After dropping Louise’s dragon on the roof of Seattle Shifter PD, Max flew back to the hospital. When he landed behind the Pediatric Ward, he found Wilson and his mother waiting for him. Luck was on his side because the press hadn’t thought to climb the parking lot’s walls yet.

“How are Vivienne and Amber Rose?” Max asked as soon as he transformed into his human form.

When neither his mother nor his friend answered him right away, his hopes sank, and he fell to his knees.

“They are both alive,” his mother said, rushing to hug him tightly. She rocked him as she used to when he was little and scared by the dark shadows under his bed.

“They are both alive, but they aren’t any better,” he said, knowing that his mother was hiding something from him.

“Don’t despair.”

“Mom,” he whispered. “I’m so lost.”

“It’s okay, Max.” She stroked his back, but not even her tender caresses could lift the heavy weight from his chest.

A cab entered the parking lot.

“Is that Dad?” he asked, recognizing the man exiting the car.

“He went to your place to grab a change of clothes for you,” his mother answered. “We had a feeling you were coming back here.”

It was a little thing, but it made all the difference to Max, and he was glad Wilson had called his parents because he needed them by his side more than ever.

“Thank you, Dad,” he said to his father when he walked to him with a garment bag.

“Called Hugo on my way to your penthouse,” his father said, handing the bag over. “I assume it’s not the first time he had to prepare a change of clothes for you.” His smile was thin, but it was an attempt at humor, and Max appreciated the effort.

“Most like the one thousandth time.” Max smiled back. “The man is a keeper,” he commented when he opened the bag and found jeans, shirt, shoes, and socks.

“There’s an army inside, waiting for you,” Wilson said as Max put on his clothes.

Both his friend and his mother were drenched, water dropping in rivulets from their uncovered heads.

“You’ve been waiting outside to warn me,” Max said.

“We didn’t want to risk the police following us, so we led them on a merry chase inside the hospital. Doctor Kalisten let us through a personnel door that opens on the other side of the parking lot,” Wilson explained.

“Going back inside isn’t the smart thing to do.” His mother looked over his shoulder at the Pediatric Ward’s entrance. “But that’s exactly what I would do if you or your father were in there, so let’s go.”

“Just sent the doctor a text,” Wilson said.

His father nodded in encouragement, and the four of them hurried around the corner as a patrol car entered the parking lot. The vehicle’s lights illuminated the stretch of concrete where they were hiding, flattened against the wall.

A door opened, and Doctor Kalisten leaned out, gesturing for them to hurry. The panel closed behind Max’s father who entered last, but thankfully, a moment before the police car drove by.

They ran the entire length of the floor, using the staff-only areas and keeping out of the communal hallways as they moved further inside the ward. Finally, the doctor let them inside a room and closed the door behind her.

“How are they?” Max asked.

“Both in critical condition,” the doctor said. “The blood for Amber Rose arrived.”

“That’s good news.” Max’s heart galloped wildly.

“It is.” There was hesitation in the doctor’s voice.

“But?” He pressed his hand against his chest. Something was wrong.

“Amber Rose is AB Negative and a half-breed. It’s such a rare combination. There’s a short supply of her blood type coming from half-breed donors which is the only kind her body can accept,” the doctor said.

“Didn’t the Blood Bank send enough?” Max looked around, meeting with blank stares. “What is it that you aren’t telling me?”

“We gave Amber Rose the blood already,” she paused. “Your friend needs blood, too, though.”

“Then give it to her.” An overwhelming sense of doom filled the air. Max could breathe it in, and it poisoned his lungs, making him choke.

The doctor hugged herself. Under the harsh, white light of the room, the dark circles under her eyes looked bluish, giving her an exhausted air. “She is AB Negative and a half-breed, like your daughter.”

“You are saying that there was only enough blood for Amber Rose.” Max heard himself say the words as if someone else had spoken instead of him. How could fate be so cruel to give him good news only to follow with bad news?

“Children are higher priority than adults.” Doctor Kalisten massaged her temple with two boney fingers. “Vivienne’s wolf is fighting hard, but without a transfusion, she isn’t going to make it.” She gave Max a sad smile. “I wish I could do more. I’m sorry.”

Pain gripped Max’s heart as if a cold hand was squeezing the organ. It hurt too much. He swayed, looking for a chair, anything to hold on to.

His father took his elbow and guided him to the low couch in the corner.

The doctor continued, “We’ve called every Blood Bank in the States—”

“Call the rest of the world,” Max said, interrupting her.

The sympathetic look the doctor gave him almost broke Max.

“Vivienne needs the blood as soon as possible. Even if we find her exact type in Europe or Asia, it would take too long to arrive here. Seattle Shifter is one of the most technologically advanced hospitals in the world, but we simply don’t have enough time,” the doctor said, her eyes filled with sadness.

“Keep looking for it. I’ll arrange for a private carrier.” He looked at Wilson, who was already reaching for his phone. “Hire as many jets as needed,” he said to his friend before turning to the doctor once again. “Just keep both of them alive.” He took his head in his hands. “Please.”

The doctor’s cell phone rang. She took a brief glance at the screen and moved to the door. “Stay in this room. I’ll be back.”