Chapter 40

***On the Third Day

Alpha River’s P.O.V*

I have been in a coma since I don't know how long. I was conscious but unconscious. I could hear and feel everything going on around me but I just couldn't wake up or open my eyes. These past days have been the most peaceful and I crave more days like this. Since my mate came to tell the doctors to get me off my back, I haven't heard from her but I heard Matthews telling me that her family was visiting and the pack was on semi-lockdown. For whichever reason, he didn’t say or know for that matter

My wolf Kaeden, who has been recovering and have been quite the chatterbox recently was extremely quiet today. I tried to start a conversation with him only to receive soul-wrenching whimpers from him. I probed him till he got annoyed and shut the link between us. I let it go and decided to rest for a while but that chance never came because that was when I felt it.

A searing pain that started from my chest to the back of my mind. It felt like someone was trying to forcefully pull my soul out of my body. A scream tore from my throat before I could stop it. My eyes flew open but I couldn't see anything. Tears rushed down the side of my face without restraints as the screams continued. I heard footsteps and voices rushing towards me but I couldn't make out what they were saying. It felt as if my head was under water. Way deeper under the water and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't clear my head.

I don't know how long I cried and screamed for, before they turned to sniffles and whimpers. The pain was still there if not worse. I felt like a part of me is gone and I couldn't bring myself to calm down and think. Taking deep breaths, I willed myself to calm down the best I could under this circumstances and let myself think. I didn't have to think for long because the awkward and awful quietness at the other end of our mate bond caught my attention. I called out to Chaos several times and got nothing but an echo of my own voice in return.

Gathering the little strength I had left and trying not to panic, I lifted myself from the bed to kneel on my knees. I was probably put to rest on my stomach so the sheets on the bed would not disturb the healing of my back which am sure looked like an animal mauled meat. I steadied myself on the bed and when I was confident I could navigate myself without falling and making a fool of myself, I set my feet on the ground. I ignored the people talking around me probably trying to reason with me and took my first steps towards the door only to be stopped by my mother who looked more shaken than I have ever seen her.

"What is wrong mum? Please answer me" I asked in a shaky tone

"I'm so... so... sorry" she whispered in between sobs

"What are you sorry for? What is wrong" I yelled back as I held onto her arms. I had an inkling of what was wrong but I could be wrong so I needed to hear it.

"Everything son. I'm really sorry son" she whispered again

"For fuck's sake mother! Tell me what is going on or get out of my way so I can find out."

"Chaos... she... she's... murdered... Chaos is dead" The confirmation of what I already suspected sent a knife through my heart. I fell to my knees as my mind went blank and the feeling in my body went numb.

I don't know how long I stayed on my feet lost in my grieving thoughts. I saw my friends and family trying to snap me back to the present and only stopped when they realized their effort wasn't yielding any results. I could feel myself shutting down as the minutes passed by. Gathering the last of strength I possessed, I gently stood to my feet and without a word to anyone strutted off into my walk-in closet where I changed into a pair of black pants and a loose fit t-shirt.

I didn't bother checking my reflection in the mirror. My mate was dead. Murdered and I had no one to impress. The only reason I was going out instead of grieving alone in my room was because I wanted to confirm that she was really dead. Somehow a large part of me is refusing to acknowledge that she is dead. Clearing my face of every emotion, I made my way out of my house. I could feel the somber mood in the air the moment I stepped foot outside.

My heart broke further when I looked round the normally cheerful compound which now housed pack members crying their hearts out. I don't know what they saw on my face but am sure it was bad because if anything tears and wailing amplified. I walked towards Kiara and Matthews who were huddling around a body. The closer I got to them, the more I felt my heart been squeezed.

Kiara had a blank look on her face but the pain hidden in her eyes was more intense than anything I have ever seen whiles Matthews had silent tears trailing down his face. I automatically went down on my knees when I caught sight of my mate. She had a huge hole in her chest with blood splattered all over her and her hair was now all white too.

The peaceful look on her face was what had the tears I had caged for so long rush down my face. I gathered her into my arms and buried my face into her now white hair. I expected her to be cold but she was warm. The warmest I had ever felt her to be. I wept like never before. I feel like a part of me has been ripped away from me and I don't know what I was going to do now.

I rocked her lifeless body in my arms as I thought of all the pain and sorrow I have caused her.Somehow I felt like her death was my fault. I knew she was more than capable of taking care of herself. And to have let someone get close enough to kill her meant only one thing; that she was tired and has had enough of me.

I heard mournful howls going around the pack but I couldn't find the strength to howl back.

My wolf was silent and in mourning. If I knew anything about him at all, I knew he will remain unresponsive like this until he has finished mourning. Gathering her into my arms, I got onto my feet and turned towards her house. I didn't care if I was thrown backwards by whatever force that was protecting her house. I didn't even have time to be surprised when I walked through her front door and nothing happened. I walked into her house only to be met with silence. I expected her family to be here but I think they don't know yet.

Her bedroom was easy to locate since all I had to do was follow her scent. I entered her room and got assaulted by her scent. Kaeden let out a whine at the back of my head but that was all before he disappeared again. I gently laid her on her bed before going into her bathroom. Opening the tap on her enormous tub, I allowed the water to fill it. I added the oils and bathing shampoos into it before going back to the bedroom where my mate laid.

I got on my knees before slowly undressing her. I avoided paying too much attention to the hole in her chest. It felt like the hole in my own chest. I then cradled her naked body with me into the bathroom. Gently placing her into the now full tub, I lathered up her wash cloth and started giving her a thorough bath. It took a while but I managed to give her a deserving bath. Her last bath. Just the thought of it brought tears to my eyes. I allowed my tears to flow freely as I washed her and toweled her dry.

They didn't stop when I applied her body lotion. Nor did they stop when I dressed her in the most beautiful lace dress I could find in her wardrobe. It was a combination of red, black and ash. The dress was designed to look like burning flames. Something so much like her.

After fixing on her undergarments, I put the dress on her and I must say she looked divine. I decided to leave her feet bare. Picking up hair brush, I run it through her hair as slowly as possible. When I was certain all the knots were gone, I spread her hair behind her.

I was getting up to put her brush back when the door to her room opened. I turned around only to come face to face with her father