Chapter 78

I woke up in the back of a car. It rattled as it hit a pothole in the road and I inhaled sharply.

Everything seemed unreal, like I was in a dream. I looked around and saw Thresh looking ahead on the dark road, my head resting on his shoulder.

"You're awake." He stated, his eyes not moving.

I watched as his lips moved his words not computing in my muddled mind. My eyebrows drew together in confusion. I wasn't supposed to be here. I was supposed to be with someone, I pictured his face in my mind, a clear image of his gold eyes appeared in front of me.

I tried to reach them but they faded from view. I dropped my hand feeling defeated.

"Here, eat." Thresh held a spoon up to my mouth, I stared at it confused. It had been so long since I'd eaten and I wasn't very hungry. I vaguely knew that was a bad thing but looking at the food only made me not want to eat.

He shoved it into my mouth and a warm, savoury broth awakened my tastebuds. He fed me more broth then stopped.

I fell asleep to the rhythm of the car driving over potholes.

~~~~~~~~

"Thank you." Thresh's voice woke me.

I looked through the window. Dim morning light was streaming through. Thresh pulled me out of the car and carried me.

Everything still felt dreamlike and unreal but I went along with the dream. Maybe he was taking me to the person I needed.

I could see a thin sunrise in the distance.

"Do you think you're well enough to walk?" He asked.

I cocked my head at him, unsure of what he meant.

He sighed and put my feet to the ground. I stood and he let go, I stayed standing.

He walked ahead and I tried to follow him, but it felt like the world was jello, I couldn't break through. I was swiping at branches that were in my face but didn't touch them. Soon the world was careening and I felt someone catch me.

I looked up and saw Thresh. He wasn't the one I was looking for.

"Okay, come on." He said as he picked me back up.

I started feeling cold, and I didn't like it. The cold seemed to be biting me, I wanted to feel someone who wasn't Thresh.

I could still see his eyes, those strange bright eyes. I would try to catch them but they always drifted away.

There was a faint smell in my nose that I tried to recall, but I could never remember what it was.

At one point I contented myself with staring at Thresh.

"What?" He asked.

I pondered his question for awhile, 'What, What, What, What…'

-Where is he?- I asked, trying to find him. Because I needed to feel him, I was becoming desperate.

"Who?"

I drew my forehead together in thought, 'Him, the person I needed, his name was'

-Him.- I said looking up at Thresh.

"We're on our way. We should be there pretty soon."

I turned and looked ahead. I could only see trees.

My heart began to speed up, 'Where is he? I need to see him. Where is he?'

We finally reached a clearing and I sensed him.

"Raph." I breathed out in relief.

I tried to get down and Thresh helped me to stand.

People started coming and I could sense things from them, like Thresh. But none of them were him. I was trying to see above the crowd that had formed, but my legs were becoming weak and my head started spinning.

I fell forward and someone caught me. I looked up and saw those golden orbs. I exhaled a breathy laugh and fell into his chest, 'Minty, he smells minty.' I said to myself happily.

He held my chin up and kissed me on my lips, then he pulled me into a tight, embrace. I smiled.

He cradled me and I watched as his beautiful face transformed into an angry one.

I reached my weak hand up to change it back to the warm, happy one. When my fingers brushed his stubbled chin he looked down and grabbed my hand in his. His eyes looked like warm pools of liquid gold and his gentle smile warmed my heart.

His mouth moved and he looked angry again, then he pulled me closer against his chest and he carried me away. I closed my eyes breathing in his scent and savouring the warmth I felt in his arms.

I felt my body rest on a soft, firm thing, a mattress probably. Then I felt Raph turn me so I was facing him and pulled me in close, his nose resting on my head.

~~~~~~~~

It was now the seventh day she'd been missing, they'd found a building where it appeared they had been kept but the cells were empty.

Raphael didn't want to imagine the worst but Thomas posed the possibility they had been killed.

"Our Alpha wouldn't go down without a fight. He would've gotten out of there." Raphael retorted.

"Maybe, but…"

"But what?" Raphael knew what he was insinuating. That Brooke was dead and he'd failed her.

They'd been up all night and morning was creeping in.

"We'd better get some rest." He said.

They stepped out of the tent and saw a crowd of Lycans at the far end of the airstrip.

Raphael narrowed his eyes. He sniffed the air and couldn't believe it for a second, but then he shifted and sprinted for where the crowd had gathered.

The Lycans cleared the way for him and he saw her, she looked half-dead and her eyes were confused and searching.

He shifted back to human form and caught her as she fell forward.

She lifted he head, which he saw was bandaged, and met his eyes. He saw such a pure joy in them and she exhaled happily, resting her head on his naked chest and inhaling deeply.

He turned her body in his lap so he could see her beautiful face. He lifted her chin and kissed those now chapped, pink lips of hers, he didn't care one bit. He pulled her into a close embrace against his body and stroked her back.

He glared at his Alpha, who looked a little rough but mostly okay.

He adjusted his mate in his arms so her head was rested against his left arm.

"What happened?" He asked his Alpha, not making eye contact as that would be viewed as a challenge.

"We were ambushed and taken to a cell. We were in there for four days. Four rogues who were trying to make up for their mistakes freed us, they're now dead. From lack of food and water your mate passed out for the past three days. She woke up last night."

Raphael was about to ask him something when he felt cold fingers brush his chin. He looked down and saw his mate looking at him with confused eyes, he grabbed her hand and kissed it, trying to give her some warmth.

He walked away from his Alpha carrying her in his arms. He entered the plane, which had been prepped and ready for takeoff the past few days. If they hadn't found them soon they would've headed back home, to protect the Luna.

The Alpha, Thomas and a few others boarded the plane. Thomas told the pilot it was time and he scrambled toward his cockpit.

He sat with his mate, watching as she breathed in deep, slow breaths, her mouth parted slightly.

Once they were in the air he brought her to the bed. He took off a blood soaked outer coat and shoe, then rested her gently on the bed.

He pulled her close and rested his head on hers.

Then he fell asleep, finally at peace.