CHAPTER 4: PRIORITY

ELENA'S POV,

I awoke to a faint beeping sound, and the sharp scent of antiseptics invaded my nostrils. I was confused, unsure of what happened or where I was. As I began to regain consciousness, I felt a burning sensation in my throat, as if someone was rubbing sandpaper from the inside.

I clutched my neck, trying to move, but my limbs felt too heavy.

The pounding in my head intensified as I opened my eyes. The plain white walls of the hospital welcomed me, and as soon as I remembered my meeting with Julian, panic surged through me. I was terrified because there was only one name echoing in my head.

“Molly…”

I sat up and looked around frantically, ignoring the pain coursing through my muscles. I felt like throwing up, but stopped myself and turned my head slowly, towards my right, when I noticed a bed in my peripheral vision. Somehow, I knew it was my angel. I could feel her, without even seeing.

Lying in the hospital bed beside mine. Her face was so pale it nearly blended into the pillow. I started to feel useless once again, seeing her lying there, lifeless. Wires were trailing from her small arms, while I stared at her chest, rising and falling in slow, uneven breaths. She was fighting, and I knew I had to fight too for her. For my little daughter.

I reached out to touch her cheeks, and suddenly, her eyelashes fluttered.

“M…mommy?” Her voice was lower than a whisper when she spoke again. It sounded raspy and thin, and she was so worn out that she couldn't even open her eyes. “Where’s Daddy? H-he promised to celebrate my…my birthday.”

My throat closed up listening to her weak voice. I couldn't even imagine the amount of pain she was enduring. Still, she wanted to meet the man who had no time for her. I was afraid and broken, but more than that, I was mad at Julian for letting our daughter down.

“He…” My voice broke because I knew I had to lie again. Yet, I forced a smile and smoothed her hair back gently. “He cares about you so much, baby. He loves you.”

“I hope he can come to see me.”

I couldn’t hold back my tears anymore. She still believed in him and wanted him. The tears fell hard, spilling down my cheeks as I pressed my forehead against her tiny hand. But I didn't let out a single cry, because I didn't want to worry my angel.

“H-he’s just very busy with pack duties. You know your dad, right?” I managed to speak without breaking. “But he’ll come. As soon as he is done with the work."

Molly’s dry lips curved into a faint smile. “Okay… I've to tell him that I love him.”

Her smile faded, and just like that, she slipped back into the darkness. I held her hand and waited for half an hour for her to come back, but she didn't. Her doctor came to check and told me that she was getting weaker with each passing minute.

I begged him to do something to help her, but he apologized.

“Only Dr. Jenna can help Molly, please try to convince her to help your daughter.”

I stood up and walked out of the room because I could see that sitting in the room was not going to help her. My legs were shaky, but my determination was stronger. I told myself that I wasn't going to give up till I helped my daughter.

Stepping out of the ward, I linked Julian.

‘Julian, Molly woke up, and she was asking for you. Please, she needs you, come and see her for once.’

‘I kissed her when I brought you both back to the ward. But I can't come right now. I'm busy because there are more urgent things I need to handle as the Alpha.’

I sat down on a waiting chair and tried to compose myself before asking for help. From the way he sounded, I already knew he was mad about something, and upsetting him further wouldn't be in my favor.

‘She needs help, Julian. You have to let—’

‘Her waking up means she is getting better, Elena. It means her health is improving. Please tell her I love her, and I’ll visit when I am done. I promise you, Elena.’

He closed the link before I could explain what the doctor told me about her health. I tried once again to link, but he didn't answer me. I was losing patience and finally decided to meet with Dr. Jenna myself because I was running out of the limited time I had.

I was convinced that he wasn't going to change. He always had something more important, some reason to leave us behind, always a duty. I was done with it, and I promised not to get entangled with him anymore.

‘Finding Dr. Jenna is your first priority. You know where she is, go and talk to her as a mother, and if needed, as the Luna of the pack.’ I told myself, wiping my face before I steadied my breathing.

I made my way back to the top floor, searching for her while preparing mental notes of the things I was going to tell her. I hoped she would understand my pain, being a woman herself, and would agree to help me during my time of need.

Finally, I was on the top floor and through one of the doorlights I saw Dr. Jenna inside a room. It was most probably Lucy’s ward, because the doctor was examining her, and the little girl giggled at whatever Dr. Jenna was telling her.

I stood quietly in the doorway, preparing myself because I knew Julian wasn't going to help me convince the doctor to help Molly. Dr. Jenna was the last hope Molly had, and I was the one who had to shoulder the responsibility of helping my daughter.

She was my little angel after all.