Chapter 64

Claire’s POV

I heard a massive loud boom of thunder before Daphne could attack me last time. A blur of silver fur slammed into her side with the force of a storm. The impact was so strong that it sent her roll across the floor, her raged howls were heard through the hall. I looked at the massive wolf who pinned her down his teeth bared while snarling with fury, I have only saw in the battle and wars

The Beta.

I was able to recognise him even in his wolf form instantly, his silver pelt shined under the moonlight, his movements were merciless, precise and lethal. He pressed his teeth against Daphne's throat threateningly and held her down until she slowly stopped struggling, she helplessly clawed against the stone floor. With one last, vicious shake of his head, he drove her into unconsciousness.

The beast that had nearly ended me lay motionless, her wolf’s chest rising and falling shallowly, her body broken but alive.

Relief crashed onto me like a wave. My knees almost gave away but I quickly placed my bloody hand on the wall to stop myself from falling.

Behind Beta’s wolf form, I saw another figure. It was none other than the pack doctor, he quickly rushed towards us. His sharp eyes darted over me and Gideon, horror flashing across his face at the sight of the blood streaking my skin.

“Alpha Gideon, Miss Raven,—” He cut himself off, not able to figure out who to treat first. “Miss Raven! You’re hurt. Sit down, now.”

But I could barely hear him. I looked at Gideon who trying his best to stand steady behind me, he was sweating and his breath was ragged as the aphrodisiac's effect was still strong in his body. Our eyes met in his eyes. I saw haziness, pain and an edge of lust.

Safe. He was finally safe.

This thought was enough for me to finally be relaxed.

I sighed shakily. My body trembled as if all the power I carried while fighting Daphne had suddenly left my body. My vision began to feel blurry as if it started to fill with darkness. I started to feel strangely calm and my body started to feel light as if it was carrying the weight of responsibility for too long.

It’s over. He’s safe. Leo’s father is safe.

My body finally relaxed completely and gave in.

The last thing I saw and felt was the Doctor running towards me and catching me before I fell, his voice felt distant but urgent. Then I closed my eyes exhausted.

Warmth.

That was the first thing I felt when I woke up again.

I felt a warm blanket wrapped around my body which made the icy fear which gripped me before I fainted vanish. I slowly opened my eyes and adjusted the light before my eyes. I smelled the scent of herbs in the room and made me realise where I am.

The infirmary.

I was lying in a hospital bed, the white sheets tucked neatly around me. My shoulder and back throbbed faintly beneath the layers of fresh bandages, but the pain was dulled by the healer’s medicines.

For a moment, I tried to take in the atmosphere as I laid still. The memories of what happened slowly came back to me– the fight with Daphne's wolf, Gideon was in danger and then Gideon's beta came to our rescue.

My chest suddenly felt painful as I carefully pushed myself up slightly and groaned as the slight movement tugged my wounds.

Then I froze.

Beside my bed was another. And on it lay Gideon.

He was in slumber, his body laid on the bed still but there was restlessness and tension in his face. His eyebrows were furrowed in the sleep as if he was still dreaming about the incident. His hair and temples were dampened with sweat which was the sign of the poison he was trying to fight earlier.

My breath hitched.

I had never seen him like this. Vulnerable. Unmasked.

Gideon has been a respectful Alpha to me for years. He is the man who carried the responsibility of the entire pack, he is commanding and unyielding.

But now that I looked at him closely, he looked as vulnerable as a human. His expression was calm and soft but there was an edge of fatigue on his face with a mixture of grief and worry.

My heart ached to see him like this.

Without meaning to, I found myself studying him. The way his lashes brushed against his cheeks. The strong line of his jaw. The rise and fall of his chest, steady and alive.

Alive.

I laid back on my bed as a sigh of relief escaped my lips the more I thought about it the more I knew I made the right choice. Now everything will be alright because I had chosen to fight.

Yet even as that pride flickered in my chest, doubt coiled around it. If I had shifted—if I had used my wolf—would I have ended it faster? Would I have been able to shield him better? Or would revealing myself have destroyed everything before the truth was ready to come out?

I sighed softly again, as I gently rubbed my forehead. My body was heavy, my eyelids dragging downward, but I couldn’t stop staring at him.

“When will you wake up, Gideon?” I whispered softly as the words were only heard by me. “When will you open your eyes and see everything you’ve been blind to all this time?”

My hand twitched against the sheets, aching to reach for him, to brush back the strands of hair that had fallen across his forehead. But I didn’t. I couldn’t.

Not yet, not until every problem is solved.

The door of our room opened as two small figures entered which I immediately recognised. Nova and Leo saw me awake and ran towards me with relief and happiness.

“Mommy!” Nova called out happily and sat next to her and Leo stood beside her “Miss warrior, are you alright?”

I smiled at them gently and softly patted their heads knowing they must have been worried after I told them to leave that time.

“I am alright kids, don't worry I am very strong. No one can defeat me easily.” I tried to convince them with a confident smile.

The kids knew I didn't want them to worry so they nodded. Leo spoke up “I knew that witch tried to harm you, don't worry miss warrior. Once my father wakes up I will tell him to punish her so she will not try to harm you again.”

I chuckled as Leo tried to comfort me and gently caressed his hair “Alright, but now how about you two go get the doctor for me?”

They both nodded and quickly went to search for the doctor.

I sat in silence, watching over Gideon the way I had once watched Nova and Leo, my heart torn between secrets and desires, fear and hope.

And for the first time in years, I allowed myself to rest—not as Raven, the warrior. Not as the stranger hiding in plain sight.

But as Claire.

A woman who had a past with the man lying beside her. And feared the storm that was coming when he finally woke.