Chapter 97 Falling

(Hope POV)

I open the front door of the red farmhouse with the white shutters expecting to see heaven. I was engulfed in bright light, so bright I instinctively closed my eyes. I stood there for a moment, not knowing what to do. I suddenly felt Opal's snout nudge my hand. "I am here, Hope. You can open your eyes now. Do not worry. We will go together." I turn my head downward and open my eyes to see Opal's bright eyes looking at me. I give her a hug, basking in her soft white fur. My wolf and I. I bury my face in her fur, breathing in her scent. Yes, I was never alone.

I lift my head from her fur and glance at my surroundings, feeling the cool breeze lift my hair. I was astonished to see I was standing at the edge of a mountain cliff, looking out unto the horizon. The sun was setting and the sky was turning a beautiful red-orange hue. I sigh, content. It was my favorite part of the day.

"You know me so well." I rub Opal's fur. "The sunset is my favorite part of the day. I can just stand here watching the sunset, the day turning into night. It's so comforting." I tell Opal, closing my eyes as the wind blew into my hair again. I smile and sniff in the fresh scent of my surroundings. It smelled like newly cut grass and fresh wood shavings. It smelled like Alexander.

"Hope, I know you won't like what I'm going to ask of you, but now, we need to jump. It will take us where we need to go." Opal instructs me. I look at her, aghast. I can't jump over a cliff!

"You can jump over a cliff, Hope." I looked at her wide-eyed with doubt, my face turning pale just thinking of it. I was about to reason with her when she said, "Hope, you bit through the neck of The Rogue Lord. You had a yellow-tip spear pierce your heart. What's a little sky-diving? I'm a wolf and I know I can't fly, but I'm willing to take the plunge... for you. Can't you do it for me?" She batted her eyes at me and whimpered, like a dog begging to be played with. I sigh. How can you say no to a face like that?

"Fine." I stroke her white fur and run my fingers through the strands. "Just as long as we do it together. I'll make sure I land on top you so, I won't break any of my bones," I joke.

" Haven't I told you, countless times, I will never put you at risk? Why would I start now?" Opal argues.

"You're right. You have never put me in harm's way and I doubt you would want to now. Besides, I'm already dead.  I don't think I could die again. Right?" I looked her in the eyes searching for a straight answer. She licked my nose, amused I was joking about being dead.

"Well, you can die twice if you come back to the world of the living." She reasons with me. "Now, come on. Gut up. Don't worry, we are in for a soft landing. On the count of three. One...two..."

"Hold on! I'm not ready yet." I try to stall her. I was trying to summon enough courage to leap.

" Oh, yes you are!" Opal pushes me off the cliff and jumps right after me.

I scream for dear life, trying to find a branch or vine to cling to and start praying to whomever will hear me. Moon Goddess. Goddess Iris. God Almighty. HELP!

My throat started to hurt from all of my screaming, but I was still falling. I was falling into a bottomless pit. OPAL, WHAT HAVE YOU GOTTEN ME INTO?!

"Stop your screaming and just savor falling." I look above me and see Opal with all her legs extended out like she was flying. "Look, I can already see the ground from here." She tells me. My eyes widen in panic after hearing her mention the word 'ground'.

I take a peek downward and I did see some lights. I close my eyes shut in fear. I am going to hit the ground and turn into human soup! I start screaming again.

"Hope, calm down." Opal tells me.

"Calm down?! I'm about to become..." I stopped noticing I was starting to slow down like I was using a parachute. I was seemingly floating in air. I start to laugh, a maniacal laugh. I was laughing at myself for being so scared. I actually thought I was going to die again or worse, land into the pits of hell.

The breeze was so warm as I floated down and it felt I was being rocked to sleep. I yawned. Wake up, I told myself. I can't take a nap now. I was still floating in air.

"Close your eyes, Hope. Let the warmth and the light guide you to where we need to go." Opal's voice whispers to me.

I follow her instructions and close my eyes. I dream of a blue light. It takes me to a mountainous place and then I hear him. It was so beautiful to hear...

Alexander's voice.

_____

(Alexander POV)

The pain, this gut wrenching pain. My heart felt it was going to burst into pieces. I looked down at Hope's lifeless face and all I wanted to do was cry. I stroked her cheeks lovingly and removed the errant strands of hair from her face gently, hoping for her stir back to life. I even tried to shake her awake, praying she'd open her eyes. I just couldn't accept she was gone. Overcome with my grief, I buried my face in her neck and sobbed. I knew I was never ever going to find happiness again. Misery will be my new bestfriend.

My love, why did you have to leave me so suddenly? I have always imagined you would outlive me because deep in my soul, I know if you were to go ahead of me, I wouldn't be strong enough to accept it. And I was right.

While my face was buried in he neck, I sensed the others gather around me. They were urging me to look up, but I didn't want to. I just didn't care anymore. The only thing that mattered to me was lying in my arms and she was dead. Dead! It was like a cruel joke. I shook my head to empty it of my heartbreaking thoughts while I clutched Hope to my body, never wanting to let her go.

"Oh my! Thank you, Moon Goddess!" I hear Arthur say. Senile old coot, what is there to be thankful for. Hope is de--

I suddenly feel her heartbeat. It was strong. It's just your imagination, Alexander, I say to myself. But I can feel her heart pounding on my chest. Is it possible, she's...?

"Alexander, I can't breathe. You're crushing me." I've now officially gone crazy. I'm imagining her voice.

"Alexander, I love you too, but I really need to breathe. I don't think the Moon Goddess will give me another chance to live." I lift my head from her neck and look up to see Hope's gold eyes smiling at me.

Arthur was right! Thank you, Moon Goddess! I hug her again and look up and down at her to make sure I wasn't imagining her alive.

"Hope, the Moon Goddess has blessed you with a second life." Arthur came over to pat me on the back. "Alexander was distraught. I myself wept. Now, I am crying tears of joy." I glance at Arthur and all the others around us, and they too had tears of joy!

"Hope, I'm not imagining things right?" She hugs me and I could feel her heart beating steadily. I look at where her heart was bleeding from a moment ago and the wound was miraculously gone. I started crying again. "Moon Goddess, forgive me if I have ever doubted you! Thank you, thank you! You gave me back my mate!" I wept tears of happiness. I lifted my head and howled, this time announcing Hope is alive.

"I've seen Adella heal using the light of the moon. The way the moonlight turned blue and pulsated, it reminded me of her." Arthur said. He bends down and kisses Hope on her forehead. "I'm so happy you're alive and with us once again." He looked at the others who were gathered around us, smiling, laughing and crying at the same time. "We all are."

"I am truly blessed to have all you in my life." She smiles at everyone. "I am truly blessed to have you." Hope wipes the tears from my cheek and kisses me. I kissed her back, putting all my heart and soul into the kiss, wanting it to never end...

My heart. My life. My forever. I will love you and cherish you until time immortal, Hope.