I stroke his soft brown hair, almost in a trance. There are too many things on my mind right now and I'm literally breaking down. I can't withstand all this by myself. Right now, at this very moment, I need my mate more than ever. I haven't felt this way ever since the day I became an orphan. The day I lost my grandmother.
It's been hours since the war died down. Its almost eleven in the night and Xalvador isn't up yet. I don't even know if he will be. His wounds aren't healing yet and he is still as a corpse.
I took care of a few things in the past few hours. I thanked Kane and realized that he is back to being his old self again, only he doesn't hate Xalvador or me anymore. I made sure all the wounded wolves got proper treatment and food. Marcel brought the women and children back, all of them safe and sound. Seeing them rejoining and crying for their mates made me smile and broke my heart at the same time. The funeral for all the wolves and enemies is scheduled for tomorrow morning. And it kills me when I think that Xalvador might be one of them. No no!
I shake my head as I clear my thoughts. I can't lose hope. Not on him. Not on Maisie. I lay my head on the bed, by his ear, my hands still entwined with his.
"Come back to me Xal. I know you're too tired but once you try, you will heal fast. Listen to my voice, come back to me Xalvador. I can't lose you after everything. This pack needs you, I need you. Just fight it okay? Every time you feel like giving up, follow my voice and remind yourself that I'm waiting for you. Your sugar bun." I keep whispering until I feel my eyes drooping.
After what seems like an eternity, I feel his finger graze the back of my hand ever so slightly, I doubt if the movement even happened.
I jolt up and look at him, desperate and hopeful. When I almost think I was dreaming about the movement, his eyes flutter. I gasp as he slowly wakes up. His fingers enclose around my hand and I smile with tears brimming my eyes. I see slight color return to his face as the wounds finally start healing!
"You're alive. You made it!" I cry as I hug him. And just like that, every nerve in my body is alive again. Fiana is back, dancing in happiness. I feel complete. That is the power of the mate bond. He groans and I realize what I'm doing. But as I try to pull back, he hugs me back tighter and I smile again.
"I was so afraid I'd lose you," I whisper, crying now.
"Me too baby," Xalvador replies in a raspy voice and the sound is music to my ears.
Within minutes, I see him recovering. Being an Alpha, he heals faster than an average wolf and that is something I'm so grateful for! He sits up and I force him to eat. We both eat and then I hug him again. His lips skim over my mark and I close my eyes in bliss.
"I love you sugar bun."
"And I love you," I say as I look at him, alive and smiling again.
"Everything is going to be alright now." He says as he places a kiss on my lips. His words hit me hard as I realize just how wrong he is.
"Hey hey hey, what's wrong?" Xalvador asks with concern as I cry. Not with happiness this time.
"It's Maisie," I answer as I recall my meeting with her a few hours ago.
"Not for long. I'm not gonna be here for long." She whispers.
"Maisie what are you talking about?!" I exclaim, confused wondering if she was joking.
"I'm exhausted, Arabella. I feel like my soul has left my body, the spell did it. I feel lifeless and I can't move."
"No no no shut up okay! You're my best friend and you are not dying. You are gonna fight through this and live. I'll get you some food." I state and get up. Maisie's fingers wrap around mine and I halt.
"No Arabella, there are some things I wanna do. Many things I wanna say. Stay, please. I don't know how long-"
"Maisie just shut up already alright! I said you are not dying. You are up which is a good sign and now you're gonna be fine. You just need to eat and heal okay?" I admonish her with a glare but deep down, her words have scared the hell out of me. And even though I act strong, I pray to the Moon that not a word of her turns out to be true.
"Okay but please don't go. Sit." She pleads, patting the space beside her.
"But Maisie you need to eat and-"
"Please." She says again and I sigh and sit down.
"I am so glad that we became friends." She says, holding my hand and I shake my head furiously.
"Why are you telling me all this right now? You can say this some other time too." I say sternly and she shakes her head with a sad smile.
"I'm not so sure." She says.
"But I am."
"Don't be."
"Maisie-"
"No please, let me talk while I can. You are the strongest and kindest person I know. And we are damn lucky to have gotten a Luna like you. And I was so scared of you before and never did I ever think that we'll end up being such close friends."
