Chapter 130: After The Fight 2

Chapter 130: After The Fight 2

Clay’s POV

Keith exhaled slowly, his gaze distant. “I’m relieved to know that fate didn’t mess up, that it was meddling. For a while, I really believed fate had made a terrible mistake. I also thought seers didn’t wield magic,” he admitted.

“Me too,” I replied. “But apparently, this group of outcasts did. They were cast out because they dabbled in dark arts. It wasn’t natural magic; it was corruption. They learned how to use the spirits for more than just insight. They twisted it for their own purposes.”

Keith shook his head, his frustration evident. “I guess this is something we’ll need to look out for in the future.”

I gave him a faint smile. “I guess so,” I said, though the smile faded quickly. Keith sighed and patted my shoulder.

“Emerald and I will depart tomorrow,” he said reluctantly. “Please, keep me updated on Scarlett’s condition.”

“I will,” I promised, understanding how hard it was for him to leave. Keith and Scarlett had shared a history, brief as it was, and while he had moved on with Emerald, I knew a part of him would always care deeply for her. If he hadn’t found his second chance with Emerald, I doubted he would’ve ever fully moved past Scarlett. Even now, I wasn’t sure if he truly had, or if he’d simply learned to channel those feelings into friendship.

After Keith left, I turned back to Scarlett, my gaze lingering on her pale face. Her chest rose and fell steadily, but her stillness felt like a weight pressing down on me. I slid into bed beside her, wrapping my arms around her carefully. Holding her close, I allowed myself to drift into sleep, silently praying that she would wake soon.

When I woke, I thought I was dreaming. My name—soft, whispered—reached my ears, pulling me from the haze of sleep. I blinked and rubbed my eyes, certain I had imagined it. Then I heard it again.

“Clay…”

My heart raced as I turned to her. Scarlett’s eyes were open, rimmed with tears that trailed slowly down her cheeks. Her gaze was heavy with sorrow, her expression pained.

“Scarlett?” I managed to say, my voice trembling. She turned her head toward me, her tears glistening in the faint light.

“Clay,” she said again, her voice broken, as though the weight of the world was on her shoulders. Her tears spilled freely, and there was so much sadness in her eyes that it made my chest ache.

I wrapped my arms around her gently, pulling her close. “Scarlett, it’s okay. We won,” I whispered, my voice soothing. “Everyone’s alive. We won.”

She sobbed against me, her body trembling as she released the emotions she had clearly been holding in. She had endured so much, fought so hard, and now, it was finally over.

Through the bond, I linked Maxwell and Lucian, sharing the good news. Scarlett was awake.

Relief washed over me, but I held her tighter, as if afraid she might slip away again.

“How long was I out?” she asked, her voice hoarse and unsteady.

“Six days,” I replied softly, brushing her hair away from her damp cheeks.

“Six days,” Scarlett whispered softly, her voice laced with disbelief. She held me tighter, her fragile frame trembling slightly against mine. I didn’t ask her about her nightmare; I didn’t want to push her. I was simply grateful she was back with us.

The door opened, and Lucian entered, his expression a mix of relief and urgency. He crossed the room in a few long strides, pulling Scarlett into his arms without hesitation.

“I thought we had lost you,” he confessed, his voice raw with emotion. Scarlett wrapped her arms around him, leaning into his embrace, though I could tell she was still weak. Lucian held her tightly for a moment before breaking the hug to kiss her deeply. He always beat me to it, but I didn’t mind—not now.

Maxwell entered next, his presence commanding as always. I could tell he was coming from the cells; the faint scent of blood and steel clung to him. I had no doubt he’d been torturing David, taking out his anger and frustration on the man who had caused so much pain. We hadn’t killed David yet—we’d left that decision for Scarlett to make, and now, seeing her awake, I was glad we had.

Maxwell’s tough exterior crumbled the moment he saw Scarlett. He pulled her into his arms, his joy palpable as he buried his face in her hair. Scarlett hugged him back, her weariness clear but her affection stronger.

“You seem weak,” Lucian said, his tone tinged with concern. “Maybe we should make you some soup.”

I shook my head. “Let the doctor come and examine her first. He couldn’t figure out what was happening before because it was tied to magic, but now that she’s awake, he should be able to check her properly.”

“Alison, too,” Maxwell added, his voice firm. We all agreed.

I carried Scarlett to the bathroom, helping her clean up. She was too weak to manage on her own, and I didn’t mind taking care of her. Gently, I washed her body and hair, mindful of her fragility. Despite her exhaustion, she let me help her without protest.

When I finished, I wrapped her in a towel and dressed her in one of my T-shirts for comfort. It hung loosely on her, but the sight brought a faint smile to my lips. Once she was dressed, I carried her back to the bedroom.

By the time we returned, the doctor, Alison, and Elsa were waiting in the apartment. I helped Scarlett sit on the couch as the doctor got to work. He checked her vitals, took a few blood samples, and examined her thoroughly before leaving to run tests.

Then it was Alison’s turn. Her hands glowed faintly with magic as she examined Scarlett, her expression softening into a smile.

“The dark energy is gone,” Alison announced, her voice filled with relief. “She’s recovering now. It’ll take time, but she’s going to be okay.”

Lucian immediately barked an order for soup to be made, his protectiveness kicking in full force.

Keith and Emerald came by shortly after, their faces lighting up when they saw Scarlett awake and sitting up. They both hugged her gently, careful not to overwhelm her. Their joy was genuine, and it was clear how much Scarlett’s well-being meant to them.

“We’re so glad you’re okay,” Keith said, his voice filled with emotion. “We’ll head back home in the morning, but we’ll leave knowing you’re on the mend.”

We didn’t want Scarlett overwhelmed, so after Keith and Emerald left to pack for their trip back to their region, we kept visitors away. The pack was buzzing with news of Scarlett’s recovery, but we stopped anyone from coming to see her. Even Tasha and Timothy had tried to request an audience, but we banned them from the pack house. Their presence wasn’t welcome—not after everything they’d done.

I couldn’t help but feel annoyed that Tasha and Timothy had survived the battle. They were supposed to fall, according to Elsa’s initial prediction, and I couldn’t help but wonder what had caused the change in their fate. Perhaps Elsa would have answers eventually, but for now, I wouldn’t waste my energy on them.

As the day wound down, I sat beside Scarlett again, holding her hand as she rested. Despite the chaos, the uncertainty, and the challenges ahead, I felt a sense of peace. Scarlett was here with us, and we would do everything in our power to help her heal.