Chapter 12 - Come Back

Jaxon's POV

I wake once again to sunlight streaming in through the partly open hospital windows. I sigh as I push myself up out of the hospital chair. I must have fallen asleep again. From the looks of it, this sun is the early morning sun. Meaning I've slept through the afternoon and night.

-We were running on fumes. I had to take over to get you to have some sleep- Flint, my wolf suddenly speaks up shocking me. I quickly thank him as I walk over to the window. I stretch in the morning sun before closing the curtains fully so it's not directed straight over at my mate. I can't help but let out a sigh as I look over at her on the hospital bed. If I didn't know any better I would have thought that she is just peacefully sleeping... but she isn't. I know this for a fact. She's in a coma, just like she has been for the past four months. I quickly look away from Diana and to the door of the hospital room when it creaks open. Niyah and James walk quietly into the room and over to Diana, soon being followed by Mia and Nathaniel. All of them look like they haven't eaten in days making me frown. If they are looking like this I can't help but be worried about how the rest of Diana's pack is holding up. All of Diana's pack are camping near my pack's border which doesn't sit well with me. I honestly wish they would all just come and stay in the packhouse where it is safe, as well as there being plenty of food to go around. I could guess it has something to do with their pasts, nonetheless, their alpha is being cared for in this pack, so I don't see the difference of them staying here until their Alpha wakes up.

"You know, Ghost Pack doesn't have to camp outside near the border. They are welcome to stay in the packhouse for however long is needed" I say to the ensemble of four. All four of them look over at me with sad smiles. I'm glad to say, even in such a bad situation, I have created a bond with her Beta and Gamma duos.

"They know, we have told them the same thing. It's just-they have a hard time opening up and trusting a pack," Niyah says while continuing to smile over at me sadly.

"I get how they feel, I really do. It's just, I don't feel right seeing people Diana cares for camping outside and not in their safe haven. Besides, Diana wouldn't want them to stay out in the freezing cold. Especially since winter is right around the corner. She'd want them either back home or in the packhouse" I say while looking over at my mate to check on her breathing which is slowly becoming regular so hopefully, she wakes up soon.

"We know that. Everyone in the pack knows that Diana wouldn't want us out in the cold but she's our Alpha. Wherever she goes we go. We are a family" Niyah says confirming my earlier suspicions of how Diana runs her pack.

"It's hard on them and us too, if I'm being completely open to you. It's hard to trust another pack when your trauma stems from past experiences with a pack. Oh, before I completely forget, your Beta and Gamma males are looking for you. And before you ask I don't know what they want and I don't know why they didn't come looking for you here" James adds on to what Niyah says. How in the name of the Moon Goddess did he know what I would ask when he told me my Beta and Gamma wanted me. Diana's pack kind of gives me the creeps sometimes. Not in a bad way though. I sigh in frustration as I rub a hand over my face.

"They always need me for one thing or another. Why can't they just think with their own brains for once?" I ask nobody in particular as I walk out of the room to go find the two morons. I quickly walk back in and over to Diana to kiss her on the head and notice both Niyah and Mia giving me a smirk making me roll my eyes but smile over at them. I walk back out the door and up the stairs. Hopefully whatever they want me for won't take long so I can get back to my Mate.

-It better not take long. Mate needs us- Flint huffs out. Honestly, sometimes I think Flint never grew out of the puppy stage of his life. I think he is stuck in that stage.

I finally find them in my office, waiting which gives me the incline they told James they were looking for me so he could relay the message. Lazy sons of bi-... nope I'm not going there. I won't disrespect their mothers just because of what their sons are like.

"Ahh, Alpha. I want to talk to you about something important" my beta, Jason, explains to me making me have to hold an eye rollback. I already knew they needed to talk to me. I didn't need him to tell me that.

"Be quick about it. I have a mate lying in a hospital bed, fighting for her life even after four months of constant monitoring and diluting the mistletoe in her blood" I say while sitting in my office chair and getting some of this paperwork done. I might as well since I am here.

"That is what I would like to talk to you about, Alpha. Are you sure it's such a good idea for that many rogues to be camping out near our borders?" Jason asks making my eyes shoot up to look at him. Did he seriously just ask me that? Who the hell is he to call my mate's pack rogues? I feel Flint take slight control meaning my eyes are a mix of my blue eyes and my wolf's green eyes. Mike, who just walked into the room as my Beta said what he said, shakes his head in disgust.

