My eyelids fluttered open, my head throbbing as the room around me slowly came into focus. The sharp pain behind my eyes made me wince, and I groaned softly, reaching a trembling hand up to rub my forehead.
As I blinked, the blur began to clear, revealing the two forms lying beside me. Damien and Xavier. Their bodies were elegantly sprawled across the bed. They looked different, though. Not in appearance but in the aura around them, something more tense, something broken.
My throat was dry as I whispered, "What... happened?"
Both Damien and Xavier stirred at the sound of my voice, their eyes snapping open in an instant. Relief flooded their faces, and for a brief moment, they shared a glance, as though silently communicating before turning back to me.
"Andra," Damien murmured as he leaned closer, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "You're awake."
"You scared the hell out of us," Xavier added, and his attempt to smile was weak.
My heart tightened. "Why do you both look like that? What happened to me?"
Damien sighed deeply, exchanging a look with Xavier before speaking. "You... you tried to escape. You were caught by the rogues. You were shifting, but something went wrong. We barely got to you in time."
"You almost died," Xavier added bluntly. "If we hadn't found you when we did—"
"Why are only the two of you here?" I cut in. Something was missing. Something was terribly wrong. My instincts screamed at me that not everything had been said.
Damien and Xavier both froze at my question, their faces suddenly void of any emotion, as though a wall had slammed down between them. Neither of them spoke, and that silence only deepened the sinking feeling in my chest.
Just then, the door to the room opened, and Doctor Alexander stepped in. He offered a soft smile upon seeing me awake.
"Good to see you up, Luna," Alexander said, crossing the room to check my pulse and vitals. "How are you feeling?"
I swallowed hard. "Dizzy. My head... hurts."
"That's to be expected," Alexander nodded, his hands gentle as he examined me. "Your body went through quite a bit. The transformation began, but it didn't complete. Since you're not a full-blooded wolf, your human body couldn't fully shift."
My brow furrowed. "What do you mean? I thought... I thought I was supposed to become like you. Like them."
Alexander's expression softened as he spoke. "You were always going to be different, Andra. You're human after all. The transformation would never have been the same. Your body tried to adapt, but without a true inner beast, without the full wolf, it couldn't."
"So... what now?" I asked.
"You're healed," Alexander assured me. "Physically, you're fine. But the transformation... it's delayed. Incomplete. You may not feel the full connection to a wolf form yet, and that's okay. You'll be alright."
But I didn't feel strong. I didn't feel alright. A cold chill crept down my spine, and the more I tried to understand what had happened, the more the weight of it pressed on my chest. I stared up at the ceiling.
"I didn't want this." My voice cracked. "I don't want any of this. I just... I just wanted to go home. I'd rather die than—"
"Don't say that," Damien's voice cut through my words sharply, a pained look flashing across his face.
"Don't you dare say that," Xavier echoed. "You have no idea what we went through to get you back. What Magnus—"
I froze at the mention of Magnus's name, my heart sinking further into the pit of my stomach. "What... what about Magnus?" I asked. The fear in my eyes was evident.
The room fell into an eerie silence, and neither Damien nor Xavier was able to meet my gaze. The air thickened, and it felt like the walls were closing in around me. I tried to feel for Magnus, to sense him like I could, but... there was barely anything there. Just the faintest, weakest thread of a connection.
"Where is he?" My voice rose. "Where's Magnus?"
There was no answer. And in that silence, I felt my world begin to crumble.
My heart raced, desperation surging through my veins as I scrambled to my feet. My body moved before my mind could catch up. I didn't care about the dizziness, the lingering pain, or the questions swirling in my head. All I knew was that I had to find Magnus. I had to see him, touch him, know that he was alive.
Damien and Xavier, standing nearby, made no move to stop me. They exchanged a glance but knew better than to hold me back. This was a moment I needed, and they silently followed as I bolted from the room.
My vision blurred with unshed tears as I ran, my bare feet slapping against the cold floors. I searched for any sign of him, any trace of his presence. The faint bond between them was barely there, but it was enough to guide me, pulling me toward a room down the hall.
My breath came in ragged gasps as I pushed open the door. There, on a bed, lay Magnus, motionless. His skin was pale, and bandages were heavily covering his chest and arms. His vibrant energy was now a mere whisper, and the sight of him like this made my heart shatter.
"No," I whispered as I slowly stepped inside. "No, no, no…"
Tears warmed my cheeks as I rushed to his side, collapsing onto the bed next to him. I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him tightly, my face pressed against his chest. His heartbeat was faint, but it was there.
"I'm so sorry," I choked out, sobbing against him. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I was stupid. Reckless. Please wake up, Magnus."
My fingers trembled as I clutched at his shirt. "I swear, if you live, I'll do whatever you want. I'll never disobey you again. I'll follow every order. I won't run. Just... just come back to me."
There was no response, only the faint rise and fall of his chest. My heart clenched as I continued.
"I'll let you and Damien and Xavier... I'll let you mate me. I'll be yours. Just… just wake up, Magnus. Please..."
For a moment, there was only silence. The room was still.
And then, like a spark in the darkness, there was a soft, hoarse chuckle.
"You'd really do all that, huh?"
My head snapped up, my tear-filled eyes widening as I stared at him. Magnus's lips twitched into a crooked smile, his eyes barely open. "Little Wolf…"
My heart soared as I threw my arms around him again. "Magnus!"
Damien and Xavier, who had been standing in the doorway, let out breaths they hadn't realized they were holding. Both of them stepped forward, grins spreading across their faces as the tension in the room broke.
"You scared the hell out of us, you idiot," Xavier muttered as he approached the bed.
Damien knelt beside me, his hand resting gently on my back. "You're going to be fine, Magnus."
Magnus managed another chuckle. "Don't think I didn't hear that bit about letting us mate you, Little Wolf. You're not getting out of that one."
I, tears still streaming down my cheeks, let out a shaky laugh. "I meant it. Just... don't leave us, Magnus."
Magnus's hand weakly reached up to cup my cheek. His eyes softened as he whispered, "Never."