Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose novel Chapter 76

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**Healing Slowly But Surely**
By R. Joseph

In an alternate universe, where the boundaries of reality often bend and twist, I found myself lying on that cold, damp floor. The stench of decay and despair clung to the air, wrapping around me like a suffocating blanket. How long had I been there? Minutes? Hours? Time seemed to slip through my fingers like water, and with each fleeting moment, I slipped in and out of consciousness, my mind a chaotic whirlpool of thoughts and prayers for salvation. Yet, no help came.

Kael and Caelum had taken what they needed from me, their cruel intentions fulfilled, and then they vanished, leaving me to languish in my suffering. Abandonment was a bitter pill to swallow, more so because they didn’t even bother to check if I would live or die. They lacked even the most basic human decency to attempt a resuscitation before walking away. It was as if they relished the thought of my demise, and in that moment, I resolved to cling to life with every fiber of my being. I would rather endure madness in the afterlife, living like a forsaken soul, than grant them the satisfaction of my surrender.

I had faced the specter of death more times than I could possibly count, and yet this… this was merely a shadow of the torment they had inflicted upon me in the past. It paled in comparison to the relentless cruelty my family had shown, all in the name of ‘correcting’ me, as if their twisted notion of love could somehow fix the broken pieces of my soul.

With a monumental effort, I forced my eyes to flutter open once more. My eyelids felt like lead weights, dragging me back into the darkness. My chest constricted painfully, and the breaths I managed to draw were shallow and labored.

Goddess, I might not make it through this. My body is too weak. I can’t even muster the strength to stand…

Suddenly, a voice pierced through the haze of my despair, calling my name with a fervor that sent a jolt through me. “Leilani!” The urgency in that voice was unmistakable, and I felt heavy footsteps rushing into the room. For a moment, I questioned my sanity—was this a figment of my imagination, a cruel trick played by my fading consciousness? But then, warm hands cradled my face, checking for signs of life, and my heart surged with hope.

This was real. Someone was here!

“I need you to wake up, Leilani!” The voice was desperate, and I felt myself lifted into a cocoon of warmth, a strange yet comforting embrace. Movement surrounded me, and I realized I was being carried. But my body was too weak to respond; even my thoughts were muddled, and the identity of my savior eluded me.

Pain shot through me as I was gently lowered onto something soft, and I winced involuntarily. The person carrying me froze, their breath warm against my face, a gentle reminder of life amidst my suffering.

“I’m so sorry,” they whispered, their tone laced with sincerity. “I wanted to help you into the back of my car. I know it hurts, but please hang in there… I need to get you to the hospital.”

A flicker of confusion crossed my mind. Whoever this was, they sounded genuine, their concern palpable. A warmth blossomed in my chest at the thought of being cared for, but I lacked the strength to express my gratitude or even to open my eyes. I silently vowed to repay this kindness when I could.

My fingers instinctively tightened around their clothing, and I felt a jolt of something akin to electricity as their warm hands enveloped mine, only to gently pry them away. “I have to drive you there,” they reassured me softly. “You can hold onto me when we arrive at the hospital and when I know you’re safe.”

Reluctantly, I released my grip, and with it, the warmth that had enveloped me began to fade.

The sound of an engine roaring to life reached my ears, followed by the rush of wind as we sped away, the world outside a blur. I was engulfed in a haze of pain and uncertainty, and after what felt like an eternity of torment, we finally arrived somewhere. The figure beside me exited the vehicle, only to return moments later, wrapping their arms around me once again.

They carried me the rest of the way, and as we entered, the harsh glare of fluorescent lights pierced through my closed eyelids, forcing me to wince.

“Alpha!” A voice shouted, followed by another, “Jesus… What happened to her?”

“She’s lost a lot of blood!” My rescuer snapped back, urgency lacing their tone. “Please, do anything to save her. Her blood type is RH-null. Do you have any available?” The moment those words reached my ears, I froze.

An Alpha? And they knew my blood type? How could they possibly know that?

Yet, in that moment, I pushed my questions aside, focusing instead on the fact that this person was determined to save me. I didn’t have the strength to question their motives or intentions—not that I had the energy to fight back, even if I wanted to.

Moments later, I felt myself lowered into something soft, the unmistakable scent of antiseptic filling my nostrils. I was on a hospital bed, surrounded by the hushed whispers of medical professionals bustling around me. I sighed, relief washing over me.

My eyes fluttered open again, and I caught sight of a middle-aged doctor with a furrowed brow, checking my pulse. Behind him, a couple of nurses flitted about, but it was the towering figure that stood out—a presence I never expected to see here. My breath caught in my throat, a heavy weight settling in my chest.

He looked worried, the lines on his forehead deepening, and the disarray of his clothing hinted at his frantic rush to reach me. I instinctively knew he was my savior, but how? Why was he here?

“Leilani, can you see me?” he asked, his voice gentle as he waved a hand in front of my face. When I didn’t respond, he turned to the doctor, concern etched across his features. “I think she’s awake. Is she in shock?”