"If his mate was here and heard you talk about her pack that way you would have gotten your head bitten off for saying such a thing," Mike says as I roll my eyes. He's one to talk.

"They are not just rogues to Diana. They are my mates' pack and family. My mate somehow saved all of their lives. So, yes! I do think it's a good idea. I offered for them to stay in the packhouse while Diana healed but they refused for personal reasons. Don't question my decisions again, Jason" me and my wolf say together.

"That's the point! What if this is all a ploy to get into the packhouse and kill all of the pack?" West, my gamma asks me making my glare face him. I stay silent continuing to glare over at him. He should know to pick his next words very carefully. However, before either my Beta and Gamma males can voice another opinion a growl makes them close their mouths. I look over to my office door that Mike left open to see Eros and Kylian, standing in the doorway glaring at my beta and Gamma male. Which amazes me and terrifies me at the same time. It amazes me because I can see both of their wolves are showing slightly and yet they haven't lost control. But it also terrifies me because they are only Head Warriors. They are of a lower rank than my Beta and Gamma and yet they have the two shaking in their boots. How much power do Diana's pack members even have?

"How dare you!" Kylian spits out, obviously having more of a handle on his wolf than Eros does by the looks of Eros' clenched jaw and how fast his eyes are shifting between his wolf's eyes and his human eyes.

"What are you both doing here? You aren't allowed in the alpha's office" Jason says growing some balls. I raise my eyebrows wanting to see how this plays out.

"I could care less. How dare you talk about my Alpha like that. She saved a pup who is a member of your pack. Her mate so happens to be your alpha. Show some god damb respect" Kylians spits out, his wolf still showing. Eros continues to stay silent glaring at my Beta and Gamma.

"Well, she clearly doesn't want him to be her mate. I mean she growled at him when he tried to brush furs with her. She doesn't care for him so maybe my alpha needs to reject her and find a more suitable mate for himself" Jason says making me growl. I barely even notice Eros move until he has my beta by his neck, against the wall.

"You are pathetic for a Beta Male. So weak. Saying s*** like that when you have no idea what Diana has went through. This pack killed her parents. In fact, it was Jaxon's dad who murdered them right in front of my alpha who was only a child at the time. It was his father who tortured her and killed her parents. And yet she still has the kindest purest heart I have ever seen. Of course, she has some reservations about being Jaxon's mate. Oh, and we don't go around taking packs down for anything. Those packs have done some gruesome stuff. Stuff that makes me sick just thinking about it. But we also protect packs that need it" Eros says making me slightly surprised. Do they protect packs? I wonder what packs they protect. I glance over at Kylian to see him leaning against the wall while glaring over at my Gamma who seems too scared to move a muscle.

"I-didn't-know" Jason manages to get out even though Eros has a tight hold on his throat. That will definitely leave a bruise. I roll my eyes at was Jason just said. If he didn't know then he shouldn't talk a load of bullcrap, should he?

"Of course you wouldn't know these things. DiDi doesn't make it a habit of telling people all about her life story. Now, I wouldn't talk about my Alpha like that again. Especially when she is lying in a coma and there is nothing that I can do about it" Eros says before he drops my Beta to the floor and storms off. Probably to go calm down. Kylian nods his head towards me before he quickly follows after his mate. Hopefully, Kylian can calm that guy down.

"Why in the name of the Moon Goddess, didn't you put them in the cells? They just hurt your Beta" West (Gamma) speaks up as Jason sits on the floor rubbing his neck looking pained.

"My Beta is lucky they didn't kill him. Trust me, Diana is like a little sister to them. They will do anything and I mean anything to protect her. And... Don't Ever Talk About My Mate That Way Ever Again!" I shout over at them before storming out of my office before Flint can break through and kill them without remorse. Not that I would blame him if he did. After all, they are starting to test my patience. I should go on a run before I explode and allow my wolf to do as he wishes.

