Chapter 22
Liora
*s**t, s**t, shit.” Luke is beside me, scooping me into his arms as I silently scream into his shoulder, the pain
so intense that no sound can form.
“Liora, I know you can hear me so listen,” Luke says sternly, his worry for me radiating off of him in waves.
“I am going to link Maya and ask her if you have dealt with the pain of rejection and banishment. I need to know so I can help you.”
I try to say something, to stop him, but the feeling of flames lick at my heart, causing me to be unable to
breathe for a moment.
“f**k!” Luke curses, carrying me past the other side of the willow tree. My fingers clench at his shirt, the fabric tearing as my body jerks from an onslaught of pain. I can feel the broken bond fizzling. Feel it burning and screaming inside me. I held back the pain for far too long, and am now facing the consequences.
“Luke!” As he is putting me in the passenger side of his jeep, we hear Maya call out to him. Luke turns and lets out a sigh of relief.
“I felt her pain in our bond. What is wrong with Liora?” she asks, as she appears in front of me. Her hands cup my face, and I realize that Maya is wiping tears away.
“Liora, what happened?” she asks, her own eyes filling with tears. Her touch is calming, soothing, and it helps push the pain back for a moment. I finally can breathe easier, and take a moment to catch my breath.
“I…I pushed back the pain to be strong, like you told me to,” I whimper, my voice choked as the pain pushes back and forces me to double over.
“Liora, that was only to get away from Stormclaw. You should have told me this was going on, so we could have dealt with it sooner.” She pulls me against her body, and the rose scent helps to soothe me. Guilt creeps in and I cry harder, no longer feeling ashamed.
A
“I wanted to be somewhere safe to deal with it,” I sob, clutching at Maya’s dress. She says nothing but I can sense that she understands how I feel. Her fingers work quickly but gently to unpin my hair, allowing the blonde curls to fall down my back.
“Luke will take you to your cottage then. You allow the pain to run its course, and I will be there as soon as I can to help you,” Maya states, running her fingers through my hair.
“No offense, Alpha, but you being there won’t help Liora. She needs someone who has been through this pain to help her through it,” Luke steps in, keeping his tone respectful and neutral while speaking to Maya. She growls at him and he backs away, raising his hands in surrender.
“And where do you think we will find a person who has been rejected like Liora?” she asks. I sense motherly love coming through the bond and reach for it. I will cling to anything that helps me to deal with this pain. “Me,” Luke deadpans. Maya stops growling in shock, her body stiffening as she holds me tighter. The pain decides to take control then and there, and I suppress the scream that wants to tear out of my throat. “My mate rejected me for a man she is engaged to. He is the alpha of Ravenwood.”
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Ravenwood.
Why is it always Ravenwood?
First Caroline took my mate, and now her father took Luke’s. I swear that if I do not die from the pain coursing through me, one day I will kill every Ravenwood wolf and destroy that pack for good.
“I see. Then take my goddaughter, and help her.” Maya slowly releases me, helping me to lay down in the seat, and presses a kiss to my forehead.
+9 Points>
“You can survive this, Liora. You are strong,” she whispers, wiping away more tears that fall from my eyes. The driver–side door opens and Luke climbs in, as Maya helps to buckle the seat belt over me, her worried and tear–filled eyes never leaving mine.
“You survive this, and then we grow Ivory Fangs and become stronger together.” I nod at her final words as she places one last kiss on my forehead. She backs away and closes the door, and within seconds the jeep is speeding away. Without Maya’s touch helping to push the pain back, it returns with a vengeance. I scream, my body curling into the fetal position as I try to focus on surviving this.
“Hang in there, Liora. We are almost to your cottage.” Luke places a hand on my shoulder. The pain does not retreat like it did with Maya, and now I understand why it has to be him to help me. He has been through this pain. It recognizes him and knows he will not push it back. I am glad for that, as the longer the pain is pushed back, the more it hurts me.
The jeep stops, and Luke disappears. It feels like an eternity filled with fire and darkness deep inside me before he returns. He carefully untangles the seat belt from my prone body, before scooping me into his arms. The cool summer air changes to the scent of burning pine and warmth, and it is then that I realize just how cold my body has become.
“Liora, listen to me.” Luke sits in front of a fireplace with me still in his arms. I find myself turning to cling to him as another bout of pain bursts inside my body, feeling like it is shattering my bones.
“You held onto the pain for seventeen days. It is going to hurt so bad, you wish you were dead. But don’t let it kill you. You allow it to wreak havoc, and accept it, and it will eventually fade away till there is no longer anything left,” he continues to explain, running his hands through my hair. I nod, as fire licks at my heart.. again and let out a howl of pain. Luke waits patiently until my howl ends, pulling me closer and cooing to me until I lay on top of him, unmoving. I can feel the pain gearing up for another attack.
“You will be in and out of consciousness when it gets worse. You won’t remember much of anything but the pain, but I will be here, making you drink water and protein shakes. You need to drink them to keep your strength up to survive this. Do you understand?” I nod against his shoulder and take a deep breath, about to say something when a stabbing pain shoots through my abdomen. I clutch onto Luke, unable to breathe or say anything. He rubs my back, the action lasting for a few seconds before I gasp in a breath.
“You are doing good, Liora. Just let it happen, and it will be over soon.” His voice sounds distorted, and it clicks inside my mind that this is just the start. I can feel the pain building, and shudder.
The storm inside me is about to begin. I just hope that I wake up on the other side of it stronger, and alive.
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