Chapter 209: Chapter 209
Elara POV
My eyelids are heavy, my head is pounding, and my body aches all over. It feels like a bear has mauled me. Slowly, whispers register in my mind.
“She’s stirring, is she waking up?”
“Will she be okay?”
“Maybe we should give her some blood.”
“Who’s blood, dumbass? Her own?”
“Don’t you have a potion that could help?”
“I’m fine,” I croak, forcing my eyes open. “I don’t need anything.”
“Elara, thank Goddess,” Kane sighs, sitting beside me and pulling me into a bear hug.
“Ouch,” I groan, and he lets go of me.
“What happened?” I ask, looking at the sea of concerned faces around me.
“The impact of the explosion sent you straight into a wall,” Mindy replies. “It’s a miracle you survived.”
“Were humans hurt?” I ask, concerned, sitting up.
But nausea overcomes me before anyone can respond, and Isolde hands me a bucket just in time.
“Told you she might have a concussion,” she says as I hurl into the bucket.
“Is that truly something you want to brag about?” Axel snaps. “That you’re right about my mate’s pain.”
“She might have eternal bleeding,” Mindy squeaks. “Or worse, a brain bleed. Goddess knows what that explosion did to her.”
“People, please,” I cut off their bickering. “You’re not helping my headache with arguing.”
“I’m sorry,” Isolde says, and sponges off my face with a wet towel. “We’re just worried, Elara. You’ve been out cold for six hours.”
“I think I’m fine,” I reply. “Aside from a splitting headache and a bruised body. I’ll be fine once I shift.”
“Okay,” Kane nods, stands and picks me up. “Let’s do that.”
I rest my head against his shoulder as he carries me outside, and everyone follows. I sniff the air as we walk through Malachi’s cottage.
“I can smell her,” I whisper, smiling.
“What? Who?” Kane asks, concerned, and shares a worried look with Axel.
“Stella,” I smile. “Her scent’s still here. I can smell her. Don’t you?”
“Yes,” he replies sadly, pressing a kiss on my forehead. “We do. Axel found her pillow for you to sleep on. She’ll be a little closer tonight.”
“I miss her,” I croak, biting my tears. Crying will only increase my headache.
“So do we,” he replies softly.
Kane gently puts me down on the grass and helps me out of my clothes. I close my eyes and allow Lily to take over. Shifting has never been so painful before, but there is instant relief.
“Hi, Lily, are you okay?” I ask.
“Right as rain,” she replies. “Our injuries are superficial. We got lucky.”
“Are you up for a run?” I ask.
“Hell, yeah,” she grins. “We haven’t done that in a while.”
“Kane, Axel,” I mind link them. “Order the others to keep the fort, and join me for a run, please?”
“Best idea of the day,” Axel replies.
Kane orders the others to return home before they shift, and the three of us run into the woods.
I let go of the dull ache that has been there since I said goodbye to Stella. The constant worry about the Council and their doings, and the fear that I cannot save the people I care for. I concentrate on the joy of running and the freedom that comes with it. I run like it is my first shift, and it is the most amazing feeling. I can hear and see perfectly in the dark. I smell everything and am aware of so many things. It is awesome. I try everything, jumping over fallen trees and rocks. Rolling around in the dirt. I even chase a rabbit and nearly catch it, but I stumble over my own feet, nose-first into the ground.
“Easy, Elara,” Axel warns. “I won’t survive a repeat of today if you hurt yourself.”
“I’m fine, I only tripped,” I reply, not even slightly bothered that I fell face-first into the ground.
“Today I aged ten years because of the two of you,” Axel growls, his voice stern and emotional, and stunned, I turn towards him.
“I almost lost both of you in less than twenty-four hours,” he continues. “Do you have any idea of the hell I had to endure today?”
“I’m sorry,” I whimper, trot to his side and guilt wells in me when I rub my snout against his fur. It was torture when Kane was fighting for his life, and Axel had to suffer through that twice. “I’ll be careful, I promise.”
“Axel, you know it might happen again,” Kane says sympathetically. “We signed up for the impossible when we decided to go against the Council.”
“I know,” he huffs. “But things got much too real today. I know we are endangering ourselves and taking risks, but it’s a whole different story when you feel it. And today, I felt it.”
The silence grows as we sit in the dirt, looking at each other. We have jumped on this crazy horse, fully aware that one or all of us might die, but we never truly grasped the impact it would have on one another.
“I’m willing to die for you,” I mutter. “But it’s the people staying behind who suffer.”
“What are you saying?” Kane asks. “That we should call it quits and run for safety while we can?”
“No,” I say adamantly, and shift.
“We’re fighting a cause bigger than us,” I say, stroking their fur lovingly. “We must remember what would happen to every person and pack member if we give up, but we must appreciate our time with each other and not take it for granted.”
Axel and Kane shift, and we stand in a circle, holding hands.
“We must remember our children,” Axel nods. “And what it will do to them if we die.”
Just then, a blinding white light engulfs us. I hold Kane and Axel’s hands tighter, but I fail when I try to open my eyes.
“Do not fear,” an unfamiliar voice echoes around us, and the hair on my neck and arms stands up.
