Andrew was preparing to leave for the hospital. It had been three days since Lucas had left Emma's side. Andrew was determined to convince Lucas to take a much-needed break for a few hours so he could rest. As he pondered how to approach the situation, he heard a voice calling out, "Drew." Turning, he saw Sasha approaching him.
Sasha had been on vacation for a few days and was unaware of recent events in the pack. As soon as she heard about what had transpired, she headed straight for Lucas. Not finding him, she sought out Andrew instead. "What is going on, Andrew? Lucas really found his mate? She's in the hospital? Why didn't anyone inform me?" Her emotions were a mix of frustration, anger, happiness, and sadness.
"Sasha!" Andrew began, unsure of how to address her inquiries. He quickly added, "I'm on my way to the hospital. Come with me, and I'll fill you in on the way." He watched as some of Sasha's anger seemed to dissipate.
"Alright," she replied, her tone softening. "Let me go change. I'll meet you outside in ten minutes." With that, she turned and headed off, her anger evidently mellowed.
As they walked, Sasha absorbed the information, her expression a mix of disbelief and concern. "Lucas rejected his mate?" she finally asked, her voice tinged with incredulity.
Andrew nodded solemnly. "Yes, because she is human," he confirmed.
"But that doesn't change the fact that she is his mate. He won't get another chance," Sasha asserted, her frustration evident.
Throughout their conversation, Andrew couldn't help but study Sasha's face. As she spoke of mates, he felt an odd twist in his stomach. It was a feeling he couldn't quite comprehend. When she mentioned the word "mate," a knot seemed to form in his stomach. He quickly averted his gaze, feeling a sense of shame wash over him. After all, he was still waiting for his own mate, and the emotions he had for Sasha were something he hadn't anticipated having to confront when he did finally find her.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Andrew couldn't shake the feeling of countless eyes on them. Ignoring the curious glances, he and Sasha made their way to Emma's room. Lucas seemed so lost in his thoughts that he didn't register their approach, a state of distraction unusual for someone as alert as him.
Sasha gazed at Emma for the first time, and an instant wave of sadness washed over her. It was as if a lifeless form lay before her, and she felt her eyes welling up with tears. Then, her gaze shifted to Lucas, her expression now one of simmering anger. "Luke," she called out. When he didn't respond, she tried again, this time with more force. Lucas finally looked up, his eyes bearing the weariness of sleepless nights, dark circles etched beneath them. It was evident he hadn't slept in days. All of Sasha's anger dissipated, replaced by a deep concern. "What have you done, Luke?"
Emma found herself in a serene garden, adorned in a beautiful white dress. A sense of calm and tranquility enveloped her, as if all her troubles had faded away. She gazed at the picturesque surroundings, reveling in the moment.
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out her name. Her ears perked up, and her smile broadened. It was her mother's voice. "Mom!" Emma exclaimed, tears of joy streaming down her face. Soon, she saw her father approaching alongside her mother. Overwhelmed with emotion, Emma could hardly believe her eyes, her vision blurred by tears.
"Yes, dear. We're here," her mother confirmed, embracing Emma tightly. "You're alive? Or am I dreaming?" Emma asked, her confusion evident. "No, dear. This is no dream," her mother assured her.
"We're not alive either," her dad added gently. Emma's hope waned. "Then am I dead too, Dad?" she inquired, a hint of confusion in her voice. "You're in between, my princess," her dad explained. "It's up to you whether you want to go back or not. That's why your mom and I are here, to help you make that decision," he said, tenderly caressing Emma's hair.
Emma's smile widened, and she declared, "It's simple. I don't want to go back. I want to stay here with you and Dad." The joy on her parents' faces faded, replaced by concern. "No, Emma. You can't stay," her dad gently insisted.
"But why, Dad? I have no one there," Emma replied, her gaze falling.
"Dear, there is someone who will love you even more than we do, and he's waiting for you to wake up," her mom explained.
"Who, Mom?" Emma inquired, now intrigued.
"You'll find out," her mom replied, a smile gracing her face. "But, Mom..."
Emma's words were interrupted by her dad. "Listen, kiddo. Your mom and I don't have much time. Trust us, it's not your time yet. You must go." Emma, reluctant to part from her parents, looked at them with tear-filled eyes.
