Chapter 17

Chapter 18
LILA'S POV

Darkness.

Immense pain.

Disorientation and disconnection.

All those emotions are heavy in me as I struggle to pry my eyes open.

'Where are we, and where is everyone?' Neela voices my very thought as I finally find the strength to open my eyes.

How had we gotten into the woods, and why was I wearing a different outfit?

The last thing I remembered was the pool.

Pain rushes to my head as my last conscious memory runs through my mind.

Camille and Adrian, threatening me and then throwing me into the freezing pool.

Bumping my head and losing consciousness.

Maybe my mind was playing tricks on me, but I could almost grasp the presence of Kael and Alec.

I had caught their scent but had been too out of it to say for sure if it had been them.

If I was now trapped in my unconscious state, what had happened to my body in the pool?

Had Camille and Adrian succeeded?

What if by the time someone realised something was wrong and came outside, it'd already be too late?

What if I were dead already and this were the afterlife?

“Run!” The strong whisper cuts through the silence, shaking the trees.

Goosebumps paint my skin as the weather picks up, and I remain rooted in place, perplexed and scared.

A fast-approaching sound of multiple paws hitting the ground catches my attention, and I turn, trying to search for the source.

Why was I trapped in this unfamiliar state and completely unaware of what to do?

Where was everyone in the pack?

Was this a dream, maybe?

If it was, I had to wake up fast.

The large group of wolves running straight at me sends chills down my spine.

I moved on reflex because judging by the way they were coming at me, they weren't planning on slowing down.

If I stood still, I'd get killed in the stampede, for sure.

I'm running like there's fire on my tail as I dash through the woods, heart thumping as I begin to sweat.

“They'll be here one day, Lila… You need to warn the others.” that same unfamiliar voice from earlier that had instructed me to run rings out again.

I can feel the wolves closing in on me fast, and I'm giving up already, not knowing where to turn to anymore.

The wolves behind me didn't feel or look familiar.

Judging by their uncivil, untamed nature, they had to be rogues.

Many rogues that were running on pack grounds.

Be it a dream or not, this number of rogues in the alpha's pack wasn't good.

I had to warn them somehow.

As I turn back to face my front after turning to look at the wolves, it's late, as I hadn't noticed I had gotten to the edge of the cliff.

I scream, my entire body jerking as I fall.

ALEC'S POV

“How long will she be like this?” I can't help but ask the pack doctor for about the thousandth time today.

“I'm sorry, but I can't say for certain; she's trapped in some sort of unconscious, dreamlike state, it seems. The only person that can wake her up now is herself.” He replies, avoiding my eyes in shame.

What did he mean by he couldn't do anything about it?

It had been three days now, three days of Lila still being unconscious.

With my orders, I had ensured Camille and her mate remained locked up in their room and under constant supervision.

I hadn't been bluffing when I had promised they wouldn't leave in one piece if Lila didn't wake up.

They were still hell-bent on lying, and it irritated me immensely.

“Just get out.” I spit at the man harshly.

I wasn't usually like this, but the worry had me completely frustrated and snapping at any little thing.

The man scrambles out of the room, and I hurry closer to Lila's side as she begins to twitch and whimper.

She had been doing this for the past days, and she hadn't woken up yet.

It pained my heart to see her struggling so much.

I could only imagine how she would be feeling at the moment.

Trapped in her mind and unable to grasp her consciousness.

Had the hit on her head been that bad to affect her so much?

I wish I had been there to maybe protect her, at least.

All this wouldn't have happened if I hadn't requested to dance with her.

If Kael hadn't forced himself in our middle on the dance floor and insisted we took turns with her.

When would he stop coming for what's mine and let me finally enjoy a moment without him hovering around?

Even right now, the only reason I was able to be alone in this room with her was because he had to attend to a meeting concerning the rogues.

I had made my way here unknown to him and even though the pack doctors and nurses stared at me oddly, none of them would dare mention anything concerning my visit to him.

“Shush, you're alright. I'm here with you.” I grab her hand in mine, squeezing softly as I try to help her in whatever way I can.

It seemed like she was having a nightmare, one that bothered her a lot from the way she reacted to it even when not awake.

I caress her face, brushing her beautiful hair to the side as I admire her features.

The moon goddess had been overly generous when she had blessed me with Lila.

A blessing Kael was trying to destroy.

There was nothing he hadn't stolen from me: childhood toys, attention, our parents' love, and now my mate too.

I try to pull my hand away to arrange her blanket so she'd remain warm, but her hands squeeze mine tightly.

“Careful…" She whispers something along that line, and I'm shocked at the action.

She had been moving and twitching on ateady basis, but attempting to talk was a first.

Her eyes were still sealed shut, but her face was contorted in a struggle as she set out to speak out.

“What's that, love?” I call back urgently, praying that she was about to wake up as I lean closer to hear her.

“The rogues… they'll come; we have to be careful!” She suddenly screams, beginning to cry and struggle with her eyes still pressed close.

The rogues? What rogues?

Could she be talking about the rogues that were bothering our pack?

“Lila? Lila? Doctor!” I shout in panic as, in the next second, Lila begins to convulse violently, her body going stiff as she shakes.