Xavier rushed into the pack's infirmary, his body aching from the fight, but his mind was solely focused on Magnus. Damien was already there, pacing back and forth. The moment Damien saw Xavier carrying their bloodied companion, his eyes widened.
"Magnus!" Damien strode forward, but Doctor Alexander and the nurses quickly moved to assist, guiding Magnus onto a stretcher.
"Get him to the room, now!" Alexander ordered the staff.
The nurses worked swiftly, taking Magnus away while Xavier slumped against the wall, exhausted. Damien turned to Xavier, concern etched deep in his features.
"What the hell happened out there? He looks like he fought a whole army."
Xavier chuckled, though it was more out of relief. "Well, if you count a rogue pack as an army, then yeah, pretty much." He wiped some sweat and dirt off his forehead. "We got ambushed, but Magnus... he insisted on staying behind. Said he needed to avenge Andra."
Damien raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "Avenging her?"
Xavier sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, the bastard was pretty determined. He went full lone wolf on me. He said he couldn't forgive himself for letting Andra get hurt." He grinned weakly, trying to lighten the mood. "Honestly, I think he just wanted an excuse to show off. You know how dramatic he can get."
Damien huffed, though the corners of his mouth twitched in amusement. "Magnus and his theatrics. So what happened next?"
"After a few rogues, we started fantasizing about our perfect future with Andra. How we'd love her, spoil her, and maybe even convince her to give us some pups." Xavier laughed softly. "Turns out, thinking about a nice, peaceful future with her makes you fight a little harder."
Damien's lips quirked upward, though his brow remained furrowed. "And Magnus..." His voice was quiet. "How'd he end up... like that?"
Xavier shrugged, still catching his breath. "He took the brunt of it, wouldn't let me take over. Stubborn idiot was determined to prove something. But don't worry, I knocked sense into him... before he passed out, that is."
But they both knew Magnus had pushed himself too far.
Damien sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "He's always been like that. Putting everyone else ahead of himself."
They stood in silence for a moment, watching as the medical team worked on stabilizing Magnus in the room down the hall.
Xavier then turned to Damien, his face suddenly serious. "What about Andra? Is she..."
Damien grimaced. "I thought she'd be fine after we brought her back. She was in pain, but it wasn't supposed to be that bad. Doctor Alexander said the shift would be intense, that she'd recover. But... it didn't stop." He clenched his fists. "She was still in pain, shivering, and burning up. I had to bring her here. Doctor Alexander's with her now."
Xavier's face darkened. "Dammit. I thought she'd pull through it too. Did she shift?"
"Not yet," Damien muttered, running a hand through his hair. "She's in between. It's like her body doesn't know what to do."
Xavier swore under his breath, shaking his head. "She must be terrified."
Damien nodded, his eyes filled with concern. "She's tough, but this... this is different. Alexander said it was because her first shift was interrupted when she tried to run. It's like her body's in limbo."
They both fell silent after, not knowing what else to say. All they could do was wait.
"Magnus is going to make it, right?" Xavier asked as they both glanced toward the room where Magnus was being treated.
Damien didn't answer immediately. He leaned against the wall, staring at the floor. "He has to. He's been through worse."
Xavier chuckled lightly. "Yeah, knowing Magnus, he'll be pissed if we go on without him. Probably won't let us hear the end of it when he wakes up."
Damien managed a small smile. "He'll pull through. He always does."
A heavy silence settled between them as they waited. The sounds of the medical team working and the soft beeping of machines filtered through the door, but all they could think about was Magnus and Andra — the two people they would protect at all costs.
The silence between Xavier and Damien stretched on for what felt like hours. Until Xavier finally broke the silence.
"I don't think they were rogues."
Damien's head snapped up, his brow furrowed. "What do you mean? They looked like rogues, fought like rogues."
Xavier shook his head slowly. "That's just it. They didn't act like rogues at all. They were feral, yes, but disorganized. They didn't seem to have a plan. Rogues don't communicate like that. At least, not the way these did."
Damien crossed his arms. "You're saying they were something else? What?"
"I don't know." Xavier leaned forward, elbows on his knees as he stared at the floor. "But they seemed desperate. It felt more like... like they had an objective."
Damien's jaw clenched. "Andra..."
Xavier nodded. "Exactly. They didn't just stumble onto her. It was like they knew exactly where to find her."
The realization hit Damien hard, his hands tightening into fists at his sides. "So what are you saying? Someone sent them?"
"Maybe. But I couldn't figure out who," Xavier said. "I tried to listen to their movements, watched how they attacked, but it didn't add up. They didn't speak, Damien. Not a word. It's like they were operating under some silent command."
Damien's eyes flickered. "This is bigger than we thought."
Doctor Alexander appeared at the end of the hallway. His white coat billowed slightly as he approached, and both Damien and Xavier stood, their attention snapping to him immediately. Alexander looked tired, but his face remained composed. He held their gazes firmly as he stopped in front of them.
"Andra…" Damien asked. "Is she okay?"
Alexander nodded, but his expression remained serious. "She's stable for now. Her body is still trying to complete the shift, but the trauma of being interrupted has made it... complicated."
Xavier clenched his jaw. "Complicated how?"
"The human body isn't designed for this kind of transformation. When it's interrupted, it can create a lot of confusion in the mind and body. That's what's happening to her. Her cells are trying to adapt, but her mind is fighting the change, which is why she's in so much pain."
Damien's eyes darkened. "Is there anything we can do? Anything to help her?"
Alexander sighed softly. "She's strong, Damien. And I believe she'll get through this. But it will take time. We've given her something to ease the pain and help her body adjust to the transformation. Once the shift is complete, she should recover."
Xavier exhaled in relief, his tension easing slightly. "So, she'll be okay?"
Alexander gave a reassuring nod. "Yes, I'm confident she'll be fine. But it will be a slow process. We'll keep her here for observation until she's back to her full strength."
Damien's shoulders relaxed, a weight lifting from his chest. "Thank you, Alexander."
The doctor offered a small, tight smile. "She's tough. She'll pull through."
Just as they were beginning to feel a sense of relief, Xavier spoke again. "And Magnus?"
The shift in Alexander's demeanor was immediate. He sighed deeply, glancing toward the room where Magnus was being treated.
"Magnus's injuries are far more severe," Alexander began. "He sustained significant damage in the fight. Multiple deep lacerations, broken bones, internal bleeding. The wounds are healing, but not fast enough. His wolf is fighting, but..."
"But what?" Damien pressed.
Alexander's eyes flicked between the two of them. "His body is in shock. And worse, he pushed himself past his limits. His wolf is trying to heal him, but it's like he doesn't have the strength to keep going."
Xavier's face paled. "You're saying..."
"I'm saying that there's a possibility Magnus won't recover," Alexander said quietly. "If his wolf can't heal him soon, the damage might be too much. There's only so much we can do on our end. The rest is up to him."
Damien's breath caught in his throat. "No... no, that's not possible. Magnus... he's always been one of the strongest."
Alexander's voice softened. "I know. But even the strongest can fall."
Xavier's hand trembled slightly as he ran it through his hair. "There has to be something. Anything we can do."
"We're doing everything we can," Alexander assured them. "But I can't make any promises. We have to prepare for the possibility that Magnus might not make it through the night."
Damien and Xavier gasped. "He might die."