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.

the Moon Goddess. We weren't sure you'd wake

words seemed to drift in and out, some reaching me clearly while others faded into a distant hum.

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

the underwater quality was receding until I could finally

happened at Blue Ridge, I thought I'd

What happened

to attack the White Mountain Region. My eyes widened with fear as the implications of what could be the aftermath

already happened? Did the Dark

immediately attempted to sit up, but my muscles protested with pain. Ramsey immediately moved to help me, his hands held me gently as he propped

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

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

he

to full alertness at the mention of her name. "Clarissa? Where is she? Is she

truck, Clarissa driving while I drifted in and out of consciousness. Had we

the courtyard, getting some fresh air. She's barely left

At least one

against the pillows. Now that I was more alert, I studied his face properly, reaching up to cradle his jaw. My fingers gently traced the outline of a particularly nasty

Why

He still hadn't told me what happened at Blue Ridge, but before he could answer, the

entered carrying a bowl of water and a clean towel. It took

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

and sitting up, the bowl slipped from her hands, and the water splashed across the

gathered me in a tight

her cheeks as she examined

again, rocking slightly as she had when

sage—brought a lump to

an amused grin on his face. Our gaze met over Nanny's shoulders, and he winked at

that Nanny needed this moment.

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