I return from my run as soon as both me and Flint are calmed down. I frown when I walk into the hospital part of the packhouse and see no one around. I should at least see some nurses around the front desk but it is like the whole place has been deserted. My pack mindlink hasn't been blocked has it? I search my mind to find my pack mindlink open and working just fine. So what the hell is going on right now? I sigh, which comes out as a huff since I am still in my wolf form before I shift and put on the clothes that I managed to tie around my ankle before Flint forced me to shift. I walk down the hallway to the alpha part only to see Niyah and James standing just in front of Diana's closed-door making me frown. Further down the hall, Mia is crying in Nathaniel's arms while eight of my pack members hold Kylian and Eros back. I feel myself collapse to the floor as pain stabs into my chest. What the hell is going on?

-Mate. Mate is hurting- I hear Flint whimpering out in my head over and over again. This isn't my pain... It's Diana's pain that I am feeling.

"She's crashing again, doctor" I hear a nurse say as I use my werewolf hearing so I can hear what is going on with my mate. The pain finally stops and I sigh happily.

-Mate is okay now- Flint mumbles to himself sounding confused. Honestly, he's not the only one who is confused right now. Even though I can sense that Diana is okay, the doctors and nurses still seem to be panicking which confuses me even more than I already am.

"Another round of epi and raise it to three hundred," I hear Lorrance (the doctor) command the nurses. What is he doing in there? I thought it was Alice in there. I turn to look as Alice suddenly runs in shouting for them to stop. I frown.

"Alice, they can't! Her heart has stopped," I explain in almost a whisper.

"That just it! It hasn't stopped. You should know this since you haven't felt your bond break yet. Her heart is just going way too fast for the monitors or even our ears to pick up. This is what happens when her wolf and lycon are trying to wake her up. If they keep shocking her, they will weaken her wolf and lycon. They will then have to heal all over again and it will take longer for Diana to come out of her coma" Alice says barely catching a breath between each sentence. It takes a few seconds for what I have just heard Alice say just to settle into my brain and for my brain to actually understand it. She's right the mate bond is still alive and kicking inside of me. I'm instantly standing on my own two feet and running into the room.

"Get him out of here!" Lorrance commands making me scowl. He shouldn't even be in here this is Alice's Alpha. She is the lead doctor when it comes to Diana's care not him.

"Stop this now. That is an order from your alpha to which you must obey. You are going to hurt her further than she is if you keep on shocking her. Her heart hasn't stopped. It's beating too fast to be picked up!" I yell, my wolf showing itself when I feel my eyes mixing between blue and green once again. I walk over and rip the paddles out of Lorrance's hands before glaring over at him.

"This room is off-limits to everyone but Alice and her pack and me. I'm sure I made that clear when I got everything sorted way back four months ago. You aren't even the head doctor for Diana's care, Alice is. I suggest you leave my sight before I lose control over my wolf" I say as I push Flint back trying not to kill my pack member.

"I place the paddles back on the machine and wheel the trolley away from the bed as Alice walks in. Lorrance quickly makes his escape.

"I go to the toilet for five minutes and come back to this. I swear if he's pushed Diana back to the start of her healing again I'm going to rip him a new hole" Alice says as she walks over to the bed.

"Alpha, we couldn't hear her heart either" one of the nurses speaks up making me look over at her. Is she sure she wants to get on the wrong side of my wolf right now?

"That's because you won't. Her wolf and Lycon have to push her to her limits which means her heart rate is through the roof right now. Hopefully, all of you haven't done any damage" Alice speaks with a slight growl in her voice. I see all of the nurses tensing. They should be scared. From what I have learned over the months is that all of Diana's pack members are slightly overprotective of her. The members all seem to be good at hiding their emotions and controlling them... unless it has something to do with Diana. Eros and Kylian are the two wolves that keep everyone in line and are both scary in their own ways. Alice is rarely angry but when she is, it's best to run as fast and as far away as you can before she explodes. I point to the door and the nurses quickly scamper out of it leaving it open making me sigh angrily.

"Please Alice, save my mate," I ask her. Well, I almost beg her. I sigh before walking out of the room, closing the door behind me, and sitting in the chairs opposite. I place my head in my hands as I wait for Alice to tell us some news with the rest of Diana's family. Hopefully, it is good news.

