Chapter 230 The Boy Behind the Glass

Chapter 230: Chapter 230 The Boy Behind the Glass

Eira did not wait for the elevator. She took the stairs two at a time, her boots striking the concrete until she reached the surgical floor.

She knew she could not get past the double doors marked SURGERY.

AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY.

Still, she kept walking until a nurse stopped her near the waiting area.

"Ma’am, you need to stay behind the line."

"I’m his sister."

"I understand, but the surgical unit is restricted. Please wait here."

Eira stopped just outside the doors.

A few minutes later, Alpha Killian came around the corner. He had stayed at the emergency desk to get an update and make sure the hospital had the correct contact information.

No one could tell him much. Sam was in surgery, and the doctors would speak with the family when they had something definite to report.

Alpha Killian found Eira standing perfectly still among the other waiting families. She was not pacing or twisting her hands. She looked frozen.

Then he saw the tears running down her cheeks.

"Eira." His voice was low. "The nurse said the injury is to his leg. They found no obvious head trauma."

"Killian." Her whisper broke. "If I had come last night..."

"Don’t." He stepped in front of her. "Even if you had come, the school would not have let you through that gate. You couldn’t have known what was happening inside."

"This is Sebastian’s fault." Her voice shook. "He buried that boy in a place like this, then couldn’t even be bothered to check on him."

Alpha Killian did not argue.

Eira wiped at her cheeks, but more tears followed.

He brushed one away with his thumb. Her skin was cold. Without a word, he took off his coat and draped it around her shoulders. The wool still held his warmth.

"Listen to me." His voice stayed calm and firm. "We wait for the surgeon. If this hospital can’t provide what Sam needs, we arrange a transfer. A trauma center, a children’s hospital, wherever the doctors recommend. Money and planes are not the problem."

The certainty in his voice finally broke through her fear.

"Killian, I’m scared." She gripped the front of his shirt. "I’m scared Sam won’t make it. I took Sebastian back to the orphanage. I gave Sam his number."

Alpha Killian’s jaw tightened.

"You brought Sebastian back because you believed he was family. You gave Sam a way to contact him because you cared what happened to that boy." He lowered himself in front of her and rested his hands lightly on her knees. "Sebastian abused that trust. He took Sam and abandoned him. That is on Sebastian. Not you."

Eira shook her head, crying silently.

"This has nothing to do with who you love or who you try to help," Alpha Killian continued. "It has to do with what Sebastian chose to do. Do you understand?"

"I hear you."

"That’s not what I asked."

She looked down at him.

"Do you understand that this is not your fault?"

Eira pressed her lips together, then nodded.

Alpha Killian rose and wiped the last tear from her cheek.

Before he could say anything else, the hospital elevator opened.

The school’s principal arrived with the county liaison and two staff members. They approached in a rush, speaking over one another.

"It was a tragic accident."

"We’re prepared to discuss medical expenses."

"The school has always followed safety procedures."

"Please," Alpha Killian said.

His voice was quiet, but it cut through the hallway.

Everyone fell silent.

He turned toward the principal.

"Not one more word about compensation or an accident until the surgeon tells us whether that boy will live."

The principal’s face went pale.

Alpha Killian stepped closer.

"After that, you will provide every incident report, staffing record, camera log, and emergency call connected to Sam’s fall."

"We cannot release confidential—"

"You can preserve them," Alpha Killian cut in. "The county liaison is standing right there. If anything disappears before the investigation begins, your school will have a much bigger problem than a lawsuit."

The liaison’s expression hardened. "He’s right. Do not alter or destroy anything."

The principal swallowed.

Behind the surgical doors, a red status light remained on.

Eira stared at it, wrapped in Alpha Killian’s coat, while the hallway fell silent around them.

Alpha Killian took out his phone and called Kate.

"Book the first available flight to the county," he said. "Bring Dr. Wood. Have our legal team contact the hospital and child protective services. No one discusses a settlement until the investigation is complete."

He ended the call, then returned with a cup of hot chocolate and placed it in Eira’s hands.

She wrapped her fingers around the warm cup. "Thank you."

Before Alpha Killian could answer, the red light above the operating room went out.

A surgeon stepped through the doors and lowered his mask.

Eira rose so quickly that the chair scraped across the floor.

"Doctor?"

"Are you Sam’s family?"

"I’m his sister."

The surgeon gave a brief nod. "The surgery went well. Sam had a serious fracture in his leg, but the more urgent problem was bleeding inside his skull. We relieved the pressure and stabilized it. He’ll be moved to the ICU for close monitoring."

Eira’s knees weakened. She caught the back of the chair.

"Is he out of danger?" Alpha Killian asked.

"He’s stable for now," the surgeon said. "The next twenty-four hours will be important."

Eira swallowed. "You said there were other injuries."

The surgeon’s expression turned grave.

"During the examination, we found extensive bruising across his body. Some of it appears recent. Some injuries may be older. We also found marks that are concerning for possible human bites, along with signs of fractures that may not have received proper medical treatment."

Eira went cold.

"Bites?" Alpha Killian asked.

"Marks consistent with possible bites," the surgeon clarified. "We’ve documented everything and notified the hospital social worker. Because Sam is a minor and came from a residential program, the hospital is required to make a report to County Child Welfare. Law enforcement may also become involved."

"He lives at the school," Alpha Killian said.

The surgeon held his gaze. "Then the school will need to explain how those injuries happened. For now, the ICU team needs to keep him stable."

"They will," Alpha Killian said.

A nurse led them to the ICU.

Sam lay beneath a thin blanket, his face pale against the white pillow. His injured leg was secured in a brace, and wires connected him to the monitors beside the bed. Bruises showed above the collar of his hospital gown.

Eira sat beside him, afraid to touch him. She watched the green line on the monitor rise and fall.

Alpha Killian stepped into the hall and made several calls.

When he returned, a nurse was standing beside the bed.

"Sam will remain in the ICU until the doctors are satisfied that he’s stable," she said. "After that, they’ll decide whether he can be moved to a private room."

Alpha Killian nodded. "Understood."

Eira kept her eyes on Sam.

"The surgeon documented the injuries," Alpha Killian said quietly. "The hospital social worker has started the required reports."

"The police," Eira whispered. "I want them here."

"They’ll be notified through the hospital’s report," Alpha Killian said. "I’ll also make sure our attorney contacts the county investigators."

Eira finally looked at him. Her eyes were red, but her voice was steady.

"I want to know who did this to him."

Alpha Killian’s expression hardened.

"Then we’ll find out. We’ll do it properly, and whoever hurt Sam will answer for it."