Chapter 196

Fiona

“You have a natural gift,” a soft, clear voice says.

Pulling my eyes away from the sun setting over the ocean, I look up to find a woman standing slightly behind me. She looks down at me for a moment before lowering herself to sit on the grass beside me.

The breeze lifts her long hair, and it falls over her shoulder as she turns her head forward to look out at the waves.

“A gift?” I question, unsure of who she is or why she’s here. I scan my surroundings, finding I don’t even know where I am. However, when I look at her again, there’s something familiar about her even though I don’t think I’ve ever seen her before.

She’s young, or at least I think she is. Though, I can’t speak with much confidence. I don’t think she’s old because her hair is a light brown color and not white like an older woman.

Without making it too obvious, I study the woman. Her skin is fair, like porcelain, and the light blue dress she wears is plain yet pretty. It doesn’t give me any indication on how old or young she may be, though. I try to make out her features, to see her eyes or her face more clearly, but they are undefined, almost blurry, and make me feel like I’m looking through foggy glass.

“The gift of healing,” the woman says, her voice sounding more familiar as she speaks. “Not everyone can learn Lycan herbalism and healing as quickly as you did. Your understanding and even creativity when creating your mate’s antidote was remarkable.”

Her soft voice and the confidence in her tone warms my heart, but I still can’t figure out who she is. A sense of familiarity falls over me, like when you see someone you know behind a mask, but you don’t know it’s them.

“Stay with your mate, and you’ll gain more knowledge and feel more love than you’ve ever known,” she whispers, leaning forward and pulling her knees to her chest. “He’ll be your biggest supporter.”

The sadness that cracks her voice has my chest tightening in… what? I try to place the feeling, but it escapes me.

“He’s a good man, your mate,” she says. “Strong, capable, and completely in love with you.”

“Who are you?”

“Trust your instincts, Fiona. They will guide you to a better life than one like I had.”

Then she’s gone, disappearing as I open my eyes.

White walls surround me, the smells of cleaning solution fill my senses, and the quiet chatter from the Healers comes from somewhere on the other side of the room. It takes a second for my eyes to focus, but once they do, I turn my head and find Ethan’s bed empty.

“Where is E-than?” My voice cracks as I sit up and slide off the bed.

Immediately, my legs buckle beneath me, sending me toppling forward. I throw my arms out to catch myself, but before I can hit the floor, arms catch me.

“Right here.” Ethan’s deep voice sends a shiver of awareness over me as he lifts me up and sits me back on the bed.

“I’m right here,” he murmurs again, cupping my cheeks and connecting our eyes. He’s here. Awake and… I let my eyes move down his body, taking in the darker tone to his skin, the mostly healed injuries, and the faded toxin veins.

He’s alright.

Launching myself forward, I throw my arms around Ethan’s neck and let myself cry. The emotions that have been building finally fully break free, and I let him pull me close. The tension in his body melts away before it returns as my tears seep into his shirt.

Every emotion- fear, sadness, desperation, guilt, frustration, and hope-from the past few days tries to swallow me.

“Y-you’re o-okay,” I sob, tightening my hold and looking up at his face. He looks so much healthier. The foggy glaze that was in his eyes is gone and so are the dark patches under his eyes.

I almost can’t believe he’s here, holding me, looking at me with those concerned eyes I missed so freaking much.

His face blurs again, and I squeeze tighter, not wanting him to disappear again.

“Don’t cry,” Ethan murmurs, brushing his thumbs across my cheeks. I sniffle and nod, but the tears don’t stop. They continue streaming down my face, even as he wipes them away. I shake my head, a whimper the only sound that escapes my lips, while my legs again give out from underneath me.

Ethan and I slide to the floor, holding each other.

“I’m sorry,” I cry. “I-I should never ha-ave run away. It was all my fault that you got hurt.” I lean back and slap his arm. “You worried me so much! I-I hate that you made me worry, that you, you…” I melt into tears again, pummeling my fists against his chest. “Y-you don’t get to do that to me again!”

“I’m sorry, Fio—”

I whip my head up, giving him my best glare as I harden my tone, “You are not allowed to die again and leave me alone!”

Ethan POV

Zev growls in my mind at Fiona’s words and the terror that flows off her body. It’s palpable enough to make me feel choked and weighed down.

“Die again? What the hell is she talking about?” He demands, flexing his claws.

“I’m not sure,” answer, looking down at her. “Did we…”

“We couldn’t have, right? We’re alive and fine after the antidote,” Zev says, confused.

“Die?” I inquire, needing to know how to stop her fear and worry. It’s been a present scent, growing stronger, since she woke up.

Fiona sniffles and glares up at me, though the expression isn’t as effective with her teary eyes and wobbly bottom lip. Her small fist thumps into my chest again, but I barely feel it.

“Yes!” She cries. “I-I never want to see you like that again. You weren’t breathing. I thought… I thought I was going to lose the only person in this world that I love.”

Just as the words slip from her lips, she freezes, but me? My heart soars at her confession. She loves me.

My mate loves me.

Zev howls in victory, and it takes everything in me not to do the same. My mate finally accepts me- loves me- and that makes me happier than anything in the world.

“I love you, too, Fiona.”

Crashing my lips to hers, I pull her close. Fiona’s lips and body meld to mine, relaxing as I lift her and wrap her legs around my waist. She’s the most important thing to me, so, as I leave the room, I savor the knowledge that we’re finally reunited.

And this time, I will let nothing get between us.

Not again.

Fiona is mine.