Chapter 80 – Bernice wakes up!

Bernice’s POV
I felt a sense of calm washing over me. I was no longer in immediate danger, and everything just felt calm. I dug my fingers into the plush bedsheets, the pillow under my head made it difficult to want to wake. But I felt the presence of Landry sitting beside me.
He was worried for me.
My mind was also quiet; Julia had yet to return to me. My heart ached knowing she wasn’t with me, but I couldn’t let that get me down. I knew within that time she would return to me. My fingers twitched and I was expecting pain to come after that, but it didn’t.
Instead, I heard the comforting sound of Landry’s voice.
“Bernice…” he whispered, or so I think he was whispering. I couldn’t tell. He sounded so far away. “Are you awake?”
“I think so,” I whispered back.
I was a bit afraid to open my eyes, not sure how the light would affect my vision. It might be worth it to see Landry once again.
I opened my eyes slightly, only wincing a little as they adjusted to the lighting of the room. Landry was standing over me with big and worried eyes. His aura was so calming, and his scent was glorious.
If I had my wolf, I probably would have gone into heat.
He grabbed my hands and brought them to his lips, kissing them gently.
“How are you feeling?” He asked.
“Oddly… there’s no pain.”
“That’s because you’re on a lot of painkillers,” he said with a light laugh. “Or else it’d be a different story.”
That made sense; the more I thought about it, the more I realized I didn’t feel anything.
My memory of previous events was foggy. But I remembered being locked in a cell and beaten by vampires.
How did I end up in the hospital? How did Landry find me?
I had so many questions, but I couldn’t get them out of my mouth.
“You should get more rest,” Landry said, giving me a faint smile.
I was having trouble keeping my eyes open. But I wanted to keep looking at him. I liked looking at him.
These drugs were strong.
“You’re exhausted,” Landry said, kissing my forehead. “Rest, and I’ll be here when you wake up.”
I nodded, closing my eyes again.
“Landry?” I whispered before I completely passed out. I knew he was still there even though I couldn’t hear his response. “Thank you for coming to save me…”

…
Landry’s POV
Landry watched as Bernice fell back to sleep. Relief was flooding through him as he watched her sleep. She was okay. The doctors said she was going to make a full recovery; as was the baby.
He still couldn’t get over the fact that they were going to be parents. He couldn’t smell anyone else on her, so it had to have been his baby.
Did she know she was carrying a pup in her?
She surely would have said something. Wouldn’t she?
He ran his fingers down her warm features; she had a slight fever, but nothing she couldn’t handle. The doctors already gave her antibiotics to help with the fever and any infections that might surface. They were able to stop her internal bleeding and help the baby as well.
Her wolf is very weak and is recovering more slowly because she’s pregnant. But she’s said to make a full recovery too.
“You should eat something,” Jessie said from the doorway, staring at Landry with concern lingering in her eyes.
“I’m not leaving her side,” Landry said without even looking at her. “I almost lost her once; I won’t do it again.”
“They gave her back, which means she is safe for now. If they wanted her dead, she would be,” Jessie reminded him. “I’ll stay with her if it makes you feel any better. Go get some food.”
“I’m fine,” Landry grumbled.
She sighed.
“Any word on the Beta? Have they found any leads on where the vampires were hiding her?”
“Not yet,” Landry answered.
He made a mental note to check in with his Beta later. But for now, he needed to make sure Bernice was okay. He couldn’t leave her. Not again.
“Landry…” Jessie said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You need to take care of yourself too. Bernice wouldn’t want—”
“Bernice would want to make sure her baby is safe,” Landry snapped, glaring at his sister. “I have to make sure they both live.”
“The doctors said they are going to be fine,” Jessie reminded him. “Taking a few minutes for yourself isn’t going to kill her.”
“I almost lost her, Jessie…” Landry breathed; his voice cracked slightly.
The thought of losing Bernice nearly destroyed him. Jessie was right when she said that Bernice might be his mate. Knowing what he knows… he can’t lose her.
“Okay…” she said. “I’ll get you some food then.”
Landry said nothing as Jessie left the room. He continued to watch over Bernice, not wanting to leave her side. He was never going to leave her side.

…
He wasn’t sure how long Bernice was sleeping. Jessie returned an hour later with a plate of food. She must have gone to the palace to get it because it was delicious. Nothing like the hospital food they serve there.
He managed to choke down the food, though he wasn’t feeling very hungry. Once he ate, Jessie seemed satisfied.
“So, I’m going to be an aunt?” Jessie breathed. “This is so exciting!”
“Yeah…” Landry said, also in disbelief. “But it worries me. That could be the reason they let her go when they did. Maybe they realized she was pregnant too.”
“Wouldn’t that make them want to kill her that much more?” Jessie asked.
“Unless they want to use this baby to get to me,” Landry said in return.
They both remained silent for a little longer; he decided to shake the thought from his mind. Whatever happens, he will deal with it when the time comes. As of right now, he needed to make sure that Bernice remained stable.
Her heart rate was still good, and she was breathing strongly. This pleased Landry.

…
The sun had set and risen again. Landry only slept a little bit while seated beside Bernice. Jessie had come and gone. Bernice remained unmoved.
She finally began to wiggle her fingers and move her legs, jolting Landry awake. His heart began racing in his chest and his wolf was running excitedly in his mind.
“Take your time in waking up,” Landry breathed to her, running his hand down her features. Her fever had broken during the night, thankfully.
“Landry…” she breathed sleepily as she opened her eyes. “What happened?”
“You don’t remember anything?” Landry asked, staring around her pale face.
She glanced around the room, then paused to wince in pain. The pain medication must have worn off. She was in pain. He mindlinked the doctor to have him bring more medicine for her.
“I remember the cold cell…” she recalled weakly. “My wolf… she’s…”
“She’ll be back,” he assured her. “She’s just weak. But she’s not gone entirely.”
“Alaric…” she whispered, meeting his eyes.
That must have been the name of the vampire that tortured her. Maybe even the one who mindlinked him.
Could he be the vampire lord?
Before he could ask, she gasped, grabbing onto his arm.
“He said that there’s something more important he wants now. He said it’s growing inside me… there’s something in me….” her voice trembled in fear.
His heart squeezed tightly in his chest; so, he was right. They discovered she was pregnant and now they want the baby. But for what reason? To use it against him?
“I don’t understand what they meant…”
She didn’t know.
“I do…” he said to her. She narrowed her eyes at him, waiting for him to continue. “Bernice… you’re pregnant.”