"It's been hours," I worried as I gazed down at my unconscious mate, his face expressionless and calm, so much so he almost looked worry-free. That was unusual for Lorenzo.

My eyes trailed down to his neck that was bandaged up, the thick white material keeping the bleeding at bay, matching mine.

I had awoken a few hours ago to find Martina and the doctor looking over me, relieved, fretting about my condition.

They had explained most of what had happened while I was out, Martina informing me that a witch named Paula insisted that I wasn't going to heal unless Lorenzo's mark was also cut from his skin. The thought made me almost vomit.

My chains were gone too, and it was freeing, but, Lorenzo was still trapped in his. I hated that he made the decision to take mine off instead of his own. He had always been so selfless.

I was also concerned that our mate bond had been severed, but, I still felt the sparks when I placed my hand on his. They were fainter and less powerful though, scaring me.

I loved him though. I didn't care if our mate bond wasn't as strong as it had been before, my feelings towards the man in front of me would never change.

Our love was more than the mate bond, and I was praying that he would feel the same.

"Cutting out his mark would have taken a lot out of him, Mia. Don't panic," Doctor Pia tried to reason with me, but I had taken to pacing back and forth in the hospital room.

I was weak, and my bare feet scraped against the cold tiling as my legs struggled to hold my weight. But, I couldn't sit still. I was too anxious.

Ophelia was still on the run, and I was terrified that she was going to strike again and take Lorenzo from me. We had barely got out alive, and it was a miracle that we did.

Greg had saved us. I didn't have faith that he would actually stick to his word, but, he had- for the most part.

Where was he? Had he gone into hiding from Ophelia? It made sense. She would want him dead for betraying her, and she was probably out searching for him, adding another one to her list of people she wanted to murder.

"Mia, maybe Martina should take you for a shower?" suggested Doctor Pia, and I frowned as I gazed at Lorenzo.

I didn't want to leave the room, but I was aware that I was probably stinking it out. I had a thin layer of dirt coating my body, and although I had been told that the doctors had done their best to wipe me down when I was unconscious, there was only so much they could do.

"We'll make it quick," Martina told me, placing her hand on my lower back and guiding me out of the room, my eyes stuck on Lorenzo's lifeless body.

My heart was already beginning to beat out of my chest at the thought of leaving him, and I was frightened he would flatline while I was gone.

Doctor Pia had told me that he was fine though, and he just needed a few hours of rest. His body was much stronger than mine.

I was led into the hospital shower room, and I stripped off, Martina fiddling around with the soap as she tried to avert her eyes to stop me from feeling self conscious.

I didn't care though. My mind was too busy to worry about my nudity.

"Shall I wait out here for you?" Martina asked as she opened the door to the shower for me, gesturing towards the small bench.

I nodded, sighing with relief once I realised that there was somewhere I could sit. My legs were going to give out any moment.

"Be careful about getting your wound wet. Keep the soap out of it."

Martina shut the door behind me, and I collapsed down onto the bench and allowed the warm steamy jets to hit my body. It felt incredible, and I craned my neck to stop the water from hitting my bandaged mark.

I breathed in the steam, it allowing my sinuses to open up, and I let out a small splutter as I began to wash myself with the soap that had been left for me. It smelt like grapefruit, and I cringed as I watched the water turn brown as it dripped off my body and spiralled down the plug.

Was I that dirty?

My hair was greasy, and I doused myself in shampoo, allowing it to soak on top of my scalp, drawing every inch of dirt from it.

My limbs screamed every time I leaned down to grab a new bottle, but I ignored the pain.

Showering was going to make me feel better, and I hadn't actually realised how much I needed one.

Lorenzo wouldn't want to wake up to see me looking like I had just rolled around in a pigsty.

I wasn't sure how long I spent in the shower, but, I noticed Martina's shadow disappear from behind the shower door a few times. She would always return moments later to check on me though, and I wondered if she was sneaking back to the hospital room to take a look at her brother.

I could tell she was also concerned. The way she looked at him caused me to sigh sadly, looking broken seeing him so helpless.

"Mia, do you think you're done?" questioned Martina from the other side of the door, and I nodded, forgetting that she probably couldn't see me.

"Just once second," I told her as I rinsed the conditioner from my hair, tapping my foot anxiously against the slippery floor.

I had been here too long. I needed to get back to the room. Trying to distract myself and filling up the time wasn't working.

Martina opened up the door once she heard me shut off the water, and she held onto my bicep as I pushed myself up off the bench, hissing slightly at the pain that surged through me.

She passed me a towel, assisting me with drying myself, offering me small smile. She looked awful with her bloodshot eyes and dull lifeless skin. It wasn't the spunky Martina I once knew.

She seemed broken, and I wondered if it was something to do with her mate.

She had ended things with him after his constant cheating, and it appeared to finally be hitting her. That, along with the fact that her brother was unconscious.

Mates were supposed to be together though. Being without one another brought both parties physical pain. I didn't enjoy seeing Martina in such a state.

Martina helped me dress, and I was relieved to find I was not going to have to put on my old dirty and sweaty clothing.

Instead, it appeared that Martina had gathered some clothing from the hospital for me, and although the pants were far too long, they were made of a comfy cotton material, allowing me to move freely without the feeling of constriction.

"We need to get you something to eat," Martina said, cocking her head at me with worry, and I swallowed, shaking my head.

