The Edge of Death

Chapter 4

Elera's POV

I moved slowly on my knees, my hands were wet and cold, and my dress was all torn.

My body hurt a lot and every step made my arms and legs shout, and my tummy hurt so much that I held tight.

And then I heard the footsteps of wolves, and my heart started to run faster than I thought and then I pressed my hands on my belly.

“Don’t give up,” I whispered. “Please... baby... don’t give up.”

I wanted to move fast, but then my legs were broken and I fell so hard on dirty ground and blood gushed out of my leg.

My blood was then mixed with the dirty mud, and then I put my hand to taste it, but I was so dizzy.

The wolves moved close to me, and I gave up and closed my eyes, I knew it was the end for me already.

Then I started to feel cold all over, my teeth clattered, and my lips were so dry.

Then I heard voices, men’s voices, the voices sounded rough, and I tried to hide, but I was too weak to do that.

Then a man came closer to me and his eyes shone like silver, he knelt down, looked at me, and picked me up in his arms and then I tried to move.

“Leave me alone! I am nothing…”

But my body did not move, my eyes closed and everything started to rotate and then I felt arms holding me and I was a bit warm.

Before I went all black, I heard him say, “No one should die like this.”

Then my body was gone.

I woke slowly, my head spinned and I blinked at the fire and I lay on straw.

My arms and legs were weak and then my body hurt.

I looked around, the walls were made of wood and the roof was low, but outside I heard wind, birds sang and no wolves, no pack, no Damon.

I touched my stomach and my baby moved a little and then I cried softly. “You stayed… thank you… baby,” I whispered.

I breathed slowly, the smells of wood and smoke ama I heard the man’s footsteps, he brought water and bread and I tried to eat, but my hands shook.

He then sat beside me. “You are safe now,” he said and his voice was soft. “No one can hurt you here.”

I nodded, but I couldn’t speak and my throat was dried as I touched my belly again.

“You are safe too… my baby,” I whispered.

It was night, everywhere was quiet and the wind was cool and I then closed my eyes and for the first time in a long time, I felt… alive.

But outside, I heard some sound, a branch snapped and my eyes opened and then my heart beat fast and I held my belly so tight. Someone… or something… is near.

I sat on the mat and my body ached, my hands shook and my baby moved a little, as I hugged my stomach.

The man who saved me knelt beside me and his silver eyes shone in the firelight.

I stared at him and my chest was tight, my heart was still scared.

“I… I don’t know who you are,” I whispered.

He smiled slowly. “I am Alpha Lucien,” he said and his voice was gentle, and strong.

“I was once an Alpha, but I was banished and now I lead a secret home… a safe place for people like you.”

I blinked. “Banished?” I asked and my throat felt dry.

He nodded. “Yes. But you are safe here, no one will hurt you”

I shivered, my body was weak, and my legs felt like they couldn’t hold me. “I… I don’t know if I can trust anyone,” I whispered.

Lucien reached out and gave me a small bowl of warm herbs, the smell was strong, but it was soothing. “Eat this,” he said. “It will help your body and your baby.”

I took it and I felt relieved, even though my stomach hurt a little, I then drank the water he gave me and it made my dried throat wet.

He sat on the floor across from me, his silver eyes never left me. “You don’t have to be afraid. I will keep you safe.”

The first few days, I watched him from the straw, I was quiet and I did not move much, I slept and I ate a little, my baby moved, and I really felt hope and so much alive.

Lucien brought more herbs each day, sometimes he sat quietly while I rested, while sometimes he talked gently “The forest is safe. No one will find you here. I will make sure of it.”

I started to trust him slowly and I watched how gentle he was.

One day, as he gave me water, he looked at my neck and his eyes widened. “You…” he said softly. “The mark… the Moon Goddess… you were once a true mate.”

My chest was tight and it became hard to breathe and my hands shook as I looked down at the silver mark on my skin.

It glowed faintly, and I touched it with trembling fingers, and then pain rushed through me again.

It burnt but it also felt empty, like something deep inside me was gone.

My lips trembled and tears blurred my sight. .

“I… I am nothing now,” I whispered, my voice breaking, the words sounded small, like they do not belong to me.

“Damon… he… he hates me,” I said again, and the words tasted bitter.

Lucien shook his head. “No. You are not nothing, you are strong, you survived, you are carrying life inside you. That is a gift. You are more than he could ever understand.”

I swallowed hard and my lips trembled. “You… really mean it?”

He nodded. “Yes. No one will hurt you here. You and your baby are safe with me.”

“Can… Can I stay here?” I whispered. “Forever?”

Lucien leaned closer. “Yes. Stay as long as you need and I will not let anyone take you from this place.”

I hugged my stomach again and my baby moved. “We are safe… we are safe,” I whispered.