Chapter 33 Mind snatched
TARA:
I didn't know why I kept having that dream. No matter how much I wanted to wake up, I couldn't.
But when I finally did the Alpha was sitting right beside me. He stared into my face as he strapped me down to prevent me from sitting up.
"I thought I was going to die." My tone felt awfully blank and devoid of emotion.
"It wasn't ending."
Like a nightmare, my experience haunted me.
"Who was it that attacked you?" He asked. How was I supposed to know that?
"He was covered all over. Only his eyes were visible and I haven't met anyone with such eyes." I explained. I was tired, shaken, and hungry. How did things even take this kind of turn in just a few weeks of being here? Was I targeted specifically or was I assaulted because I caught him?
I was confused, different thoughts running through my mind.
"Don't think about it, Tara. We'll find out who it was. But in the meantime, make sure to rest properly."
He said and stood. He turned to Rose who had been quiet all the time since I woke up. I couldn't hear what they were discussing since they were using the mind link. She ended up nodding and left the room, leaving me with the Alpha.
I tried as much as possible to remain calm but, I couldn't ignore the pains in my lower abdomen. It hurt like hell.
The Alpha stood by the window, staring into space. He seemed unusually more cold and distant than ever. He wasn't the Alpha that ruffled my hair last night. This was the real Alpha of the North. I wouldn't be surprised if he killed anyone now.
I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out. The last thing I wanted to do was add to his anger.
Suddenly, I felt the strong urge to use the bathroom but I couldn't call the Alpha. How I wish Rose hadn't left. I tried sitting up but ended up wincing in pain. I immediately regretted my decision and stayed still.
"What is it?"
"Nothing. I just wanted to use the bathroom."
I thought he was going to help me but he didn't. So much for being delusional.
Shortly, a doctor joined us, breaking the awkward silence between us.
"I see you're awake." He smiled at me. "Why didn't you call me when she woke up?" He asked the Alpha but was responded with silence. He didn't seem to mind and just attended to me. He redressed my wound, bandaged it, and advised me to call him if I started feeling unusual pain.
"For an omega, you are pretty strong." He sat beside me. "Tell me, did you get into a fight with anybody? Was it a male or female?"
"I think that's enough, doctor. You've done your job. You may leave," The Alpha spoke authoritatively, leaving him with no choice but to exit the room.
I managed to lie back on the bed and force myself to sleep. It didn't take long before I fell asleep and for a brief moment, I forgot about all the pain in my body.
I don't know how I got to where I was. But I knew I was in a dream because the wound on my body was gone. I was back to normal but where was I?
I looked around but I couldn't see anything familiar. I pinched myself to see if I could wake up but I didn't work.
"Hello?" I called out, even though I was scared. It was dark and there was nothing around me but a large, empty field. I called out again, hoping to be met with silence again but a voice came from behind, making me turn abruptly.
"How did you get here?" The voice belonged to an older woman. She looked so old and scary that I nearly peed my pants.
"How did you find your way to the forbidden realm?"
"Forbidden realm?" I muttered to myself and looked around again. "I don't know how I got here," I said audibly. "How can I get back?"
Gosh, why won't I just wake up from this nightmare?
"You have dream sight like me." A cracked smile appeared on her lips. "You should never have come here." Before I could reply, she disappeared.
Fear gripped me like a tight skirt. It was just a dream but it felt too real.
"What's going on?" My breath caught in my throat. I took a few steps back only to bump into a wall.
But there was no wall there before. I turned around, only to meet a man's body with the face of a hideous beast.
I tried to scream but he grabbed my throat, choking me.
"In six months, Lucian will die and I will take over. I can't let you ruin my plans, you little thing!"
I held his wrists with both my hands with the aim of freeing myself from my grip. But he was too strong. I was beginning to lose my breath. The feeling felt too familiar. It was like being executed all over again.
LUCIAN:
After the doctor left, Tara went to sleep. I stood by the window, still staring outside.
I was seething. Rose hadn't returned with the food I had ordered. I knew Tara must be very hungry given that she had been asleep for almost twenty four hours.
And yeah, I didn't help her to the bathroom because I was a guy. I couldn't do that. Besides, she wouldn't feel comfortable with the opposite sex around.
The door to the ward was opened with Rowan and Mason walking through.
My gaze lingered on Mason for a few seconds before I directed it back to the space I was staring at.
I had the impression that Mason was the betrayer but after going over Tara's vision over and over again, I found he wasn't the one. Coupled with Eron's revelation. He said I should trust my subordinates but how could I? I had trust issues because of the number of close people who had betrayed me.
"Did anyone come in or leave the pack last night?" I asked in a low tone.
"None, Alpha. We checked every station but there was no report of any suspicious activity." Rowan replied while Mason went toward Tara.
But before he could get to where she laid, she started groaning. I didn't see it as anything because I knew she was in pain. He stepped back and found somewhere else to sit.
I went back to discussing with Rowan about increasing security in my pack.
"We'll make sure this—"
"Alpha!" Mason's voice tore through our conversation. He rushed toward Tara and so did I. When I got to the bed, she was gasping for air. The lines of her neck looked like what was being strangled.
"Shit!" I took her hand and sat beside her, connecting myself with her mind using my dream sight power. But her mind was blank.
"I can't find her." I was running out of ideas.
"Her breathing is slowing down. I'll get the doctor." Mason hurried out of the room.
I searched every possible place in her mind but she was nowhere to be found. I had already given up and was ready to let her go when she opened her eyes and sat up abruptly. Next thing, she threw her hands around my waist, sobbing loudly.
Rowan tried to pull her away from me but I halted him.
"Don't let anyone in until I say so," I ordered. He nodded and left the room.
"You're not going to die, right?" Tara asked after a long time of crying. She was terribly shaken. I was tempted to bombard her with questions but I had to be patient.
Die? Where was this coming from?