Chapter 36

CHAPTER 36

I blink my eyes open as warmth flows through me. To my right, there’s a warmer full of saline, and warming blankets are wrapped around my body.

When I look to my left, I see my crying mother and my extremely worried brother.

“Looks like the tables have turned,” I rasp. “Where’s everyone? Are they okay? Did I save him?” I ask.

My mom brushes her hand through my hair.

“Sloane and Ethan were taken to a different hospital. They are keeping them overnight.”

“Bram?” I ask, emotion clogging in my throat.

I promised Sloane and Ethan; I told her I would get him out, and I did. But he was unconscious the whole time.

“He’s in the ICU, but it looks like he’s going to be okay. They couldn’t tell us much because we aren’t family. They told Coach Applegate who updated us.”

I sigh and rest my head on the back of the hospital bed, relief filling me. I don’t know if I could ever forgive myself if Bram wasn’t okay.

The accident wasn’t my fault, I’m fully aware of that. But the only reason Ethan got Sloane out was because of my promise.

“You're sure?”

“We’ll keep you updated as soon as we know more. Sloane and Ethan are going to come here tomorrow after they get released. You need your sleep,” my mom says. “I’d also really fucking appreciate it if you two would stop ending up in the fucking hospital.”

I crack a smile. There’s the mom that I know.

“I’m glad you’re okay. The whole team is worried about all of you,” Owen says.

“Gagnon gets to shine once more,” I say, my eyes closing.

“Your spot is waiting for you as soon as you’re ready to come back. They want to keep you overnight but think you can go home tomorrow. You can stay at our house,” he says.

“I’ll think about it,” I mumble.

Though I know it’s a lie.

I want to be with my pack, and if I didn’t feel so exhausted, I’d be trying to get hold of them right now.

“Sloane’s okay?” I confirm again, wishing we were bonded and I could feel her.

“She’s okay, honey. Do you need anything?”

“Sloane,” I whisper, but pure exhaustion takes over, and I pass out.

A warm hand is rubbing my knuckles when I wake up, and I know exactly who it is before I open my eyes. Sloane sobs and places her head on my chest as she holds me close. I brush back her hair.

“Shh. It’s okay, I’m here.”

“You’re okay,” she says, more like she’s consoling herself.

“Moderate hypothermia. I’ll be okay.”

Ethan runs a hand through my hair and rubs Sloane’s back. I grab his wrist and kiss his hand.

“Thank you for getting her out when you did. I know it wasn’t easy.”

Ethan nods, but it’s clear he’s trying to hold it together.

“We’re a pack, we take care of each other,” Ethan says.

I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the confusion, all the adrenaline wearing off, or the fact that I almost lost everything before I truly had it.

Tears roll down my face.

Sloane doesn’t say anything. She just wipes my tears with her thumbs and presses her cheek to mine.

“We’re okay. We’re okay. We’re okay,” she chants.

“How's Bram?”

“I think he’s leaving the ICU tomorrow, so we can see him,” Ethan says.

Sloane pulls back, and I cradle her face.

“You’re okay? You both are okay?” I ask, needing confirmation.

The two share a look, and I wonder what that’s about, but Sloane just nods. “Mild hypothermia. They just wanted to keep me longer because I’m an Omega.”

“That makes sense,” I reply, and Sloane nods with relief.

There’s a knock on the door. Before my mother comes into the room, she immediately embraces my Omega in a huge hug. They both seem effortlessly comfortable with one another, and I’m grateful.

“I’m so happy you’re all okay. Scared the shit out of me,” my mom says, and Sloane nods into her shoulder. “How are your parents holding up?”

“They’re okay. They visited in the hospital.” Sloane glances over at me and winces. “They want me to move back home.”

“What did you tell them?”

“No. I live with my pack now.”

Most of your pack , I think, keeping it to myself. But Ethan reads me like a book, squeezing my hand.

“Max, you saved his life. I think it’s safe to say he’ll be more than happy to let you move in,” Ethan says like I’m being ridiculous.

“I think Bram may be the one exception when it comes to a life debt,” I say, and Ethan shakes his head.

“Max, stop being such a drama queen,” my mother says. “He’s always been like this, you know? The one time I took his Gameboy away, he packed up his whole room and said he was running away. I said go right on ahead, see how long you last. He snuck back in during the middle of the night. I caught him in the pantry eating stale crackers later that night. Didn’t even last a damn day.”

“Mom,” I complain.

“What? It’s the truth. Don’t even get me started on the time he had his first crush. Oh my God, he made this?—”

“Mom.” I raise my voice, and she sighs, waving me off.

“Fine, ruin my fun. I’ll give you all some time together. I’m staying with Owen if you all need anything.”

My mom pets my cheek before giving both Sloane and Ethan a hug before leaving. Both of them look tired and worn out, but at least they’re here. At least they’re safe.

“Was there anyone else in the accident?” I ask.

Ethan shakes his head. “No one else was significantly hurt on the bridge.”

“Good,” I reply. “So I guess our next therapy session is delayed.”

Sloane scrubs her face. “Yeah, I’d say that’s on the back burner for now.”

I slept at Bram’s house last night so that all of us could go to the hospital and see Bram today.

I’m a million more times conscious about my driving. It’s clear Sloane and Ethan feel the same way. We’re all dead silent the entire drive.

Before we even turn the hallway, we can hear Bram complaining.

“When can I leave?” his gruff voice says, and as soon as Sloane hears it, she’s racing around the corner into his room. Ethan and I quickly follow her; I don’t want her out of my sight, even for a moment.

