Chapter 166: Protected by the Pack
Aurora’s POV
I walked quickly toward Rafael and Leonardo, my heart pounding and my face full of worry.
“Please,” I said breathlessly, “where is Annie?”
Rafael turned to me, his expression calm but serious. He gave a slight nod and gestured toward the hallway.
“She’s fine,” he said gently.
“Just a few bruises. The pack healer is treating her as we speak.”
A heavy breath of relief left my lips, and I placed a hand over my chest.
“Thank the Moon Goddess…”
“Can I see her?” I asked softly, already halfway toward the door.
Rafael nodded and silently led me down the corridor.
The walk to Annie’s room felt longer than it really was, every step filled with anxious hope.
When we finally reached the door and stepped inside, I saw her sitting up on the bed.
The healer stood beside her, tending to a scrape on her arm, a nurse close by with supplies.
But the moment Annie’s eyes met mine, tired, but full of warmth, the dam broke.
“Annie…” I whispered, my voice trembling.
“Aurora…” she breathed back.
Without another word, I rushed across the room and pulled her into a gentle hug, careful not to hurt her.
She clung to me just as tightly, and I felt her shoulders shake against mine.
“I was worried sick about you,” I murmured through the tears.
“I thought something terrible had happened…”
“I thought I wouldn’t see you again,” Annie whispered back, her voice cracking.
We held each other for a long moment, the room quiet except for the soft sounds of our breathing and the healer moving gently in the background.
Annie and I held each other tightly for a moment longer before I slowly pulled away, brushing the tears from my cheeks.
She looked up at me, her eyes red but shining with relief. I smiled, finally letting myself breathe again now that I knew she was safe.
She gave me a weak but playful nudge. “Okay, spill it. What happened out there?”
I let out a soft laugh, still overwhelmed by everything.
“It’s… a long story,” I said, shaking my head gently.
“But Alessandro and his brother, Leonardo they found us. They fought their way through and rescued us.”
Annie’s eyebrows shot up.
“Both of them?
Together?” she asked, clearly surprised.
I nodded.
“Yeah.
And the one who kidnapped us? He’s in the pack’s dungeon now. It’s over.”
Annie let out an exaggerated sigh of relief, dramatically throwing her head back against the pillow.
“Thank God!” she groaned.
“I just couldn’t stand spending one more night in that God-awful place!
The walls were damp, the food was a nightmare, and don’t even get me started on the rats!”
I laughed, really laughed for the first time in what felt like forever.
It felt good. Familiar.
“You’re unbelievable,” I said, shaking my head.
Annie grinned, her usual spark returning.
“Hey, if I don’t complain a little, how will you know I’m still alive?”
“Trust me,” I smiled back, “there was never a doubt.”
“Ahem!”
The pack healer cleared his throat gently, drawing my attention.
I turned quickly, slightly embarrassed. “Oh please forgive me, Pack Healer.
I’m just… I’m just so relieved my friend is alright.”
He gave me a kind smile and a small nod.
“It’s fine, truly. I understand.”
He stepped closer to Annie’s bedside and glanced at the chart in his hand.
“Her injuries are minor,” he said reassuringly.
“She should be discharged by tomorrow.
She would’ve been healed already if she weren’t human but, well, that’s the case.”
I nodded in understanding.
“Yeah… thank you, Pack Healer. For taking care of her.”
“You’re welcome,” he replied warmly.
Then his gaze softened.
“And welcome back, Aurora. I’m glad you’re safe and sound.”
With that, he turned and walked out, the nurse following silently behind him.
After the pack healer left, Annie began looking around the room, her eyes wide with curiosity.
“Girl, this place is a fortress,” she said, half in awe, half joking.
“I never knew werewolves lived in places like this… damn, girl!”
I laughed softly at her reaction.
“What were you expecting, Annie?
That werewolves live in caves and howl at the moon all night?”
She gasped dramatically.
“Exactly!
Or like… I don’t know, maybe dark forests with creepy fog and wolves lurking in the shadows.
But this? This is straight-up luxury!”
I smiled as she continued to look around the room like she’d just stepped into a palace.
“Marble floors, velvet curtains, guards at the door… girl, are you sure you’re not royalty now?”
I chuckled.
“Shadow Pack is one of the richest packs in the country, so… of course it would be big. You should see my room.”
Annie’s mouth dropped open.
“Shut the front door!
No way.
You are so giving me a tour before I go back home.”
She let out a low whistle.
I grinned, already imagining how much she’d love the tour. But then her smile faded a little, and her expression shifted.
“What’s wrong, Annie?” I asked gently.
She shook her head, trying to play it off.
“Nothing really… just that my apartment was destroyed when, you know… all that stuff happened.
And fixing everything’s going to cost a lot.”
I reached for her hand and gave her a reassuring smile. “Don’t you worry.
I’ll speak to Alessandro. He’ll take care of it. Your place will be as good as new.”
Annie’s eyes widened in excitement.
“Oh really?”
I nodded confidently.
“Yep.”
She let out a huge breath of relief.
“Hallelujah! I was seriously wondering how I was going to afford fixing up my apartment.”
I shook my head at her, unable to stop smiling at her endless humor even in the middle of chaos.
But then, the door creaked open.
I turned to look and froze for a moment.
It was Leonardo.
My smile disappeared, replaced by a slight frown. I hadn’t expected him.
Truthfully, he was the last person I wanted to see right now.
He stepped into the room, standing just inside the doorway with both hands clasped together.
His posture was nervous, almost unsure. His eyes met mine briefly, and in that moment, I saw the guilt written all over his face.
It was clear he had come to apologize.
The question was…
Was I ready to hear it?
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