Diana's POV

All I can see is darkness. I thought it was morning when I fainted how has it become so dark so quickly. There's nothing here. Just complete nothingness. Where am I? What am I even doing here? Everything suddenly clicks into place. This isn't reality. The mistletoe gas must still be running in my veins. Oh god, Marcus. Is he okay? Has he found his mate yet? Why isn't anyone here? I don't even know how long I have been here but I hate it already. I want my pack.

Suddenly the darkness changes to a meadow that I would be able to recognise no matter what. This meadow is the same one that I played in before me and my mother were captured. I look around sadly. Why this place. Why has my subconscious brought me back to this place?

"Diana" a voice suddenly drifts through the wind and over to me from behind. I quickly turn and come face to face with someone who I thought I would never see again. The same person who I've wanted to see for the past eleven years.

"Mum!" I call out before running into her open arms. How is this possible? How is she here right now when she is supposed to be with the Moon Goddess?

"Hello, my little lycon. Your father will be here soon. You know how he is. Never organised or on time" my mother says making me chuckle as I pull away slightly. Of course, my father wouldn't have changed after his death. Even when he was alive he always managed to be late no matter what.

"I've missed you so much mum but why are you here?" I ask her while stepping out of her arms. She smiles over at me but sadness lies in her eyes.

"Your pack members have been praying to the Moon Goddess to bring you back to them. I'm so happy you have found so many people who care for you. However, you promised me something eleven years ago my little lycon. Do you remember what the promise was?" She asks making me frown slightly as I bow my head.

"I promised that I wouldn't let you dying change who I am," I say as I pick at my nails. I broke that promise a long while ago. I had to survive in the wild on my own without any help... so how could I have stayed the same girl.

"I know you broke that promise, my child," She says continuing to smile sadly at me.

"I know I have broken the promise. I really tried to keep that promise but I was unable to. How could I possibly keep a promise when I had to survive in the wild all by myself. I am sorry that I broke the promise, mum. But how could I not let it change me? I became an orphan at nine years old. If I had stayed the same person, I don't think I would be alive right now" I try to explain to her as tears threaten to spill from the corner of my eyes.

"I know you are and I know that you tried but couldn't keep that promise to me. Both me and your father are truly sorry that we had to leave you in that world all alone so early on in your life," she says as she wipes my tears away. I turn in my mother's hold as another light starts to shine behind me. I watch silently as it dims. Standing where the light had just been shining is my father making me smile. He finally shows up.

"Daddy," I shout out just before running into his arms and wrapping my arms around him. I squeeze him, keeping a tight hold, not wanting to let go.

"Little Dino, we understand why you couldn't keep your promise and we forgive you. I hope you can forgive us for leaving you so early on in your life. Your mate should be forgiven as well. He was brought up to believe a mate would mate you weak. His father raised him to believe a lot of things that aren't right. But he is changing... he has realised that what his father taught him is wrong. Forgive him for his past mistakes. I know they seem minor to you but he cares so much about you that it is tearing him and his wolf up. Don't be scared to love my beautiful little Dino. Be with your mate Dino. He needs you. His whole pack needs you. Something big is coming for both your pack and your mate's pack and you both need to be together to be able to defeat it" my father tells me using the nickname that only he uses. I smile but then look towards the edge of the clearing towards the east and see my wolf and lycon, sharing control in our wolf form, walking towards me. However, every few seconds they seem to fade away but then become clear once again. I clutch my chest when it stings. It feels like I'm being electrocuted. What the hell is happening to me? It finally stops making me sigh. My wolf and lycon stand in front of me with a grin on their face. I'm so glad they are okay.

-It's time to head back to reality and wake up, Diana. Our pack needs us and so does our mate- they both say together. I look towards my parents not wanting to leave them. It's been so long since I've gotten to see and talk to them.

"Go my little lycon, We will always watch over you. Go be with your pack and mate. Just remember what we have told you" my mother says as my father wraps an arm around her waist while smiling over at me.

"Be yourself my little Dino" he says before both of them start to glow until they become two bright lights. Those bright lights then fade until they are no longer there. I sigh before looking back over at my wolf and Lycon.

"Let's go home" I whisper out before gripping my wolf forms around its neck and closing my eyes. I feel myself being lifted before I fade into darkness once again.

I open my eyes and sit up in the hospital bed. Where the hell am I?

"Diana, you're finally awake!" I hear Alice's voice to the side of me making me turn to face her. I smile at her but then I can't help but cry.