As soon as we enter, Sloane is clinging to the Alpha as he pets her hair and consoles her.

The side of his face and nose is bruised. He’s holding back a wince as Sloane leans against his side.

“I’m okay, liefje .”

“You’re not okay,” she says through tears.

Bram turns to his nurse and sighs. “Can you ask the doctor to come by and explain my condition to my pack?” he asks.

The nurse nods and sighs. I imagine Bram hasn’t been the best patient.

“When can you leave? What care do you need?” Sloane asks.

“The doctor will tell you everything. I’m okay. I promise.”

Sloane is touching all over his face, and he winces when she touches a certain spot on his hairline.

“What’s wrong? Does it hurt?”

“It’s mild, Sloane. I’ve had worse on the ice.”

“What do you mean? You have a fucking brain injury?” she says, a little louder than her usual voice, and Bram winces. “Sorry,” she apologizes quickly.

“It’s okay. I’m okay,” he says, kissing her wrist and glancing back at Ethan. He holds out an arm and hugs the Beta who doesn’t really say much. I wonder if Ethan is shaken up from the accident because he usually has some quip rolling off the tongue.

Sloane tries to help Bram eat his lunch, and he has a fit about it the whole time while we get a run down from his doctor. Sloane does a good job holding back tears until the doctor leaves the room.

Bram pets her hair for what feels like an hour before clearing his throat and glancing over at me. “Can I talk to Max?” he asks, and I swallow thickly.

“We’ll be right in the hall,” Sloane says, kissing his cheek and eyeing both of us before leaving the hospital room.

I shove my hands in my pockets and look at the floor, not knowing what to say.

“You saved my life,” Bram says.

“I wasn’t going to leave you there. Even if I didn’t promise Ethan and Sloane.”

“Getting me out of there couldn’t have been easy. You were exposed to the cold water longer in helping me.”

I shrug my shoulders, and Bram sighs.

“I’m sorry,” he says.

I blink and tilt my head at him. “What?”

“I’m sorry for being such a dick to you this whole season. Sorry for thinking you didn’t deserve Sloane. But beyond anything, I’m sorry for thinking you didn’t have good character.”

“You would have done the same,” I say, not knowing how to handle the compliment.

“Is this what being a pack is?” Bram asks with a laugh. “I have to tell you, Connery, apologizing isn’t one of my strengths. Just accept it, and we’ll move on. Really move on this time.”

“You actually mean it this time?”

“How could I not? You saved my life. You protected Ethan and Sloane. If there has to be another Alpha in this pack, I’m honored that it’s you.”

There’s emotion clogged in my throat.

I’m not sure how to handle Bram giving me compliments along with Sloane and Ethan. It’s almost too much. I’m not a hero. I could save him, so I did.

“Are you all doing okay at the house? You can have the secondary guest room until we finish the basement,” he says.

It’s so fucking casual like he has our entire lives planned out. I sit down on the chair next to his bed and put my head in my hands. I’ve never cared about anyone as much as I care about these people, and it’s fucking terrifying. Nothing I’ve ever had has been more precious than this pack, and I could have lost them. Under different circumstances, I could be dead right now, Bram could be dead right now, and our lives would look a hell-of-lot different.

Bram’s big hand pats the top of my head like I’m a dog or he doesn’t know how to console me.

“You did good, Max.”

“We could have lost them. We could have lost everything.”

“But we didn’t. You’ll be medically cleared to play hockey in a week, me, maybe a month. Ethan and Sloane are completely fine. If anything, this woke me the hell up,” he says.

“Is it always going to feel like this, worrying about each other?”

“Probably even worse when we bond with them.”

“Fuck,” I hiss, and he pats my head one more time.

“As soon as I’m medically cleared, I’m going to bond with Sloane and Ethan,” he says, and I pull my head out of my hands and blink at him. He just said it would be worse after we bonded. He shrugs his shoulders and winces. “Not being connected to them, having them be listed as my emergency contacts? I can’t wait any longer. It was torture not knowing if everyone was okay.”

“I’m fucking terrified.”

Bram sighs and shifts back into his bed like he’s tired. “Let me be pack Alpha, then,” he suggests.

“What do you mean?”

“Let me be in charge. Let me carry the burden.”

“You’re in a fucking hospital bed.”

He glares at me. “Yeah, right now I am. I can kick your ass when I’m not feeling like shit though.”

I shake my head and sigh. “It’s like the fucking therapist said. We need a hierarchy in the pack. Let me be pack Alpha, make most of the decisions, and take care of the pack.”

I bite the inside of my cheek, the deep inner Alpha part of me not knowing if I can submit to another Alpha like that.

“I’m not saying you’re not capable, Max.”

He says my first name, which garners all my attention as I look at him, bruises and all.

“I’m saying I like it. I like making decisions and feeling that responsibility. So let me have it. They need you as an Alpha just as much as they need me, but I feel like being head of the pack is my place. If we’re really doing this, this is how we move forward.”

“All I had to do was save your life for this revelation?”

“Apparently,” he grumbles. “Think about it. Send Sloane back in. I need to hold her a little longer before I go to sleep.”

When Sloane comes back in the room with tears in her eyes, it’s clear she’s been listening to the whole conversation.

“Jesus Christ, come here,” Bram says.

Sloane sobs into his chest—the side that wasn’t bruised in the accident.

“Well, hypothermia may have been worth this extremely precious Hallmark moment,” Ethan whispers into my ear.

For the first time since the accident, I laugh. Maybe we’ll survive this after all.