Chapter 53 Stop It!

Chapter 53 Stop It!
Laura's POV
It took some time for my blurred vision to clear, but I knew the person who had entered the room was Mackenzie. I rubbed my eyes at her as she froze in place and I smiled. "L—Laura?" Her voice trembled. I turned at her and continued rubbing my eyes. "Mack?" My voice was strained. Speaking took too much stamina from me, I believed I could not manage more than ten sentences before my exhaustion got the best of me. "Laura! Laura! You are really awake!" Mackenzie jumped and screamed. I opened my eyes widely and looked around. It slowly started making sense, I must have passed out. Judging from her reaction, it must have been a very serious situation. Mack ran towards me and hugged me tightly. Her body trembled against mine and her lips quivered several times as she tried to control her tears. "Don't you scare us like this again, don't do it!" She clung to me as if I was her lifeline. "I'm sorry Mack, I'm really sorry." I ran my hands on her back, calmly trying to comfort her. —It was twisted but it was the best feeling I could get. I guessed my secret was out in the open. The machines in front of me told me everything. A familiar presence stood at the door, and it was Julian; his eyes shone brightly, and my heart leaped. Seeing Julian after my long sleep felt nostalgic. Somewhere deep within me, I wanted to throw my hands around him and hug him. But it was only in my head. I couldn't afford to make a move that would bring me fresh disappointment. "Laura!" Julian ran to me and Mack drew away so he could get a chance. He was also trembling just like Mack. I froze in place as he studied me. I honestly didn't have any words for him. "Oh thank the Goddess, thank the Goddess!" He planted multiple kisses on my face and hugged me each time. His eyes were red as if he held back his tears as he suddenly got up. "Call the doctor! Call Twain to examine her real quick!" He gestured to the nurses who stood at the door, watching in awe. I was silent as I tried to take everything in. Of course, I was happy that I was alive, but I doubted the cancer was gone because I still felt sick in the stomach. My chest was hurting from something I couldn't pick a finger on. Whatever they did, it was temporary. A moment later, Twain barged into the room looking at me and then at Julian. He arranged his glasses and calmly approached. As composed as he was, he couldn't hide the disbelief in his eyes that I was still alive. "Will you give us the room, please? We have to conduct tests," Twain spoke politely. Julian was going to refuse. I saw it in his eyes but to my surprise, he stopped himself. "She's in your hands. Take care of her." With that he moved out of the room, and left me with the doctor. Doctor Twain glanced at my limbs and his brows furrowed. "How are you feeling? Can you talk—move?" He asked. I tried to respond but speaking was very difficult, so I nodded at him instead. "I see, you are in the process of trying to understand what's happening..." He trailed off as he observed me quietly. I nodded again, eagerly waiting to understand what was happening. "Long story short, you passed out almost a week ago and you were brought here," he finished and my eyes moved around me. It was an effort to talk, but I had to. "What are these machines and hoses attached to my body?" I croaked. The doctor nodded. "It was to keep you alive." Yet there was a strange glint in his eyes. I glanced at the hoses again and I saw the faded hue of red. It was a blood transfusion they did and from the look in his eyes, I wouldn't believe who did it. "Whose blood?" I asked. "The king, the king did it. He spent all that time here as he shared his blood with you." I sighed and squeezed my eyes shut. That explained everything that had happened in my dreams. It was strange and unbelievable that Julian would give me his blood, considering how twisted his emotions were towards me but the fact that he still did it... And my situation might still be hopeless. There was a tingling sensation in my chest like I was holding back tears. I rubbed my eyes and glanced at the doctor. "Thanks. I assume whatever you have done, it's only temporary right? Maybe delaying it for a while but that's all?" The doctor was surprised at my words. "Seems you have already figured it out." He patted his neck. I offered him a small smile despite the disappointment I felt inside. "I was prepared for it, it was only a matter of time." "We will be running tests, maybe we can find something—" "Don't give me false hopes," I interrupted. He nodded. "Alright. I will take my leave now." I didn't look at