Chapter 195

Dylan POV. 

"But, Lewis... what the fuck happened to my arm?!"

"We didn't..." He gulped, trying to find the words however seemingly getting them stuck in his throat as he looked at me, guilt clouding his handsome features. "I mean, We should have patched you up regardless... but you were... gone... so when you miraculously..." Was the fact that I was alive truly a Miracle? Or was it just some twisted reminder that I would never be free of the stress. He seemed to be jumbling his words up more than ever, as if treading on eggshells while telling me the story of my lost limb. "Your arm, was literally hanging off, and you had suddenly started bleeding out again, I didn't think about anything except keeping you alive. I am so so sorry, Dyl." I would have done the same thing had the roles been reversed. I loved Lewis, more than I had ever cared to admit. "You were alive, but your arm, it wasn't salvageable, you were bleeding out. I... I had to stop the bleeding, so I... so we..." While he was talking his hand gently cupped the side of my face, and I found myself leaning into it slightly, his thumb traced my cheekbone. 

"Why can you never just let me die?" I whispered as tears began to gather in my eyes. I was so alone, more now than ever. 

"Isn't it obvious?" He half smiled at my sorry state before taking my only hand in his. "I'm too selfish to let that happen." He gently enveloped my hand in both of his. "I'm too selfish to let you go." 

The difference between Josh and Lewis was astronomical. I was unequivocally myself around Lewis, he made me feel safe, he made me feel content. I wanted him, and I knew that he wanted me, for who I was, and not because of some mate bond forced upon us by some benevolent being, but because of the connection that we had created ourselves. I wasn't expecting to find someone who I loved wholeheartedly, and I wasn't sure when my feelings changed for the man, but here I was. Grateful that he didn't just let me die, I was grateful that despite everything, I now had the chance to live.

My thoughts began to spiral away from Lewis, as I looked around the room and frowned deeply, suddenly realizing once more where I actually was. 

"Hang on... all this happened in the rebellions district right? So Why am I back in the palace if the king is dead?" He looked sheepish as his gaze met the floor. His hand came up to stroke the back of his neck and I knew that was his way of saying I'm not going to like his answer. 

"Oh, erm, Well the medical team here are the best in the world, a new high tech prosthetic is already being crafted to fit your needs..." my look turned flat as I remained staring into his eyes. That was partially true, and I'd be able to get an expertly crafted prosthetic, but it was only partially right, meaning there was more to it. "Ok, honestly, I've been trying my best to sort things out, and create reassurance to the world... but Since the battle, everyone is sort of expecting you to live here, while you take over permanent rule." Wait, what? 

"But I thought that we were going to hold an election, one that would allow everyone to cast their vote on who should lead them." His head nodded, but his facial expressions told something entirely different. 

"I thought so too, but really, There's just no point, Dyl. We've already had numerous phone calls, and mind links already from both humans and lycans alike, from alphas to omegas, all asking the same thing." I sighed heavily as I looked to the monitors beeping rhythmically. Why couldn't I have just stayed dead? "Dylan, they're all asking when you will take the throne?" 

I said I did not want to be known as the queen, but I guess, I also knew that was the only reason I was breathing right now. The moon goddess always did have bigger plans for me, whether I liked them or not. 

"So what happens now then? And what action has been taken so far?" I had only just woken up from god knows how long, and I was being thrown straight back into diplomatic work. 

"We've made arrests, stripped a few high ranking lycans of their titles, we've seen little resistance as of yet, but it's only a matter of time before some lycans begin spouting nonsense of oppression and biased treatment..." Urgh, my head hurt. 

All this was just going to create more and more madness and discontent within the districts. Now we needed to establish exactly what was going to happen and set in motion a plan that would allow people to heal from king Josh's rule not create even more segregation. 

"Ok... gather all the press that is willing to come, and tell them a statement will be made in 2 days time... also start spreading the word about how new rules are being put in order as we speak." Lewis simply looked at me, I guess he really wasn't expecting me to simply jump straight back into work, especially not while I was still dressed in a medical dress and tubes still hung from my arms. "It's time to make our intentions known, I guess. The world deserves an answer." I sighed, closing my eyes while exhaustion began to hit me. "Right now though, I intend to be selfish... my head is pounding in my skull as we speak." I pinched the bridge of my nose with my only hand and frowned already feeling the tight knot of stress in my chest forming. 

"Is there anything I can do?" His eyes searched mine, desperate to find something that he could help with. I shook my head with a sigh, a small smile forming on my lips as I looked back at him. 

