Chapter 7 Coming back
Dust
I'm floating in a void, a haze of warmth and darkness surrounding me, but there's something pulling at the edges of my consciousness. A voice. Familiar yet distant. I struggle to grasp it, to hold onto it, but it slips through my fingers like water.
“Stay with me, Dust.”
I want to respond, to tell him I’m here, that I’m fighting, but my body feels heavy, anchored to the bed beneath me. I can’t open my eyes. I can’t even feel my limbs. I’m trapped in this strange limbo, suspended between life and whatever comes next.
The voice continues, soft and urgent, and it makes my heart ache. “You’re safe now. We’re home, your new home.”
Home. The word resonates deep within me, a beacon of hope in the darkness. But then, another voice breaks through, sharp and mocking, slicing through the fragile cocoon of safety I’ve wrapped myself in.
I think I might be asleep, or fully unconscious for a while, because when I register something again it is new voices.
“I can’t believe the Alpha would choose such a dirty little wolfless omega as his Luna,” a woman sneers. Her disdain drips like venom, and I can almost picture her: a sharp-edged silhouette filled with bitterness.
“Maybe you are a bit jealous,” a man suggests, his tone light, but I can sense the undercurrent of malice. “You know how Alphas are. They’ll take anything that breathes if it suits them.”
“Jealous? Of her?” The woman laughs, a cruel sound that echoes in my mind. “Please. If I were him, I’d reject her the moment I was done using her. That’s what she is… a plaything.”
Their laughter intertwines, a twisted melody that makes my skin crawl. I want to scream, to tell them to shut up, to leave me alone. But I’m still trapped in this cocoon, unable to move, unable to speak.
The voices fade, replaced by the sound of soft footsteps approaching. The door creaks open, and I feel a rush of energy, a magnetic pull that draws me closer to the surface.
“Is there any news?” a deep voice asks, filled with concern.
“None my Alpha,” the man replies, sounding almost bored. “Just let her lie there. She’s done for.”
I want to scream, to tell them that I’m not done, that I’m still here. But I’m still trapped, my body refusing to cooperate.
“Let’s go,” the woman says, her voice cold as ice. “I have better things to do than hang out here.”
I hear the door close behind them, and the room falls into silence. The atmosphere shifts, a warmth wrapping around me like a gentle hug. I can feel his presence, a steady force that anchors me.
“Dust,” he says, his voice low and soothing, and I can almost picture him sitting by my side. “Please come back to me. I can’t imagine my life without you. I need you.”
A pang of desperation wells up within me, a fierce urge to reach out to him. I struggle, my body responding just a fraction, and I can feel the warmth of his hand brushing against mine.
“I’m right here,” he continues, the sound of his voice igniting a flicker of strength within me. “You’re safe. I promise.”
The words wrap around me like a lifeline, pulling me closer to the surface. I focus on him, on the sound of his voice. I want to break free from this darkness, to let him know I’m fighting my way back.
“Please, Dust,” he whispers, and I can hear the weight of his emotion. “You have to fight. We have so much left to do together.”
I concentrate, pushing against the heaviness, willing my eyelids to flutter, to open. It feels like an eternity, but in the depths of my mind, I can see flashes of what Could be: laughter, the warmth of his body next to mine, the way he will look at me as if I were the only person in the world.
Finally, the darkness begins to lift. I feel the warmth of the room, the faint scent of pine and something uniquely him. I’m here. I’m alive.
I focus all my energy on my eyelids, willing them to obey. I can feel them trembling, and a rush of hope surges through me. I want to see him, to reassure him that I’m still here, that I’m still fighting.
“Dust?” His voice cracks, filled with raw emotion, and I want to tell him I’m here. I want to break free of this cocoon and leap into his arms.
With one final surge of determination, I manage to crack my eyes open just a sliver. Light floods in, blinding me momentarily, but I can make out the silhouette of River leaning over me, concern etched into every line of his face.
“Dust,” he breathes, a mix of relief and joy flooding his voice. “You’re awake.”
I try to nod, but my body feels like lead. Instead, I muster the strength to squeeze his hand, and a soft gasp escapes his lips.
“There you are,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. “I knew you’d fight.”
A surge of warmth fills my chest, pushing away the shadows that had threatened to consume me. I’m not done yet. I’m here.
“I’m here,” I manage to whisper, and even the sound of my own voice feels like a victory.
River’s eyes glisten with unshed tears, but his smile is radiant, lighting up the room. “You’re safe now. You’re home.”
And as I look into his eyes, I know that whatever darkness lies ahead, we’ll face it together, they might think he will reject me, but I do not believe it. I won’t let them take me from him. I won’t let them take my future away.
I’m ready to fight. Ready to reclaim my life, my place by his side. They may have underestimated me, but they don’t know what I’m capable of, I am not even sure I really know.