Chapter 64: In two minds

**Alice’s Point of view**


I'm all too familiar with this kind of dream. The kind where I visit Elliot when we're both asleep. Or almost dead.
I'm in the forest, dressed in a nice pale pink summer dress. My hair is up in an elegant bun. 
Cassie jumps around in my head, not daring to believe it.
*"I thought our bond was broken!"* She exclaims.
*"So did I!"* 
*"Quick, let's find him!"*
I start running through the forest, calling for him with all my strength. After a few minutes, I hear a noise behind me.
I turn around and see two fuchsia eyes staring at me intently.
Although I'm surprised, I'm not scared at all. In fact, I feel calm in front of this eyes with their unusual color.
"Huh, Hello?"
The eyes blink and a wolf comes out of the shadows. 
A big silver wolf faces me, head high. I stand in awe of this apparition and take a few seconds to bow.
"My Queen."
*"Technically, I'm not Queen yet."* She says in my head.
"I know, but..."
*"Thank you, Alice."* She cuts me off.
I frown. "For what?"
*"For saving my mate."*
I nod. "Ben isn't just my future King. He's also my friend." I say softly. "You don't need to thank me for that."
*"I do. I know you let Derek mark you to protect Elliot. But I see in your heart that it was also to protect Benjamin and his family that you did that."*
I swallowed. "I don't know..."
*"I do know."* She cuts me off again. *"And I know how to help you."*
I straighten up. "Really? Is there anything you can do?"
*"No. And I can't tell you what to do. It has to come from you."*
I frown. "From me?" 
She turns around and slowly walks away.
*"Yes, Alice. From you. Do me a favor, will you? Tell Benjamin that my human is still young and we won't meet until the Moon Goddess says so."*
The forest disappears and I wake up in a crowded hospital room. Elliot has his head on my bed, one of my hands in his. My parents are behind him and on the other side are Elliot's parents and our friends, all asleep. 
Only Benjamin is standing at the end of my bed, quoting me.
"What was that?" He asks in a whisper.
I raise my eyebrows. "Did you feel it?" He says nothing and purses his lips. "She has a message for you."
"Who?"
"Your mate."
He opens his mouth wide. "Did you see her? Did you talk to her?" He asks coldly.
I nod. "She told me to tell you that her human is young and that you will meet when the time comes."
He growls softly, waking everyone up.
"Alice!" They say in unison.
They rush to me and all speak at once.
"You're giving me a headache!" I groan, holding my head.
"Excuse us. We're just so happy you're okay." My mom gently says.
I turn to Elliot. "Where have you been? I've been looking all over for you."
He smiles sadly. He looks deep into my eyes, looking for a connection. "The rogues took me away to burn me. Apparently, Derek was still afraid you'd stay attached to me. Whatever he injected us with disappeared and I was able to shift again and ran off to find you. I smelled the fire and ran as fast as I could." He takes my hands in his, tears in his eyes. "I've never been so scared in my life when I saw you in that fire."
I smile gently at him and stroke his cheek. I notice that his forearm has a bandage and I remember his cry of pain. 
"You're hurt."
"So are you." He says, pointing to my shoulder.
I suddenly stand up. "Where are the others? Derek's family and Grandpa James?" I ask as I look around at everyone.
Their faces are closed and it's my dad who answers me. "We haven't found them. It seems that they ran away and the rogues that occupied our territory and the Reds' territory simply disappeared when they heard Derek was dead."
"What about the Silvers?"
Ben replies. "Most of them didn't follow Derek. They rebelled when they heard what he wanted to do and many were executed."
I put my hand in front of my mouth in horror. "He executed members of his own pack?"
He nods. "The Silvers were very brave to rebel like that. They paid the price. They don't have an Alpha, Beta or Gamma anymore. My father is thinking of a solution."
I nod and turn to my family and Elliot's. "Now what?"
They look at each other, embarrassed, their eyes converging on my mark. I look down at Elliot whose eyes are filled with pain. He meets my gaze, looking almost pleading.
"What do you want to do sweetie?" My mother asks softly.
Everyone waits for my answer and I take a deep breath.
"You have to go back to our pack." I say, looking at my parents. "You too Alpha Mark and Luna Lily. Both of our packs need their Alpha and Luna." I then turn to Benjamin. "If it's possible, and if they agree, I'd like to stay here for a while with Elliot, Sam, Melanie, Owen and Simon."
Ben turns to the interested parties who quickly nodded. He turns to Elliot, who hasn't taken his eyes off me.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" He asks doubtfully.
I nod. "Yes, I'm sure. For me, it doesn't change anything."