"Yeah, there is actually... can you Hold me?" His eyes widened a fraction before instantly attacking me in a large bear hug, it had felt like a lifetime since I had seen him. He had after all been captured by king Josh, and the fact that we were both here, simply made the moment all the more special, I never thought we would be able to have a moment between us like this again. "I thought I was going to have to watch you get killed too." I admitted while resting my cheek on his shoulder, wrapping my only arm around him. "Don't you dare, ever die... don't ever leave me, ok?" 

"Dylan... I intend to be with you until our last day." And I truly believed him. We were just meant for each other, I had fallen, and I had fallen hard for this guy. 

"That sounds like a good plan." I tiredly released his body and rested my own on his, leaning my entire weight against his sat torso while he in turn shifted for me to rest easier. I closed my eyes letting my ear rest against his chest, allowing his heart rate to lull me into a relaxing, tranquil scene. 

"Hey, Dylan..." I didn't even lift my head I simply hummed in response, I wasn't sleeping but the peace was very much welcomed. "What... what exactly do you remember?" 

"What do you mean?" I frowned and looked Lewis in the eye, finding it strange when I saw his worried expression.

"You let..." He shook his head quickly cutting off his sentence as if realizing he could use much better phrasing. "I mean, Josh, he..." 

My head began flooding with memories of the battle, and I remembered that the only reason I managed to kill King Josh was because he had in fact marked me... 

My hand shot up to my neck suddenly and I allowed my fingers to trace the slightly raised skin where my newly discovered mark lay. 

I was a marked woman. One who had been claimed by the worst person in history, I couldn't stop frowning as my only hand cupped the skin that had been tainted. 

"Dylan... I marked you as well..." now I truly was confused. I couldn't remember that happening at all... wasn't being marked by the one you loved supposed to be the best thing to ever happen to you? Then why couldn't I remember any of it? 

I remember the king holding me up, and sinking his teeth into my flesh, I remember shoving my silver blade into his neck... but then everything that happened afterwards is blank. 

"You marked me?!” I watched as Lewis nodded his head slowly regret showing in his eyes. 

“You asked me to…” he paused thinking about it. “The way you spoke made me think that you wanted me to, I swear…” He was right, I must have accepted it as it wasn’t painful, and I felt no different. It couldn’t have been a forced marking. 

“So its official? We’re mates?” His face fell slightly at my question. I mean, I suppose we had always been mates, I had already accepted him as he is, but being marked, and having that forever was a lot to digest. 

“I am so sorry.” Well, I suppose it can’t be changed, and if I asked for it then he shouldn’t feel sorry. 

“Don’t be. It was inevitable, and I’m glad it’s your mark, and not his…” The more I thought about it, the more I actually liked the idea of being tied to Lewis. He was mine, and I was his. It’s time everyone knew it. “I’m happy Lewis. I hope you are…” 

“You’re happy?…” Was he truly that shocked about it? I simply smiled and cupped his cheek with my only hand, making him look me in the eye. 

“I am… I’m actually really happy… because I love you Lewis. I love you as a partner, as a friend and as my mate.” He released a sigh of what could only be relief, before he attacked my lips, with a gentle kiss. One that had so much affection pouring into it. 

“And, I love you…” He whispered softly breaking the kiss and placing his forehead on mine. “There is something else that you should probably know..." For fucks sake, what now? Had I lost a leg too? I rubbed my hand over my face and through my hair before looking at Lewis, waiting for his next bout of news. "Erm... Carlos survived his shift..." 

"What?!" That caused me to become fully alert, Carlos was ok? I had obviously just assumed he had succumbed, especially after witnessing the other bitten guys shift... this was insane news. He should have opened with it. "Is he ok? Where is he now? Did he..." 

"He's absolutely fine, he's residing here for the time being, along with both Oliver and Vee." I needed to see him. “His son is also doing well…” 

His son? So the kings bitch of an aunt had her baby. I wonder how Carlos has taken it. 

“What about the kings aunt? After everything she can’t be left to wander around freely, not when she herself has been a big issue.” Hell, if Carlos give me the go ahead id put a sliver bullet directly into her head myself, of course I do believe that it is Carlos that should personally pull the trigger. 

“Lorellia is dead… from what I’ve been told, Carlos had already killed her before realizing that his son had been born.” Well, that’s one less thing to deal with. It serves the bitch right, after everything she subjected Carlos to. “The only ones left alive here are Josh’s mom, and his grandfather.” 

I hummed enjoying my embrace, while simultaneously wondering what our next cause of action should be.

“Where exactly are those two now?”