Chapter 57 — Hope

"And then they lived happily ever after....." 

I closed the book and smiled at a very sleepy Namara. I had volunteered to babysit her and give some free time to Katherine and Dallas. They had become something of an adoptive parent for Namara. She was a sweet girl. Despite the tragedy, she had retained her spunk. Spending time with her was delightful.

I laid her sleeping form on the bed and tiptoed out of her room. Lucian was away because of this rogue business, and no one knew where he was or when he would be returning.

I laid down on my bed, contemplating calling him. He had closed off our mind link. I couldn't sense him.

I had dozed off when a low pain in my chest woke me up. I woke up sweating. Something was wrong, Lana was howling, and I felt this weird emptiness in my heart. 

"Lucian!" I said aloud to the empty room. He was not well. I could sense it. I was unable to reach him through the mind link. Restless, I walked out of my room. Maybe Damon or other Betas would know Lucian's whereabouts.

A small sound from behind indicated that Damon was approaching.

"Madam Luna, you look worried," he called out to me "Where is Lucian? Is it normal for him to disappear like this?"I asked, fearing the worst.

"None of us can contact him. He has never done this before." Damon replied.

That increased my concern. The phone call which came later confirmed my fears.

"Lucian is injured, Alice. I am bringing him back." Rick said from the other side of the phone.

The next few hours were like a blur for me. The betas and the medical team were in an uproar, and so was the rest of the pack. 

The world was starting to close off. I suddenly became very aware of my breathing, and the thumping of my heart was the only sound I could hear. Everything felt like it was moving in slow motion, and nothing I saw made any sense at all. 

"Lucian!" I screamed as his limp, bloody body was wheeled into the infirmary. He can't be? No!  I could still feel the bond. He was alive, though barely hanging.

"What happened to him?" I asked Rick and Daniel. Both of them were disheveled and injured. However, they were already healing and would require minor medical assistance.

"He saved my life," Rick whispered.

"What? I wasn't even aware that Lucian was with you. What's going on?"

"We tracked the rogues and Regina, " Rick explained their mission and the impromptu decision to capture Regina. 

"We succeeded in killing them all. There were two witches and Alpha Adam. He was collaborating with Regina. Lucian was right. It was not just the rogues. Some Alphas were also involved with her. We managed to follow Regina and take them by surprise," Rick explained.

"But, why didn't you take warriors? He never told me anything about this." I choked through my tears.

"Lucian wanted to keep this discreet. He had a feeling that there were moles in the packs. So, he planned this discreetly with Daniel and me. Although, I agree we should have been more organized. Lucian would not be in danger," he said morosely, looking at the ICU door.

"What happened to them?" 

"All dead, the witches died in the car crash, and I killed Adam when he tried to attack us." 

"So his pack....?" Realization dawned on me.

"Yes, his pack belongs to me now. However, that's not the priority. Lucian must recover. We need to focus on him." Rick said grimly.

Lucian was riddled with bullets. Our bodies can recover from the bullets. But the poison had penetrated his bloodstream. Thus, reducing his supernatural healing. He was in constant agony, and no matter how much painkillers or antidote was administered, he was not recovering. The pack was in a somber mood. Their fate was hanging in the balance. If the Alpha dies, the pack is usually taken over by the next Alpha relative, or it scatters if there is no capable leader. 

"Is he... is he going to die?" I asked the healer as I looked at Lucian's heavily bandaged body.

"Madam Luna, we are trying our best. The poison has reached his heart. We are just hoping that it flushes out without causing any further damage." The healer replied grimly.

"His wolf? Is it fine?" I asked, fearing if Lucian would lose his wolf, like his mother. That would be worse than death for an Alpha like Lucian.

"On the contrary, his wolf is fine. But it's lost. It's not able to connect with his human side. Hence, the Alpha's body is not healing." The healer explained.

I had no idea what he meant, but I was ready to do whatever it took to bring Lucian back from the brink of death.

"What can we do to cure him?" I asked frantically.

"Be with him, talk to him. Try to reach his subconscious mind. As his mate, only you can do this. Your life energy might be able to pull him out of his comatose state." The healer explained.

"He's hurt because of you," Savannah said simply.

I turned towards her. Some internal hurt has begun to surface on her usually stoic face. 

"There will always be someone coming after you, for whatever power you have. Your brother sent you away since you were a danger to his pack. Now, my Alpha is suffering because of you." Her voice dripped with venom. 

"You cannot be so insolent with madam Luna!" Katherine warned, her eyes blazing with anger.

"It's fine, Katherine. Savannah is right. He got involved in something sinister because of me. I am a danger to everyone. I'm just... I am sorry." I sighed.

Katherine was still glaring at Savannah, though.

"Apologise right now, Savannah," Katherine said firmly.

"It's fine, Katherine," I interjected.

Lucian's condition had put everyone on edge. Emotions were at a high. I had heard from Damon that some wolves were even planning to challenge for the Alpha position. 

"No, Alice!  It's not ok, " Katherine replied, still staring at Savannah. 

"I am sorry, " Savannah said. I could see traces of tears in her eyes. 

"Savannah...." I started to say, but she turned away and left.

I collapsed on one of the hospital chairs, "I didn't want this to happen. I never wanted to hurt anyone...." I said, unable to stop my flood of tears.

"It's not your fault Alice, Savannah worships Alpha Lucian," Katherine said.

"The whole pack adores him," I replied.

"No, you are not getting it. Savannah adores him to the point of obsession. She is devoted to him. But she cannot blame you for his injury." Katherine implied.

I could feel there was more to it, but this was the worst time to get jealous of other females when my mate was fighting for his life.

"Let it go, Katherine. I just want Lucian to get well. We all need him." 

I was having a hard time managing my fears and apprehensions. Governing the pack was beyond my capability.

I spent nearly all the time in the infirmary, either sitting next to Lucian, talking to him, or holding his hand.  My wolf urged me to remain there.

About a week later, I was sitting next to Lucian, holding his hands and talking to him. It was a moonlit night. Its silvery glow cast its shadow on his bruised body.

I was walking through a meadow, then reached a riverbank. It was the same place where Lucian and I usually talked or made love.

A huge black wolf with a white stripe on his stomach was sleeping under the tree. A gentle breeze ruffled his silky coat. In my wolf form, I padded up to him and licked his muzzle. He moved but didn't seem to budge. I gently nudged him with my snout.

"Time to wake up, sleeping beauty, don't make me kiss you!" Lana said to the sleeping wolf.

He opened his brilliant green eyes and stared at me.

A slight squeeze on my hand woke me up from my slumber. I had fallen asleep near Lucian's bed, holding his hand. I looked at his handsome face with hope. Waiting for him to open his lovely eyes.

Another squeeze.

"Doctor!" I shouted as healers rushed into the ward.

"He moved. Is he getting well? "I asked the healer, hopefully.

"His vitals are improving. His wolf is connecting with his human side." The healers commented.

As the morning sun rose, Lucian opened his eyes.

"I'm awake," he whispered. "I was just waiting for the sleeping beauty wake-up kiss you promised," he croaked weakly, then smiled at me.