Chapter 44

HAYLEY

I rap on the door three times, but as expected, there’s no answer.

“Rose, please open up,” I call out, loud enough for her to hear. I’ve brought a tray of breakfast for her, but I fear it’ll just join the growing collection of untouched trays outside her door.

I guess it’s the shattered matebond that’s got her down. I can’t blame her for mourning her mate’s death, even if he was a vile excuse for a man.

I just hope Rose doesn’t hold a grudge against Axton for killing Luke. Axton was only doing what he thought was right. If she needs someone to blame, it should be me.

“Please, Rose. I brought food,” I try again, hoping to coax her out. But still, there’s no response. “If you don’t open up, I’ll break the door down,” I bluff.

I’d never invade her privacy like that, but she doesn’t know that. After another round of silence, I give up and start to walk away. But then, I hear the door creak open behind me. I whirl around to see Rose standing there.

Her eyes are red and puffy, her cheeks hollow. She looks shattered. I reach out to her, but she retreats back into her room, hugging herself tightly. She leaves the door open, so I follow her in.

I set the food tray on her bedside table, close the bedroom door, and turn to face her. She’s turned her back to me, but it’s clear she’s lost weight—a lot of it.

She starts pacing, and I notice the sunlight catching on her face. She’s crying.

“Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why…”

“Why what, Rose?” I ask gently.

“Why was I mated with him?” She whirls around to face me, her voice rising. “Out of all the werewolves in the world, why did the Moon Goddess pair me with him?” She’s shouting now, tears streaming down her face.

“Did she think I was as messed up as he was? That I’d be a good match for him? Well, she was wrong, Moon Goddess. He’s the sick one, not me!”

Rose yells at the ceiling, pointing at herself.

I give her a moment before I speak. “You were the only one brave enough to stand up to him. You tricked him into saving me.

“You were strong enough to defy your mate, the man who tormented me for years. I could never have done what you did.

“The Moon Goddess paired you with him because she knew you could stand up to him, stand up for what’s right.

“You didn’t give in to the matebond. You went against all your instincts because you knew what was right. That’s why she chose you, Rose.”

I slowly approach her. She’s standing still now, arms at her sides, vulnerable.

“Your first mate might have been a disaster, but think about what the future holds.

“You’ll have the most wonderful, loving, caring mate, because that’s what you deserve. Do you understand me?” I say, letting a hint of my luna tone creep in.

I know good things are coming her way because she’s a good person. She just needs time. Rose collapses into my arms, sobbing until she’s spent.

***

Rose said she was getting tired, so I left her to rest. But not before making her promise to eat something. I know how bad it can get when you don’t get the right nutrients.

I’m on my way to the hospital to check on Lily when I see Jax heading my way. Before I can even greet him with a kiss, he looks at me with wide eyes and says, “Lily’s awake.”

As soon as the words are out of his mouth, I’m sprinting toward the hospital, Jax right beside me.

For the past week and a half, Lily’s condition hadn’t changed. She hadn’t gotten better, but she hadn’t gotten worse either. She was just stuck, numb.

My heart races at the thought of hearing Lily’s voice again, or just seeing her move. Anything to prove that she’s alive and this isn’t just some hopeful dream.

I burst through the hospital doors and head straight for Lily’s room. The once-drab hallways now seem bright and vibrant.

When I reach her room, I don’t hesitate. I barge in to find Lily lying in bed, sipping a drink. Her cheeks are flushed with life. I stumble over to her, stunned—this isn’t the same girl I saw a few days ago.

That girl was on death’s door, but this girl, you’d never know she’d been nearly torn apart.

“Hayley!” Lily cries. She tries to get out of bed to hug me, but I go to her so she doesn’t have to exert herself.

“Ho-how?” I stammer, pulling back to look at her face. Jax rubs my back in soothing circles.

“My wolf, she healed me… But she couldn’t heal everything,” Lily says, gesturing to her missing arm.

“That doesn’t define you, Lily. What matters is what’s in here,” I say, touching her chest where her heart is.

Lily climbs onto my lap, still hooked up to her IV. Her tears soak my shirt as my own tears slide down my face. I can’t understand how she healed so quickly.

Of course, I’m grateful, but what changed?

I give Jax a questioning look, silently asking for answers.

~“Tom gave Lily an injection to stimulate her wolf’s healing abilities. She doesn’t know about it. Tom was hesitant to use it because there’s not much research on it, but it was worth a shot since Lily wasn’t improving.”~

~“Apparently, the ingredients in the injection are hard to come by.”~

Whatever it was, it saved Lily’s life, and for that, I couldn’t be happier.

Jax and I tuck ourselves into Lily’s bed, cuddling close to her as we tune into ~Cbeebies~. We stay huddled together like this for a couple of hours until Lily suddenly sits up. She whirls around to face us, her eyes sparkling with a wide grin.

I’m on the verge of asking her what’s got her so happy, but she beats me to the punch.

“Will you be my new mommy and daddy?”

^End of Book One^