The Alpha's Doomed Mate

Chapter 16: In and Out

POV: Asha

Two days later, Rylie's presence had become unpredictable again. One minute she was there, warm, curled somewhere inside my mind, and the next, she was just gone, hard to reach.

I had told Hestia she was still fading in and out while Hera stepped out for a while after bringing me here. I just hadn't told her how often it was happening, or how much the long silences had started to frighten me.

“You're distracted today.”

I looked toward Hestia, then at the table. “No, I’m fine.”

“You’ve put feverfew into the wrong pile twice.”

I glanced down and realized she was right.

“I think I’m just a bit tired,” I said, though the words came out thinner than I intended. I threw her a smile, glancing at the door. “I wonder when Hera’s coming back.”

I reached for another bundle when the room turned upside down, blurring without warning.

Sound exploded around me. The scratch of Hestia's quill was unbearably loud, the wooden staffs cracking against each other on the training grounds sounded like they were striking inside my skull, and voices I shouldn’t have been able to hear at all bled in from somewhere outside.

My vision blurred at the edges, the jars on the shelves smearing into streaks of brown and green.

“Asha?” Hestia’s voice reached me distorted, somehow too loud and distant at once.

Panic seized me by the throat.

Ry? What's happening?

Too fast… hurts… Her answers were no more than broken words I tried to piece together.

My knees gave way as the room spun harder. Hestia caught me before I hit the floor and guided me onto the nearest stool.

“Breathe,” she instructed firmly. “Don't fight it. Just breathe through it.”

I dragged air into my lungs until the room stopped spinning. Eventually, sound and color settled back into something manageable.

“What…” I swallowed, my heart still hammering. “What was that?”

“She's trying to heal faster than your body can adjust.” Hestia was already checking my pulse. “Has this been happening more than you let me know?”

How could she just guess that?

“Well… something of that sort…?” I cleared my throat. “But it’s never been like this.”

“You should have told me,” she replied, shaking her head. “I think the amount of wolfsbane forced her too deep beneath the surface. Now that it’s clearing, she’s trying to come back all at once.”

I frowned. "That doesn't add up. She was fine two days ago, very vocal too."

I trailed off as I looked at Hestia. Her eyes were briefly unfocused, a look I instantly recognized.

A mindlink.

“May I ask who it is you’re reaching out to?” I questioned the second her eyes returned to normal.

“The wolf who made this easier last time.”

I blinked twice and glanced at the ceiling, the wheels in my head spinning.

“The wolf who—”

The clinic door burst open hard enough to rattle the jars on the nearest shelf. Zade filled the doorway, his eyes finding me immediately.

My eyes widened at the sight of him.

“You were the one mindlinked?” My voice trailed off, annoyed at how quickly relief flooded through me when I saw him.

Something raw flashed across his face before the familiar coldness returned. “What happened?”

“Her wolf’s surfacing is very unstable,” Hestia answered.

His gaze moved over me.

The moment he stepped farther into the clinic, whatever pressure was inside my head eased even more. He paused a few steps away.

Hestia's eyes narrowed. “Better?”

“Only slightly,” I admitted.

“That’s different,” Zade said, his eyes moving to Hestia and then to me.

“What is, Alpha?”

“Last time, being this close was enough.”

The pressure in my head began to build up again, and despite being seated, the spinning started once more.

Zade crossed the remaining distance immediately, and before I could think about it, I reached for him. My fingers closed around his hand, and sparks raced up my arm, shooting up my spine.

Within seconds, the dizziness drained out of me all at once, and so did the pressure.

For a moment, none of us moved.

His fingers had closed almost instinctively around mine before he seemed to realize what he was doing. His gaze dropped to our joined hands, then lifted to my face.

The moment Hestia said my name, his fingers released mine, quick enough that the loss of his warmth stung more than it should have.

I curled my hand into my lap as Hestia looked between us.

“Proximity helped before,” she said slowly. “And now it isn’t enough.”

Zade's jaw tightened. “Meaning?”

“Her wolf is stronger than in the last exam.” Hestia set her things aside. “That's good.”

“Doesn't sound good,” I muttered.

“It would be if she weren't trying to do too much too quickly.” Hestia shook her head, looking at me. “She seems to keep reaching toward the bond every time she senses it in a bid to heal fully.”

My brows pulled together. “So I should stop her?”

“You can't, except you want to dose her with yet another wolfsbane,” she responded, sending a shiver down my spine at the thought. “Otherwise, she can only be slowed down.”

Zade's voice turned cold. “Then what do you suggest?”

Hestia looked at him, but I stared at her, waiting for her response.

“Your wolf needs to meet hers halfway, Alpha.”

I blinked. “What does that mean?”

“Right now, her wolf is doing all the reaching, without the strength to fully surface on her own.” Hestia glanced at Zade. “And the bond's been activated, so she keeps reaching for it, trying to find comfort or control from him.”

My stomach fluttered unpleasantly.

“If your wolf comes closer to the surface, Alpha, hers won’t have to push so hard. That stabilizes everything and speeds the healing.”

I could sense Zade going completely still.

“And how exactly do you expect that to happen?” His voice sounded strained.

Hestia hesitated, which alone made me nervous.

“Say what you're thinking,” Zade said, quiet in a way that wasn't quite calm.

“Longer contact.”

My fingers curled. “What?”

“Skin-to-skin would be more effective. Enough for his wolf to come close to the surface without shifting.”

Silence filled the room, my heartbeat the only thing echoing. Zade’s expression went completely blank.

“This isn't permanent,” Hestia continued before either of us could object. “I don't know how long it'll take, but once the wolfsbane clears and Rylie stabilizes, she won't need this.”

Zade's jaw flexed. “No.”

“Alpha—”

“No.” His voice dropped lower.

“Unless you know where I can find her another fated mate before nightfall, Alpha…” She paused. “…I suggest you reconsider.”

Zade’s gaze shifted to me.