Chapter 26

Aliyah's POV

I woke up to the beeping of machines, my head pounding like someone had hit it with a hammer. My mouth tasted like cotton, dry and bitter. I blinked against the harsh flourescent light, trying to focus.

I looked around and found Tyler sitting in a chair beside the bed, his face was drawn and eyes were shadowed with worry. He leaned forward as soon as he saw me stir.

"Aliyah? Hey, you're awake. Thank the goddess." He grabbed my hand, squeezing it gently.

"What... what happened?" I croaked, my voice barely above a whisper. Everything felt heavy, like my body was made of lead. Memories flickered in my head– Skylar's rejection, the bullying, the expulsion, the pills.

Oh gods, the pills. I tried to take my own life. Then why was I here in a hospital instead??

Tyler sighed, rubbing his thumb over my knuckles. "You were found in your room at the pack house. Almost dead from those painkillers. You took way too many, Aliyah. The healers pumped your stomach just in time. You've been out for a couple of days."

I turned my head away, tears stinging my eyes. "I... I didn't want to wake up. Everything's ruined, Tyler. Skylar rejected me, the school's kicked me out, everyone's hating on me. What's the point?"

He shifted closer, his voice was soft but firm. "The point is you're still here. And people care about you, Aliyah. I care. Becca's been blowing up my phone, she is worried sick. We'll figure this out. You're not alone in this mess."

I pulled my hand back, wiping at my face. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one everyone's calling a slut, a brother-fucker. Skylar said I was a stain. And now... now I've got nothing left."

Tyler shook his head, his emerald eyes were pleading. "That's not true. You're strong, Aliyah. Stronger than you think. That Zeen wolf in you– it's special. You are not just about mates, bonds or even school. You are more than that. We'll get through the rumors, the expulsion. Maybe appeal it or something."

Before I could argue, he glanced at his phone, frowning. "Look, I hate to leave you right now, but I need to go check on Skylar. He's... not doing great either."

"Skylar?" I sat up a little, ignoring the dizziness. "What's wrong with him? Is he okay?"

Tyler hesitated, running a hand through his hair. "He collapsed around the same time you did. Almost died, they said. No clear cause– doctors are confused. His heart even stopped for a bit just like yours did, but they revived him, thankfully. He's stable now, but weak. I need to see if there's any update."

My stomach twisted. Even after everything, the thought of Skylar hurt made my chest ache. "Go. Tell him... I don't know. Just go."

He stood, leaning down to kiss my forehead. "I'll be back soon. Rest, okay? And Aliyah... please don't scare me like that again. I can't lose you."

He left, the door clicking shut behind him. I sank back into the pillows, staring at the ceiling. Why did everything hurt so much? The mate bond, the rejection, the loss– it all piled on, making me want to curl up into a hole and disappear.

A knock on the door pulled me out of it. Becca poked her head in, her face lighting up when she saw me. "Ali! Oh goddess, you're awake!" She rushed over, pulling me into a careful hug. "I was so scared. When Tyler called and said what happened... I came as soon as I could."

I hugged her back, fresh tears spilling down my face. "Becca, I'm sorry. For everything. You got dragged into this mess because of me, the bullying, the fights. And now this."

She pulled away, sitting on the edge of the bed, her hand resting on my arm. "Stop that. I'm your friend, Ali. Friends stick together, no matter what. Those idiots at school? They're just jealous or bored. And the expulsion– it's bullshit. We'll fight it. Or find you another school. Whatever it takes. You'll be fine."

I shook my head, sniffling. "Fight it? With what? Everyone believes the rumors. The pictures. Skylar rejected me in front of the whole school. Called me a whore basically. And Tyler... he's trying, but what's the use? I'm just a screw-up. I keep dragging everybody around me into my mess."

Becca's eyes softened, and she squeezed my hand. "You're not a screw-up. You're dealing with fated mates who are also your professors– that's insane pressure and it's not your fault. And the mate bond stuff? It's not fair, you didn't ask for any of this. But Tyler cares about you, I can see it. And me? I'm not going anywhere. We've been through too much. Remember when Dahlia and her crew jumped us? We got through that."

I managed a weak laugh, but it turned into a sob. "Yeah, and look where it got me. Expelled. Suicidal. Fuck, Becca, I feel so empty inside."

She hugged me again, rocking slightly. "Then we'll get her back. That strong Aliyah that I know is still in there and we will get her back. One step at a time. You just need to rest and heal. I'll handle the outside noise. Kelly's even asked about you– she said she's sorry for abandoning you."

