"Please," I sobbed. "Please, she's all I have. She's my mother. Please—"
The ventilator went silent.
The heart monitor's beeping slowed.
"James, please!" I dropped to my knees, sobbing. "Please don't do this! I'm begging you!"
He looked down at me. "Apologize to Mia."
"I'll apologize!" I screamed. "I'll apologize for anything! Just please, James, please don't do this!"
He stared at me for a long moment.
"Turn it back on!" I screamed. "Please, turn it back on!"
But then a voice called from the hallway. "Alpha!"
Another healer appeared in the doorway, breathless. "It's Mia! She's having a panic attack! She can't breathe—"
James released me immediately. "Gather every healer in this clinic. Now. No harm must come to Mia or that pup."
Then he ran out of the room. To my horror, he dragged the healer from Alice's room with him.
I rushed outside frantically.
"Help!" I screamed into the hallway. "Somebody help me! Please!"
But everyone was gone, running to help Mia, on the alpha's orders.
I looked at the machines, at the buttons and switches.
"I'm sorry," I whispered to Alice. "I'm so sorry. I don't know how to—"
I tried pressing buttons, flipping switches, but nothing worked.