Ryan
Ever wake up from a dream that is so surreal that you feel like it's real. It's like you can't grasp the difference between reality and the unconscious. As I peeled my eyes back, the unnatural lighting only added to my already pained head, the pounding was thumping that a part of me wanted to slip back into the abyss. I was scared to close my eyes and see the scene that was tormenting me from the inside. I couldn't help but stare at my hands, where the blood was oozing from my hands. All I wanted to do was cry and wither away but I knew that if I wanted to avoid that scene, change the future then I couldn't shy away from my responsibilities.
Ryan.... Reginald whispered in the back of my mind. I could not only hear the fear waver in his voice, but I could feel his anxiety ripple through my body. He was just as terrified as I was at the nightmare that was pushed to our mind.
Reggie, it can't be true. That wasn't the future was it? I asked.
But Reginald didn't speak, he didn't whisper, he didn't exhale a sigh of relief. He was silent as the dead of night. I couldn't help the tear that escaped my eye. I wanted to lift my hand to wipe it away but I couldn't, my body ached, I had no energy in my arms that I just let the tear tumble down my cheek.
There must be something we can do. There must be a way we can change what happened? She doesn't deserve this. Her family does not deserve this. There must be a reason we were shown this... this vision. There must be a way to stop what we saw. I pleaded with Reginald.
Although he didn't speak I could now feel the buzzing of his mind in the back of my head, I could feel the waves of his thoughts ripple through my head. He too was searching for an alternative, another way, something that could change what we envisioned. The protective nature to protect his mate from any shape or form of harm was being riled to a new and unfathomable level. The thought of any pain coming into contact with Leyla was just something he could not imagine.
Wait mate? I couldn't help but feel my eyes widen. Before whenever I mentioned Leyla being my mate, my mind would become hazy and would deter into a million different directions. Yet now, when I speak the word, the human in me feels nothing but a warmth inside my chest. It was something that I couldn't describe. The warmth would spread from my chest to every corner of my body, down to my toes. It was like I was feeling the thread of our connection for the first time. It was exciting and exhilarating. How did I ever believe that someone else was my mate? It didn't make any sense. All I wanted to do was embrace the feeling, but that only caused me to wallow in the pain that I had caused Leyla by publicly claiming someone else as my mate.
Stop. We don't have time for the pity card. Reginald ordered in the back of my mind.
I know but I can't help it. My feelings are catching up with me. Well your feelings are catching up with me. How was I able to ignore this Reggie? It doesn't make sense. It doesn't add up. I respond. I can't help the guilt that seems to bubble and boil on the inside. I separated Reggie from his mate, I ignored his warnings, even if they were subtle, they were still there. It wasn't just Leyla and Amira that was in pain from the separation.
I understand and I can feel your regret Ryan but at the moment, we have bigger problems to worry about. Problems that surpass your guilt. I am glad that you are finally recognising your mistakes but we can't change the past, it is time to rectify your mistakes and make things right. Not just for Amira and Leyla, but for the Kingdom. This is bigger than just rejecting your mate. Reginald advised.
Do you have a plan then? I ask.
Of course, but it is not going to be as straight forward as you think. I don't even know if it is going to make a difference or change things but we can only hope and pray that it changes things. Reginald replies.
Before I can question him further, a doctor waltzes in the hospital room. Wait, hospital room? What am I doing here? Where am I? The last time my eyes were open I was in the forest, in the clearing. How did I end up here? The panic starts to seep in, my mind begins to panic, thinking that I am back in the Royal Pack grounds. No, I can't be. It's impossible, my heart rate begins to palpitate and I feel the panic becoming more overwhelming.
"Where, where... where am I?" I gasp in between my breaths which have become laboured as I try to push myself up from the bed.
"Woah woah..." The doctor ushers as he gestures with him hands for me to relax. I feel his hands gently grasp my shoulder and putting some force in his actions so that I am still lying in the bed. "You are safe your highness. You are in the Lumos pack, no harm will come to you here." He says with a gently smile. I couldn't help but feel the tension leave my shoulders.
