Chapter Two
1136 Words
Landon’s POV
~Accepting change~
I woke up in a dark room.
No, that wasn’t right. My eyes just weren’t open.
A groan slipped out as I pushed myself upright, and a stabbing headache exploded behind my temples. Memories of the day before flooded my head.
The fire.
The explosion.
The terror of thinking Cassidy was trapped inside. That same panic clawed at me again, sharp and unrelenting.
I had to get to her.
Something tight was wrapped around my head, covering my eyes. I reached for it, fingers fumbling at the knot, but a soft creak stopped me. A door opened, and a familiar voice rang across the room, high-pitched, warm, instantly filled me with relief.
“Stop. Don’t take that off.” She chided gently.
“Cassidy. Thank the goddess you’re alright.” I exhaled, the knot in my chest loosening. “You had me terrified.”
She took my hands in hers, and the familiar tingles of the mate bond soothed me like cool water on burned skin.
“Are you hurt? Were you in the fire?” I asked, instinctively pulling her closer to me.
“No… I was out on a run when the fire started.” Her words came soft, careful. I sighed in relief. My hand unconsciously reached for whatever was wrapped around the top half of my face again.
“What’s this all about?”
She remained quiet for a long moment but her hand squeezed mine, I had an uneasy feeling about whatever she was going to say.
“You… you got hurt after the explosion.” she choked out, voice thick with sadness.
“Help me take it off, Cassidy.” I tried to keep my tone light, pushing down the dread creeping in. “You know it’ll heal faster without all this.”
“Landon…” She hesitated. “You can’t heal from this kind of injury.”
My hand that had been stroking her arm froze mid-motion. “What do you mean?”
More silence.
“What do you mean, Cassidy?” I pressed, firmer this time. I heard her sniffle, caught the sharp tang of tears in the air.
“No, no, don’t cry,” I whispered, opening my arms. She curled into me, small and trembling, and I held her, stroking her back. But I needed answers.
“Why can’t I heal?” I asked, holding my breath.
Her voice came muffled against my chest, shaky. “When the explosion hit, you were too close. The force… it damaged your optic nerve.” She hesitated before saying the words that changed my life. “What I’m trying to say is… you can’t see anymore, Landon.”
“Wait… what?”
My hands shook as I yanked the bandage off. I blinked. Again. Again. Expecting this to be a mistake, a joke even, but there was nothing.
Everything remained dark despite the number of times I blinked.
I couldn’t see.
Panic clawed at my insides as I waved my hands in front of my face.
“No. This can’t be happening.” I muttered.
I was the Alpha. How was I supposed to protect my pack if I couldn’t see threats coming?
Anger flared inside me, sharp and bitter. Why me? Why now? An Alpha couldn’t be helpless. But that’s exactly what I was, helpless, blind, incompetent in ways I had never imagined.
“Landon…” Cassidy’s voice gently pulled me out of the dark place I was spiraling into. “I’m so sorry. But you’ll be fine. You have me.”
I swallowed hard, trying to steady the quiver in my voice. “Everything’s gone, Cassidy. I can’t…” I stopped as words failed me. How would I be fine when my life as I knew it had ended?
“Is there a cure?” I asked immediately the thought hit me. Her sniffle killed the spark of hope before it could catch.
“I searched everything while you were unconscious. There’s nothing. Your optic nerve… it’s permanently damaged.”
Permanent.
The word landed like ice in my veins. No miracle. No healing. Just this, forever.
I shut my mouth, inhaled deep, trying to swallow the fear rising like bile. My hands clutched the sheets, searching for anything to anchor me but nothing helped.
Cassidy reached for me again, her warm hands closing over mine. Her thumb brushed my knuckles, gentle circles that grounded me a little.
“I know you’re scared,” she whispered. “I am too. But you’re still here. You’re still you. Being blind doesn’t change that you’re Alpha and… you’re not alone.”
I exhaled shakily and nodded, clinging to her voice like a lifeline. Somehow it was enough, barely, to pull me back from the edge. And then I remembered the promise I’d made over my father’s body, blood still warm on my hands.
I could still lead. I wouldn’t let this break me. I’d trained my whole life for this pack. I reached for her face, grateful for her words. She guided my hands to her cheeks, and I felt her lips brush my palm in a soft kiss.
“You’re right,” I whispered, forcing the words out like armor. “I can do this.”
I took in the room then, the faint sting of disinfectants and antiseptics in the air, the sterile chill that marked the infirmary.
“I don’t want to be here,” I told her.
She helped me to my feet, steadying me when the world tilted. I let her guide me.
Every step was careful, measured. My free hand trailed the wall, fingers brushing familiar textures I now had to memorize all over again, by touch instead of sight.
As we stepped into the hall, he air shifted, heavy and tense. Voices that had been murmuring dropped to whispers. I felt their stares boring into me, the weight of unease rolling off them in waves.
Anxiety. Doubt.
They were probably questioning my ability to lead them now, wondering what would happen next? Or maybe they had decided what step to take because I could sense hostility from more than a few.
‘I can do this,’ I muttered under my breath, gripping Cassidy’s hand tighter. I’d have to prove it to them. Again. I was born to lead.
A bitter smile tugged at my lips, determined and defiant.
Cassidy squeezed back, guiding me gently. “We’ll get through this,” she whispered. “One step at a time.”
I nodded, letting her lead me toward what I assumed was a temporary room, since our old one had burned.
Every step reminded me how much had changed. Now I’d have to rely on someone for the simplest things.
But that wouldn’t be a problem.
Not with Cassidy beside me.
- Writer
