Fenris

I don't know how much time passes by but soon the early morning rays' flit into the room and I finally get up from the ground to shift back into my human form. Nora's nowhere to be seen. Grabbing a pair of shorts, no doubt kept by her, from the couch, I walk towards the elder's still body and try my best to not lose it, not now.

Quickly, turning and exiting the room before crumbling like a weak person, I enter my mate's room only to stop at the entrance and see Aztec sitting in the chair beside Sierra's still sleeping form. Just like that my temper flares to life.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I can't help but growl. What is his motive here? Go back to your mate!

"You misunderstand my presence here, Prince Fenris. The beta had to go to receive the numerous freed prisoners who arrived with my father, a few hours ago. The Beta female was then called to help some of the frightened females as my mother couldn't soothe all of them at once. That's why me and my mate are here to keep watch on her," he says, quite defensively. When he says, my mate, I notice Avery, sitting in the couch watching our interaction.

The girl looks calm and serene, no jealous or envious emotions. She even projects emotions like acceptance and sympathy. Is she really that indifferent?

My gaze settles on her as she stands up, giving me a small smile and then walks towards her mate, who pulls her slightly behind me. What does he think? I am not a violent person, not to females.

"Prince Fenris. I understand you are in a lot of emotional turmoil at the moment. I suggest you to sit beside your mate while she heals. She hasn't woken up since last night." Avery explains before leading her mate out of the infirmary. I let out a breath and then go sit in the other chair before pulling it to the side of the bed.

I look at her face. Someone's changed her clothes and dressed her in fresh ones. I hope it was her mother who did it. She looks peaceful, almost as if she's sleeping but I know this is not a normal sleep. What's wrong with her? Where's the damn healer! What kind of a pack is this?!

I hear someone enter the room behind me but do not turn to acknowledge her. I just sit beside my mate, without touching her. I am scared that anyone's touch would harm her instead of helping and I can't let her be harmed anymore. I can live without elder Raoul but I can't even think of living without my mate.

"I know you need to mourn, Fenris. But we don't have time. Xanthos is not dead. He might come back. We need to call Alarick and inform him." Nora's voice penetrates into my head and I only nod to acknowledge it.

"Where is their healer?" I ask her calmly. I want to be angry but all I feel at this moment is a very keen sense of devastation. Somewhere in my mind, I am scared that she won't wake up. Her fragile body and skin tone resemble so much to that of elder Raoul's that it's painful to look at her and not breakdown.

I feel my fingers tremble with the need to hold her and kiss her. I never want to let her go even if I have to tie her to myself. If only she wakes up and flashes her bright smile.

"The healer is on his way, Fenris. I came to warn you. I can't keep a body unaffected from decomposition for long periods. It's better if we cremate him here and then catch a flight from here to the neutral territory. There we can have Fridolf look at Sierra. I don't trust anyone here," she speaks and I agree with her. I don't know these people, except for Sierra's parents. Apart from them, I wouldn't trust anyone with my mate's life.

"Let their healer have a look at her and then we'll leave. Okay?" I say.

"How are we going to reach there. I don't think we can use human airplanes," she whispers. I should call Alpha Chris, maybe he has a personal Aircraft? Or maybe he can rent one for me. I don't want to involve the humans, here. The commotion might hint our presence to Xanthos who's still on the run. That bastard!

"May I come in?" We both turn to look at a man with blond hair and beard looking at us with slightly red eyes.

Ah! Dominic.

"Yes. What are you doing here?" I ask unable to understand why he purposely came into the werewolf territory. He could have contacted me later with a call.

"I came to know that the princess is here, healing. I knew you would be here too. That's why I am here," he explains and then walks to stand beside me. He looks at Sierra's still form and then keeps a heavy hand on my shoulder, giving a slight squeeze. His cold fingers do not startle me at all. I am that numb right now.

"When did you meet her?" I ask. If he was kept prisoner then how did he know about her?

"We were kept in the neighbouring cells. She's brave," he whispers and I detect a hint of pride along with a deep sense of curiosity towards my mate.

Before, I can answer or question him, a long hiss is heard and I turn to see Alpha Christopher standing in the doorway looking at Dominic.

"Alpha. Dominic's my friend. We have more important matters here," I snap, irritated now. Where is the healer?

"I apologise, Prince. Our healer is here to look at your mate. I would also like to assure you that it will be an honour for us to have the elder cremated in our land. It will forever be preserved as a place of reverence," he whispers, walking into the infirmary, a tall and lanky man following him.