"I just need to do some observations, you passed out and have been unconscious for about a day now." He goes to grasp my wrist, trying to find my pulse. I can't help but pull my wrist away, knowing the real reason why I was unconscious had nothing to do with my health but rather the vision, the dream I had was.
"Please, let go. I am fine." I sigh and rub my wrist with my free hand.
"Your highness, please I must insist-" The doctor begins to rattle.
"Please." I clench my eyes close. "Stop with the formalities, it's Ryan. My name is Ryan." I explain.
It is time that I start acknowledging my place, my role in this world. I am not the crown prince. I am not the rightful heir to the throne. I am nothing but a fraud and it is time to accept my fate. My thoughts go back to the dinner that I had with my mother and father, I mean Alexander. I remember snubbing Leyla when she was talking about respecting the omegas of the pack and the person I believed to be my father simply said what an amazing Luna she would be. I can't help but silently chuckle at how right he was. Everything about her was perfect for the role of Luna, perfect for the role of being the future Queen.
Ryan snap out of it. Reginald scolds. You have all the time in the world to reminisce if we are able to complete our goal. Now, don't ignore the doctor and get Beta Reed in here as soon as possible. I have a plan.
Reed? Why Reed of all people? Shouldn't we seek help from Alexander or Alpha Reaper? I query.
No! Reginald exclaims. They will have something else to deal with and we don't know what influence your mother has on Alexander still. Even if they are not mates, they are still bonded. There are still things that we don't understand about their connection and that could put Leyla at risk.
"Doctor, I need you to do something for me. It requires urgent attention." I explain.
"But your high-, Ryan. Your health is extremely important to us. You are my priority at the moment." The doctor states firmly.
"No, I have something more pressing to attend to. I will refuse treatment until I have an audience with Beta Reed."
"But-" The doctor tries to intercept.
"NO! I need to see Reed immediately, so if you want to treat me, you will bring him to me urgently." With that I turn my face in the opposite direction and stare at the blank white wall that is in front of me. All I can hear is the huff of breath of the doctor and his retreating steps as he exits the room.
Why Beta Reed out of all people? I'm pretty sure he hates me. How do you know he will even help us? I exasperate.
He doesn't hate you, he's irritated by you, you hurt his niece. Whether it was intentional or not, he will still help you. Reginald explains.
How do you know? I question.
Because he loves big. He has a big heart, a huge heart. He sacrificed his rightful place as an Alpha to protect his sister, he followed her to make sure that she is safe, alive and living. He will continue to do the same until his last breath. He is the only one who is not connected to Alexander, Leyla and Lily through a bond. The bond he holds for his family is one of loyalty and love and self-made. It is something even more powerful than the bond that is shared between mates. If we are to pull off changing what we saw in that vision, we need him. Reginald clarifies.
I can't argue with his reasoning because what he says is the truth, Reed has sacrificed a lot of power for the happiness and safety of his sister. He fought against the odds because he believed and loved his sister. When everyone was cursing her, blaming her, for something she never did. He fought in her corner to keep her alive, he fought against the world with her to prove that she was not a villain. I have no doubt that he will continue to fight for her. The only question is whether he will believe what I have to say.
I don't know how much time passes, how many minutes or hours flies by. All I can do is twiddle with the loose threads of the hospital bed sheet between my fingers. Lost in the thoughts, lost in the despair over what the future holds for me.
"You wanted to see me?" A deep baritone voice echos and bounces of the wall. I can't help but snap my head in his direction.
I let out a sigh of relief as I stare at the man who is the Uncle of my mate. The more time I spend looking at him, the more I recognise the subtle similarities in the physical features he shares with my mate. He has the same dark hair but his is sprinkled with light greys. The same pale skin that has a translucent glow. I can't help but feel the corners of my mouth curve. '
"Do you mind taking a seat?" My voice comes out hoarse. He responds with a curt nod as he occupies the empty seat next to my bed. I turn my body towards him and look at his inexpressive face. "I don't know how or where to start." I hang my head. "All I know is what I have seen and what my wolf is telling me."
