Chapter 144 Chapter 144
The days went by and I was healing slowly. One moment I felt strong enough to sit and the next moment I was exhausted. The healer said the poison has weakened my body and even my wolf. I wasn’t whole yet but through it all Lucian was
I wondered if he didn't have other stuffs to do. When I shared my thoughts with him, he said they could all wait. I was the only important thing right now.
I had also refused to see Lina every time she asked to see me. Lucian had tried to find out what was wrong but I didn't want to tell him because I knew he would punish her. I wanted to speak with her first but I had not mustered the courage to look into her face after the betrayal.
As for Damian and Dahlia, I didn't feel an ounce of pity for them. The door opened and Lucian walked in with a tray of food.
"You need to eat”
I sighed softly, staring down at the bowl in front of me.
"I just ate”
"That was hours ago” I glanced up at him, narrowing my eyes slightly.
"You're counting?"
"I'm making sure you are healthy” he replied evenly. I huffed.
"You keep watching me” I murmured. His expression didn't change.
"To make sure you eat your food” he said but I knew it was more than that. He was scared.
I picked up the spoon again, taking a small bite just to ease his mind. His shoulders relaxed... just a little.
Days continued to pass. Each one a little easier than the last. I could walk short distances now. With Lucian always a step behind me like a shadow that refused to leave. Sometimes it annoyed me.Most times... it didn't.
He also never failed to tell me how much he loved me. I was getting used to hearing it every second of the day.
"You've not let Lina see you. Why? Is there something I don’t know?
I stilled at his words. My fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the bed.
"No”
Lucian's silence told me he didn't believe me. I exhaled slowly.
"I just don't want to see her right now."
"That's not the same thing as not avoiding her” I shot him a look.
"She's been asking about you”
My chest tightened again. Of course she had.
"I know”
"Then why won't you see her?"
I didn't answer immediately because I didn't know how to explain it. How to put into words the ache that still sat in my chest when I thought about Lina.
"I miss her” I admitted quietly.
“But I just need to clear my head first before I see her”
“If it has anything to do with your kidnap, then you need to speak with her first. You’ll understand her better then” I gave him a surprised look. Did he know what happened?
"I know”
“Good. I’ll tell her you’ll see her”
Before I could protest, Lucian was already walking out of the door. When Lina walked into the room, she looked smaller than I remembered. Her shoulders were slumped slightly. Her eyes avoided mine at first.
Guilt.
I knew that was the reason she couldn’t look me in the eye.
"Ailsa..." she whispered.
Her voice broke on my name and something in my chest twisted painfully because I had missed her.
But the hurt was still there too and it didn't disappear just because she stood in front of me.
"I'm here” I said quietly.
She took a step forward, then another.
"Thank you for agreeing to see me. I didn't think you would want to” she admitted.
"I didn't” I said honestly. Her expression faltered.
"But I needed to”
"I'm sorry” she said suddenly.
The words rushed out of her in a broken voice.
"I'm so, so sorry, Ailsa. I never meant for any of this to happen. I swear to you, I didn't…”
"Lina”
She stopped, her lips trembled. Tears pooled in her eyes.
"I need you to tell me the truth. All of it” I said gently. She nodded quickly.
"I will”
And she did. She told me everything about Dahlia and her threats to kill her if she didn’t do what was asked of her. She talked about the fear she had hidden behind her smiles. She had been manipulated and used.
"I didn't have a choice” she whispered. "She knew things that would have destroyed me. I had stolen from the pack before to save my mother but she eventually died. She said if I didn't do what she wanted, she would ruin everything” My heart clenched.
"And poisoning me?" I asked softly. Her face crumpled.
"I didn't know it would hurt you like that” she cried. "She told me it was just something to weaken you to make you easier to control. I didn't know it would go that far” Tears streamed down her face now.
"I hated myself every second” she continued. "Every time I smiled at you, every time I acted like everything was normal, I felt like I was betraying you over and over again” I closed my eyes briefly.
Letting her words sink in and the truth settle.
"I never stopped caring about you. When she asked me to do all those things, I always made sure the Alpha knew one way” she whispered.
After that there was a long silence. Then I opened my eyes and looked at her.
"I believe you” I said softly.
Hope flickered in her eyes.
"But that doesn't mean I can forget. I’ll need sometime” I added.
"I know. Thank you for hearing me out” she whispered.
"I understand why you did it” I continued. "I really do. But that doesn't change what it did to me” My voice trembled slightly.
"I can’t get over the fact that I have been betrayed once again by a close friend” Her breath hitched. The tears fell harder.
"I'm sorry” she sobbed.
"I know”
I stepped closer.
"But I can't forgive you. Not yet” I said quietly. She nodded. Even though it clearly hurt.
"I don't expect you to” she said. Her voice was soft.
"I'll wait. However long it takes” she added. My chest tightened again.
"Thank you for telling me the truth” I said gently. She gave a small, sad smile.
"Thank you for listening”
Then sheturned and walked away.
I stood there for a long time after she left. I didn’t move or speak. I felt lighter after our conversation.
"Ailsa”
I turned at the sound of Lucian's voice. He stood in the doorway watching me.
"It's done?" he asked. I nodded.
"Yes”
He stepped inside, closing the distance between us.
"Are you okay?"
"I will be. What is it?" I asked quietly. His gaze locked onto mine.
“I want to end Lorcan once and for all”
“I want that too”