Chapter 64

Lila’s POV “Elysium?!” I gasped, standing to my feet. “Those in Elysium did that to you?”

That explained why she didn’t want to step foot in Elysium again, even for my birthday. My heart ached so much hearing this and I couldn’t even contain my emotions.

I paced the room, trying to calm myself down. If I lost control of my emotions, I would soon lose control of my powers and I couldn’t have that happen here.

“I didn’t tell anybody,” she told me. “I just waited it out until I was able to be released. Ryan was the one and only person I wanted to see. Once I got out and lived with him again, I finished getting my high school diploma, graduating with honors. I was able to get into the shifting academy with Ryan and then I met you.”

“So, Ryan’s been there through it all,” I breathed.

She nodded.

“Yeah... he never let me forget how much he loved me...”

My heart squeezed in my chest. That was the kind of love I aspired to have, and I wasn’t sure I was ever going to get that from Enzo.

“Give our mate some time,” Val chirped. “He will come around, just like Rachel did! Didn’t you hear her story? She was against having a mate too and then Ryan convinced her that it might be worth it. They don’t even know if they are one another’s mates! They are going off their feelings and believing in fate.

That’s exactly what you need to do as well.”

“It’s easier said than done... especially when my mate won’t give me the time of day.”

“You both said cruel things to one another. Just give it some time and then talk to him. He’s not going to hurt us. He can’t hurt us. Can’t you tell when he refuses to reject us? He’s our mate... he isn’t able.”

I wanted to believe her and maybe a part of me did.

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“I’m going to leave this hospital until I know for certain that Ryan will be leaving it too,” she finally concluded, staring over at me. “I just can’t leave...”

I nodded, completely understanding.

“Then, I’ll stay too,” I assured her, reaching for her hand. “I’ll stay by your side.”

...

Enzo’s POV It’s been a while since Lila went into the room to see Rachel. They must have been talking about something important.

I couldn’t seem to get her question out of my mind.

“Did you mean what you said about being ashamed to have me as a mate?”

That question haunted me because of course, I didn’t mean it. But I needed to say something to push her away. Having me as a mate was only going to put her in danger. I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to her.

But how was I going to answer her question?

Thank Goddess the nurse interrupted us before I had to say anything. But I’m sure it’ll come up again at some point.

I shuddered at the very thought.

“Alpha, you don’t need to stay,” one of the doctors said, approaching. “I know you are very busy. If anything happens, we will call you.”

I frowned; I didn’t want to leave without Lila.

“What about Lila?” I asked, keeping my eyes locked on his. “Shouldn’t she be leaving too? Visiting hours are almost over.”

“She actually asked us to bring an overnight cot and some extra pillows,” the doctor answered. “I think she’s planning on staying the night.”

Was she not going to say anything about it to me?

The thought infuriated me, but I wasn’t going to let it be shown on my face.

“Then, I’ll be leaving. But call if anything happens,” I ordered.

He nodded his head as I stood to my feet. Glancing at the door that Lila disappeared through, I waited a moment. A part of me thought she would come through that door, but after a long pause, I realized it was hopeless waiting.

I sighed and left the hospital.

...

I was dreading returning home. I knew Bethany was still there and the thought of seeing her at my packhouse left me feeling unsettled.

She’s been getting on my nerves a lot lately and I really didn’t want to deal with her. But I got a memo from the school board that they were shutting the school down for the week because of everything that has happened, and I didn’t have much of a choice but to return home to my pack.

I was their alpha after all.

Once I got there, I went straight to the kitchen. It was my only attempt to avoid Bethany and anyone else I didn’t feel like seeing right now.

I could use the advice of Dee right about now anyways.

She was always like a mother to me when my own mother couldn’t be around. Not that I blamed my mother... I blamed my father if anything.

“Enzo?” Dee said with a frown as I entered the kitchen. “I wasn’t expecting you home so soon. Why are you here?”

“There was an incident at the school; it got shut down for the week,” I told her as I sat at the counter.

She strolled over to me with wide and worried eyes.

“What kind of incident? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I answered. “There was a fire at a house and many students were at that house having a party they shouldn’t have been having.”

“Oh, my goddess!” Dee gasped. “Was anyone hurt?”

“A lot of students were injured, yes. The party host got the worst of it. He’s in critical condition at the hospital.”

“That poor boy...” Dee breathed, sitting down beside me. “That’s terrible. I’ll pray for him and hope that he makes a speedy recovery.”

She paused for a moment as she gazed over at me.

“And Lila?”

“What about her?” I asked a little too quickly.

Why would Dee be bringing Lila up all of a sudden?

“Was she there as well? Is she okay?” Dee asked.

“Yes, she was there. Mainly emotional damage. Not much physically,” I answered. I sounded a bit colder than I meant to, but I didn’t want to talk about Lila. At least, I don’t think I did.

“You wanted her advice for something... are you sure it wasn’t because you wanted her intake on Lila?”

Max asked with a glimmer of humor in his tone.

I didn’t appreciate the tone, so I ignored him.

“She’s a strong girl. I’m sure she was a rockstar in that fire. Probably wanted to save everybody she could,” Dee said with a faint smile. “That’s the kind of girl she is.”

“How exactly do you know what kind of girl she is?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

Dee shrugged.

“I’ve grown fond of her. We talk periodically. I get a good vibe from her, Enzo. You don’t feel that vibe too? You must consider you keep bringing her around.”

“I don’t keep bringing her around... she just keeps showing up,” I argued in return.

I’m not sure why I was being so stubborn about this. I wanted the subject to change.

“And you keep letting her,” Dee said with another shrug. “I’m just telling you what I’m seeing...”

She paused for a moment, and I could tell there was something more she wanted to say.

“We had a conversation the other day that she didn’t particularly like though...I worry that it’ll keep her from coming back.”

I stared over at Dee with an almost alarmed expression.

“What kind of conversation?”

“We were talking about Bethany...” Dee began, meeting my eyes. “I told her that Bethany might really be your mate...”

Bethany might be my what?!