Rejected and Pregnant I Fled The Pack (Evelyn and Damon) novel Chapter 152

Chapter 152

Evelyn joined us after a white Willow finally asleep against her shoulder, and she settled quietly into the remaining chair, offering steady, supportive presence without demanding conversation or explanation.

“What happens now,” I asked, eventually, my voice still rough with exhaustion and lingering shock. “Practically, I mean. How does the transplant process actually work?”

“The healers will begin evaluation immediately,” Evelyn said gently. “Testing for cofapatibility, placement on whatever waiting list applies. We’ll need to understand the full timeline, the full requirements, but Damon, we’ll navigate this together, exactly the way we’ve navigated everything else.”

I nodded, grateful for her steady presence despite the overwhelming uncertainty now stretching ahead of us, understanding this represented yet another significant, frightening chapter in an already exhausting, dangerous several months.

My father stirred slightly sometime later, his eyes fluttering open slowly, disoriented at first before gradually focusing on the faces gathered around his bed.

“Sarah,” he murmured, his voice thick and weak, finding my mother’s face first among us, exactly as he had after his previous

surgery.

“I’m here,” she said softly, her hand tightening around his. “You’re safe now. You made it through surgery.”

He processed that slowly, his gaze drifting toward me next, something relieved crossing his exhausted features despite the obvious physical toll evident in every line of his pale face. “Damon. Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “Because of you. You saved me, Dad.”

Something soft and genuine crossed his tired expression, though exhaustion remained heavy beneath it. “Good,” he whispered. “That’s what matters.”

“Dad.” I moved closer, needing him to understand the full weight of what his sacrifice had actually cost him. “The surgeon says you’ll likely need a heart transplant. The damage from tonight/combined with everything else your heart’s already survived—”

He was quiet for a moment, processing that information despite his obvious exhaustion. “I understand,” he said finally, his voice still weak but carrying genuine, steady resolve despite the frightening news. “Whatever it takes, however long the process requires, I intend to actually fight through it.”

“I know you do,” I said, my voice breaking slightly. “I just wish it hadn’t cost you this much, protecting me tonight.”

“I’d do it again,” he said simply, his hand finding mine despite his obvious weakness. “Without hesitation, Damon. You’re my son. Protecting you isn’t a sacrifice I regret, regardless of what it might cost my own heart going forward.”

Tears slipped free despite my attempt at composure, and I gripped his hand tighter, understanding the genuine, profound weight of what he was telling me-not performance, not calculated gesture, but genuine, unconditional love finally, fully demonstrated through action rather than simply words.

“Genevieve’s been apprehended,” I told him, wanting him to know that particular threat had finally, genuinely concluded. “The trackers found her. She’s in custody now, injured but alive, awaiting formal council proceedings.”

Something eased slightly in his tired expression at that news. “Good,” he said quietly. “At least that particular danger has finally resolved, regardless of everything else we’re now facing.”

We remained with him for a while longer, until exhaustion finally overtook him again, his eyes drifting closed despite his obvious effort to remain present and engaged with all of us gathered around him.

Once he’d settled back into rest, I stepped outside with Evelyn, needing air, needing space to actually process everything the night had brought the terrifying confrontation, his desperate sacritice, the devastating news about his heart’s condition, the complicated relief of Genevieve’s capture layered against the fresh, overwhelming uncertainty about what a heart transplant process might actually require going forward.

12

CO2

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