Dealing With Him

XV

"Please tell me if she's okay or not."

"I don't know, alpha. She's been in this coma for three weeks now. If she doesn't wake up we'll have to--"

There was a low growl.

"Finish that sentence. I dare you."

I opened my eyes ever so slowly but was blinded by the bright lights, making me moan and scrunch my face. When I tried opening my eyes again, Dylan and one of the pack doctors were arguing, Brianna was sleeping on two chairs and Owen was nowhere in sight.

"Dylan?" I croaked out and winced when a sharp pain went to my throat.

"Don't talk, hun," the pack doctor said with a sad smile. "Your vocal cords were damaged a while ago and talking will make it worse."

I nodded but still whispered out, "Where am I?"

"The hospital," Dylan answered and sat beside me, holding my hand. "You were in a coma for three weeks."

I frowned and opened my mouth to talk again but Dylan silenced me. My frown deepened and Dylan smiled, pecking my lips.

"You were in horrible condition when we found you, Luna," the pack doctor said. "You needed surgery on your leg and stitches in your arms and side. You were barely breathing because of how much blood you lost from both being drained and from the wound. You're lucky someone was there to save you or you wouldn't be alive."

I looked between the pack doctor and Dylan, who was trying his hardest to keep his eyes open. Dark bags were under his eyes but they still stayed bright when he looked at me with a smile.

"You should go back to sleep, love," he said to me quietly and kissed my cheek. "I'm not going anywhere."

The pack doctor handed me my painkillers and nodded to us before she left. When she did, I practically pulled Dylan into my bed, wrapping my arms around him and burying my face into the crook of his neck.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered into my ear. "I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you."

I frowned and looked into his eyes. They were filled with sadness and guilt and it made me want to cry a river. I moved up and kissed his cheek. He moved his head and pressed his lips against mine gently and slowly, his arm gently coming around my waist and pushing our bodies closer together.

"If you weren't there for me then I would be dead," I pointed out quietly against his lips.

"But still--"

"No buts. You were there and that's all that. That was all I needed."

Dylan slowly smiled and rest his head on top of mine. I closed my eyes and began to drift off into slumber.

"You know I love you, right?" Dylan asked me with a cheeky grin and kissed me again.

I chuckled and nodded my head, "Yes."

His grin widened and he pulled a ring out of his pocket, showing it to me. He kissed my hand and slipped it on the ruby finger of my left hand.

"I love you, Ar--"

He grunted and suddenly looked down. Blood was pouring out of his stomach and mouth. Dylan fell to the side and breathed his last breath. I screamed and touched his face. It was still warm. This beautiful face was soon to be cold and lifeless. It felt like my heart was being crushed inside of me. The only emotion I could feel was loneliness and emptiness.

"It's your fault they almost caught me," a familiar voice growled. "I was so close. But, next time, I'll get what I want. I won't fail."

I screamed, jumping up. Dylan was already holding me, kissing the side of my head while whispering sweet nothings into my ear. I felt tears in my eyes and I buried my face in his chest.

"Do you want to talk about it, love?" Dylan asked me and swiped the warm tears away.

"No," I choked out. "I just want to be here with you."

I felt tears in my eyes as I remembered the emotion I felt when I saw his corpse laying there, lifeless. The feeling of defeat, loneliness, rage, and emptiness. I wished I could un-feel what it was like to watch my mate die before my eyes, but it kept replaying in my mind. Whoever was there was unimportant to me because I knew that these were more than stupid nightmares. I knew that something -- or someone -- was coming after us.

"I know I've been saying It was only a dream to the point that I'm starting to annoy myself," Dylan said, making me softly laugh. "But I'm right here, yeah? I'm not going anywhere and whoever wants me gone is going to have to be really strong."

"And your ego is slowly creeping in," I muttered jokingly and smiled up at him. "I know, Dylan. I'm just scared. What if these dreams, or nightmares, are more than what we're saying they are?"

Dylan sighed and rubbed my back while answering, "We can only hope that they only are dreams. And if they aren't and they're telling something, it must be telling us to be prepared for when it happens."

I nodded ever so slowly in agreement.

"Yeah," I whispered. "We should go to sleep now."

Dylan shook his head and sat up, grabbing his phone and dialling a number. He put his phone to his ear and waited patiently.

"Hey, Brianna," he said.

There was a pause.

"I know it's one in the morning so shut up about me being an i***t. No, I don't care if you have to sleep for work tomorrow. Just -- I need you to do some research. Call Ron too."

Another pause.

"If a shadow hound's dreams come true?" He said in the form of a question and glanced back at me. "Yes, Brianna, you're right. I, uh..." I saw a light pink tinge appear on his cheeks as he continued, "I just want her to know that she's safe and has nothing to worry about."

I smiled at my mate. The fact that he was calling Brianna at one in the morning just so he could have my mind at ease made me feel so special. It made me -- no, he made me feel like I was the most important girl in the world. He cared so much for me and what happens to me and it makes me want to try to return the favour.

I know what to do, Clarke said.

It better not be s****l, Clarke, I told her and she grunted.

Fine.

"Thank you, Bri," Dylan said and I saw a smile on his face. "Okay. Bye."

He hung up and sighed, falling back so his back was on the mattress once again. I crawled up to him as slowly as possible without hurting myself and rested my head on his shoulder, my hand on his chest.

"You should probably sleep, love," he told me with a tired smile. "Brianna and Trey are going to come over tomorrow and tell us some important information."

I nodded my head and kissed Dylan softly. He smiled against my lips and kissed me back.

"I love you so much that it hurts," I mumbled and closed my eyes when I pulled away, feeling drowsiness take over.

Dylan chuckled and pulled me closer to him, making sure he didn't hurt me because of my cuts and stitches.

"I love you, too, Aria," he replied. "And I'll make sure nothing happens to you as long as I'm alive."

"Don't jinx it," I muttered tiredly.