Chapter Twenty Three
“I’ll go get Monica.”
Kate’s statement rang in Melissa’s ears, as she glanced over Helena. They were just a few yards across from the entrance of Shandaken Hospital. Her friend jumped up, as a young nurse approached the glass door.
“I’m so sorry…” Melissa whispered, reaching up to cradle the witch’s cheek, as she leaned over her.
“Don’t be,” Helena choked out, as a tiny smile spread across her face. “I saw it all in my orb last night. He’d killed you all.”
Everything made sense now. Her confession the night before and the trick she pulled on her, back in the forest. But, it also magnified the gut-wrenching pain that had already been scorching her insides. Unable to work up the courage to speak, Melissa bent her head down towards Helena, as two tears raced down her cheeks. She simply gazed deep in her red eyes, her own eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and gratitude for the witch that had –yet again—saved her life and the lives of her brothers. A tear rolled off her face and landed on Helena’s cheek, as the hospital was pushed open. Two male orderlies were wheeling up a gurney towards them, as Kate and Monica followed them outside.
“Melissa, let her go, honey,” The doctor requested. “We’ll take it from here.”
Putting her hand over her mouth, she slowly arose, her gaze still locked on Helena, as the orderlies hauled her onto the gurney. Not wasting any time, they rushed her back in, as she tried to wrap her head around what had transpired. Helena’s life was hanging in the balance, because she had fallen in love with a man who had sold his soul to the devil. Should she die, Melissa knew that she would have to leave Joe. He would be free on his deal, but the price paid would have been way too high. Their entire relationship would be based on the death of a loved one. She just could not live with that knowledge.
The familiar sound of a diesel engine interrupted her thoughts. Her brothers had just arrived, along with Joe. Raul was the first to address her, but all she did was point up at the hospital entrance. Melissa was in no condition to narrate anything. Undeterred by her brother’s failure, Joe attempted to talk to her, but he suffered the same fate.
For more than two hours, she could not escape the horrifying image of Helena, lying down on the forest floor, bleeding heavily. Even as Melissa paced up and down the waiting room, she could not get it out of her mind. The fact that the witch was still alive kept the beacon of hope alive. However, Melissa could not find peace, until she had an update on Helena’s condition.
“We acted like morons,” Raul admitted to Dean. The two of them were in the upper left corner of the waiting room, whispering to one another.
“Yeah, we did. We all did,” she thought to herself, as Dean looked down at her, over his shoulder. So many things could be said in this dark hour. Mistakes, confessions, suggestions and decisions, but Melissa was not going to have this conversation in a public place, for more reasons than just Helena’s health. She could predict the outcome of this discussion. It would end up in a loud, bitter argument.
Deciding to intervene in case her name was mentioned, she crossed her arms over her chest, and listened in. But, Melissa didn’t get the chance to hear more. The power door of the operating room slid open sideways, just before Monica walked into the waiting room. Melissa’s heart rate spiked, her heart pounding against her ribs, as the doctor’s eyes swept the waiting room, looking for Melissa. Just when their eyes met, Monica’s lips curved into a happy smile that sent waves of joy and relief crashing over her. Her happy cheer echoed back at the walls of the room, as she started towards the doctor. Melissa wrapped her arms around her back, and pulled her into a tight embrace, resting her chin on Monica’s shoulder, as her brothers hugged one another.
“Thank you,” she whispered, unable to hold back more of her tears. “Thank you so much.”
“The knife missed her vital organs,” Monica informed them with a huge grin. “She lost a lot of blood, but she’s going to be just fine.”
“Can I see her?” Melissa asked, as she eased back.
“She was in a lot of pain. We had to put her under. You’ll have to wait until she wakes up.” Monica said softly and sweetly as Raul pulled her in for a side hug.
Melissa turned around, seeking Joe, but, a quick scan of the room told her that he wasn’t there.
“He just went outside. He said he needed some fresh air.” Ray answered her question before she could pose it. Her enthusiasm was much too great to even consider walking. Immediately, Melissa exploded towards the exit of the waiting room, eager to share the good news with Joe. Sprinting along the wide hallway, she r all of the hardships they had been through, one by one. His tears at the cemetery, his initial rejection, the fear in his eyes when he ran into her wolf, his innuendo on their first date, the night he had given her his letter outside Kate’s bar… sad memories, but memories all the same. Nothing would hold them back now.
Melissa lengthened her strides, as the hospital entrance came into view. Ray had been honest with her. Joe was indeed outside, facing the building. She swung the glass door open, feeling her adrenaline rushing through her veins. Melissa would not announce anything to him. Instead, she leapt onto Joe, as a joyful cheer fled her lips. He held out his arms, and grabbed her in midair, as a blissful smile formed on his face.
“She made it,” Melissa uttered, her voice wobbly, as she threw her arms around his neck. “She’s going to be alright.”
“Oh, thank God,” Joe sighed in relief, closing his eyes, as he held her tight in his arms.
“We’re free,” She whispered, easing slowly back. “We’re finally free.”
“I can never thank you enough,” he said, his baritone thick with emotion, as tears pooled in his eyes.
“You can,” Melissa let out yet another, soft whisper. “Love me, the way I love you.”
A tear fell out of Joe’s overflowing eyes and he snorted back a sob as he tilted his head down. Their lips joined in a long, tender kiss, filled with all the love and affection that they had for one another. Once again, his sweet scent enveloped her, taking her entire existence into his own, emotional world. This time however, Melissa did not need to worry about returning to the nightmare of reality, simply because this reality did not contain the demon that had been haunting their lives. The nightmare had been vanquished. In its stead was the dream of life without fear. She was free to enjoy everything that her own, refined man had to offer. She had fought hard to keep him alive, and now, she could savor every single moment of her life with her “prize”, as she used to call him; Joe Stanton; now, Joe Donovan; her gentleman: her mate.
THE END