Chapter 10: How Much Longer?

Alpha King Caspian's POV:

This is not what I had expected the doctor to say at all. 'Was that all there was to say? Or was this just another dramatic pause while she waited for me to respond to her again?'

'If it is for Mate, then I will try to do what is necessary.' (Cash responded to her previous statement.) 'I will control rage and not make mess.'

'You mean our Mate?' (I asked, responding to Cash, as his statement was a bit annoying if he somehow thought he was going to keep her all to himself.)

"What other conditions could she have possibly had other than her current broken bones, no muscle tone, and her lack of hydration?" I asked, extremely confused.

All of this information was going to take some time for me to understand, as I was having a hard time wrapping my mind around what she just said. How could anyone be placed in a situation like the one I just took our Newly found Mate out of? I couldn't believe there might be more to this than I had already heard about up to this point. Come to find out, there is a very good possibility that there is even more I have yet to hear about at this point, as if everything I know about isn't enough for her to have already gone through up to this point

"Well, this is just a guess, Your Highness, but from what I can tell," she started to say at first, and then she took a brief pause, composing her next statement before she spoke next.

'What is the guess?' (Cash questioned this time, wanting to know more.)

"She seemed as if she was made to suffer through a variety of elemental changes," the doctor finally came out and said.

"Environmental changes? For example, such as... what...? Sleeping in the snow? For instance, we only have those kinds of extremes on the tops of the mountains," I told her when I made my statement using a confusing tone. "Other than that, what other kinds of changes would you be referring to?"

In that moment, I took that opportunity to look over at Maxwell. It was more than obvious that he wasn't sure what to make of what she was saying, either. Or, at least, how she had come to experience some of what she had previously been through. What else could explain all of this?

"Your Highness, there is no easy way to put this, so I'll just say it. Your mate is showing signs of having been through some extreme weather or maybe even forced to be placed in some questionable situations where she had to ensure such changes you would only find in natural weather conditions," the doctor said as she continued. "As to how or when, I'm not exactly sure as to the specifics of that yet. However, I am a bit skeptical and confused by all the information that has come to light due to the fact that the weather we have here is pretty fair all year long."

"Elaborate on what kind of weather conditions you think she was being subjected to," I asked my statement, but when I voiced it, I formed it as if I were asking a bit of a question. This time, there was no stopping the low growl that was starting to be emitted from deep within my throat as Cash was not taking this news lightly.

"Well...," she started to say and then paused once again, almost as if she didn't believe what she was going to tell me, but for the sake of information, she continued anyway. "She shows possible signs of being in some hypothermic conditions, meaning extremely cold conditions. That is due to several darker lesions that were located on the bottom of her feet. Then, in other parts of her skin, there were signs of being in an opposite temperament. Such as one that caused her to experience excessive heated environments. Again, keep in mind that I'm not sure how that could be unless she was placed in a freezer or in a heated oven."

At that moment, I couldn't help myself as the once lower growl turned into a louder growl, one that finally broke free from my mouth. That one growl was sent echoing down the hallways of the Imperial Clinic. When it did, it shook the very walls themselves. The doctor even took a step back at that moment, for fear that my wolf was going to break free and break something when he did. I then closed my eyes, trying to gain control over my emotions.

I had to think about what was best for our mate at that point. For Cash to break free here in this small hall was anything but ideal. She needed me to be strong for her, and this? This was anything but that, as she wasn't remotely strong at all. I didn't want to leave her side, not even if it meant having to deal with those who were responsible at that moment. However, tomorrow will be a new day, and our Mate had better live to see another day. I didn't want to think about what would happen if she couldn't make it through the night.

"Will she make it through the night?" I started to ask as to the shock from hearing all of this news. "Will she ever wake up? Or do you know how much longer she will rest?"

"Only time will tell, Your Highness," she said as she took a step forward toward me again. She spoke one final statement before she started to walk away. "However, tonight is going to be a very long night for the both of you. It would be good if you took this time to get something to eat. I have a feeling that you will be here for a while. If you like, I can have one of the Aides bring you something to your liking.

I nodded to her, and then she finally walked away toward the Aid Station. Then I slowly headed toward the open doorway that led into my suite. When I walked into the room, I paused a moment before I walked around the corner to where I could view the bed. I knew what Cash was able to do. Even at the best of times, he would break through the barrier and go off on a tangent to deal with individuals who certainly had it coming. Considering my mental state, that is not what I wanted to happen.

I then took a deep breath and turned around, closing the door behind me. I took another deep breath when I let it out before I let go of the door's handle, turning back around. However, when I reached for the handle of the bathroom, which was right there, I quietly walked inside. I left the door open as I placed my hands on the sink. I turned on the warm water and started to splash my face a bit to try to calm down a bit. Then I turned off the water and looked at myself in the mirror before I stood back up again.

I was trying to control my thoughts. I didn't want to think about what would happen if things went badly. I needed her to get through the night and see how she would be in the morning. But the question remained. What was she going to look like when I walked around the corner?

I dried my face off before I turned to walk back into the room. I walked around the corner and just stood there. I couldn't believe the sight before my very eyes. Will she be okay?!