"Okay," I reply, already making the decision of cremating elder Raoul here. I don't want to disturb his body much.

The healer walks anxiously towards my mate, taking note of her still form.

"May I?" he asks and I nod, afraid that if I open my mouth, only growls will slip out. Why is he so late?

He sets about checking my mate's pulse and then for temperature changes. I look away focusing my gaze on Dominic who looks at the pack conditions with barely concealed amusement.

Goddess! The pack's condition is not good at all.

I understand some Alphas being very rigid in their old beliefs but I didn't expect it from Alpha Chris. Alpha Conan perhaps but never Alpha Chris. He appeared very laid back when he came to visit for the Allegiance meeting.

"She appears to be fine and in deep sleep. Other than that, I am not able to deduce anything. Maybe she has slipped into a healing sleep," the healer whispers and then walks back to stand beside his Alpha.

Dominic shifts from behind me and then goes to stand opposite to me, beside my mate. I look at him questioningly but he just shakes his head and then bends his head to touch my mate's forehead.

I am quickly out of my chair realising his move. What's he doing?

"Calm down, Fenris. I am just getting a feel of her emotions. You know I have great affinity to detect even the slightest of pains," he mutters narrowing his eyes at me but I only shrug.

I cannot trust him with my mate's life on line. Never!

"Do it fast and no need to go near her face. Hold her hand," I mutter with ill-concealed anger. Dominic only looks amused.

"I can't do that, Fenris. I understand your concern, my friend but be assured. I would never harm someone else's mate," he says sincerely making me pause my growls. I look at him gauging his sincerity and then back down a little. Standing beside my mate's bed, I take her hand in mine and watch Dominic.

I do not acknowledge other people's gaze on my friend's form. The alpha and his healer are both stiff in their stance, clearly uncomfortable with the vampire's presence.

Nora is nowhere to be seen and I understand, she cannot stand the presence of vampires. They have a mutual relationship build on hate.

"Take her home and cover her in your scent. Maybe then she'll heal faster. Remember, she suffered terribly at the hands of Xavier and Xanthos. When Xavier forcefully removed your mark from her skin, I could barely stop him from hurting her. Xavier sensed me helping her and then had me removed from the neighbouring cell," he speaks calmly but I sense how much pain he must have gone through, being an empath like me. I can shut off my mind from absorbing other's emotions now that I have my mate as an anchor but he cannot.

I nod, then look out for Nora. Dominic moves back and comes to stand beside me.

"I have a private jet available for you. It's ready whenever you are," he says and once again I am made to acknowledge this vampire's age and experience. I nod at him gratefully just when Nora makes her entrance while talking on the phone.

She walks straight towards me and Dominic shifts almost immediately to walk out of her way, grimacing a little.

"Here, elder Alarick wants to talk to you," she says handing me the phone and ignoring the vampire prince's presence.

"Hello, elder."

"Fenris. Elder Ernouf has been poisoned. Cremate elder Raoul's body in Samara Pack and then leave the pack. Alpha Christopher will take care of the rest of the people till they are transferred to the neutral territory. I want you to come here as soon as possible, okay?"

"Yes, elder. I will be there." Giving back the phone to Nora, I look at Alpha Chris knowing that he heard the call clearly.

"We heard, all the necessary arrangements for the cremation are ready. Please follow me," he nods at me but I don't follow looking back at where my mate's sleeping. I don't want to leave her alone.

