Chapter Twenty-Five
Caleb lay in bed, looking up at the ceiling. He could not regret what had happened. He remembered Farley telling him that everything happened for a reason. That knowledge didn't stop the tear from falling down his cheek, moistening the pillow below his head. There was no one there to wipe it away.
Caleb was alone.
"I'm back!" Farley said, bursting in the room holding a baby and a balloon tied to a basket.
Caleb smiled and tried sitting up with great difficulty. He gave up about halfway. Though there wasn't much pain--Felix said that would come after the first of the pain medications wore off--there was the general inability to use his body in the same way as he had been able to up until a few hours ago. Felix insisted there would be no scar, but Caleb wasn't sure how that was true. "Help me to the table," he said to Oscar who had come in behind Farley. Oscar lifted him up and into a wheelchair, rolling him to the table that Farley had set the gift bag.
"I've got some flavored water, jerky like you requested and…" Farley held an envelope against his chest like they contained the Nobel peace prize winner. "An official invitation to join my Final Legend guild. Don't answer right away, I want you to really think this over, Caleb. I cannot remember the last time we asked a new member to join our guild. This is a great honor."
Caleb smiled but he couldn't hold it for long. He missed Asher, was sad that he'd missed the birth of their children. Caleb had not been afraid at all and had been surrounded by his friends and family. Still, he would have preferred Asher's presence.
And, Asher was likely to be worried. When they had sent Stella, Felix had been worried that his somewhat early labor was indicative of a greater problem. They'd sent her because she was the fastest and would be able to get word to Asher quicker than any other.
"He is on his way, Caleb," Farley said, correctly reading Caleb's expression. "Stella is the fastest around. Even faster than Oscar." Farley lifted his hand to his mouth in a dramatic stage whisper, as if hiding his words from his mate who stood less than one foot away. "Don't tell him I said that."
"I know. He'll be here. And we have our whole lives. Unless, what if something happened with the coyotes? Or the wolf? He could be hurt. Dead!"
"Nothing happened to Asher. You would have felt it," Farley replied confidently. "I think you would have even felt his sadness if something had happened to the little wolf. A bond like you two have is strong. Supernaturally strong."
"Well there was that one moment where—"
"Caleb!" Asher screamed his name from somewhere down the hallway.
Caleb and Farley looked at each other for a moment before Asher screamed his name again. It sounded so full of pain. His hands went to the wheels of his chair but he wasn't strong enough at that moment to move them. "Wheel me out there," he pleaded. "I'm here!" he shouted, everything in him needing to soothe Asher's ragged tone.
Oscar stepped behind the wheelchair, seemingly uncomfortable with Farley going out into the hallway.
He pushed Caleb out of the room. Caleb searched the hallway. It was empty save for one wild man who stood at the very end. He looked frantic, feral and rabid, so much like how he'd been when Caleb had first met him. He was completely naked standing in the middle of the hallway with his arms out, his hands clenched in fists and his feet shoulder length apart. "Asher?" Caleb said quietly.
Asher sprinted toward him, paying no mind to the doctors, nurses and patients who stared curiously out of the rooms that lined the hallway. Caleb realized they must have thought there was a mad man loose. With the way Asher ran forward, like a predator after prey, he thought they'd been right.
Asher completely ignored Farley and Oscar as they made a quick retreat. Lifting Caleb gingerly out of the chair he held him against his chest. Caleb hadn't realized how cold he'd been before that moment. Asher's heat filled him, making his entire body feel better. "Are you okay, mate? Stella said…I ran straight here," Asher said, smelling him all over as he had that first day. "No, you aren't okay," he said, answering his own question as he set Caleb down on the bed. He lifted Caleb's gown over his belly. "You are harmed here." He held his hand over the bandages.
"That is where Felix cut me open to take the babies out," Caleb explained.
"Our children?"
"Are fine. They are getting some routine tests taken right now but then they will be right back. You can meet them. Good thing too because I refused to name them until you came back."
Asher exhaled a ragged breath. "The red headed one, Stella had said you were in danger."
"I'm sorry, Asher. I went into labor early. Felix was worried so he sent for you at the first moment. He said that as my mate, you would be better for my body than any medicine. I have to say, he is right. Just having you near me for these few moments has made me feel much better."
Asher nuzzled his nose and mouth against Caleb's neck. "Me as well. I am appreciative of our pack master for sending for me first thing. That was wise."
"Asher?"
"Hm?"
"You called him our pack master," Caleb said.
Asher pulled back. "That I did. I have learned so much since meeting you, Caleb. Like how isolation isn't an end game. I would still like to spend time at the homestead, maybe in the spring and summer months, but our pack is here. They can help us as we can help them. Like a pack should be."
"Like it will be," Caleb replied, overjoyed.
Just then, a squeaky wheel alerted Caleb's attention to the door. Felix pushed in the triple-wide hospital crib where three baby girls were sound asleep.
"Daughters?" Asher said with an awed whisper. "Daughters," he said again on a breath.