"Diana! What's wrong?" Alice asks me while pulling me into a hug. Her hugs are so calming.

"My...my...my parents...they were there and they spoke to me...oh my goddess! They sent me a warning. Something bad is coming for the pack," I say while trying to stand up out of the hospital bed but Alice must have other ideas because she pushes me until I'm lying back down on the bed.

"Alice, I'm okay. I need to start training the pack," I say trying to calm her worrying as I once again try to stand on my own two feet.

"You're not fine, Diana. You were in a coma. I'm sure the pack can wait" she says to me. I instantly stop and look at her in shock. Did she just say I was in a coma?

"Wait! What do you mean I was in a coma? For how long?" I ask her. How could I have fallen into a coma?

"Four months. I tried to save you before you fell into one but your wolf and lycon took in too much of the mistletoe. Your wolf and Lycon put you into a coma to protect you. I'm so sorry Diana," she explains to me with tears in her eyes.

"Hey! It's okay. It's not your fault. You saved me, that is all that matters right now. Well, that and finding out where the hell I am since this doesn't look like the pack hospital in my pack lands" I say as I look around the room.

"Dark Hallow Pack Hospital. Somehow Jaxon figured out that his pack was closer to where you all were located so he carried you here while James came to get me. He wouldn't give up on you... he stayed by your side the past four months. You deserve a mate, Diana, even if you think you don't think you do. He is made for you and vice versa. Our Moon Goddess never makes a mistake" she informs me before walking away and out of the room. I sigh and look up at the ceiling. After everything that I've done and haven't done... why do I deserve a mate. Moreover, if my enemies find out about me being mated to an alpha they could come after this pack. I can't have any more innocent people being killed because of me.

"You may go see her now" I hear Alice say to someone before I hear my room door open once again and footsteps heading towards me. --My parents told me to be with my mate but it's too dangerous. What shall we do Gia, Drekia?- I ask my wolf and Lycon.

-It's obvious... we have to protect his pack- Drekia says and she's right it is obvious. But what about the mate bond?

-The safety of his pack comes before our mate bond Diana- Gia replies and I sigh. I guess it's decided then. We must leave Dark Hallow and forget all about the mate bond.

"Thank the Goddess that you are okay. You don't get how worried I've been. Your pack has been worried as well" a voice speaks out. I turn my head to see Jaxon smiling at me. I smile back but I know for a fact that the smile doesn't reach my eyes. It's going to hurt when I have to leave him and forget about him. I then frown before sitting up. No time like the present.

"Jaxon, I have to go. My parents came to me while I was in a coma and warned me that something big was coming. I must train my pack" I tell him as I place my feet on the floor.

"What is coming?" He asks and I shake my head. If I knew what it was that was coming I would be able to go and take it out before it can hurt either pack.

"I don't know they wouldn't tell me" I reply while frowning and rolling my shoulders. My whole body feels stiff. I guess this is what happens when you don't move your body for four months.

"Hey, stop worrying. Right now you need to rest and heal up" Jaxon says trying to pull my legs back up onto the bed but I pull them away.

"I don't need to heal. The mistletoe is already out of my system thanks to my wolf and Lycon. Both my wolf and lycon are back to full strength as well. Perks of being a lycon," I explain to him before gripping Jaxon's arm and standing on my feet, letting them take my own weight. Jaxon seems surprised at me grabbing his arm but he doesn't utter a single word

-Smart choice- Drekia says in my head making me chuckle. He helps me as I walk towards the door and opens it. However, I don't make it any further since my legs suddenly break sending me to the floor. I wince at the pain.

"Alice something is wrong with Diana!" Jaxon yells when he notices the odd way my legs are bent. Alice runs towards us and tries to help me up but she is unable to when my left arm breaks making me scream. I feel Gia press forward into the front of my mind.

-Don't! Tell Alice that she can't move us. I'm so sorry Diana. We haven't shifted regularly as we should, so I'm having to force you into a shift. I'm sorry Diana- Gia explains to me and everything makes sense. I whimper at the pain but look up towards Alice.

"Alice you can't...You can't move me my wolf...AHHH...my wolf is forcing me-" I don't get to fully explain what is happening because my mouth starts to shift into my wolf's muzzle.

