Chapter 54 Chapter 54
LUCIAN'S POV
I walked along the front line of the training field.
Today, I was assigning patrol guards and discussing border reinforcement. This was a way for me to forget what I almost I did last night. I still didn't have the courage to face Ailsa yet. I tried to remain focused on what I was doing but I couldn’t.
Somewhere beneath my ribs something twitched and tightened and my wolf was restless. Then I felt a pull, it was not the usual soft pull. It was so strong that it was hard to ignore. It was as if I was jabbed at my side.
“This was wrong….” I froze when giving a command.
"Alpha?" One of the warriors said when I didn't finish my sentence but I wasn't focused on him. My wolf almost took control immediately that it nearly knocked me off balance from trying to shift abruptly.
‘Something is happening’ His voice ripped through my mind, he was frantic. Find her now.
My pulse spiked, heat crawling up my neck.
"No. I was imagining it. Ailsa was not in serious danger, she is supposed to be in her room. She couldn't have gone anywhere so early in the morning that is dangerous” I whispered to myself.
There was the pull again, it was sharper this time, with a burning sign that shot straight to my lungs. It wasn’t normal, it was fear and panic. And it was not coming from me. It was hers. My heart dropped.
"Aiden" I called, he was discussing with one of the guards but he turned immediately.
"Yes?"
"Where's Ailsa?" He blinked confused.
"I'm not sure but she should probably be with that servant girl or in her room" he sounded so sure of where she was.
"No" My voice was low and filled with dread.
"Something is wrong, I can feel it" He stiffened and stepped closer.
"What do you feel?" I clenched my jaw.
"I can feel her fear and pain in my ribs. It's so strong” His eyes widened.
“You didn’t mark her so how are you feeling her pain?”
Before I could move or answer his question, a scream echoed from the entrance.
"Alpha"
It was the servant girl always with Ailsa. She was panting and crying. She ran so fast that she tripped and nearly fell when she reached where I stood. I was at her side in a second.
"What happened?" I asked with concern.
"R-rogues..." She gasped
"We were talking and they c..came out of nowhere. Ailsa asked me to run and get help. I tried...." Everything shattered.
I didn't wait to hear the rest. I ran. I shifted mid stride, my wolf taking over with so much force.
‘Find her. Find her’
That was the only thing he kept chanting as we ran. As I got further into the woods, I could smell blood. The owner I didn’t know but I hoped ut wasn’t Ailsa.
My heart roared in my ears as I tore through the forest, following the faint trail of her scent.
"Ailsa!!” I screamed as I sprinted crashing through trees.
I saw bodies that lay on the ground and Ailsa was at one corner, she was surrounded by the rogues and her body bleeding, I shifted back to my human form quickly.
"Ailsa.. Ailsa" I fell to my knees, scooping her into my arms. Her head laid against my chest. Her skin cold.
“No, No, No” I mumbled. She laid limp in my arms bleeding. I tried to use my hand to stop the blood from her arms.
"Lucian" Someone screamed my name from a distance. It was Aiden running in full speed.
"I heard your..." He paused, his eyes widened when he saw Ailsa in a pool of blood.
"Get the healer” I snarled, my voice cracked.
"Now"
Lucian didn't argue. He stormed and bolted towards the direction of the pack in his wolf form. I lifted Ailsa into my lap, cradling her carefully. Her head fell against my chest and a small sound escaped her lips.
"Ailsa" I whispered removing a strand of hair from her face.
"Stay with me. Please stay with me" My wolf clawed at me from inside, frantic. I checked her pulse and it was weak.
"Mate is dying. Help her" He growled.
"I'm trying" Her eyelids fluttered weakly. I leaned closer.
"L-Lucian….” She breathed. My heart cracked.
"I'm right here" I said excited that she was speaking. She lifted her hands but it fell back.
"L...Lina..."
"She's safe" I said quickly.
"She came back to the pack safely” Relief crossed her face just for a second before she went limp again.
"No, no don't pass out on me" My voice trembled.
