81.

-HIM-

“She’ll wake up soon, Jake. Just calm down,” Brooke tries to assure me while I pace in the hospital room. I just cannot sit silently knowing that someone tried to harm my mate in my own territory! The fact that she was taken away from right under my nose makes me even madder.

I wouldn’t spare whoever is behind this. They’ll regret this. So far, we have been trying to find out who did this. The only thing we have gotten till now are those severely disfigured bodies which are being identified right now.

After I found Cybele from that place, I brought her straight to the hospital. My wolf couldn’t stop pacing since then. The pack doctors had a look at Cybele and they have confirmed that nothing major has happened to her. She is just passed out. The news was a sigh of relief but I am not going to attain peace until I have found out who did this.

Currently, we are waiting for Cybele to wake up. She would be the one to be able to tell us exactly what had happened there and who did it to her. Once I get to know the person behind this, I would reduce them to ashes.

“I cannot,” I gritted at Brooke while I continued pacing. Once and then, I would stop to look at Cybele. So far, she hasn’t moved or shown any sign of being conscious yet. While all of this happens, the council, on the other hand, is creating pressure on us.

I decided not to listen to them this time and have called off the meeting that was supposed to take place this evening. The meeting and the council can wait but this cannot.

“Jake, please calm down. The last thing we want is the hospital burning down in ashes,” Brooke spoke with concern laced in her voice. I looked at Cybele and calmed down for a bit and decided to submit to rationality than act on impulse.

Brooke is right. If my control slipped then my wolf could make the situation worse.

“You better wake up soon, Cybele,” I couldn’t help but growl. This makes Brooke roll her eyes but she remains seated on the couch in the corner of the room with her legs folded. Dad and Davis are handling the situation outside while I am waiting for my mate to wake up.

I want to go out and have a look at the identification and investigation process but at the same time, I want to be here when she wakes up. I couldn’t start to imagine what she must have gone through and how terrified she must be once she wakes up.

Once she wakes up, I want to apologize to her for not being able to keep her safe. I am already drowning in shame and self-disgust for not being able to protect her. I don’t think I couldn’t be more irresponsible. Had anything had happened to her, I wouldn’t have been able to survive with the pain of loss and the guilt.

My heart is still palpitating in my chest and my mind is racing. I feel so restless and on the edge. All I need is something to trigger me and I wouldn’t think twice before setting this pack on fire. As I realize that my mind is slowly wandering deeper and deeper towards my dark side, I decide to lay down beside her and try to calm myself down.

A part of me lights up with hope when she responds to my touch very lightly. Brooke happens to have seen it too, “She is starting to wake up!” She squeals before leaving the room to find the doctor meanwhile, I run my hand through her hair and massage her scalp the way she does to me. I would momentarily bury my face in the crook of her neck and she would shiver lightly at the strong sparks.

“Cybele,” I whisper as she slowly stirs awake. I run the back of my hand gently against her cheekbones with my eyes fixed only on her. I couldn’t wait for her to open her hazel eyes and peer at me fervently.

“Cybele,” I grumble as she continues to sleep. I just cannot hold myself back. I want to talk to her and make sure she is alright and find out who was behind all of this. I lightly brush my lips on her cheek before doing the same on her lips.

This time, she sighs deeply before she stirs even more. She slightly turns towards me, as if searching for more. I instantly wrapped my arm around her and she buries her face in my chest simultaneously.

“Wake up, Cybele,” I whisper as I rub my hand over her back. Meanwhile, I feel her getting more and more relaxed in my arms, “I want to talk to you, Cybele,” I continue speaking even after not being sure if she could hear me or not.

I hear her make a small noise which sounded like a groan before she rubs her face in my chest.

“Cybele?” I shake her lightly. At this, she finally stirs awake and opens her eyes weakly before peering at me dizzily. I couldn’t hold myself but united my lips with hers instantly. She remains still and in a daze while I kiss her to my heart’s content. Although I pull back as soon as she tries to push me back.

“Where is this?” She asks weakly and in bewilderment after blinking several times and looking around the room.

“We’re at the hospital,” I answer her while not being able to tear my eyes off her, “How are you feeling, Cybele?” I ask her with overflowing concern. She stares at my face cluelessly for some moments, still in a daze but I don’t miss the exact moment when she crashes down to reality and her eyes widen with realization.

As soon as she opens her mouth to speak, the door to the hospital room blows open before our pack doctor Agatha walks in with Brooke and mom hot on her tail.

“Let me check her first,” Agatha hisses at me as soon as she sees me cradling my mate. I chose not to argue with her in front of mom and sit aside while Agatha checks Cybele and asks her questions.

“How are you feeling, dear?” She asks very politely.

“I am fine. Just a little headache,” Cybele answers after she glances at me once.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make that go away soon but do you remember what happened to you?” Agatha questions with her eyes set firmly on Cybele whilst a pensive look hangs on her face. Cybele shifts uncomfortably in the bed and steals another glance at me again before she answers hesitantly, “I don’t remember,”

There’s something in her tone which sounds odd to me. A part of me knows that she is lying. I can feel the anxiety in the bond.

Everyone stares at her momentarily as the room drowns in silence but Agatha breaks it soon, “That’s okay. I am giving you some Advil. You should rest well tonight,” She says the last words while giving me a sharp look.

After giving her the medicine and talking to her some more, the three of them leave us soon. As soon as I hear them walk away, I turn to Cybele and ask, “You lied, didn’t you?”

Her eyes widen at my words like a deer caught in headlights but she nods nonetheless.

“Tell me what happened, Cybele? Who did this to you?” I demand, suddenly feeling at the edge. Fear simmers in her eyes before she looks away. I shift her in my lap and make her look at me before demanding, “Cybele, answer me,”

She places her head on my shoulder weekly before she mumbles, “I am not sure what to tell you, Jake,”

“What do you mean by that?” I ask her while trying to feel her emotions through the bond. This is driving me crazy. I want to know everything this instance but at the same time, I am afraid of putting a strain on her by making her remember all the dreadful things that have happened to her.

She takes a deep breath before whispering, “It felt like a nightmare, Jake,” With those words, the guilt and shame hit me like a tone of bricks.