Alisha's POV
Lola's expertise in healing was truly remarkable. With skilled precision, she tended to my wound, cleaning it thoroughly before gently wrapping it in fresh bandages. Her experienced hands moved swiftly yet carefully, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude wash over me.
"You're lucky this time," she said with a hint of relief in her voice. "The wound isn't too deep, and the rogue's claws didn't carry any poison. Otherwise, you would have been in grave danger." I silently thanked Moon Goodness for sparing me from more serious harm.
With the wound neatly bandaged, she handed me a new set of clothes, and her considerate gesture touched my heart. "Your clothes got torn while treating the wound, so you can wear mine for now."
I gratefully accepted the clothes she provided. The soft fabric was a welcome change from the tattered and blood-stained clothing I had been wearing. I quickly changed into the fresh garments, feeling more comfortable and presentable.
Just as I finished changing, the peaceful atmosphere was shattered by a thunderous crash as the door to the treatment room burst open. My heart skipped a beat, and my muscles tensed, fearing another attack. Lola, too, reacted instantly, drawing out her weapon with a fluid motion.
Through the swirling dust and scattered wood shards, a massive figure loomed outside the door. My eyes widened with fear. He had locked his hunter-like gaze onto me, and the intensity in his eyes sent shivers down my spine. In my panic, I couldn't help but call out Louie's name, "Louie!"
As the dust began to settle, the figure outside the door became clearer—it was Archie? Confusion swirled in my mind as I tried to make sense of his sudden appearance. Oh, that's right, he was the one who had brought me to the Blood Dawn ceremony in the first place. But why did his expression change so drastically upon seeing me??
At first sight of me, he seemed shocked, then relieved, but his face quickly darkened. His gaze bore into me with an intensity I had never seen before, and an unexplainable animosity seemed to emanate from him. It was as if he held a deep grudge, as if I owed him millions of dollars.
As the dust settled, Archie's features became clearer. The initial shock on his face gave way to relief, but it was quickly replaced by an unsettling darkness. His eyes bore into me with a fierce animosity, as if I were his mortal enemy, as if I owed him a debt that could never be repaid.
Was it something I had done? I couldn't think of any reason for him to look at me with such hostility. My mind raced, searching for answers, but the tension in the room was palpable, and the silence felt suffocating.
In the blink of an eye, a figure moved with lightning speed to position himself between Archie and me—Louie! His tall, imposing form felt like a protective shield, eclipsing me from Archie's intense glare. Louie stood there, his broad shoulders squared, and his posture exuded an aura of unwavering resolve as if he were an unyielding wall of defense. "Archie, stop! I won't let you disturb Theresa," he declared firmly, his voice resonating with unyielding conviction. Brad and Suzy looked in horrible disbelief after hearing this.
The atmosphere in the room crackled with tension, the air heavy with uncertainty. I stood frozen, my heart pounding in my chest as I watched the intense standoff between Louie and Archie. It was as if time itself had paused to witness this clash of emotions and loyalties.
However, before I could even utter a word, the room erupted with Archie's furious roar. His transformation was awe-inspiring, his anger materializing in the elongated fangs that glimmered with a dangerous glint. The wolf within him seemed ready to pounce, driven by a primal instinct to protect what was his. "Get away! She's my wife!" he thundered, lunging toward us and pulling me away from Louie's side, firmly placing me next to him.
Stunned, Louie appeared momentarily frozen, caught off guard by Archie's abrupt actions. He held my other hand tightly, his gaze locked with mine, a mixture of disbelief and questions swirling in his striking blue eyes. The depth of emotions in those eyes was enough to convey a complex web of feelings, from shock and confusion to concern and a hint of hurt. "Theresa, you…" he began, his mind struggling to comprehend the startling scenario unfolding before him.
My heart ached as I saw the hurt and bewilderment etched across Louie's handsome face. I felt a pang of remorse, realizing that my actions had inadvertently caused him pain. "Louie, Theresa is merely a screen name. My real name is Alisha," I confessed.
I hadn't told Louie my real name before because I didn't want him to know that I was Luna of the Golden Crest—something I once felt immensely proud of but now utterly detested. But I never expected, Louie seemed to know Archie, and we had to face incredibly awkward situation.
As I spoke out my true name, Louie let go of my hand, his once warm and caring expression turned blank, leaving him looking utterly lost and disoriented. It was as if a storm of conflicting emotions raged within him, torn between his protective instincts and the reality before him.
Without hesitation, Archie swiftly pulled me into his embrace, showing his ownership of me. He roared at Louie, his voice echoing with a dangerous edge, a clear warning that he wouldn't tolerate any challenge.
Archie leaned in close to my ear, his words laced with rage, "Watch how I deal with you when we get back!" His grip on my waist tightened, almost to the point of suffocation.
My wounded back throbbed in agony from the pressure, and I couldn't help but cry out in pain, "Ouch!"
Louie couldn't bear to see me suffer. Ignoring the danger of Archie's rage, he stepped forward, his voice a gentle plea, "Archie, don't be like this. She's injured, you should treat her more gently. After all, she is … is your … wife."