Chapter 109 ~ Blood transfusion
ALEX
"I... | thought he was with Athena," she says, her voice cracking. "He said he wanted to show her something. |
assumed he'd gone to her. He always runs off to her and he's always fine so | thought he was fine!"
Her words slam intolike a freight train.
| turn sharply, my eyes narrowing. "So you just let him go? You didn't follow him?"
"We were all getting ready for the cake," she cries, "Everyone was there. He disappeared so fast, and it wasn't
until we were calling everyone to cback that we noticed him and Athena were still missing.
We called Athena, but she hadn't seen him. Then we started looking... God, Alex, we found him lying in the snow
near the trees. He must've fallen, oh my God."
Her voice is a sob now, but it doesn't reach me. I'm too far gone.
"You should've calledimmediately!" | roar, my nose flaring. "You waited? You waited until now to tellmy
son was unconscious and freezing in the goddamn snow?!"
"Alex, please-"
"No!" | snap, my eyes searching for Leah, who is hiding behind her friends like it might keepfrom unraveling.
"He's three. Fucking three! And you all let him wander off? You assumed he was with someone else and went
back to blowing out candles?"
I don't wait for her answer.
| turn and storm down the hallway toward the emergency wing, shoving past a nurse when she tries to stop me.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThey can throwout after | see him.
After | know he's okay.
Because if he's not?
If something happens to my boy-
Again?
| don't even want to think about that kind of pain again.
"Letfind out what the tests are saying." lan says behindas he rushes in.
"It's going to be okay, son." Dad says but | don't want to fucking hear it.
The doors open and Athena rushes in. She has sweat pants And her hair tied in a messy bun showing she was
about to get in bed when she rushed here.
Why did she rush here?
"What are you doing here?" Leah's angry voice pullsout of my gaze as | watch her block Athena.
"Let her pass, Leah!" Mum threatens.
Athena doesn't flinch at Leah's sharp tone. She doesn't even look at her. Her eyes are locked on me, wide and
desperate, like she's searching my face for answers. Or permission.
"I heard what happened. | cas fast as | could," she says breathlessly from what | asswas running.
Her eyes are rimmed red, like she's been crying or is about to.
| don't say anything.
I can't.
Because for one terrifying second, my mind flashes back to another child.
Another hospital.
Another night that stole everything from me.
| drag in a breath that tastes like smoke and ice.
| meet Athena halfway. | don't touch her. Neither do | speak. | just stare at her, trying to figure out if | hate her for
being here... or if her being here is the only thing keepingstanding right now.
The doors open and the doctor steps out.
"Are you family?"
"He's my son," | say, stepping closer.
The doctor nods and gestures toward the double doors.
"He's stable for now. But we're monitoring him closely. He was severely hypothermic, and there's concern about
internal bleeding.
He may need a transfusion. The bad news is that we have no blood that matches his blood type because of how
extremely rare it is. We have called for quick help but since you're so many here, we can test you and see if
there is a match."
I nod in understanding.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
"You can-"
"Not you, Sir and not the mother of the child. Getting a transfusion directly from
the first blood line can cause complications," the doctor finishes gently.
"The antibodies in direct-line
relatives can sometimes trigger a rejection. We'll still test you, but we
need to prioritize extended matches first, siblings, cousins, friends, Anyone close who might share similar
markers."
My fists clench at my sides. | want to argue. Scream. Demand they take my blood anyway. But the logical part of
me, the part that's barely holding it together nods again.
"Noah," | call hoarsely, turning to face everyone. "Ask those willing to help to do the tests."
Noah nods and immediately starts moving.
The doctor gestures to the nurse and within moments, a mobile testing station is being wheeled into the waiting
area.
Behind me, Athena steps forward.
"I want to be tested," she says as she touches my arm and | swear | feel a jolt of electricity.
"You're not related to him so that shouldn't be-"
"No!" Leah rushes to my side like she's losing her mind making everyone halt their
steps.
"I don't want Athena or her blood anywhere near my son!"