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I’m going to need her to get through this. Without her, I’ll sink into the abyss and never be able to crawl back to the surface.
How do I go on knowing what I did? I just made a promise to Dad. They fucking won! Screw promises.
Two and a half hours later, I’m back in front of Dr. Sheppard. “I have the O.R. prepped. Let’s move,” she demands as the gurney is pushed through the hospital.
“Dr. Sheppard,” my dad calls. “Will she be okay?”
Dr. Sheppard’s eyes soften. “Aurora will be sore, but she’ll make a full recovery.”
“That’s all I need to know.”
Once we’re in the O.R. and Dr. Sheppard is scrubbed in, she approaches the table I’m lying on. “Aurora, I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Tears spill down my cheeks. “You said I wasn’t pregnant!” I accuse.
Dr. Sheppard’s eyes soften. “When we tested you, the test was negative. You said you were on the shot and had just had one administered two weeks before you were taken.” I nod because everything she says is accurate. “I’m sorry, the shot must’ve failed, and it was too early for any hCG levels to show up on the test.”
My lip trembles. “What happens now?”
“You have to have a D&C. A dilation and curettage, which is where we go in and scrape the lining of the uterus. You’ll be sore for a while, and there will be heavy bleeding and discomfort.”
“Do I have to stay here?”
“You’ll be with us for a while so we can monitor you and do some evaluations.”
My brows shoot up. “Evaluations?”
“You’ve had a huge shock,” she explains. “A suicide attempt and a miscarriage, not to mention you’re a survivor of human trafficking. We’re going to have to do some psychological evaluations as well as keep an eye on you medically to make sure you heal properly.”
I close my eyes as the medicine takes hold.
How much more can I take before I truly lose myself to madness?
CHAPTER 11
JAXSON
“How long hasit been since we’ve had a home-cooked meal?” Carver smacks his lips as he rings the doorbell.
I roll my eyes and shift on my feet. Lykos sits obediently at my side, waiting on my command. It’s been almost three weeks since General Parks pulled us out of Romania. After our crash course with Yazzie on Lykos’ training, we flew back to Quantico. The moment we stepped foot on the base, we were held at bay from seeing Aurora until she was released from the hospital. The general thought it best if we gave her a couple of days so we didn’t overwhelm her. Not only with our presence, but also her soon to be new companion.
Thomas snorts. “What year is it?”
Bennett sniffs the air. “Wonder what we’re having?”
“Morons,” Hudson mumbles.
I glare at all of them, but before I can yell at them to grow up, the door swings open. My brows furrow as I take in the General’s appearance. He looks as if he’s aged ten years. There’s more gray in his hair than there was before, and his cheeks are thinner.
General Parks smiles weakly. “Gentleman, come in.” He waves us into the entryway before he realizes that Lykos is with us and takes a quick step back. “What the hell is that?”
“Lykos.” I scratch behind the Wolamute’s ears, and his tail thumps against the wood floor.
The general squares his shoulders. “My office, now.”
“Shit,” Carver mutters under his breath.
I’m surprised by the general’s reaction, especially since I’d already informed him of what type of dog Lykos is. He was the one who approved our journey to bring him back from Alaska. Lykos falls into step with me as we follow the general to his office. General Parks ushers us inside and takes a seat behind his desk, gesturing for us to sit down as well.