Hold on, Hayes.” I mutter, crawling over to him.His eyes don’t move from her, the grotesque way her body looks as it hangs there, various parts of her impaled on branches. It’s not until I move in his line of sight that I see any genuine emotion from him. His void eyes slowly blink as he looks at me like he has no idea who I am.”Kill me.” He garbles out, his words gutting me as my anger grows.”Not a chance in hell,” I grit out.His blistering hand reaches up as he tries to grab my shirt, his fingers unwilling to bend to his will as he grunts in pain. It drops like a heavy rock to the ground.”Please,” he whispers, his breathing ragged and sounding full of emotion.”No.” I growl, unable to control myself or the hurt in my chest. “We are family. You are my brother. I will get you through this, we will get you through this, Colette and I will.”He turns his face away from me, a sob in chest as he refuses to speak anymore. I stand, bending low as I grunt and hoist him up. His skin squishes against me and he cries out in agony as I try to adjust to how I grip him. Once he seems calm and I have a better hold, I take off running, the warrior just ahead of me, leading the way.Warriors stop and stare, their eyes filled with sorrow and worry as they see their beta in my arms, deformed and unmoving. I look around, hoping for Brandy when I see Colette walk out. She stops in her tracks when she sees me. For a moment I wait for her to cry or panic. I half expect her to rush over and ask for information.”Percy,” she calls out, looking behind her. “Grab the healers and send for Calvin.” Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the Findηovel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.”Calvin?” I ask her, confused as she moves over to me. “I thought…””Oh Hayes,” she whispers, looking at him in my arms, and then she touches my biceps in the most loving and reassuring way. “He will be okay, Merikh.””Alpha,” A healer rushes out, his eyes growing wide when he sees the state of Hayes, but instead of speaking, he takes him from me.Everything seems to move at hyper speed around me. One moment they are taking him from me and the next I am seated in the living room trying to understand what is taking so long. Colette’s thumb rubs up and down the top of my hand, her arm tucked around mine as she snuggles into my side.”How is it this is the most normal thing we have done our entire relationship, and it is under the most terrifying circumstances?” I mutter and chuckle dryly to myself.”It’s the first time it feels like life has come to a halt.” She whispers back, her voice raw. I look down at her, taking a minute to appreciate that even in her hurting, she is here comforting me. Colette shows me once again not only how considerate she is, but how strong she is.”How are you? Truly?” I ask her. My free hand comes up to gently stroke her cheek and she leans into it. She then pauses and says nothing until she exhales heavily and tilts her chin up to look at me. “Horrible.” her voice squeaks, tears brimming her eyes, and she pulls her lips to an impossibly sweet little smile. “But at least I have you. And hopefully, Leandra will be around soon to help him heal.”I wince and she notices as I look away, realizing how much I have failed my brother and his now deceased mate.”What?” she asks, rising on the couch as she looks me over for injury, her hands lifting my shirt, searching for something that isn’t there.”I am fine,” I exhale, grabbing her hands and tugging her to me.”Then why do you look like you are getting cut open when I ask about Leandra?” She asks.”She is dead, Colette.” The words feel wrong as they slip from my lips. Her eyes grow wide before they soft and her shoulders droop.”But you said…I thought you meant she was severely injured and couldn’t be moved. That is why he looked catatonic.” She murmurs to herself.”I need to collect her body,” I say,releasing her and standing. Fuck, if Hayes knew I left her like that, he would never forgive me. Hell, I would never forgive him for it, either. [left my brother’s mate’s dead body spiked to a fucking tree. What kindof asshole just forgets that kindbody? get her”It has already been taken care of, Alpha. Leandra’s body is being cleaned up and prepared for when Hayes is ready to return her to the moon goddess.” Percy says as he pauses at the doorway. “Poor Hayes,” Colette exhales.”Do you think he will be okay?” Percy asks, as he enters the room with a tray. He crosses in front of us, placing it down on the coffee table and then stands.”I don’t know,” I admit, the very thought that Hayes might very well never recover looms over me. He is the sunshine-y one. The one with expert advice and who has been with me through my worst times. “Eat,” Percy demands. But the very thought of food makes my stomach churn violently as I taste bile.”Maybe a little later,” I mumble, trying to keep the bile from inching further up my throat as it burns its way up into my tastebuds.”The only thing that kept me goingthe weeks after losing Penny is everyone forcing food on me.” He gives a tight-lipped smile and gesture’s to the plate. “I would say to go take a shower, but it seems like a pointless suggestion since I’ve said it at least six times and received no answer. So instead, eat. Both of you.” “I’m not hungry,” Colette says softly, her voice sounding a little numb.”Percy sounds more like he is demanding rather than asking.” I tell her and she blinks at the tray.”Sorry, Alpha and Luna, but I won’t leave until you try something on the tray.” He insists. I shoot him a glare and he pretends to not see it as he looks away at a spot on the ceiling. Colette frowns at the plate of food, then her stomach lets out a raging howl for something to eat. With a small sad smirk, I lean forward and grab a few slices of cheese and hand them to her, nibbling on my own.”Alpha,” Calvin says gently, his eyes soft and full of sorrow as he steps into the living room. Colette and I jump up, her hand entwining with mine as we support each other.”Well?” I ask him, a wad of cheese lodging in my throat as I try to swallow.”He is alive, and it seems he will survive his injuries, but he…” he pauses and drags his hand down his face. “He will forever bear the scar of the dragon’s flame on his body.” “Scarring is nothing compared to life.” I sigh in relief. Colette gives my hand a gentle squeeze.”It is not his physical health that I am worried about, Merikh.” He says, lowering his voice. “He is in shock, I think, or something similar, and he refuses to speak or acknowledge anyone’s presence. It would be best to not press him anytime soon.””And Leandra’s body?” Colette asks.Calvin cleans his throat and scratches the back of his neck in thought. Then he exhales deeply and shakes his head.”Her death was not swift or painless. She suffered greatly before she died. It is my opinion that your beta was unable to stop what happened and witnessed it. His reserved and mournful state would make more sense.””He blames himself?” I ask him, licking my dry lips.”Of course he does,” Colette says softly. “How could he not? It’s Hayes.11I look between the two of them with me and then I chew on the inside of my cheek.”Do you think he will recover fully over time?” I ask him, and Calvin shakes his head. “The only way to be sure is to wait.”
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