Amelia
As Amelia fought to open her eyes, she felt drained and groggy, and her entire body ached. Her head spun, pounding as if someone had taken a claw hammer to it, and she had a horrible taste in her mouth. And why was she so cold? The cold didn’t bother her, as such, but she hadn’t felt its like for the past twelve months, not since she’d left Antarctica. Her eyes flew open, and she stared up at the ceiling of the cave. Oh, no. She tried to sit up, but she had barely any strength left in her body. She fell back against the makeshift mattress with a frustrated groan.
“Easy, darling, you need to rest.”
She turned her head and found herself looking directly into her mother’s warm gaze.
“Mom? Is it really you?”
Her mother reached out and took hold of her hand. “Yes, darling. It’s me. You need to go back to sleep, okay? The healer said it will be another couple of days until you’re back to full strength.”
“How long have I been asleep?”
“Twelve hours.”
Twelve hours?
She frowned. “But how did I get here?”
Her mother’s eyes widened. “You don’t remember?”
“No. I…”
She fought against the grogginess to try to make sense of what had happened. The last thing she could remember was being with Wyatt. They’d been watching a movie then afterwards, he’d gone outside again, looking for the man who’d been watching them. Someone had rung the doorbell and she had thought it was Wyatt, that he’d forgot his key, only when she’d opened the door, Silas had been standing there instead. She’d panicked and tried to close the door again, but he’d wedged his foot in the way. He’d…he’dstabbedher. Then Wyatt had been there, and he’d looked so scared. Truly terrified. He’d had tears in his eyes.
Amelia used every bit of strength she possessed to force herself into a sitting position. “Did Wyatt bring me home?”
Her mother nodded. “He did, yes.”
“Where is he?”
Her mother averted her gaze.
“Where is he?” Amelia said again, louder and more insistent.
“He was sentenced to death,” her mother said quietly. “They are executing him any time now.”
Amelia choked out a sob. “What? No. Please God, no. They can’t.”
She threw off the thick fur pelt then struggled to get to her feet.
“Baby,” her mother said. “It’s too late. It’s probably already done.”
“Don’t say that. It can’t be too late. It can’t.”
Tears sprang to Amelia’s eyes, and she shuffled out of the dark, oppressive cave room, her mother trailing behind her.
“Amelia,” her mother pleaded. “Baby, please. You must rest.”
“If they kill my mate then they’d better kill me too,” she said fiercely. “Because my life won’t be worth living without him.”
Her mother gasped. “He’s yourmate?”
“Yes, he didn’t say?”
“I…I don’t know, they arrested him right after he brought you home.”
Amelia couldn’t believe that Wyatt had been so selfless to bring her back to the clan knowing what it would mean for him. And so damned stupid. She moved as quickly as her feet and body would allow, knowing that each moment counted. Her mother rushed to her side and took hold of her arm, helping her along.
