I stayed by Magnus's side, my hand never leaving his. Damien and Xavier, though relieved, still hovered close, exchanging looks.
Xavier was the first to break the silence. "You gave us a damn heart attack, Magnus. I thought I was going to have to explain to Andra how her mate went and got himself killed like a reckless idiot."
Magnus huffed weakly. "Someone had to stay behind and clean up the mess. Couldn't let you two always have all the fun."
Damien crossed his arms, though his face betrayed his attempt to stay serious. "Fun? You call nearly getting yourself killed 'fun'?"
Magnus's eyes twinkled as he gave a half-shrug. "It keeps life interesting."
I, still sitting close to him, let out a soft laugh, wiping away the last of my tears. The relief of hearing his voice, of seeing his familiar smirk, was overwhelming. But the weight of what I had done, of how close I had come to losing him, pressed down on me.
"I thought I lost you. I never should have run. This... this is my fault."
Magnus's smile softened. His fingers squeezed mine weakly. "I made my choice. We all did. You didn't cause any of this."
Xavier leaned against the wall, crossed his arms, and nodded in agreement. "Magnus is right. You didn't ask for those rogues, or whatever they were, to show up. And you definitely didn't ask for him to play."
Damien met my eyes. "What matters now is that you're safe, and so is Magnus. We all made mistakes, but it's done."
I nodded slowly. I glanced between the three of them. "What were those things?"
Xavier's face darkened slightly, and he exchanged a look with Damien. "That's what we've been trying to figure out. They weren't normal rogues. They didn't communicate the way we're used to."
Magnus, despite his injuries, nodded firmly. "I noticed it, too. There was something off about them. It wasn't random."
Damien's expression tightened. "We'll need to investigate further, but right now, our priority is getting you both back on your feet."
At that moment, Doctor Alexander appeared at the door, looking at them. His gaze settled on me first, and he gave me a small nod. Then, his expression grew more serious as he turned to Magnus.
"You're lucky to be alive. Those wounds were deep, and the blood loss was severe. But with time, you'll recover. It's going to be a long road, though."
I tensed beside Magnus. "He'll be okay, right?"
Alexander hesitated, and for a moment, the room felt colder. "There's still a chance... he might not make it."
Damien and Xavier discreetly smirked.
"No," I whispered, shaking my head. "He has to make it. He will make it."
Damien's hand found my shoulder. "He will," he said. "Magnus is a fighter. He's not going anywhere..."
***
I sat beside Magnus's bed, my hand gently resting on his, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath my fingertips. Magnus had fallen into a deep, much-needed sleep, and the steady rhythm of his breathing brought a piece of peace to the room.
Xavier sat across from me in a chair, his posture relaxed, though his eyes were distant. He had been watching over Magnus as well, offering silent support, but now that we were alone, I could sense there was more he wanted to say.
I shifted in my seat and glanced at Xavier. "I didn't realize... that it was now so rare for wolves to find their mates here," I began softly. "I thought the bond was something sacred, but also something every werewolf would experience."
Xavier let out a quiet sigh, running a hand through his dark hair. His gaze remained fixed on Magnus for a moment longer before he finally spoke. "It is sacred. But it's also... complicated. Yes, you're right. Not every wolf finds their mate. And some of us…" He paused, his jaw tightening for a second. "Some of us lose them before we ever really get the chance."
My brows furrowed as I turned my attention fully to him. "Lose them?"
Xavier nodded, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I had someone once. Her name was Lila. We found each other when we were young. Barely out of training. She was beautiful, fierce... but fragile. She had this chronic illness, something the doctors couldn't fully understand or heal. It ate away at her slowly."
My heart clenched at the ache in his voice, and I leaned forward slightly. "What happened to her?"
Xavier's gaze dropped to the floor as if the memories were too painful to relive. "I tried everything. Took her to every healer, every doctor. I was willing to do anything to save her. But... nothing worked. She got weaker with every passing day. And then, one morning, she was gone."
The silence that followed was unbearable. My eyes softened as I watched Xavier's blank expression.
"I'm so sorry," I whispered, feeling the hole in my chest. "I can't imagine how hard that must've been for you."
Xavier shrugged, but it was the kind of shrug that concealed deeper emotions. "It broke me for a long time. I didn't know how to live without her. There was this... emptiness. Like half of my soul had been ripped away."
He paused, his eyes briefly glancing toward Magnus's sleeping form. "It made me afraid to open up again. Afraid to get close to anyone, really. I mean, what if it happened again? What if I found someone, only to lose her too?"
I stayed silent for a moment, absorbing his words. "Is that why... you've kept your distance from others?"
Xavier nodded slowly. "I think so. That's part of it. A lot of us don't find our mates, and when we do... there's no guarantee it'll last. Some wolves go their whole lives without ever feeling that bond, and others, like me... well, we learn to live without it."
He smiled faintly, though there was no joy behind it. "And now, seeing Magnus with you, knowing that bond he has... it's hard not to think about Lila. About what could've been."
My chest tightened. I hadn't fully understood the depth of Xavier's pain until now, or the loss that still haunted him.
"But you're still here. You haven't given up."
"I guess I haven't. Maybe a part of me is still waiting for something, or someone, worth the risk." He let out a small chuckle. "Well, lucky me. I've already found her." He looked at me and smirked.
My heart swelled, and I could not bear to look back at him. I would cry.
"You deserve to find happiness, Xavier. Whether it's through the Moon Goddess' will or not. Lila wouldn't want you to shut yourself off forever."
Xavier looked away and pouted. "Maybe you're right. Maybe it's time I stop running from it."
I smiled softly. "I think she'd be proud of you. For everything."
Xavier nodded, the corners of his mouth lifting just slightly. "Thanks, Andra. That means a lot."
The room fell into a peaceful quiet once again, but this time, there was an understanding between us. And that, perhaps, was enough for us to keep moving forward.