Chapter 49
Erica
Amuffledbeepingsoundroused me from my drug-induced slumber. My eyelids fluttered open, the harsh lights above me momentarily blinding. A tangle of tubes and wires snaked their way across my body, connected to machines that monitored my every breath and heartbeat. The sharp scent of antiseptic filled the air, reminding me of a sterile emptiness. Where am I? My eyes adjusted to the brightness, and I saw Liam sitting beside my bed. His head was tilted back, resting against the wall while he slept, one hand holding mine. The sight of him brought an odd sense of comfort, even as my memories remained hazy.
Just then, the door opened with a soft creak, making me wince at the intrusion of noise. Damon strolled into the room, his dark eyes alive with mischief. Instinctively, I lifted a finger to my lips, urging him to be quiet so as not to wake Liam. Damon just grinned and sauntered over to the foot of my bed.
"Good morning, Erica," he said in a voice louder than necessary. He nudged Liam's leg with his foot.
"Hey, Sleeping Beauty, wake up. Your damsel is conscious." Liam jolted awake, his eyes wide with confusion before they landed on me. Relief flooded his features, and he grinned.
"Baby, you're awake."
"Hi, Liam," I whispered, my throat dry and scratchy. "How long have I been here?"
"Almost twenty-four hours," he answered, concern etching lines into his handsome face. "You had us all worried."
"Sorry," I muttered, guilt settling like a stone in my chest.
"None of that," Damon chided, waving a finger at me. "None of this is your fault." Liam's warm lips pressed gently against mine, and I couldn't help but smile through the kiss. The familiar scent of his cologne enveloped me, providing a sense of safety amidst the sterile hospital surroundings.
"How are you feeling?" he asked softly, his brown eyes filled with genuine concern.
"Okay, I guess," I admitted. "Groggy, but not really in pain."
"Good," Damon chimed in, leaning against the doorframe. "The doctors have you on a pretty strong cocktail of medications. You should be feeling better soon."
"Thanks," I murmured, my eyelids heavy as I fought to stay awake. I needed answers, and despite the overwhelming urge to succumb to sleep, I knew I couldn't let this opportunity slip away.
"Erica, do you remember what happened?" Liam questioned, his fingers tracing comforting circles on the back of my hand. I shook my head, my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to recall the events that had led me here.
"No, everything's still a blur."
"Louis attacked you," Liam explained, his voice strained. As he spoke, memories from the previous night rushed back to me, the snarling wolf stalking me, ready to kill. My breath caught in my throat, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.
"Louis..." I whispered, my voice barely audible. The thought of that monster bearing down on me, his teeth inches from my throat, sent tremors through my body. I'd been so close to death, and the realisation was almost too much to bear.
"Hey, it's okay," Liam reassured me, pulling me closer. "He can't hurt you anymore."
"But how did he get so close?" I asked, my mind reeling with questions. "Why did he attack me?"
"We're still piecing everything together, Erica," Damon cut in, his dark eyes filled with worry. "But don't worry, we'll make sure nothing like this ever happens again."
As my memories slowly pieced themselves together, I recalled the horrifying scene of Liam's wolf leaping at Louis, tearing into him with a ferocity that both terrified and awed me in equal measure. The image was so vivid, it felt like it had been etched into my very soul.
"Wait," I said, interrupting the silence that had settled over us. "I remember now... Liam, you killed Louis." My heart raced while I tried to process the gruesome event I'd witnessed. "You had him cornered, but then you just attacked. Why did you do that?" Liam's eyes darkened, and his jaw clenched as if he was trying to hold back a tidal wave of anger. He looked away from me, unable to meet my gaze. A tense silence hung in the air, and Damon shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"Louis knew he was losing, Erica," Damon finally said, breaking the silence. "He realised that facing Alpha Declan would mean certain death, so he chose to die quickly rather than endure the humiliation of submission."
"Submission?" I questioned, still puzzled by the chain of events that led to Louis' demise. "What do you mean?"
"Louis understood that if he submitted to my father, he would be at the pack's mercy. He likely feared that his punishment would be drawn out or particularly cruel," Liam explained through gritted teeth, his voice laced with contempt. "So he decided to take the coward's way out."
“How?” I asked and Liam and Damon exchanged looks. Liam's jaw clenched, and I could practically hear his teeth grinding together.
"Louis...he sent out a mass mind link to everyone in the room," he said through gritted teeth. "He showed us his intentions towards you."
"His intentions?" I asked, my stomach churning with dread. Liam stared at me, pain and anger flickering in his eyes.
