**Chapter 91: 'I can't breathe!'**

**Chapter 91: 'I can't breathe!'**
Sorry for the long wait. Thank you to all my readers who have stuck by me. Despite my speratic updates. ///Trigger warning///

Eventually, Darien reluctantly returned his mate to her seat. Everyone was then treated to a display of public affection as he doted on his mate throughout the rest of the meal. The older adults looked on indulgently while reminiscing of their own actions when they were first mated. Serenity’s siblings looked at the pair with expressions that were equal parts annoyance and reluctant tolerance.

Alora felt a multitude of emotions while watching this. She was happy her best friend had found his mate. Darien’s mate could have easily been a person who had believed all those rumors about her and forced Darien with an ultimatum not to associate with her anymore. Alora was extremely grateful Serenity had accepted her as she had and now called her friend.

After everyone finished eating, they separated into two different groups. The ‘adults’ went one way and the ‘kids’ another. Alora realized that although several of them in the ‘kids’ group were now adults as well, it would take more than a day to adjust to that knowledge.

“Can you believe our graduation is only a couple of days away?” Darien asked as they climbed the steps back to their floor.

“It feels kind of surreal to me actually.” Kain replied.

“Like it's real but doesn’t feel real?” Jaxon asked.

“Exactly.” Kain replied while excitedly pointing a finger at Jaxon.

“Soon our daily routines are going to be a lot different than they were before.” Serenity pointed out.

“That’s right.” Darien agreed with Serenity, gently squeezing her to his side with his arm around her waist.

They continued to talk but Alora could no longer understand what they were saying. There was a ringing in her ears making their words indistinguishable. Strangely, she was reminded of the teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoon she and Damien had once watched years ago. Breathing was becoming difficult and the world seemed to be tilting to the side.

It became harder and harder to climb the steps, Serenity’s comment from seconds ago was being replayed in her head on a loop. They all just made it to their floor when Alora’s limbs started to tremble. Alora couldn’t figure out what was wrong and just wanted to make it to her room. Her vision was going dark at the edges when she felt her knees give out.

Serenity heard the thump and spun around, her brow furrowed seeing Alora kneeling on the ground. Darien had turned with her and was immediately worried.

“Alora?” He called out with concern but got no response. “Alora.” He called again but she only looked at him with glassy eyes.  

Serenity’s heart gave a little jump seeing all this. Her face had gone so pale it was nearly translucent. There was sweat beading on Alora’s face and she was shaking. “Alora are you okay?”

“Her breathing is wrong.” Kain said, feeling worried.

“Catch her!” Galen shouted when Alora started to fall over.

Jaxon, who was closest to Alora, quickly dropped to the ground beside Alora and kept her from hitting the floor. He immediately knew what was happening as soon as he took a closer look. “She’s having a panic attack.”

“Are you sure?” Kain asked, kneeling down on the floor next to him.

“Yes” Jaxon confirmed, he put his hand on Alora’s cheek and turned her face towards him. He gave her a little shake, “Come on Alora, look at me.”

“Why is she having a panic attack, what brought this on?” Galen asked, feeling scared for her friend.

Darien’s stomach sunk and felt a squeezing in his heart. His knowledge of psychology became a double-edged sword. He spoke in a hoarse voice that trembled with sorrow. “Long term abuse victims, especially the severely abused ones, will suffer from panic attacks after being freed from their abusers.”

“But why?” Kain asked, “She’s safe here, shouldn’t that help prevent them?”

“She was just freed from her abusers today.” Serenity reminded them. “She probably didn’t realize what was going on when her symptoms started.”

Alora’s entire body was shaking now and every breath she tried to take was hitched. She felt like she couldn’t take in any air no matter how hard she tried. They were all talking, but she still couldn’t understand what any of them were saying.

“What do we do, she’s starting to turn blue, and her body feels ice cold.” Jaxon asked while trying to suppress the panic that was starting to crawl up his spine. His wolf Bruno whined in worry inside him.

‘What’s happening?!’ Alora asked Selena and Xena her internal voice full of panic. ‘I can’t breathe!’

Inside their space, Selena and Xena were not doing much better. Selena was curled up against the tree, her body shaking and trembling just as bad as Alora’s was. Xena was on her side next to her panting in panicked breaths.

“Maybe I should go get Luna Ember, maybe she can calm Alora.” Serenity suggested looking up at Darien, her eyes filled with worry. Her wolf rose gazing at their male from their space.

Darien frowned. “Sometimes the person in the middle of the panic attack can’t hear what’s going on around them. Once they get to this state it’s even harder. Especially if her other selves are also caught up in the attack as well.”

“What does that mean?” Kain asked, his voice deepened to a growling tone. He and his wolf Horus did not like this situation one bit. It made them feel like they were already failing their Alpha.

“Is there nothing we can do?” Galen asked. Inside Galen, Amun was pacing around their space in agitation, letting out low growls. Galen wanted to pace too but felt that would only make the rest of their group more anxious than everyone already was.

“I don’t…” Darien started but Axel spoke up at that moment.

‘Call Damien.’ Axel ordered.

Darien blinked, before saying aloud, “Why didn’t I think of that?” then pulled out his phone to make the call.

“What did you think of?” Serenity asked, her spark of hope growing bigger.

“I’m calling Damien, but just in case I need someone to go get my mom. She is most likely going to need medical attention now.” Darien responded while the phone rang, pressing the speaker button.

“I’ll go.” Galen immediately volunteered, needing to do something useful.

“Kain go with him.” Jaxon ordered. Kain just nodded his silent acknowledgment of the order and ran after Galen.

Darien knelt down next to Alora touching her shoulder. He shuddered when he felt just how cold Alora was. Thankfully Damien picked up right then, keeping him from spiraling in panic.

“Hey little brother, what has you calling?” Damien asked with concern.

“Damien!” Darien called out in relief, making him realize just how panicked he was about Alora’s current situation.

Damien, on the other side of the line, went still after hearing the tremble in Darien’s voice. “What happened?” He demanded. His wolf Zane was immediately put on alert and stretched out his senses. He was hit by a wall of panic coming from their thin connection to their mate.

‘Alora!’ Zane shouted to Damien, informing him before Darien could speak. ‘Something happened to Alora!’