It didn't take long for Thalia, Ruben, and Max to reach Cayden's office. Max excused himself to check on his friend Kylie, while Thalia and Ruben met Cayden.
When they opened the heavy wooden door, they saw Cayden leaning against his desk, looking both relieved and tired. "Thank the moon you're here," Cayden said with a voice that was both tired and thankful. "Jennifer is awake, but she is still very weak. Her mind is scarred by what she's been through."
Thalia's heart was beating fast as she looked around the room, feeling curious. She asked, "Can we see her?"
Cayden's eyes got softer, and his worry was clear. "Yes, but be careful. She's been through more than any of us can really understand."
He led them through corridors that seemed to go on forever, the air thick with a mix of excitement and trepidation. They eventually arrived at the hospital dormitory. Jennifer rested in a bed near the window, her eyelids weighed down by endless dreams. Selena sat next to her mother, holding her hand. Both had red, puffy eyes, showing that the mother and daughter had cried. Thalia approached Jennifer with caution, as if she were a delicate glass figure prone to shattering at the slightest touch.
"Jennifer," Thalia whispered, her voice like a gentle breeze that stirred the stillness of the room.
Jennifer turned her head slowly.
"I am Thalia Randwick, and this is Ruben Hobart. We are from the council. I'm not sure if you remember me. But we had met a few times a few years ago. You were the best beta during the beta training held at the Redstone Pack in 1995."
Jennifer's eyes widened with recognition as she processed Thalia's words. Memories of their past encounters flickered in her mind, a mix of nostalgia and curiosity filling her thoughts. She nodded slightly, acknowledging the connection between them.
"Right! That seems like a lifetime ago. It's like waking up from the dead."
"I have seen nothing like this before. But I am glad that you are back," she said, her words a mixture of wonder and relief.
Jennifer's gaze turned to Cayden, her stare lingering on him like she was looking for the anchor she had missed during her struggles. "Ryan, I remember you," she muttered, her voice trembling slightly beneath the strain of emotions that had been suppressed for far too long. "You've matured into a very handsome young man." I'm glad I could save you; now you're my Selena's mate, and you're also expecting a child. It's as if I've been missing out on so much."
Thalia and Ruben were alarmed and looked at Cayden.
What? Selena is pregnant. Is that why you left with her?" Cayden nodded, his eyes filled with a mixture of joy and concern. "Yes, Selena is pregnant," he confirmed.
"Congratulations! This calls for a celebration!" Thalia exclaimed, breaking the tense silence. "We're so happy for you both," Ruben added with a smile.
Cayden's lips twitched, a mix of emotions playing across his features. "Thank you, Jennifer. It means a lot to hear that from you," he replied, his voice filled with gratitude and a hint of vulnerability. "I wouldn't be here without your bravery and sacrifice."
Thalia softly clasped Jennifer's hand, her voice carrying a melancholy tone that suited the gravity of their situation. "We have to tell you something, Jennifer. Hawk is in our custody. He will be held accountable for his deeds."
Jennifer's eyes were clouded, a spark of righteous rage blazing inside them. "That monster! She muttered, her voice poisonous. "He took everything away from me."
Thalia nodded, her own anger mirroring Jennifer's, her determination matching the flicker of vengeance that danced in Jennifer's eyes. "He won't escape justice this time."
Jennifer's grip on Thalia's hand got tighter. The strength of her grip showed that she had found her determination again. "I made a mistake, Thalia. I shouldn't have put my faith in him. I was just as bad as he was because I helped him do bad things."
Thalia said, "No," and her voice was strong, like a shield against the shadows of shame that was about to cover Jennifer. "He used you and took advantage of the trust you had in him."
Jennifer's eyes turned inward, and her face was filled with memories that wouldn't go away. "I get it. But that doesn't fully clear me. I couldn't see because I loved him so much."
Cayden's words cut through the heavy air, reaching out like a steady hand to pull Jennifer back from the edge of self-blame. "Jennifer, we all do things wrong. How we fix them is what counts."
Jennifer looked at Cayden with a lot of different feelings going on in her eyes. Her face was a symphony of sorrow and hope. "You are as wise as your father, Alpha," she whispered with genuine emotion in her voice. "I'm sorry I couldn't keep that monster from getting you and the other kids. I could have done a better job. I should have helped save your mother."
Cayden moved closer to her. His presence was a shield against the ghosts of the past, a strong rock that stood firm in the face of darkness. "We made it through, Jennifer. And now we will get better and start over."
"Why is he still alive?" Jennifer asked. "Why didn't you kill him?"
Cayden looked away. He didn't think Jennifer would ask him such a straight and hard question. He took a deep breath and thought about how to explain his choice. "I didn't kill him because he's your mate. If I killed him, you would also die."
"My life is not as important as justice, Cayden." Jennifer's voice shook with determination as she looked at Cayden with eyes full of firm resolve.
"But mother! You can't just put doing the right thing ahead of your own life. What about everyone who relies on you? What about me?
"Selena, I was literally dead." Jennifer told her child. "I told you not to worry about me, didn't I? That you have to choose what's right over me?"
Selena recalled her dream and looked at her mother. "Was that really you?"
"No, it was my pet wolf." Jennifer spoke in a low voice. "My wolf was awake even though I was in a coma. Now that I'm awake, I'm slowly remembering things. That day, my wolf tried to reach you and guide you."
"Hawk will face trial and punishment soon." Thalia declared. "I will make an example of him so that no one else ever repeats his folly. You may be certain that his punishment will be harsher than death."
"You people don't know anything about him. He is very cunning. As long as he is alive, he will be a danger to everyone. No amount of punishment will be enough. You must kill him!"
Thalia's eyes narrowed as she listened to the plea. "I understand your concerns, but we must uphold justice and give him a fair trial. Don't worry." She patted Jennifer's hand.
Jennifer sighed and gave up. She knew that convincing Thalia to take more drastic measures would be futile.
"Mum, get some rest." Selena comforted her mother.
"You, too, Selena, need to rest." You've been through a lot, and now you're expecting." Jennifer explained.
As everyone left the dormitory, Cayden felt a sense of unease settle over him. He couldn't get the feeling out of his head that Jennifer was right. He couldn't let Hawk live. He had to kill him. He had to find a way out.