Alisha's POV
I had the dream again, the same recurring dream. Beneath the boundless black night sky, dazzling flames ravaged through the forest. I maneuvered through the scaring, towering trees, running ceaselessly in the dark woods.
My lungs felt as if they were about to explode, yet I dared not stop, for the howls of wolves and pursuing footsteps echoed relentlessly behind me. I knew that if I halted, I might never get another chance to rise.
My strength was ebbing away, and it seemed I could run no more. Accidentally tripping over something, I fell to the ground. Pain shot through my legs and chest. I felt as if something vital was draining from my body.
The wolf chasing me from behind seemed to have noticed, charging at me just as its fangs were about to pierce my throat. Suddenly, an amazing white wolf descended from the sky, slamming into the pursuing wolf, diverting its course.
Gazing into the familiar eyes of that white wolf, my heart seemed to stop beating...
"Alisha, I'm back," the white wolf spoke tenderly.
As I woke, opening my eyes, the soothing and familiar voice still echoed in my mind. I have had this dream countless times, but it was the first time I met the white wolf and it spoke to me. An unprecedented sense of fulfillment welled up within me, as if I had found something lost for a long time...
Something lost...
My eyes widened suddenly as the missing fragments of memories, long buried, resurfaced in my mind.
I recalled little Gray picking flowers with me in the garden; I remembered Orathe holding me under a tree, gazing at the stars. The hideous face of the jerk who abducted me reappeared, the man who rescued me in Dark Forest, and I witnessed Magaly, on the brink of death after saving me from the rogue attack...
Countless fragments of memories flooded my brain, and the process wasn't pleasant. I couldn't help but groan and instinctively covered my forehead with my hands.
"Alisha, how do you feel?" Orathe's anxious voice rang out.
Gray shouted, "Faye! Alisha's awake! Come!"
After recovering the lost memories, hearing their voices again brought an immense sense of relief. We had been separated for so many years, yet thanks to Moon Goodness, we were reunited.
Looking at Orathe by the bedside, I trembled and called out, "Mom..."
Upon hearing that word, Orathe froze, as if under a spell. She covered her mouth, then leaned in to embrace me, tears streaming down my neck, scalding...
I raised my hand, gently patting her back, and said, "I remember, I... I'm so happy to see you all again." Looking up at Gray, I added, "Brother, I'm back."
Upon hearing this, Gray's eyes reddened. He covered his face and turned away. Well, he was as shy as he was in childhood, never wanting anyone to see him cry.
At this moment, a robed old man appeared in the room. He spoke, "I'm sorry to interrupt this touching moment, but please allow me to first assess the princess's condition, alright?"
Upon hearing this, Orathe and Gray quickly made way for the witch doctor to examine me. During the examination, I noticed the anxious expressions on Orathe and Gray's faces, so I asked, "What happened?"
Gray sighed and explained, "Darling, you frightened us. You were crying and suddenly passed out. This is your third day in a coma."
No wonder I feel incredibly hungry now, and my body feels stiff. I have been lying still for three whole days.
"Thank to Faye who has saved you. Do you remember him? He used to treat our wounds when we were children. He is the most skilled witch doctor in the world. We had no idea how to handle you when you fell unconscious," Gray said.
As the witch doctor applied a potion on my forehead, seemingly inscribing words or symbols, he replied slowly, "Though I am very pleased to hear Alpha praise me, allow me to point out that humility is a fine virtue. I am just an ordinary doctor in Blood Dawn, merely handling various accidents for some mischievous puppies."
Gray raised an eyebrow and said, "Blood Dawn is the mightiest pack, so you must be the best witch doctor."
Orathe directly asked Faye, "How is Alisha now?"
Faye placed his hand on my forehead, closed his eyes in concentration, recited a mystical incantation, and gradually, the headache that had plagued me since waking up began to ease. After a while, he stopped chanting.
Then, gazing gently at me, he said, "Congratulations, little princess. Your wolf has returned."
My mouth dropped open, almost unable to believe what I heard. I alternated between looking at Faye and at Orathe and Gray.
Encouragingly, Faye said, "It is within you now; you should be able to sense it." Upon hearing his words, I touched my chest, where my heart was beating steadily, yet within my soul, I heard another rhythm, in sync with my heartbeat. It was from my partner, my wolf.
With the return of my memories also came the recovery of my strength and my Gift—Healing.
Several years ago, Magaly had been too severely injured during the attack, and despite my best efforts, I couldn't heal her completely. To save Magaly, I came up with an idea, sending my wolf into her body, tirelessly nurturing and healing her day and night. With this way, Magaly would recover fully.
However, upon losing my wolf, not only did my Gift significantly weaken, but I also lost all memories associated with my wolf. Magaly, though she survived, fell into a coma and couldn’t tell the truth to me.
I lived in a daze for many years until Magaly woke up to protect me. She should have fully recovered peacefully in a few more years. But to save me, she woke up early to fight against Evita. Then, upon departing this world, she returned my wolf to me.
Thinking of this filled my heart with sorrow and anguish.
Gray looked at Faye and asked, "Is Alisha completely fine now? Why did she suddenly fall into a coma? Was it because her wolf returned?"
Faye nodded and shook his head.
Gray impatiently asked, "What do you mean?"
"The princess’s coma is related to her wolf, but it is not the direct cause."
"What exactly is the direct cause? Can't you just say it at once?" Gray sounded a bit impatient.
Looking at me, Faye's aged face revealed a hint of sympathy and pity.
"If I'm not mistaken, the princess made a marital vow with someone before. However, because princess didn't have a wolf at the time, she couldn't establish a true bond. And then..." Faye paused and looked at Orathe, "The relationship between the princess and the her man ended. Initially, this wouldn’t have affected the princess much, but when her wolf returned to her body three days ago and woke up, the bond that couldn’t form before suddenly succeeded and then, due to rejection, instantly broke. This huge change caused great pain, leading to the princess’s coma. After all, the rejection process is excruciating and torturous."
Upon hearing Faye's words, the agony that felt like torture, which had made me lose consciousness before, once again engulfed me. I also recalled something I deliberately avoided and even forgot: I knew Archie was my mate. I just rejected mate, driving him completely away from my life and soul.