"Of course! Her wolf hasn't gotten to shift regularly as they should so she forcing the shift" Alice says and if I wasn't in so much pain I would thank the Goddess that she understood what I was trying to tell her.

"You mean her wolf is doing this. Her wolf is causing her pain?" Jaxon asks sounding worried.

"Yes. It's not her wolf's fault though. If she doesn't shift now it could permanently damage both Gia and Drekia" Alice explains as my fingers start to break and reform, just before my back breaks. I snort in pain as my wolf's fur starts to grow out of my skin. I open my mouth and wince in pain as my teeth grow longer and sharper. I reopen my eyes when the pain finally comes to a stop, signaling I've completed the shift. I stay lying on the floor in my wolf form, panting from the pain. Thanks to the fact I had to go through a forced shift the pain was more intense than usual.

-I'm sorry that I had to do that Diana- Gia whimpers out in my mind.

-It's okay, Gia. I understand why you had to force me to shift. If it was this or you and Drekia hurting, I would choose to be forced to shift every single time. Can I shift back now or do you want to go on a run?- I ask them, knowing that Drekia is silently listening to us.

-Run, please. We haven't been able to stretch our legs in four months. I'm dying to run in the open air- Drekia says almost at the point of begging me. I smile before I stretch out in my wolf form.

-Run it is then- I reply before letting both of them share control as well so we can each let off some steam. I take off out of the packhouse and into the woods surrounding it. I run with no destination thought out. My four paws hit the ground and I push myself to run even faster. The feeling of the dirt under my feet has me letting out a sigh of comfort. Well, more like a huff of comfort. All three of us needed this.

Just as ten minutes have slid by two wolves run towards me making me stop in my spot. I recognise them immediately as Eros and Kylian. How have they managed to find me so quickly? I watch silently as they both run around me, unable to contain their excitement.

-You're awake! Please don't ever do that to us again DiDi- Kylian says as he comes to a stop right in front of me.

-You scared us DiDi- Eros then adds on as he comes to a stop right next to his mate. I give them a wolfy grin before rubbing against them in greeting and for comfort. Both my wolf and Lycon drift to the back of my mind, satisfied.

-I'm fine now, guys. And I'm sorry I scared everyone. I had to get Marcus out of the clearing before it affected him as well. Speaking of him...has he gotten his mate back yet?- I ask them both as I sit on my backside.

-You don't need to need to worry about that right now. You need to rest little missy. No buts. I don't care if your wolf if Gia and Drekia are back to full health. You as the human side simply aren't back to full health. So you are going to walk that pretty backside back to Jaxon's pack hospital and go rest until Alice discharges you- Eros says. I roll my eyes at him.

-I'm fine. I feel great I say to him. However, he ignores me while nudging me in the direction of the pack hospital. I huff as I'm forced to walk in the direction as both walk on either side. They know me too well to be fooled into thinking I'd simply comply. They're making it so I can't run from them and have to walk with them back to the hospital.

When we get there I see Alice and Jaxon waiting at the doors of the hospital part of the Packhouse.

"Told you they would find her and bring her straight back here" Alice informs Jaxon and I notice Jaxon un-tense. Pack members with their overprotectiveness! Sometimes I hate how overprotective they are with me. I growl slightly as I walk past them purposefully bumping into them before making my way back to the room I woke up in. Alice follows behind me making sure I don't try to sneak away. As soon as Alice enters the room after me she closes the door and turns to glare at me. Oh, shitake mushrooms. Don't tell me I angered her. An angry Alice is someone you never want to set eyes on.

"Don't growl at me, missy. You promised, remember. When it comes to your health you will take orders from me" Alice reminds me making me huff once again. I roll my eyes before shifting back into my wolf form and climbing into the hospital bed and covering myself with the covers.

"Fine! Okay, I get it. Bed rest" I then say while glaring at a spot on the wall.

"Don't give me sass, Diana. You were in a coma for four months. Your wol- Gia and Drekia may be fine and back to full health but you haven't used your legs or even your bladder properly in those four months. We have to make sure everything is working as it should" Alice says while taking some blood and scanning my body with her machine. I roll my eyes but decide it is best to stay quiet. I silently watch as Alice leaves before glancing up at the ceiling. So, I'm stuck in here until Alice concludes what I already know. I'm completely fine. I look towards the door when I hear it open and a smile makes its way onto my face. Niyah, James, Mia, and Nathaniel enter the room with a smile.

