4| The Only Cure.

ELARA

I slowly open my eyes, adjusting to the brightness of the room. My head aches really badly as I look around to see that I am surrounded by white walls and medical machines. I am in the hospital.

Suddenly, the memories of what happened come rushing back, and panic surges through me. My children. What happened to my children?

Without hesitation, I rip the cannula connecting the drip to my hand off and slowly get off the bed, approaching the door. I need to find my children and get them out of here.

But as I open the door, I am met with a presence I never expected. Alpha Kieran of the Mountain Shadow Pack. He has a hard frown on his face and a dangerous look in his eyes.

“Alpha,” I murmur in shock as I recoil.

“Elara,” He groans, as he slowly enters the room, and I can feel his dark gaze burning my skin. “Who do you think you are?”

“What?” I narrow my eyes in confusion.

“You have been here all along, slaving away in this pack.” He says, the frown on his face hardening.

Rage begins to boil through my veins at his words. What happened the night he rejected and banished me is still clear and painfully fresh in my mind. If he hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t be here. He is the reason I am being treated like a trash. So, how dare he say that?

“Speak!” He growls when I don’t answer immediately.

“I have no desire to speak to you!” I grit through my teeth. “You lost the chance to hear from me the moment you banished me from the pack!”

“After you betrayed me and the pack, you mean?” He snarls. “I may not be your Alpha anymore, but I am still an Alpha, and you do not talk to me like that.”

“Of course. He is still as arrogant and narcissistic as ever.” I hiss.

“And she is still the betrayer that she is!” He retorts, and I can see his nose flaring with rage.

“I never betrayed you!” I groan, feeling a bitter taste on my tongue. No matter how much I try to push the thought off, it still hurts me so much that the person I thought would always protect me, never believed me.

“But that fact doesn’t matter anymore.” I chuckle bitterly, tears welling up in my eyes.

He goes quiet for a moment, staring at me intently, before catching me off guard with his next question. “I heard you now have children. Who is their father? Is it that scum bag?”

“Oh, are you jealous now?” I retort maliciously.

“Do not test me, Elara!” His eyes grow darker as he groans.

I cross my arms over my chest stubbornly. “I don’t know. But it is not Alpha Ryder. I never had anything to do with him!”

“Stop denying it, Elara!” He growls. “There is evidence!”

“Evidence that you did not fact-check!” I snap back sharply, then exhale heavily. “Kieran you know I would have never done that to you! You were the only one I had, but you refused to even listen to me.”

My hearts aches as I say those words. They are nothing but the truth, and I hate that I am trying to explain myself to him all over again, knowing that he won’t believe whatever I say.

“You—“ He growls, his eyes dark with fury as he strides towards me like a predator stalking his prey. He comes too close and I am forced to step backwards. We continue in that pattern, his intense gaze burning into mine, until I am stopped by a barrier—the bed. My stomach knots and I drop on it.

He opens his mouth, about to say something when the door suddenly opens and the doctor enters.

Kieran quickly steps aside.

The doctor pauses, his gaze darting between me and Kieran in confusion. It is clear that he has a lot of questions in his mind, but instead of voicing them out, he ventures further in to the room and stops before us.

“Alpha,” he acknowledges Kieran with a bow, before looking at me. A smile creeps onto his lips. “You are awake.”

“Yes.” I nod. “And ready to go.”

“I am afraid we can’t discharge you yet.” The doctor says with a sad tone.

“Why?” I quickly ask. “I am already ok.”

“For now, yes,” he says, handing me a medical file. “The test results are back, and they show that you’re suffering from a rare weakness.”

“What kind of weakness?” I ask as I take the file and flip through the pages.

“It’s a condition usually caused by giving birth without one’s mate. And you didn’t just give birth once, you had twins,” he explains.

I snap my gaze back at him, and as his words sinks in, everything starts to make sense. Ever since I gave birth, I have been growing weaker by the day. Though I used to think it was as a result of the slave duties, but it all makes sense now.

I suck in a sharp breath, worry creeping into my voice. “So, what’s the solution?”

“The only cure is contact with your true mate. The one who fathered the children.” The doctor says and my heart sinks to my stomach.

“May you tell us who your mate is so that we can fetch him for you?” He asks, searching my face for answers.

I swallow against my dry throat, dreading the solution the doctor has provided. There has to be another way.

“Elara?” His voice cuts through my thoughts.

“I—“ I swallow. “I—uhm—their father is dead.”

His face contorts into a frown. “Oh, I am sorry about that.”

“This is bullshit!” Kieran suddenly booms and dashes out of the room in long angry strides.

“If there’s anything you need, ensure to let me know. I have to attend to other patients now.” The doctor says and also leaves.

This place is a horror show, and I know I'll continue to be tormented by Alpha Jaxon, Morgana, and even Kieran, now that he knows where I am. The look on his face at the mention of my children showed how much he hates them. I have to protect my babies from him. At this point, I don’t mind going rogue anymore. I have to get my children out of this hellhole.

But I don’t even know where they are.

“Isla.” I decide to mind-link her and ask.

“Oh my, Elara. I’m glad you are okay.” She beams through the mind-link.

“Please do you know where Aria and Adrien are?” I quickly ask her.

“I’m surprised that Alpha Jaxon gave them back to me. Are you--”

“Where are you?” I cut her off as I quickly rush out of the room, scattering my hair all over my face to hide it.

“My room.” She replies.

“I am coming out of the hospital now. Please meet me halfway with them. Pack one or two clothes and a few snacks if possible, please.” I tell her as I exit the hospital and start heading to the maids quarters.

Isla doesn’t ask any questions as the mind link ends. That why I have grown to like her so much. She is the most understanding person I have ever met and I will surely miss her.

She meets me on the way, holding a small bag and my children. They beam happily when they see me, and I smile, kissing them each on the forehead. Then, I quickly strap the bag over one arm and lift my kids into my arms.

"Thank you," I say, giving Isla a quick kiss on the cheek before turning around and hurrying away.

"Take care," I hear her call after me.

I feel my muscles weakening with each step I take. I am panting heavily, my heart beating at a dangerous pace, but I don’t give up as I continue running towards the border, determined to leave this place. The closer I get, the more hope floods through me, knowing we’ll soon be out.

Just as I am about to cross the border, my eyes suddenly roll to the back of my head and my body becomes limp. Everything blurs and I feel myself falling—together with my children. But before I reach the ground, my vision briefly clears, just enough to see Alpha Kieran catching me with his strong arms.

Everything goes black afterward.