Destined Bear (Windridge Den #3)

14. Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Patrick

After waking up that first time, my mate fell back asleep for another full day, waking only to eat a little something before immediately sleeping again. As much as I hated it, it was so much better than the first time. I’d never been so scared in my entire life.

Thank gods that Griff was by my side the entire time. He was such a good brother. And his ability to give Rissa some medical history went a long way. Rissa was a great healer, and having them know what they were dealing with made getting my mate the treatment he needed faster.

I stayed by Finn’s side, as I had done for the prior three days. His brother had to leave and go back to his own den. I hated that and knew that Finn did too. If only there was a way for him to move here full-time. Not that I would push that. Every bear needed to figure out which den they belonged in on their own.

Rissa came in and out to check on Finn often. They didn’t hover, something I was sure Finn would’ve appreciated had he been awake. Rissa would check in with me, while taking my mate’s vitals and switching out his IV bags. They also kept a close eye on the baby, whose heartbeat remained strong.

I didn’t dare let myself get too excited about having a child. Even though I was happy, so incredibly happy, I was also terrified for both my mate and our baby. The two emotions warred with each other, and I never knew which one was going to win out. In the end, I just felt numb.

Rissa assured me that he was given treatment in plenty of time and that our little one had been so protected when he got sick that all was well. And knowing that Finn was here and healthy as a result of a similar pregnancy helped also. But that didn’t keep my anxiety completely at bay.

When Griff had described the agony his mother went through with each of her pregnancies, I feared the worst. Seeing my mate in pain, unable to wake, and when he did wake, unable to lift his limbs—it was agonizing. The only light at the end of that tunnel was the fact that my mate was here, now. That didn’t mean I was okay with him struggling so, though. I’d have done anything to take that pain from him.

“Patrick?” Aydan’s voice startled me from where I was dozing in the chair next to Finn. “Corey’s going to sit with Finn for a while. Let’s go.”

He wasn’t asking, but I wasn’t ready to go anywhere, so I pretended like he was. It was better than openly defying him. The last thing my mate needed was their alpha being bled by the den Alpha because they didn’t want to obey.

“I’m fine.” I grasped my mate’s hand. At least it was warm now that he was feeling a bit better. When it had been cold and unmoving while I held him that first day, I had feared the absolute worst.

“That wasn’t a request, Patrick. You need to stand up, stretch your legs, get some real food in you.” Aydan was right. I didn’t like it, but he was.

“I ate.” I wasn’t sure if that had been yesterday or today. The days all ran together. But it wasn’t a lie, and I went with it.

“Now.” Aydan put more authority into his voice, and since he was the Alpha of the den, I had to listen. It wasn’t in my nature to disobey a direct order, and even if it was, the stakes were too high with my mate in this condition.

Corey sat down in the chair I’d vacated. If it couldn’t be Griff, I was glad it was Corey. He wouldn’t allow anything to happen to Finn.

“I’ll be back.” I kissed Finn’s forehead. His eyes fluttered, but he didn’t wake. He was still so exhausted.

Once we were out in the main area of the house, Aydan put a hand on my shoulder. It was a comforting move, one meant to comfort. Aydan was so unlike most Alphas, which made him perfect to work for as a Beta and for this den.

“You’re being too hard on yourself.” Aydan watched my face with understanding. “I can see it on your face.”

“I didn’t take care of him.” I closed my eyes, ashamed at how I let him down. “I failed him. My mate… I failed at the only job I had.”

My shoulders slumped as if voicing the words lifted the heavy weight I’d been carrying. It should’ve felt better, letting it out, but the soul-crushing truth still lingered in the air around us and stole my breath. My gut and my bear told me not to leave him and still I did. It wouldn’t have made him not sick, but it would’ve gotten him the help he needed sooner and maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t still be suffering like this. But more importantly than that, he wouldn’t have been alone when everything fell apart.

I was never going to forgive myself for that.

“Nonsense.” The power in his voice rippled over me. He was in full-on Alpha mode. “We didn’t know his family’s history. Now that we do, we’re better equipped. Rissa’s already getting resources together to help him through the rest of this pregnancy. From everything they’ve told me, as soon as Finn’s out of the early stages, the sickness should completely go away.”

I’d heard all of that, and I believed it, but deep down, the sense of failure still lingered.

“Come. Let’s run.”

Aydan pulled me outside and nudged me into my bear form. He didn’t bother to ask me to remove my clothing, instead letting them tear, and reluctantly, I followed him into the woods. Thankfully, we stayed close to my house—Aydan must have sensed I wouldn’t want to go far. Still, it did feel good to stretch my legs and shift into my bear form.

Once we finished our run, we sat back down on the deck.

“Feel better?” Aydan asked.

I nodded. “Yes, Alpha. Thank you.”

“This is scary for you. For me, too. Finn is a part of my den, just like you are. It’s got Corey and Jace pretty torn up as well. You’re not in this alone.”

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly through my nose. “I know that. Thank you.”

“You’ll return to work tomorrow. For at least two hours.”

Fuck. The last time I went to work, I nearly lost my mate. How could he think I wanted to go back there so soon?

“Do they need me? Surely, the diner can survive without me another day.” Those were not words I’d thought I’d ever utter before, and honestly, even if they did need me, they could wait. The den was filled with adults. Worst-case scenario they could dine on cold cereal.

“You need it. Your mate needs it.”

“I’m not ready,” I admitted.

“One more day, then. But I want you at least up and walking around. Your mate needs you to be strong. Show his bear that your bear can handle all of this.” He hit me where I was weakest. Of course I was going to do it if it was best for my mate.

“I can do that, Alpha. I will.” I was at least going to try. There were no guarantees. I refused to not listen to my gut when it came to my mate, not ever again.

“Good.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “Now, let’s go back inside.”

He didn’t need to ask me twice.

Finn was waking up when I entered the room. He smiled when he saw me.

“You look better.” He looked me up and down. “I worried about you.”

“Me?” I asked. “What about you?”

“Well, I’m hoping I can stand up on my own tomorrow. Rissa said I could, right?” He looked at me expectantly. She had mentioned it earlier in the day, after he’d had his light breakfast.

“We can try.” I didn’t love the idea, but Rissa was the expert.

“Good.”

I climbed into bed with him as Corey and Aydan gave us some space.

“You’re still blaming yourself.” Finn rested his head against my arm.

“I am. I’m so sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for. I’d completely forgotten about my mom being sick. Really, I should have thought about that, but… everything happened so fast.”

It really had. I rested my hand over his still-flat tummy, which was even smaller now. He’d lost a bit of weight since he first got sick. I wanted to feed him, but his stomach wasn’t ready.

“We’re gonna be dads.” Finn looked up at me, his eyes filed with emotions.

“We are.” I kissed the top of his head.

He yawned. “Let’s get some sleep.”

“That’s a fantastic idea,” I said, settling in beside him, and dozed off, sleeping well for the first time since he got sick.