Ortiz stood before the Alpha and tried to say something else but he couldn't find the words to speak, neither could he find his voice. He knew exactly how the Alpha feels at the moment and only wish he could do something to help. 
He had never seen Gavin so incapacitated since they came to know each other at a very tender age. Seeing him so vulnerable at the moment makes him realize what a failure he had been at protecting his alpha. 
Passing by Alpha Gavin's chambers on a daily basis, Ortiz saw how he struggled for his life every single one of those days. Ortiz was quiet as he watched his Alpha brooding and tried as much as possible to have no eye contact with Gavin because his emotions may betray him when he looks into his eyes.
Gavin stated matter of fact, "Is that pity I see in your eyes?" Ortiz was startled and immediately responded "Not at all my Lord! I wouldn't dare!"
Just then Wesley walked in and also bowed, then repeated exactly what Ortiz said as if they had rehearsed it early on. Gavin silenced him with a death glare that got the rest of his words stuck in his throat. 
Gavin looked at his two sidekicks and the guilt on their faces irked him instead of giving him a feeling of warmth. He realized then that nothing he said could change the way the two are feeling at the moment. 
He might as well recover quickly and stand on all fours or even his two legs so their fear and guilt would vanish. As for the guilt they feel at the moment, there is nothing he could do about it. 
Gavin then asked, "how long have I been out?" This question happens to be one the two never wished to answer because discussing this may lead to more questions about how he is doing or what the doctor's diagnosis is. 
They absolutely wish to have no hand in breaking the news to the Alpha.
"It's been a month my Lord!" says Ortiz. Gavin repeated the response as if he needed it to sink in, "it's been a month! a month huh!"
A wicked smile then laced his lips as he turned towards Wesley and began speaking "prepare my..." However, before he could finish, he got rudely interrupted by his mother "Out! Both of you, leave us!"
Ortiz and Wesley left in so much hurry that they couldn't help lighting a candle for the doctor in their heart. If you ask them what they dread most at this very moment, it would be the work of the healer. 
He is to break the news of Gavin's predicament to him and everyone knows the healer may leave there with a sack letter. After all, Alpha Gavin has an extremely talented sister who happens to be a better healer than the palace physician. 
His mother took a blanket and covered Gavin as she did her utmost best to hide the treacherous tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. Kendra Smith blinked hard and fast to stop the tears as much as she could.
However, as pain cannot be hidden, joy can never be hidden either. She looked at her wounded son for a long while as the tears freely flowed along her cheeks. Suddenly, she says "thank you, Gavin! Thank you for coming back to us."
She then sat down and helped herself to a seat beside the bed while holding her son's hands with just enough strength so he doesn't get hurt any further or even feel any pain.
"When you were found at the bay, I couldn't see you for a week, Kurah made sure of that. She stitched you up in every way possible and kept telling the physician to do exactly as she instructs, no questions asked."
While rubbing his hands affectionately, Kendra continues the story by saying, "That girl slept here for three days and allowed no one entry until she was done. When the healer was finally let in, he nearly passed out due to shock." 
Gavin listened to his mother for a while and then asked her about the whereabouts of his younger sister, to which she responded by saying she was not in the palace at the moment. 
Just then, Drusilla walked in with a bowl of cold water which got Gavin wondering what the maid wanted to do. However, the moment the bowl touched the ground, the maid excuses herself and exits the room. 
"Your sister really did a good job, Gavin! Please be extra careful next time okay!" Kendra took in a deep breath then said "I really felt like I had lost my two children when I heard about you. Kurah wouldn't even meet me, talk less of saying anything about your situation." 
Kendra took in a deep breath and spoke with a lot of grievance in her voice, "I had to wait for three days and three nights to lay eyes on my wounded son." 
She then lifted her head and finally looked her son in the eyes and asked "Kuralis, can you even imagine what the wait was like...for me?"
Gavin knew he had scared the whole family to no end but he wouldn't regret his decision nor would he choose any easier option if he was confronted with the same situation once more.
Gavin would always choose the safety of his people first and foremost. As a result, many see him as a cold and ruthless person but his people love him all the same.
Gavin held his mother's hand a little tighter and spoke in the most sincere voice he could ever muster " Sorry for making you worry!"
As an attentive mother of two extremely difficult children, Kendra always knew what her children try to call her bluff. She knows when they are being dismissive and when they are just playing along. 
Most of all,  she can tell when they mean to go along with her advice. However, she has never heard her son speak with so much emotion in just one sentence. She immediately felt that something was wrong and her son was keeping something from her. 
***