I see his brow furrow in confusion at my statement, his eyes shifting between his wolf and his human form, knowing that it isn't just about ourselves but deeply impacts our wolves. I don't know how to start this conversation. I sigh internally, hoping Reginald will be able to do something to help.
Let me take control. Reginald orders and I push myself into the back of my mind. I can feel my eyes darken, as he takes control of my body.
"Hello Reed." My voice is huskier, deeper, stronger. "My name is Reginald and I am Ryan's wolf."
I see Ryan's eyes widen in surprise and shock. "Hello, Reginald." He bows his head in a sign of respect. "I have to say I am quite surprised at your request for an audience with me first. I presume you would have wanted to see your adoptive father or even Leyla, seeing as she is your mate." You can hear the slight sarcasm that lingers in the back of his voice.
Reginald lets out a deep chuckle. "I can understand your view, I know that you hold some hostility towards me. My human has made some huge mistakes, as much as I would have liked to hold my mate, I believe everything has happened for a reason. If he didn't treat Leyla the way she did, she would not have found her destiny, she wouldn't have found her family."
"But destiny is playing a game, one that puts the people we care and love about at risk. It is a risk that we are unwilling to take and I am not scared or afraid to say that we need help if we are to protect the people we love." Reginald states.
"I don't get what that has to do with me." Reed sceptically questions.
"Reed, you love your family. You have devoted your whole life to protecting a sister that was accused of something so horrific." Reginald shakes his head. "Yet you saw past that, you saw the truth, you were able to see past the lies and façades. You have something in you that I trust. You have the ability to help us fight against something that is much bigger than our personal problems. I need your help." Reginald finishes and bows his head.
"I don't understand." His tone is filled with confusion.
"It may sound baffling to you, but when we were unconscious we... we saw something. Something that would kill us all. Something that would destroy your family." Reginald sighs deeply. "What I am saying is that I need your help to fight against destiny, fight to stop what I saw in a vision from becoming a reality."
"How do you know that this dream was real?" Reed asked.
"I just do and I believe it was shown to me to stop it from happening." Reginald replies.
"And you believe that I can stop it?" Reed furrows his brow.
"I believe that you have are key into helping us to avoid that destiny."
"How?" Reed raises one of his eyebrows.
Reginald chuckles. "I may not be the rightful heir to the throne, but I am still a powerful wolf who was destined to lead beside your niece. I have certain talents, a bit like your sister." I can see from Reed's face that he is shocked that we know his sister holds skills and power, when she hasn't verbally shared her secrets with me. "I can see the surprise in your face. Well like I said, like your sister, I have power. Powers that allow me to recognise talented and skilled wolfs."
Reginald looks around the room, his nose flaring, inhaling scents, scouting the area for lingering ears. "Does anyone know your skill? Your power?" He whispers.
"No." Reed responds with a cold glare.
Reginald nods. "That is why I need your help."
Silence filters the room. I can see the clogs ticking. "Tell me, what are you willing to do to save your family?"
"Anything." Reed replies without hesitation.
Reginald's eyes connect with Reed's wolf and it is in that moment that I see a moment passing between the two. One that is understanding that both of them will do anything to protect the ones that they love without hesitation, without question. It's a moment in which two wolves recognise that they need each other is they are to avoid a future that isn't worth living.
"What was your vision?" Reed frowns as he asks the inevitable question that was coming.
Reginald lets out a sigh of relief and begins to explain the painful vision that haunted my dreams. As Reginald shares the secret, the one that would be carried between the two of us, I can almost feel a sense of relief fill my chest at not being burdened with the predicted destiny in front of us. However, I am soon haunted by the painful expression of Reed whose eye well with tears at what could happen if we don't intervene.