Chapter 288 288: Unexpected Awakening

Lyla

Fire. That's what my eyelids felt like—burning, scorching fire.

My body was a collection of aches. It was as if each muscle was woven with pain, and they were currently screaming in protest as I came to consciousness slowly. Even breathing hurt; my lungs were raw as though I'd inhaled smoke for hours.

Despite the pain, I finally forced my eyes open. The light pierced like needles, and I blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of my surroundings. An unfamiliar ceiling came into focus—wooden beams with strange carvings I didn't recognize. The walls were a warm amber color, adorned with handwoven tapestries depicting women all dressed in white, wearing flower crowns on their heads and running through moonlit forests.

Where was I?

My mind felt sluggish as I tried to remember. It was as if it didn't want to put in the work, and the more I tried, the more the back of my head throbbed with pain. But I was able to remember fragments of memories. I remember the shelter in the woods, Clarissa, Beta Jeremy's truck… and then nothing except the pain and fever I was experiencing now.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed my right arm, and I jerked, turning in the direction of the movement. The room spun for a minute, but when it settled, I could see a figure through my hazy vision.

"Lyla? Lyla, can you hear me?"

The voice was familiar, but it sounded so distant, as though it were coming from underwater. I blinked again, forcing my vision to focus on the person gripping my hand.

When my eyes finally adjusted to the vision, I relaxed visibly. It was someone I knew.

"Ramsey?" My voice came out as a croak, barely audible.

It was indeed Alpha Ramsey – The Lycan Leader and my mate, though he looked nothing like the polished, confident leader I remembered. His face was covered in bruises—one eye was swollen, a nasty cut was across his cheekbone, and his lower lip was split. A beard covered his jaw, unusual for a man who'd always kept himself meticulously clean-shaven.

Frown lines lined his forehead, making him look years older than when I'd last seen him.

"Why aren't you getting treated?" I slurred, staring at him.

"Lax is just exhausted, so he's healing slowly, but I'm fine," he smiled. "I don't even remember the injury half the time."

I wanted to ask him why Lax was exhausted, but he beat me to it, squeezing my hand and sighing with relief in his eyes.

We weren't sure you'd wake

drift in and out, some reaching me clearly while others faded into a distant hum. I concentrated, trying to focus on

but you weren't responding... Clarissa said you'd been

underwater quality was receding until

so much, Lyla. When I heard what happened at Blue Ridge, I thought

What happened

I remember, Blue Ridge—Nathan was preparing to attack the White Mountain Region. My eyes widened with fear as the implications of what could be

the Dark One

my muscles protested with pain. Ramsey immediately moved to help me, his hands held me gently as

have I been out?" I asked, trying to lubricate my dry throat with my non-existent

bedside table and held it to my lips. I gulped down the water like

days," he answered. "When

of her name. "Clarissa? Where is

in Jeremy's truck, Clarissa driving while I drifted in

assured me. "She's in the courtyard, getting some fresh air. She's barely left your side these past few

At least one thing had

more alert, I studied his face properly, reaching up to cradle his jaw. My fingers gently traced the outline of a particularly nasty bruise near

Why are you covered

happened at Blue Ridge, but before he

woman entered carrying a bowl of water and a clean towel. It took me a moment to

hair and new lines etched around her eyes and mouth. But her eyes—those warm, knowing eyes—were exactly as I remembered them, and she was dressed like Mother

saw me awake and sitting up, the bowl slipped from her hands, and the water splashed across the wooden floor. The towel

me in a tight embrace, it was so tight I could barely breathe. "Oh, my precious

hands, tears streaming down her cheeks as she examined me. "I thought we'd lost you. When your

me close again, rocking slightly as she had when I was

sage—brought a lump to my throat. But she has

up with an amused grin on his face. Our gaze met over Nanny's shoulders,

Nanny needed

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