"I'll be here Fenris. You go." I look at Sierra's mother as she walks into the room, looking tired and exhausted. Looking back at my mate's still form I quickly check her for my own reassurance and then make my way out of the infirmary.

~~~~~~~~~~

"I am ready when you are," assures Dominic before walking out of my mate's room. It's early morning now and I have just returned from cremating the elder's body.

I still remember the flames engulfing my mentor's body. The only person who dared take me under his wing when I ran away from my adoptive family. He was the only one who stood by my side when no one was. He was the one who taught me to fight, to learn all those things that a ruler should. He helped me all the way, every time.

So far, I have managed to keep a lid on my emotions, on my grief but seeing my mate's deteriorating condition, all my resolve crumbles into dust.

I can't stand to look at her greying skin. She's too thin, too hollow. Her earlier curves gone. She looked better when she was awake, when she was distracting Xavier, before falling into this non-healing sleep. No matter what the healer of this pack says, I know that this is not healing. Not even close.

Letting out a huge breath of near-defeat, I walk towards my mate and lift her feather like body close to my chest, kissing her hair once and then walk out of the room. Sierra's parents stand before me, looking at me with pleading eyes and I know what they are going to ask, I still wait for them to talk.

"Please, let us come with you. I need to be near my daughter, Prince Fenris." Her mother's pleading tone is unsettling.

"Do not call me Prince. You are my mate's mother and I wouldn't expect you to stay away from your daughter," I say and as expected, see both the parents exhale a sigh of relief.

"Thank you. We have asked Alpha Chris and he's working on transporting most of the prisoners to the neutral territory."

I nod and start walking towards the car. Out of my periphery, I watch Cayden walking towards me. There's a woman with him but she's on a wheel chair. She's unusually frail, with her bones sticking out of her skin. Her red hair, lying lifeless on her shoulders. She's clearly exhausted, her dull brown eyes speaking their own story of neglect but I see a sense of determination when she looks ahead.

She's Xavier's true mate but there's not even a hint of Xavier-like malignance in her aura. Her emotions are all muted but I still sense, happiness and most abundantly, relief. She's relieved that she's away from that hell.

I'll make sure that she lives her life as Cayden's mother and not as some shameful being's mate.

As if sensing my gaze on her, she looks up at me but her eyes rest on the thin bundle in my arms. She smiles only slightly and then moves her eyes around, as if looking for someone.

"I heard there's a vampire here, Cayden?" she asks her son who immediately bends down to whisper something in her ears.

"He's here but I don't know him. There are two males and one female vampire, ma," he whispers.

"Okay. Take me to the prince," she says and Cayden rolls the wheelchair towards me. I wait patiently for them, curious now to hear what this lady wants.

As soon as Cayden stops the wheelchair in front of me, the lady starts to get up and shoos off any help that her son offers, standing up on her feet with determination. She then looks at me and bends her head to one side, showing respect. My wolf is curious too especially when I don't scent the wilderness in her. She's a werewolf but doesn't seem to have an active wolf. Is she dormant?

I don't let my curiosity shine in my eyes and wait for the woman to speak.

"Hello, my prince. My name is Christine. I am honoured to meet the offspring of my cousin brother-by-mating. I would wish to ask for a favour. May I?"

"It is my pleasure to meet you, Christine. No need to use such formal language. I'll do my best to help you," I reply. She's brave, fragile looking but unbelievably strong. The years of abuse and neglect shines clearly in her eyes as well as in her emotions. She's been neglected that's why she's so formal in asking a favour.

"I have nowhere to go. My mate's dead and it's good that the world isn't tainted by that being anymore. I just wish for a place to live where my Cayden and I can live. We wouldn't interfere in anyone's life," she says and I sense great anguish from her.

"You'll come with me, Christine. I promise, no one will harm you and you'll live your life with the honour you and your son deserve," I say and smile to assure her. She nods and I see her eyes glistening with tears but she's so strong that she doesn't let them fall. Nodding her head, she sits back down on the chair, allowing her son to take her into the waiting car. Cayden smiles gratefully before walking away.

I walk towards the borrowed car which was brought by Dominic and settle my mate in the backseat. She's still asleep. Her mother settles inside with Sierra's head on her lap whereas her father takes up the driver's seat. I've been given an order by my mother-by-mating to rest till we reach the nearest airport so I walk towards the front passenger's seat when I feel someone calling me.

"Hey, wait."

I turn to look at Dominic who's looking around and walking instead of running at full speed. It seems that he's searching for some lost thing.

"Yes, Dominic? You look like you lost something," I ask.

"Yes actually, I did, more than two decades ago."

I look at him, confused by his riddle talk. He doesn't ever let a chance go by to show me how much older he is than me.

"What are you talking about?"

"I met your cousin. Blue eyes, dark brown hair. I want to see him," he says, still looking around.

"He's Cayden. He's there in that car which just drove off. Do you know each other?"

"He doesn't but I do. Thanks. I'll see you later," he says and then runs off full speed behind the car. Shaking my head at the absurdity of the chat, I make sure that all of the people going with us to the neutral territory have left before getting into the car.

Cayden's gone. Nora and Calum also left. Alcina, I don't know where the girl is but I did smell her while fighting with Xavier, so she must be fine. Dmitriy and his mate have also returned back to their homeland after ensuring that Dominic was safe and well.

Only if Sierra were awake and well, I would have been ecstatic to return home. But it only feels like the quiet before a storm. I don't know if the storm is Xanthos's return or my Sierra's unpredictable health.

~~~~~~

N'fa n'fa!

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