"Don't cry, kiddo. Your mom and I will always be in your heart," her dad reassured her, placing Emma's hand over her heart. "We love you," they both said in unison, tears glistening in their eyes, before fading away.
Now, it was time for Emma to make her decision. Suddenly, she heard a voice calling to her. "Emma, please wake up. You can't leave me." She felt a pull towards that voice, unable to resist.
Suddenly, she felt her eyes flutter open, finding herself in a hospital room, surrounded by the harsh glare of fluorescent lights. Tubes and wires were attached to her, and the air was filled with the sounds of urgent voices, mingled with cries of distress.
"Where am I?" She managed to whisper, her voice feeble. In an instant, the room fell into a hushed silence, every gaze fixing on her with a mix of astonishment and relief.
Then, as if in a flash, a familiar figure rushed to her side, enveloping her in a tight embrace. "Thank goodness, Emma, you're alive," he choked out, tears streaming down his face.
A surge of panic shot through her. "Please, don't hurt me," she pleaded, fear gripping her as she tried to gently extricate herself from his arms.
Lucas sat beside Emma in the hospital room, his expression a mixture of exhaustion and desperation. He hadn't changed his clothes in days, and the weight of sleeplessness was evident in his hollow, once-gleaming eyes. His gaze remained fixed on Emma, silently urging her to wake.
Abruptly, a familiar voice pierced the tense atmosphere, calling him by his nickname, "Drew." He looked up to find his sister, Sasha, accompanied by Andrew. Lucas understood Andrew's intention in bringing her - an attempt to persuade him to return home. However, leaving was out of the question. What if Emma awoke while he was absent?
Resigned, Andrew offered to fetch coffee. Lucas met the offer with silence. Once they had departed, he was left alone with Emma. Gently, he clasped her hand, entreating in a hushed voice, "Please, Emma, wake up."
Then, a sudden beep emanated from the machine monitoring Emma. Lucas's reaction was immediate - a low growl of frustration. The doctor hurried into the room, trailed by Andrew and Sasha.
"What's transpiring, Doctor?" Lucas inquired, his anger barely contained.
The doctor, visibly trembling, responded, "We're losing Luna, Alpha." Lucas lunged towards the doctor, but Andrew swiftly interceded, urging him to regain composure. The doctor hastened to Emma's side, assessing her heartbeat. It had ceased, the monitor displaying a flat line, signaling Emma's passing.
He bowed his head and expressed, "I'm deeply sorry, Alpha. We couldn't save Luna." At that very instant, Lucas crumbled. Tears flowed unchecked. "No, Emma. You can't leave me." His mournful cry reverberated throughout the territory.
"Please, Emma, wake up," Andrew and Sasha implored, sharing in the profound loss of their Luna.
Then, a faint voice broke the silence, "Where am I?" Every head turned towards the source. In an instant, Lucas was at Emma's side. He enfolded her fragile form in a tight embrace, as if afraid to let go, fearing he might lose her once more.
With visible relief and boundless joy, he exclaimed, "You're alive."
"Please, don't hurt me," came a small, trembling voice. Lucas felt as though his entire world had crumbled. His mate was frightened of him.
Unable to bear it any longer, he shot up from his seat, all expression drained from his face. He turned to Andrew and Sasha, uttering, "Take care of her." Without another word, he vanished. Now in his beast form, he sprinted deep into the forest, running for hours on end.
Exhausted from the transformation back into human form, he sought solace by the tranquil river. Lost in his thoughts, he initiated a rare dialogue with his inner wolf, Jade. It had been years since they had exchanged meaningful words.
"What's my path now?" he pondered, his voice laced with uncertainty. "Could my actions have led to her current state?" The words lingered, carried away by the soft rustle of leaves and the gentle flow of the river.
"You aren't at fault," his wolf reassured. "While your choices may not have been right, given what you've endured, others might have walked the same path."
Feeling a mix of relief and regret for not seeking his wolf's wisdom earlier, he wondered aloud, "Where do I go from here?"
"Establish her trust," his wolf advised, its voice tinged with concern. "There's a deeper story, something she's weathered. You must be patient and understanding, Lucas."