His eyes drifted back to the frail little boy lying motionless upon the hospital bed.
Dakota had already been pushed to her limits today. She watched Takoda collapse without warning, endured hours of uncertainty fearing she might lose her adopted daughter, only to discover she was carrying another child beneath her heart.
Every emotion imaginable had already been forced upon her within the span of a single afternoon. Until Cooper's condition became stable, he refused to burden her with another devastating truth.
There was another reason as well.
Nightfall City still awaited him.
Dakota and Takoda were there, and somewhere within that city remained unfinished matters demanding his attention. The sooner he returned, the sooner he could begin putting every piece of his family back where it belonged.
Marcus inclined his head without the slightest hesitation.
"I'll make the arrangements immediately, Royal Alpha."