"Your awake, finally," Niyah says while pulling me in for a hug. I look over Niyah's shoulder to see Mia holding back tears in her eyes.

"Oh, Mia! Come here" I say after Niyah pulls away. She quickly runs into my open arms and starts to sob.

"I thought you would leave me. I can't lose you, Diana. You're the one who saved my life. Without you, I wouldn't be here and I wouldn't have found my mate" She says as he sobs turn into sniffles. I smile as she pulls away and wipes her tears.

"I'm fine now and I won't ever leave you, I promise" I reply smiling sadly.

"Yeah, 'cause you're too stubborn," James says making me roll my eyes at him and pull him in for a cuddle. I seem to be rolling my eyes a lot these days.

"I missed your moody ass," James says in my ear making me let out a laugh. He pulls out of the hug as I start to frown.

"The pack... Are they okay?" I ask.

"They're all good. They are all camping outside the boundaries of this pack. Jaxon offered them rooms in the packhouse but they refused" Nathaniel says. I smile sadly while nodding. It's understandable why they refused to even step foot onto the territory of another pack. One we are not taking down or protecting.

"They've been severely hurt by a pack in the past. It's going to take a while for them to trust another pack again" I say before quickly looking at the door as it slams open.

"Look who finally decided to wake up after a four-month-long beauty sleep. It took you a while sleeping beauty" Mike says as he enters my room, shutting the door behind him, and sitting in a chair in the corner of my room. I roll my eyes with a growl starting at the back of my throat.

"Ever heard of knocking?" I ask him and he smirks at me.

"I have heard of it. I just don't see the need of practicing it" he replies making me roll my eyes. He's so annoying.

"You are annoying, you know that," I say back at him. He shrugs his shoulders while he smirks. Damb him and his stupid face. If only I wasn't stuck on bed rest I would rip the damb smirk off his face.

"I get that a lot. I was told to watch over you while Jaxon does the pack work he has been neglecting for four months. Don't ask me why because I don't know why it has to me. I'm not a babysitter" He rambles. Jaxon neglected paperwork for four months. Ouch. Oh god, mine is going to be bad as well. Four months of paperwork are left until now. Looks like I will have many sleepless nights until I have completed it all. I shake myself from my thoughts and look back towards Mike.

"I have a question for you, mike," I say to him, making him look up from his phone.

"Okay, what's the question?" He asks me making me smile. I'm finally going to get answers on why he smells so funny.

"Why don't you smell like you are a part of a pack or you are a rogue?" I ask him my smile drifting off of my face and a stern look appearing on it.

"Uhh, that question again. I'm what this pack calls a traveler. It's understandable why you wouldn't know about them since only this pack has them. It's what we call people searching for their mates. I'm currently searching for mine. Well, I was. I'm now taking a break since I've been searching for almost a whole year now. Anyways, When I do find my mate, I will either join her pack or I will get to come back to this pack and she will come with me" he says shrugging.

"That's just strange," I reply in confusion before turning to look up at the ceiling. Before I then remember something I never should have forgotten about in the first place.

"Marcus and his mate. Did they return?" I ask everyone in the room. I look at each of their faces to see they have all paled.

"What? What is it? What aren't you guys telling me?" I ask them almost letting my Alpha voice out.

"They haven't returned Diana. Neither has the two pack members that Jaxon sent with him. We can't contact them either" Mike replies since all of my packmates are silent.

"Mike! Jaxon doesn't want to worry her!" Eros yells his way but then looks over at me as I sit up and quickly cover my naked body with the sheet.

"What? We have to go find them!" I yell out.

"Not when you are like this, Diana. You still need to rest. When you are fully healed then we can go find them. Until then, how about we go on a slow walk in Jaxon's pack this afternoon?" Niyah says, easily calming me down. I sigh before nodding my head. I definitely need fresh air after that news. I lay back down in the hospital bed as I let out a yawn.

"Get some rest, you are tired, Diana," James says while pulling the blanket up so it's right up to my chin. I smile over at everyone before curling into a ball and falling to sleep.