Episode Eighteen

Valerian's POV

I almost walk past her cell, not realising it was her. Standing in front, I stare inside in disbelief at the state Harmony was in. I don't ever remember ordering the silver chains to be placed on her.

Ace appears next to me, he's also frozen in place staring wordlessly at Harmony. I'm horrified at what I see, I never imagined it would be this bad.

Harmony lying at the back of the cell, her head leaning against the stone wall, eyes closed in pain. A shiver racks her body, but she doesn't open her eyes. She's still in the old top that Ace placed over her all those weeks ago. Staring at her, she was almost unrecognisable looking more like a skeleton than the beautiful women we had met all those weeks ago.

What had we done?

I can't stifle my large vicious growl that echoes throughout the cell, expressing my anger and guilt.

We never should've let it get this far, we should've intervened weeks ago.

At the sound of the growl her eyes flutter open, she looks around the cell before her gaze lands on us, a frightened look automatically covers her face.

Ace growls in response, causing her to shrink further back into the wall, away from us. My mother's words echo in my head, "I was terrified of him". I couldn't believe that history was yet again repeating itself.

I grab the keys opening the door, I needed to take her to the pack doctor. She needed to be healed urgently.

"Please" she whispers only audibly " Please, just leave me alone to die"

"Never" I whisper, "I'm not going to hurt you" I say softly as I slowly approach her.

"I'm just going to take these off" I inform her nodding to her chains.

She puts her hand out causing the metal to burn her skin even further.

"Don't you'll hurt yourself" she rasps and I'm taken back by her want to protect us, it was only a little while ago that she hated us. "Get the gloves"

I shake my head ignoring her plea, it would take too long.

I ignore the burning pain and push the key into the lock twisting it sharply. I gently pull the chains off, not wanting to hurt her even more.

I gasp horrified when I see the damage we've caused.

The silver chains had destroyed all her perfectly porcelain skin. Now it was covered in angry red burn mark which had started to blister. There were patches of dry blood covering her neck while her wrists and ankles were dripping with fresh blood.

Guilt quickly consumes me but like every other strong emotion I have, I shove it down leaving me to deal with it later.

My mother was right, my beautiful mate was strong. I can't imagine any other she wolf enduring this pain for so long or behaving so stubbornly.

She tries getting up, her legs wobbling like a new born fawn but before she takes her first steps I gently lift her into my arms.

Shit, she's so light.

Cradling Harmony, I take solace in the feel of her in my arms, it had been six weeks since I last touched her. Surprisingly she snuggles up closer to me, seeking comfort in my arms. If she wasn't in a tremendous amount of pain, this moment would be perfect.

I check on Cane who seems to be awfully quiet.

"Cane, is everything okay"

"Can't. Hear. Mate."

He shut me off, concentrating hard on trying to find Jane. Swallowing hard, I try not to panic, Harmony couldn't lose her wolf, she would never forgive us.

I cast a sidelong look to Ace, he's glancing painfully down at Harmony, his eyes flicking specifically to the horrible wounds that mar her body.  At this moment he was more worried about her injuries than her wolf.

I speed up the pace, jogging out of the prison and towards the pack doctor. Since its mid morning pack members are out in the village, completing their daily tasks. They leave a path for us but none of them hide their audible gasps of shock and horror when they see their Luna.

They all knew she was in the pack prison but I assume none of them expected her to be this injured, not even me.

Concern filters through the pack link, but I ignore it not having time to answer their questions, Harmony was more important.

......                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Reaching the surgery, the door is already open leading us straight into the medical room. I hadn't even told the pack doctor that we needed to see him, but as usual gossip in this pack spreads like wild fire.

I gently place Harmony on the bed as the pack doctor enters. I turn to stand against the foot of the bed but Harmony grips my arm, tightening her hold on me. She looks at me with pleading eyes, begging me to stay. Surprised and warmed by her new attitude I edge closer to her, using her other hand she grips Ace arms as well.

I glance at the pack doctor who is smiling warmly at three us, when he notices me staring, he quickly shift into Doctor mode, approaching the bed he states,

"Staying close to your mate will help you and your wolf's healing process but for the moment you need to release their hands so I can examine you fully" His words are directed to Harmony and she immediately releases our hands like she was touching poison.

From her reaction and the Doctor's words doubt begins to creep into my mind, did she only want us close so she could heal or did she actually feel something for us?

"I don't care for her reasons. Stay close to mate. Wolf needs to heal"

My wolf was right but the comment still stung.

The doctor begins checking her wounds for signs of infections. 

Have and I automatically growl when he presses his fingers against Harmony's wounds causing her to wince in pain. 

He ignores our warning growl and continues checking her before finishing with a deflated sigh.

My head whips towards the Doctor, along with Harmony and Ace but the Doctor's stoic face reveals nothing.

My heart beats rapidly as I begin to worry that something irreversible had happened to my mate. 

"When was the last time you communicated with your wolf" He asks Harmony I watch as sadness washes over her, she swallows deeply refusing to meet our gaze. Tears began forming at the corner of her eyes but she quickly wipes them away with her hand.

I want to comfort her but it wouldn't be right, not when we were the ones who caused this.

"Two days"

"Okay" The Doctor says, he sits on the bed and grab Flicker's hand comforting her. For the first time in my whole existence I envy him.

"When you're fully healed, your wolf will slowly come back to you." He pauses for a moment and I wait for him to reveal the bad news. "But because your wolf is weak, it will take you longer to heal and you will also feel lethargic at times."

"But she will come back, won't she" Her voice is soft and filled with doubt and worry. She looks up at him pleadingly.

"Yes, don't worry Luna your wolf will definitely return to you"

Harmony nods with appreciation, she closes her eyes and leans her head back on the pillow letting a sigh escape. Standing up the Doctor faces me.

"Alpha's you will need to continually stay close to Harmony to allow her to heal efficiently"

"Thanks Doc" Connor says, he's moved to Flicker's side standing protectively over her.

'Anything else Doctor"  I mind link him

"Any touching of the skin, like holding hands or even kissing"  A smirk grows on his face but quickly disappear with the look I give him.

I don't think Harmony will let us kiss her anytime soon. "Will speed up her healing process. Look after our Luna" is the last thing he says before walking out the door.

When I glance at Harmony she's fallen asleep on the bed and guilt punches through me again, when was the last time she'd received a decent sleep.

Ace gently lifts her into his arms, opening the door for him, we both walk in silence towards our house deep with thoughts concerning our precious mate.

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