GIFTED RILEY by Lacy Mierr

Chapter 76: Waking Up Alone

*Riley*

Hearing s o b s from within only caused my own tears to continue to fall. Rain had been trying and failing to keep her whimpers quiet, her low growls kept rumbling through me in the darkness. I didn’t know how to comfort her because I was also hurting.

He had been calling me his fated mate and I wouldn’t listen. I had accepted him as a mate, but to feel the bond and to now be

disconnected from him, was unbearable. Is this what my sister felt about Noah? How she must be hurting.

Rain whined again.

“Rain, did you know he was our mate?” I asked, hoping to distract her.

“I don’t know when I knew. Could I feel it, maybe, did it awaken me, yes. How is one supposed to realize at what moment love bloomed? Our mate is dying because of me.” she growled.

“No, he’s not dying, Rain, he can’t,” I snapped.

“If only I had awakened sooner, I could have helped more,” Rain said.

Chapter 76. Waking Up Mann

“You make it sound like it was your fault alone. I was the one who continued to downplay what I felt. It was me who realized only when I heard him take his last breath that I couldn’t live without him. So stop your whimpering and blame me,” I sobbed. She whimpered again.

“I can’t, not with what I know,” she said softly. Before I could question what she was talking about the door opened.

I tried to sniff out who it was but the scent was faint.

“It smells like Luna Adele,” Rain said.

I turned my head in the direction of the person knowing full well that I couldn’t see anything. The bandages blocked all the light.

“How are you feeling?” Luna Adele asked. She took my hand and remembering she was of similar height to me I raised my head to level

with her.

“Where is Nicolas?” I asked instead. She squeezed my hand as if that would help me hear her news.

“He still sleeps, still in his coma,” she said, her voice cracking.

“I want to see him,” I said, trying to get off the bed. I felt arms hold met and push me back against the bed.

“You need rest,” she said.

Chapter 76 Waking Up Alone

“Why? How? My life is in another room dying without me. Why would I leave him alone? How can I ease my mind by not being by his side?” I asked. She felt my way up her arms and found her face. Cupping her face I made sure she was looking right at me.

“All my life I have been an outsider, alone, unloved, until Nicolas. Het was hurt because I was scared to love him. He needs me, Adele, but more importantly, I need him. I need to see him, but my eyes aren’t working, so I need to touch him. Take me to him, please. Please take me,” I broke down.

The room was silent for a moment before her hands gripped mine tightly.

“Come,” she said, removing my hands from her face. She helped me off the bed and put her arm around my waist.

I foolishly walked as if I knew where I was, but this clearly wasn’t my room when I tripped over something

“Do you want to reach him in one piece?” she asked. I jerked in her direction and felt her chuckle through my body.

“Fine, lead the way,” I said, allowing her to guide me.

It was weird walking without sight. I felt unbalanced even though I knew I was standing straight. I didn’t know if we were alone in the hallway but I could feel eyes on me. I began turning my head as if I

could look at them.

“We’re not alone are we?” I finally asked.

“Forget them, most want to catch a glimpse of the white wolf while others want to see the Luna who nearly gave her life for their alpha king.” Luna Adele said.

If I wasn’t eager to get to Nicolas, I would have broken down again.

I knew we were close when I smelt his scent faintly. We took a few more steps when I heard the doors open, the end of Vera’s spell greeting us.

Her chuckle was humorless as we entered.

“couldn’t get her to rest I see?” she said to Luna Amelia.

“Just bring me to him, Vera,” I said, not in the mood for teasing. I held my arm out and she took it and pulled me close. I heard her grimace from the contact.

“You’re hurt,” I said, not giving her room to lie to me.

“I’ll live,” she said and I read between the lines.

She placed my hand on Nicolas’ leg and I ran my fingers through his

hair. I didn’t feel any goosebumps from my touch. I felt up the length of him until I found his face. His cheeks were covered with hair, his beard growing while he slept.

I managed to crawl up onto his bed, Vera helping in the end, and rested on his chest. I rested my hand on his chest and felt his steady heartbeat. It wasn’t racing at my touch either.

“Oh Nicolas,” I wailed.

“His heart is strong.” Rain said. She was right, he was still fighting and I could do no less than him. I was a healer but what good would I be if I couldn’t heal the one person I needed to heal?

Getting closer to him I began to pour my healing into him. I would give him all of me as long as he’d wake up.

“Go easy,” Rain said.

“He has to wake up, this has to work,” I said to her. She groaned as if she wanted to say something else, but stopped herself. I could feel her need for our mate and wondered what she could be torn about.

“What is this?” I heard Vera say but I couldn’t answer, I needed this to work.

I was going to black out, and my head was getting fuzzy but I couldn’t stop, he had to wake up. He, had. To…