"Ailsa, stay awake please" I begged her.
Her eyes closed. I heard sprints from behind and someone knelt beside me, Maeve was here together with her assistant.
"Alpha, we need to get her on a flash surface. She has lost a lot of blood"
"Then get to work already" I barked. “She'll loose more blood if she's not attended to immediately" my tone was sharp.
She didn't argue and got to work.
She started by mixing some herbs in her bag and rubbed it in her palms which began to shine and she pressed it on Ailsa's wound. Her body jerked.
“What’s happening “
"Her body is fighting the treatment. She fighting to regain consciousness but something is stopping her"
"Then find out what it is" I snapped.
"Alpha….”
“If anything happens to her, you won't make use of your arm anymore"
Aiden placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it.
"Lucian let them work" he said softly and I swallowed hard.
Ailsa started breathing slightly but her skin remained pale like it had lost all color and her pulse was still weak. Maeve looked at me.
"Tell me" I demanded “What is it?" She took a deep breath.
"She’s out of danger now. Right now, she needs rest and lots of fluid. I think the poison from the rogues claws entered deep into her system”
"Poison?" I said confused. Did rogues carry poison in their claws?
"Yes, it is similar to the last one" She said gently.
"It weakens a wolf system and It may interfere with healing for a day or two"
It almost felt like I couldn't breathe. Aiden stepped closer to me.
"We should get her inside where she would be more comfortable" he advised. I nodded stiffly, lifting Ailsa carefully into my arms.
I walked slowly to the pack, the warriors bowed their head when they I passed by but I didn't speak to anyone nor acknowledge them.
I walked straight to my room and laid her gently on the bed, I stood over as the healer inspected her again. She looked so small and fragile lying in the middle of my big bed.
Her face was still smudged with dirt and blood. My chest tightened. I would make the people responsible for touching her pay. When the healer stepped back, I turned to them.
"No one enters the room without my permission. No one" I commanded.
"Yes Alpha" They bowed and left. Aiden lingered at the door.
“I want those rogues treated and kept in the dungeons. I’ll attend to them when Ailsa wakes up” the fury in my voice could not be controlled.
“I’ve had the warriors bring them in. I’ll do as you have said” I nodded.
"Will you be alright all alone?"
I didn't answer. I couldn't because even I didn’t know the answer to that question. I sat beside the bed and took her hands in mine.
"Why did you have to take such a risk? Why would you do something as reckless as fighting rogues all by yourself?”
I ran a finger on her cheek, tracing her cheekbone. She looked so peaceful and beautiful with her eyes closed. She was even more beautiful with her eyes open.
"Please wake up, we still have a lot of things to work out" I pleased in a broken voice.
I sat there for a long time. I didn't know how much time had passed, if it was minutes or hours but I just sat there waiting for her to open her eyes. The door opened and I heard Aiden’s footsteps.
“Two of the rogues died and the other two are severely injured”
“Mahe sure they survive until I see them”
"I’m working on that. It's late Lucian,won't you have something to eat? You need to rest. I have guards stationed all over this floor so Ailsa is safe” I shook my head.
"I'm not leaving here until she wakes up. I want to be the first person she sees when she opens her eyes"
He remained silent for a second before breaking the silence again.
"She’ll be fine, don’t lose hope., she’s strong and she’ll pull through. You’ll see she would wake up soon" he assured me.
That was what I prayed for every minute. Aiden left the room and I was alone again.
I didn't know the particular hour It was when I saw her fingers twitch. I quickly rushed to her side.
"Ailsa" Her lashes fluttered slowly, her eyes opened slowly.
"L-Lucian…..” She whispered. A wave of relief hit me so hard. My wolf was elated.
"You're safe now" I said quietly smoothing her hair.
"Y... you...came" her lips curled in a smile.
“I’ll always come to you” the words slipped out so easily from my mouth. I exhaled shakily, brushing my thumb across her knuckles.
"Don't scare me like that again. I don’t think I can survive alone" I whispered