Chapter 72

Bradley's surgery was a success and he was wheeled into his room still under the anesthetic. Trishanna clasped her hands in thankful supplication and brushed his hair off his forehead. She was glad he would be alright and nodded her thanks at Lorenzo, who looked ready to pass out. She walked over to Sam who had returned and asked if there was somewhere the doctor and his wife could rest. Sam nodded and with a gesture, led the two of them away, giving some of the warriors instructions for them to be dropped off at the hotel. Lorenzo gave his parting instructions and asked that they call him when Bradley woke or if anything happened that shouldn't. Trishanna agreed and with a small wave, went back inside. James was in the room, leaning against the wall. He wasn't sure if he should be there, but the thought of leaving his mate while she was in distress didn't sit well with him.

Trishanna went to Bradley's bedside and slowly sank into the chair beside him. She was glad it was over and now all that she needed was for him to wake up and give her his charming smile. James came over and gently squeezed her shoulders, wanting to give her comfort. She turned slightly, placing one of her hands on his, squeezing back. He tried to get her back on the couch, but she shook her head. She had been separated from him long enough. "I'm gonna talk with Sam about our rooms and if there is any new update about the attack." Trishanna just nodded and James leaned down, placing a kiss on the top of her head. She knew that Bradley would be asleep for a while so she wriggled a bit, determined not to move from that spot until he awoke.

Trishanna was in a beautiful garden, one that seemed very familiar. There were decorations and lights woven through the trees and on poles as the evening wind gently blew the colorful streamers. It was somebody's birthday. She turned this way and that, seeing lots of people, tall people, but their faces were blurred. She turned as a familiar voice called to her. She didn't know the name uttered, but it seemed like an old friend. She ran and the person, a woman picked her up and spun her around, making her laugh. She felt so much joy in that moment, however in the next, the sky was black except for an orange glow that grew as the moments passed. It got bigger and bigger until a huge fire was before her. She could hear the screams of many and there was the stench of blood on the air. Even the trees that were colorful before were now bathed in fire and smoke. She cried, calling for someone, someone who mattered, someone important to her that would make the scary world alright, if only they would come and hold her just like they did before.

Trishanna could feel the heat of the flames, even as her cheeks cooled with her tears. Her eyes burned and she wiped at them, so she could see better. Her small voice was drowned in the voices of the others but soon those voices stopped. A dark figure seemed to head towards her and she knew that "it" was not a friend. She turned and headed into the darkness of the nearby woods. The light from the blaze helped her at first. but as she got further away, the darkness swallowed her tiny body. She tripped a few times, but a voice inside her head kept telling her to run, and she did. She didn't know the voice but she knew that it could be trusted. Finally, her exhausted body found a hollow tree and she ducked inside, curling herself as small as she could be. She silently cried for the one person she wished for desperately. "Mama...."

Bradley was awoken by the sound of small whimpers and the nagging of his wolf. He was in a world that was white where there was no pain. In fact, there was nothing, but his wolf's insistent whining that something was wrong pulled him out. The first thing he noticed was the pain, especially in his side. The second was the scent of his mate and her fear. His eyes flew open and he turned, taking a moment to recall the past few days. He felt a slight weight on his hand and realized that Trishanna had fallen asleep in the chair clutching his hand, with her head on his bed. She whimpered again and tried to curl up into a ball. 

The door burst open and James rushed in, a look of panic on his face. His eyes fell on the sleeping woman whimpering in the chair and worry crossed his brow. At Bradley's look, he lifted one shoulder and simply said, "I could feel my pup's distress through the bond." Bradley's retort died as she whimpered again, her fear growing. Both men looked at her, wondering what nightmare she must be having. Bradley pushed her hair from her face, shocked at the tears that streamed down her cheeks. She was pale and he worried for her. James stepped closer, gently shaking her to wake her. She whimpered again calling for her mother.

James pulled back, his shock mirroring Bradley's. All he knew was that she was found alone in the woods. In all the years she lived at Bloodmoon, he'd never heard of her parents. They all thought that she was abandoned as she was an omega. It was not a common practice, but it still happened. James shook her again, and this time her eyes opened. Trishanna rubbed her eyes, the hazy darkness fading in the gentle light of the room. At first, she was a bit confused but at the sound of Bradley gently calling her, she turned to him, launching herself into his arms. She began to cry, but this time in relief as he had woken at last. 

Grabbing his face in her hand, she gave him a long kiss, a kiss that expressed her relief and how much she missed him, right there in front of James. Bradley enjoyed it but pushed her away long before he wanted to. He needed to know what haunted her dreams. With one last kiss, he gently pushed her far enough so he could look into her eyes. "I'm glad to see you too my mate, but what I want to know is what were you dreaming about. Why were you crying, calling for your mother?"