"Kelly? Really?" I wiped my eyes, doubting it. "I thought her dad---?"

Becca nodded. "People change when shit gets real. But focus on you right now. Want me to grab you some water? Or food?"

"Water, maybe." I shifted on the bed, trying to get comfortable. As she poured from the pitcher, a sudden burning pain hit my wrist– like someone had dumped boiling water on it. I yelped, clutching it, staring at the red, blistering skin.

"Ali? What's wrong?" Becca dropped the cup, rushing back.

"My wrist– it burns! Like fire! Fuck!" I gasped, the pain throbbing, not fading like a normal healer injury should. We healed fast, but this... it stayed, angry and raw.

Becca grabbed my arm, examining it. "What the hell? It looks like a burn. Did you touch something hot? The machines?"

"No, I was just lying here." I winced, trying to flex my fingers. "It came out of nowhere. And it's not healing. Why isn't it healing?"

She frowned, poking at it gently. I hissed in pain. "Okay, that's weird. Maybe from the pills? Some side effect? Or your wolf's weakened state?"

"I don't know. It hurts so bad." Tears welled up again, mixing with the frustration. "Just another thing going wrong. Why can't anything be normal?"

Becca rubbed my back. "Hey, breathe. We'll call a nurse. See if they can wrap it or something."

She hit the call button, and a nurse bustled in, checking the burn. "Odd. Doesn't look like anything from treatment. I'll get some ointment and bandages."

As she worked, Becca stayed by my side, chatting to distract me. "So, Dahlia's still strutting around campus like she owns it. Dawn's quiet though, still keeps to herself. And Leah? I just haven't seen her since everything went down. Only goddess knows what she's up to now."

I nodded absently, the burn still pulsing. "Leah... yeah. Probably hiding from the problems she created."

The nurse finished and left, promising to check back. Becca poured the water again, handing it to me. "Drink. You look dehydrated."

I sipped, but the misery clung. "Thanks for being here, Becca. Really. I don't know what I'd do without you."

She smiled sadly. "You'd do the same for me. Now, tell me– how's Tyler been? He seemed pretty torn up when he called."

"He's... trying. I don't know what I'd do without him too. But with Skylar collapsing too? It's all so much for him, I guess. I know they hate each other but they are still brothers."

"Skylar collapsed?" Becca's eyes widened. "When? Is he okay?"

"Around the same time as me. Tyler went to check on him."

Before she could respond, the door opened again. Tyler walked in, looking even more exhausted. His eyes went straight to me, then to the bandage on my wrist. "What happened? Are you okay?"

I held up my arm. "This burn just appeared. Out of nowhere. It hurts like hell and won't heal."

Tyler froze, his face paling. He stepped closer, gently unwrapping the bandage to look. "Boiling water. That's exactly what–"

"What?" Becca and I said at the same time.

He rewrapped it, sitting on the other side of the bed. "Skylar. I was with him just now. He was trying to make tea in his room and he spilled boiling water on his wrist. Burned himself bad. Same spot."

I stared at him, the pain in my wrist suddenly making a twisted kind of sense. "You mean... I felt his burn? Like, through the bond?"

Tyler nodded slowly, his voice was low. "It lines up. And his collapse... it happened right around when you took those pills. Almost like he felt your... your attempt."

Becca's mouth dropped open. "Wait, so when Aliyah tried to... you know, Skylar collapsed because of it? And now her wrist burns when he does?"

I clutched the sheets, my mind racing fast. "But he rejected me. The bond should be broken. Right? How can I feel his pain?"

Tyler leaned forward, his eyes were intense. "Rejections don't always sever everything, especially with a Zeen wolf. Maybe it's lingering. Or stronger than we thought."

"But why now?" I whispered, the implications hitting me. If I could feel Skylar's pain, did that mean the bond was still there? And what else could we feel?

Becca paced a little. "This is crazy. We need to test it. Or talk to a shaman or something."

Tyler shook his head. "Not yet. If word gets out... with the rumors already flying, it could make things worse."

I looked between them, the burn throbbing as a reminder. "So, I'm connected to him still? After everything?"

Tyler took my hand again. "Looks like it. And if that's true–"

A sharp knock interrupted. The nurse poked her head in. "Visiting hours are over. She needs rest."

Becca hugged me quick. "I'll come back tomorrow. Hang in there, Ali."

She left, and Tyler lingered, his grip tightening. "We'll figure this out. But Aliyah... if the bond's linking your pain like this, what happens if one of us really gets hurt?"

I swallowed hard, the question hanging in the air like a storm cloud. What indeed?