Victoria stared at the dagger in her hand, her face pale with shock. The weight of Zayn’s challenge hung heavy in the air as the entire pack watched, frozen in disbelief.
She pushed the dagger back to him, “Have you gone mad, Alpha?”
“No, I have not,” He spoke calmly, eyes blazing with fury.
Zayn held onto the dagger as he addressed everyone, “I am your Alpha. Lily is my mate, my chosen Luna. If you think it’s right to cut her, then cut me too.”
No one moved. The silence was deafening. No one dared to meet his gaze. Zayn walked forward, holding out the dagger to various pack members. Some retreated, taking a few steps back as soon as he came close.
No one dared to take it.
“You didn’t hesitate to hurt her, but none of you dare to raise a hand against me.” His voice grew louder with each word, “If she bleeds, I bleed. If she suffers, I suffer. That is what it means to be mates! Two souls, intertwined together as one unit. Inseparable.”
Zayn’s head began to spin. His outburst caused a surge of adrenaline through his wounded body. He suddenly doubled over, doubled over, a violent cough wracking his frame. Blood spattered onto the ground before him, shocking the crowd into gasps and murmurs.
“Alpha!” Ezra rushed forward, catching Zayn’s arm. “You need to return to the infirmary now. Your wounds...”
Zayn wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand as he looked over at Lily’s frail form. “Not without her.”
“Zayn, —” Ezra began.
“I said not without her!” Zayn snapped, shaking off his Beta’s steadying hand.
Zayn mustered every last bit of strength he had. He gently scooped her into his arms and cradled her close to his chest. Her blood soaked through his shirt, now inseparable from his own.
“Clear the way,” Ezra ordered the crowd, who parted immediately.
Zayn staggered forward, his face set in grim determination. Each step was pure agony, but he pressed on. Lily’s head lolled against his shoulder, her breathing shallow and weak.
“Let me help you,” Ezra offered, reaching for Lily.
“No.” Zayn’s voice was steel. “I’ve got her.”
The walk to the infirmary seemed endless. Twice, Zayn nearly collapsed, his vision blurring at the edges. But each time, he steadied himself, drawing on reserves of strength he didn’t know he possessed. Ezra hovered nearby, ready to catch them both if Zayn fell.
By the time they reached the infirmary, Talia was waiting, her face etched with worry.
“Put her here,” she directed, pointing to a clean hospital bed.
Zayn approached the bed and carefully lowered Lily onto it. As he straightened, the room tilted violently around him. The last thing he saw was Lily’s pale face before darkness claimed him, and he collapsed beside her on the bed.
“Zayn!” Talia and Ezra cried out simultaneously.
“We need to move him,” Kael, suggested as he rushed to Zayn’s side. He’d heard what happened and rushed over to offer assistance.
Talia nodded, ready to move Zayn. But when she took a closer look at their wounds, she held Kael back.
‘Wait,” She pointed out ot them, “Look at their wounds.”
Where Zayn’s arm had fallen across Lily’s, the bleeding from both their wounds had slowed noticeably. A faint glow emanated from where their skin touched.
“They’re healing together,” Talia whispered in disbelief.
“Perhaps we shouldn’t separate them?” Kael asked with uncertainty.
Talia nodded. “We’ll work around them.”
Talia and Kael worked tirelessly. Cleaning wounds, applying salves, and monitoring vital signs. True to Talia’s observation, Zayn and Lily seemed to heal faster next to each other. Their breathing synchronized, and the color gradually returned to both their faces.
Talia glanced over at the bowl of Lily’s blood that the pack member had brought over earlier.
“Is that necessary now? He seems to be healing,” Kael commented.
“He’s stabilizing, but he’s not fully healed,” Talia explained hesitantly, “Despite how they obtained this, it’s true. Lily’s blood will help Zayn recover quicker.”
Hearing Lily’s name, Zayn stirred. He opened his eyes, mouthing Lily’s name.
“She’s here,” Talia reassured him. “And she’s going to be okay. But Zayn... you need to drink this.”
Zayn’s eyes fell on the bowl in Talia’s hands, and his face hardened. “No.”
“Zayn, please,” Talia urged. “I know what they did was wrong, but what’s done is done. Don’t let her sacrifice be for nothing.”
Zayn’s jaw clenched as he wrestled with his conscience. He stared at the bowl of dark red liquid, recalling the gaping wound Lily had across her stomach. He remembered the way she looked at him. She mouthed his name with a look in her eyes.
It wasn’t relief because she was about to be rescued. It was because he was alright. Zayn looked over at Lily’s sleeping form, huddled close to him. Her shallow breaths of air seemed strained but steady.
‘Don’t let her sacrifice be for nothing.’ Talia’s words echoed in his mind.
Zayn reached for the bowl. He drank it down swiftly.
“Try to rest,” Talia whispered as she held him lay back down, “Kael and I will take care of the rest.”
For the next few hours, Talia and Kael continued their work, monitoring their patients’ progress. By nightfall, both healers were exhausted but smiling. Both of their conditions had stabilized.
“You both should rest,” Ezra told them.
Talia nodded before adding, “You should too.”
Together, the three of them left the room quietly. Ezra remained in the corridor, watching over them from outside. He promised to get them if anything happened.
But as the night went on, fatigue consumed Ezra. He dozed off in the corridor, sound asleep. Not even a stampede could wake him.
Back in the room, Lily, still unconscious, shifted in her sleep. She turned towards Zayn, drawn to his comforting warmth and scent. Instinctively, she nestled closer to him.
Zayn, who had been rigidly maintaining a small space between them, relaxed in his sleep. His arm curled around her, pulling her close to his chest. Their breathing synchronized, deep, and steady.
Unbeknownst to them, the door to their room creaked open. Someone watched them from the shadows. Someone both of them knew too well. Victoria glared at their sleeping forms with growing disgust.
Her lover, cradling his mute mate in his arms, their bodies fitting together like puzzle pieces. Like they were made for eachother. f r\eew,eb novel.c(o)(m)
She gripped the doorknob, knuckles turning white with the force of her anger. The sight of them together made her stomach twist with jealousy and rage.
“This isn’t over,” she whispered. “Not on my watch.”