"You are my best friend Masie, not just a close friend." I quickly correct and she smiles. A tear slips from her eye and I quickly wipe it out. She places a hand on my stomach and I frown in confusion. She closes her eyes and chants something. I ask her what she is doing but she doesn't reply. She squirms and writhes as she chants and I try to stop her. I protest a lot but Maisie doesn't stop until a few minutes later, she opens her eyes and smiles with... content.
"Maise what did you just do?" I ask.
"You'll know when the time comes." She replies satisfied and I frown. She doesn't continue and I don't push. She needs to rest. We sit in silence for a while and I don't like it. Maisie doesn't look like she is feeling anything. She says she is fine but I can see she isn't. I decide to diverge her thoughts, hoping it will motivate to fight the pain.
"So you remember the first time we met? You were so frightened and Xalvador... " I begin, reminding all the funny memories. Maisie laughs at each one, adding her own point of views and I laugh as well. We stop after a while and I stand.
"Listen now best friend, I gotta go and take care of some business but you promise me that you'll stay strong. I'll check on you later alright?" I ask and she nods. Suddenly she is crying and I frown.
"Maisie what's wrong?" I ask and help her sit up. She hugs me and I hug her back.
"I'm so glad I found you," She whispers between sobs and my stomach tightens again. Why is she saying all this? I told her she will be fine!
"Maisie-"
"I love you, Arabella. I'll always protect you. And maybe someday somehow, we'll meet again." She says sadly and I cry too. I just don't like it. Whatever she means, I don't like it.
"What are you-" I begin to say but a voice cuts me off.
"Luna?" I hear Liam's voice and turn to the door. He comes in and takes a seat beside Maisie. Maisie smiles at him and he kisses her, gleaming with joy to see her sitting all fine. I smile as they embrace and soundlessly leave the room.
"She will be fine baby. She is just very weak and that is messing with her head." Xalvador reassures me after I tell him everything. I nod with hope and optimism, trying to convince myself that unlike every time, Maisie is wrong- just this one time.
"Let's sleep alright? You can meet her as soon as you wake up. Its too late." Xalvador says and I nod hesitantly. I have this huge urge to go and check once more if she is okay. But I help Xalvador lay down again and I lay down beside him. His embrace offers me comfort beyond I can describe and I find myself drifting off to sleep.
It's barely dawn when I wake up, feeling something... bad. I look at Xalvador and sigh as he sleeps peacefully with his body much more healed than last night. I hop out of my bed and run to Maisie's room. I enter and find her sleeping too with her body wrapped with Liam's.
I kick myself mentally. How stupid of me to disturb them so early in the morning. I'm about to leave when I notice something. I go closer and gasp. A huge blackish red mark is on Maisie's neck. Liam marked her! Wow, this is so great.
"Maisie!" I whisper excitedly, hoping not to stir Liam's sleep.
"Hey lazy bum, wake up. I want all the juicy details from last night!" I squeal near her ear and she doesn't budge. Liam moves and suddenly jolts up. He looks at me and frowns.
"I'm sorry, I just came check up on Maisie but then I saw the mark and had to stop," I say sheepishly and he grins.
"Maisie wake up!" I shout but she doesn't budge. That's weird. She has never been a heavy sleeper.
"Maisie? Maisie wake up!" Liam urges frantically and there is no reply. He shakes her and suddenly stops. His face goes pale and I frown.
"Liam what happened?!" I ask frantically.
"She's cold." He says and I feel my stomach turn into knots. I raise my shivering hand to Maisie's body and gasp as I feel nothing but coldness. I don't feel her pulse and my steps falter backward in shock and overwhelmedness.
"My mate is gone. Just like she said she would be." Liam states as if in a trance and I fall to the ground, screaming Maisie's name as my whole world comes crashing down.
She wasn't just crazy last night. She was right.
You guys have to understand, some things just can't end all happy. What Maisie did was no easy task and now she is gone. This chapter made me cry. And I literally feel like I've lost my own best friend. I never knew that while on this journey of The Werewolf Clash, I had grown so attached to Maisie. I feel horrible but happy endings can't just happen everywhere.
Vote and comment if you liked this chapter.
P.S- Wait for the epilogue.