his face. I stared at my feet and sighed. My secret was out now, I was going to get the treatment I was avoiding. This wasn't how I planned it. But what happened? How did I end up here? My memories were hazy, I could barely remember what I was doing a week ago. I guessed actors didn't lie in movies when they barely remembered stuff after waking up from a coma. I was still in a haze when Julian barged inside the room. He walked straight to me and wrapped his powerful arms around me like I was his treasure. I blinked in surprise, not knowing how to react to this new show of affection. Were they real or was this just because he knew that I was dying? He planted soft kisses on my forehead and I couldn't lie, I liked it— which wasn't a good thing. I held out my arms and gently pushed him away to put some distance between us. "Stop it," I muttered. A slight frown appeared and disappeared on his face. Then he forced a smile. "Why?" I didn't like what I was going to say, but it was for our good. "I can't have you here. You have to stop caring for me," I cautioned him. His eyes searched my face so fast, I couldn't keep staring at him. "Laura, that's impossible. You know that right?" My heart skipped, only to look at the far table. Even in his rough state, he was very handsome and even that wasn't helping me. "Let's separate. Let's stay away from each other." My fists turned white at my side from clenching them hard. "Impossible." There was almost a hiss at the end of the word. It was like he challenged me. I turned to him. "What?" Julian looked forward, past my bed. "I just spent the entire week, watching over you. I'm not letting you go. After everything I did to have you come back to us, you think that I would back down now?" He looked stubborn. Correction, he was always stubborn. I felt frustrated. No matter how hard I tried to get away from this man, he always drew closer to me. "Why? What's the point?!" I raised my voice. Julian cocked his brows, ready to counter me but I j wasn't done yet. "In a few weeks or even days, I will be dead. Nothing will change that!" "And I will be there for you! You can't stop that!" He growled. I shook from the power in his voice. Silence settled and I slowly moved my eyes up to his face. His eyes glowed fiercely, showing the burning fire that powered his soul. Slowly, his expression became softer when he realized he raised his voice too much. No matter how hard I tried to get away, the universe always found a way to bring him closer, huh? Julian moved closer. "Look, let me be with you. Let me—" Mack slowly opened the door and she was hesitant about walking inside. There was something odd in her behavior. She was very quiet, not even able to talk to me and Julian. There were tears in her eyes. She walked towards me slowly, with her head down. "Mack, what is it?" I held my hands out. Julian stared at both of us and slowly made space. She stuttered in her steps as if she was calculating her moves which were very odd. Mackenzie never did this. Something was very wrong... When she got close to me, she threw her hands around me and hugged me tight. All my life and this was the first time I saw Mackenzie very emotional. "Aww, you are too shocked to lose me?" I patted her shoulders. Julian did us the courtesy to move aside. He directed his attention to a small library that had been installed there. "Laura, I—it's been a long time since I saw you. These last few days have been gruelling. Your mother won't stop crying." My wolf shifted with pain but I pushed it back and focused on comforting Mack. "Shush, it's okay. I'm here now. Alright? I promise to tell you everything from now. I didn't want you to worry," I said, not knowing exactly what she wanted to hear. "You could have told me earlier." She trembled in my arms and wiped her nose. "I'm sorry." She whispered. After she calmed down. She raised her head and turned to Julian, who had developed an interest in the small bookshelf. "Hold up, I'm coming. Let me have a word with Julian." She blew her nose. "Alright." I watched her wipe her tears and strut towards him. She was probably going to roast him for not taking care of me. She whispered something to him and he frowned, it wasn't quite audible. Then, they stepped out of the room. Whatever it was, I wanted in on it. I stood up from the bed sheepishly. The hoses connected to the machines had been removed. But I still dragged my IV line with me to the door and listened to their conversation. "Are you sure? What happened?" Julian's voice came through. Mack's composure was down the drain. "It's Laura's father. Something bad has happened to him!”