Erika’s POV
It was getting harder and harder to distinguish reality from the dream.
It was dark and cold and stinky. Was I still in that little hut, the dark and stinky room? Was there a rat who wanted to eat me? Was my life still in danger? I didn’t know and I couldn’t figure it out because everything was dark. The only thing I knew was that I was very weak. I was so weak that I couldn’t do anything if a fat rat wanted to eat me. I felt as weak and insecure as I did when I was a little girl. If something terrible happened, I could do nothing to stop it.
Suddenly, it was getting warm. I felt Derek’s presence beside me. He was the source of warmth. I felt that he was touching my body and wrapping my body with something.
I wanted to open my eyes to see him, but my eyelids were heavy. I struggled to open my eyes but I couldn’t.
But I remembered I was still locked up in the room. How could Derek come over so quickly? No, that was not him. It was an imposter. I flailed my arms and legs to break away from the man.
Suddenly, I could feel Derek’s presence in my mind. He was trying to get into my mind.
Erika, I’m here with you. Don’t worry, you are very safe now. Take a rest. We’ll arrive at the hospital soon. I heard his voice in my mind. Did he come to my rescue?
I would block him from my mind and didn’t allow him to read my mind. But now I was too weak to block him. It was strange how his voice gave me a sense of security. Much as I wanted to get away from him, I felt safe and secure at the same time and I soon drifted into a deep sleep.
I had never had such good sleep ever for a long time. No nightmares, no whips, no pains. It was like I could sleep forever if I wanted. I just slept and didn’t think about waking up.
It was morning when I woke up.
Honestly, I was woken up by a male voice, which I recognized immediately without looking at him. It was deep, masculine, and sexy. It was Derek’s voice.
“What does she want?” the voice asked. He sounded very impatient and I could tell that he was trying hard to keep his voice low.
“She wants to challenge Erika for her Luna position? Seriously?” he asked.
Hearing my name, I opened my eyes instinctively and turned to where he was. He stood by the window and talked on the phone while covering his mouth with his hands. A shaft of sunlight shined on him, setting off his muscular body.
I glanced around the room. It was a white room without much decoration. But it was spacious and well-equipped with some machines that I didn’t know. I was in a baggy white gown. The smell of disinfectant made me realize that I was in a private ward.
I tried to sit up, but I felt a sting on my hands. I lowered my head and discovered that I was on a drip. I guessed I had slept for days. Then the pain all over my body set in. I lifted the hospital gown and checked my body. Not surprisingly, I saw many bandages. It must be a big undertaking for the medical staff who did so because there were simply too many wounds on my body. I didn’t know how many new scars would be left on my body after I recovered. Even though my body was covered in bandages, I could still tell that I got much weaker and slimmer than before. I must have lost much weight due to starvation and sleep deprivation. To make things worse, I lost my six-packs, which I had always been proud of.
But no matter what, I survived it. There were times when I thought that I probably couldn’t make it.
I flexed the other arm and my leg. One of my legs hurt badly. I remembered that I was bitten by a wolf on my leg.
One might change greatly after riding out a fatal crisis. That was true to me. In that prison, all I was thinking about was Derek. What I had gone through made me realize how hard it was to be separate from one’s mate. I didn’t want to admit it, but when I was in that prison, I began to think if escaping from my mate was a mistake, because I missed him so damn hard. I thought that it would be the biggest pity in my life if I died without taking a last look at him.
Luckily, I could see him again. The instant I saw his back, I was convinced that escape was a mistake.
“So she’s causing trouble outside the pack house with a bunch of girls? How dare she? No … Carl, I know that she’s not announced as the Luna, but the challenge isn’t gonna happen. I know Francis can do it, but he can’t summon daggers… No, she’s still not awake,” he answered. He turned around to confirm it and then turn back immediately. The next second, he stiffened on the spot for a while. I smiled at his reaction and then a pang of guilt seized me. He must have checked whether I woke up countless times during the time I was asleep and he was used to getting disappointed. Now that I had woken up, he seemed unable to believe it.
Finally, he turned around slowly and looked at me.
Our eyes met. There was surprise in his eyes, then ecstasy.
“She’s awake.” Derek talked to the phone and hung it up without waiting for the reply on the other end of the line. He ran over to me and held me in his arms tightly. I wrapped one arm around his waist tightly and placed my chin on his shoulder. I closed my eyes and sniffed. Finally, the smell of mint. My wolf was getting stirred again.
I hadn’t seen this face for days and it felt like forever. I swore I wouldn’t leave him for the rest of my life.
Our hearts both pounded quickly. I could feel his hot breath on my neck.
I miss you. I mind-linked him.
Hearing my words, he looked at me bitterly and angrily.
The memory of how I cheated him and escaped flooded back. Now it was getting embarrassing. I took a deep breath and tried to change the topic.
I heard that someone wanted to challenge me. I mind-linked him.
He asked coldly, “That’s all? That’s what you want to say?”
I blinked my eyes in confusion, not knowing what I should say.
Suddenly, he pressed me against the bed and leaned over.
Before I knew what was happening, he was on top of me.
“Don’t you want to say something about the escape?” Derek asked fiercely, his eyes flashing with anger.