twisted in venomous rage. "You stupid, cursed bitch! You killed him! You killed my husband! You finally got what you wanted didn't you?"
Her words sliced deep, but I refused to stop. Shoving her aside, I pushed the door open and froze.
My father lay weak and pale on the hospital bed, his chest rising shallowly, machines beeping in a frantic rhythm.
Beside him stood the last person I would have ever expected to see.
Jeffery.
My stepbrother
"Promise me…" My father's voice was barely audible. His hand clutched Jeffery's wrist with surprising strength. "Promise me you'll give it to her. The pack… Gabrielle must lead."
My breath caught.
Jeffery's face was unreadable as he leaned closer. "I promise."
"Swear on your wolf," My father pressed.
For a moment, hesitation flickered across Jeffery's eyes. Then, with a smooth calmness that made my stomach twist, he said, "I swear on my wolf."
Relief washed over my father's features. Slowly, painfully, he turned his gaze to me and the moment he made eye contact with me, he seemed happy.
His lips trembled into the faintest smile.
"My Gabri—"
He never finished those words.
The monitor screamed. The line wen flat.
"No!" I rushed to his side as I pushed Jeffery away and grabbed his hand, my sobs echoing through the sterile room. "Daddy, don't leave me! Please don't leave us. We're here daddy. I beg you!"
But his hand slipped limp in mine, and the world shattered into silence.