I wasn't hungry, and I huffed as I pushed my stringy wet hair away from my face, droplets of water landing in a puddle by my feet.

Martina manoeuvred behind me, pulling my hair back and beginning to plait it for me, smiling at me when she was done.

"Thank you," I told her, fiddling with my fingers.

"You're wasting away, Mia. You need something to eat. The hospital food here is gross, so we can go to one of the stalls outside and get you something to eat if you feel like going out? I can get you a wheelchair to use."

I didn't want to leave the hospital. I needed to stay with Lorenzo, and I also didn't want anyone seeing me. It was no secret that wolves had died during the attack, and I felt guilty knowing they had been killed trying to save us.

Would they all look at me with disgust?

I was their Luna and I couldn't even help their Alpha.

"Mia?" asked Martina, and I blinked a few times as I tried to re-focus.

"I would prefer to stay here," I told her sheepishly, and she nodded, releasing a small sigh.

"Shall I run out and get you something to eat anyway? You can stay here?"

Her offer was kind, and I nodded, thanking her. If it would make Martina happy, I would force some food down my throat. It was the least I could do for her rescuing me.

"What would you like? There's a lady who has a stall and makes sandwiches by the west tree line?"

My stomach growled at the mention of a sandwich, and I watched as Martina laughed, taking a hold of my elbow and beginning to lead me out of the hospital shower room.

I wanted to thank Martina was saving me, but I didn't know how to bring it up. I was embarrassed about what had happened. I was embarrassed that I had been tricked by Caspian into believing that Lorenzo had stepped over the boundary line and needed my help.

I was a fool for allowing him to manipulate me in such a way.

Anyone else would have thought twice about what Caspian had told me. They would have brought backup.

I wondered if anyone else suspected him before he struck.

As we made our way down the hall, I widened my eyes as I saw Lily round the corner, her own looking puffy.

"Mia?" she asked, gulping, making her way over to me and engulfing me in a hug, and I heard Martina growl from beside me.

"Lily, she's injured. Be gentle," she ordered, but Lily ignored her, clutching onto my shoulders gently and looking at me straight in the eyes.

"I am so sorry," Lily muttered, her teeth grinding together, and I could tell that she was furious. "I should have stayed with you, but I left and Ophelia nearly killed you."

I sighed. I didn't want her thinking it was her fault. It absolutely wasn't. She needed to help her fellow pack member, and we were hidden in the trees. Neither one us expected Ophelia to find me before escaping.

"Nobody blames you," I told her, knitting my brows together.

"I feel like Lorenzo does," Lily admitted. "He says he doesn't but I can see it in his eyes. He hardly speaks to me now. I shouldn't have left you alone and I know that I messed up."

I shook my head. I wasn't going to argue with Lily about this. It wasn't her fault and I wasn't going to allow anyone to tell her it was.

Martina looked awkward as she waited for Lily and I to finish our exchange, and I could tell that they still weren't on the best of terms.

"Um, excuse me?"

All of us turned to see Doctor Pia standing in the hallway with a sheepish look on her face, and my heart began to beat frantically as I panicked.

"Alpha Lorenzo is awake. He's asking for you, Mia," she spoke, and my blood ran cold after hearing her words.

Lorenzo was awake.

Martina widened her eyes next to me, clutching onto my forearm and leading me down the hallway, Lily and the doctor following closely behind.

I needed to see his eyes open. I needed to see his mouth move. I needed to see his fingers twitch. I just needed to ensure Lorenzo was awake.

I was desperate to see it for myself.

A part of me was terrified that by the time I reached the room, my mate would have fallen back unconscious, and I swallowed down my excitement.

There was no assurance that our bond would be intact either.

I needed to prepare myself for the worst. If I expected the worst, it wouldn't hurt as much when it happened.

I shoved with all my might on the door to his room, Martina helping and pushing it with her shoulder.

The scent of Lorenzo hit me like a ton of bricks, and my heart skipped a beat as I gazed at my mate who was sitting on the end of his bed. He had his head in his hands and his elbows on his knees. The sight pained me.

"Lorenzo?" I questioned quietly, my voice timid and shaking slightly.

Lorenzo snapped his head up to me, and he released a loud sigh of relief once his eyes settled on me.

"Mia," he muttered under his breath, gulping and grinding his jaw, his fists clenched.

I looked like shit. That, I was aware of, and I felt Lorenzo's eyes rake down my body in search of an injury. I was doing okay, my one wound being my torn up mark. I had a few bruises and scratches too, but I knew they would heal in a matter of days.

"Amore mio, come here," he told me, his eyes pleading, and I felt Martina release me as I quickly made my way over to Lorenzo. The door shut slowly behind me, and it didn't take a genius to realise that I had been left alone with my mate.

I began crying as soon as Lorenzo wrapped his arms around me, mumbling soothing words into my shoulder, rocking me back and forth on his lap. Our touching skin caused my body to tingle slightly, but, it wasn't overly strong.

I wasn't sure if it was from the shock of seeing Lorenzo awake or not. My blood was rushing around my body at lightening speed, and it was hard to tell why the tingles weren't as explosive as they previously had been.

"Shh, it's okay Mia," Lorenzo whispered into the wound-free side of my neck, planting a quick kiss to it. "We're going to be okay."

•••

My babies have been reunited.

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