Chapter 92

Alyson

When I wake, I feel more faint than ever, but at least I can tell I am safe this time, hearing Ryan's voice not far from me. my hand twitches, a tube knocking against my wrist where I feel a sore spot radiate from a needle that penetrates my veins. The pressure in my hand makes it feel swollen, like my head that radiates with a sharp, pounding pain.

"Why do you taunt me?" Ryan gusts, his berating tone obviously not directed to me. "You're aware that I can't kill you at the behest of my mates wishes and you toy with that power. If you want my help, why bother pissing me off?"

"I don't want your help," Olivera snarls back violently. "She persisted I tell you the truth, and I have. Like you, I wouldn't want to kill off her mate and wound her as I have been. Although, I would gladly console her for the rest of her days at your dying spite."

"Stop it you two," I groan, my eyes creasing open and my mind aching.

Ryan comes to my side, his hand brushing against my cold cheek, his eyes wide as he tries to take in the sight of me, looking for wounds that have or haven't healed by now. His overwhelming concern makes my heart pitter faster.

"I feel fine," I say, a blatant lie.

"I'm sorry about what happened, darling. I would never hurt you; you know that."

I nod, catching a look across the room. Olivera squints slightly, his pained irises turning pink, ready to flash red, and I hate to see him so angry. But there's something else in his eyes. Something somber. I try to sit up, hindered by the IV stuck in my wrist, my forearm wrapped in thick and heavy gauze. I collapse, and Olivera flinches in his seat.

Ryan gives me a pained expression. "Just rest, please."

"I want to help him," I admit, mumbling under my breath. "The elders, I don't know if they've done what he accuses, but we can't allow it to continue if it's true, Ryan. I don't want anyone to be hurt like—" I tense, my muscles reflexing like my wolf dares to test her strength from within. I gasp alive, relaxed at last, "—like Jacob had hurt me…"

Ryan pulls his fingers through my scalp, trying to ease my stress, his smile subtle but worried. I hate seeing him worried over me. "I won't let that happen to anyone else, Alyson. You know that. But this guy—I can't work with him, darling. He's an asshole and he kissed my mate. I should kill him for such atrocity."

I look aside, my face blushing hot.

"But for you, I'd move the moon, baby." Ryan kisses my pressing temple and cracks a rather forced grin. "If you think this is what we should do, then we will address it. Let's see about getting to the palace and talking to the elders."

I look to Olivera, on edge where he sits.

"What about him? Will he come with?"

Ryan holds back from rolling his eyes; he isn't successful. "I don't want to start a war in our home. It wouldn't be wise to bring him around. He is a rogue, after all, and an opposing Alpha who just kidnapped the Luna of Crowalt. We can't say for sure how anyone would react to his attendance."

Olivera stands abruptly, wearing a borrowed set of shirt and pants that hardly fit his daunting physic. "You know what? I don't need your help, blood pet. I think this attempt was a fraud, anyways. Your mate here is as ignorant as you have been."

He turns to leave, something paining my heart when I hear his accusation. I feel my cheeks dampen in sadness, in a wounding statement, and I push myself to stand but fall instead, weak and leaning on Ryan who tries to settle me back on the couch but I refuse.

"No!" I bark, trembling on the floor, forced to my weary knees. Olivera groans, his hand falling off the door knob on his way out and instead looking over his broad shoulder, meeting my wounded eyes. "I know what it feels like, dammit, and I will not allow you to pass me off as one of them! I was a prisoner of the Alpha, of my mate, and I hated him! But I still lost him! I was still betrayed and it was worse than death!

"I couldn't have him and he was always around! He chose my sister; she lived the life I should have had with MY MATE! I don't want to hear about another wolf losing their mate to being used as some sort of lab-rat! That was what I went through and I can't ignore it if you are saying it's going on!"

I pant, trying to catch my breath, my lungs ragged and licked with bloody iron. I lean into Ryan's chest, feeling his pulse against my shoulder, his heart wounded with my words as well. I break down at last, seeing my tears hit the carpet as the rain hits the rocks outside.

My wolf is distant still, but I feel her limp with my agony, with my heartache, even if I thought I was getting over what happened to me, it still feels like a fresh cut.

"Relax, Luna," Olivera hums, standing over me. I look aside, seeing the door shut and locked. "I'll stay, only at your request. If you think you can help then I welcome you to try."

I wipe my cheeks dry, trembling on the floor. Olivera kneels and Ryan tenses.

"I know I said I was over everything that happened," I weep, leaning into Ryan for support; he doesn't disappoint. He holds me upright and kisses my warm forehead. "I am still angry, Ryan. I'm fucking angry and I can't let this happen to anyone else."

He brushes my hair back, staring deep into my eyes with that loving, generous look that can only belong to my mate. "I know, Alyson. I understand. We will make this right. How about you and I go to the palace and talk to Fritz? See if we can dig anything up."

"Well, what good would that do if he sees Alyson is back?" Olivera says, tipping me a pointed look. "That's the edge he needs to talk. Otherwise he has what motive to speak?"

Ryan locks his jaw, his grasp around me tightening. "I'm not leaving you both here together. Not while she's in this state."

"It's fine," I breathe, trying to stand, to prove my strength, but I fail each time, the fluid dripping through my wrist slowly hydrating me but not fast enough. "The healer is here, right? We won't be alone together, Ryan."

"He's out picking herbs in the pack nearby to help drain the toxins in your blood," Ryan growls toward Olivera. "He won't be back until tomorrow night, at the soonest."

"Come on, lover boy, trust me—she will be just fine with me," the rogue Alpha snickers, mocking my mate. I roll my eyes, shoving his arm slightly, though not enough to push him over by any means, he understands the intent, nonetheless. He settles at last, trying to appear less threatening now and sporting a familiar, friendly face. "She's in good hands."

"You touch her, you're dead, no exceptions this time," Ryan snarls.

When he turns to me, I force a safe grin, trying to ease his stress. He presses his lips against my own, lasting a kiss I don't want to end. I picture us alone, warm in a bubble bath with hot water steaming off our skin. I can't wait to have my alone time with my mate but for now, I watch him shift outside and sprint toward our home, under the ruse I am still taken from his side.