Chapter 30

Lucy’s eyelids fluttered open, the world around her a blur of colors and shapes. For a moment, she struggled to make sense of where she was, her mind still clouded by the remnants of the dream—or was it a nightmare? She couldn’t tell. Her head throbbed like it was being hit by a hard object. Her body felt like it was weighed down by a thousand stones. She blinked rapidly, trying to focus her vision, the edges of her surroundings gradually sharpening into view.

She noticed the two figures that knelt before her, their faces close, whispering her name in soft, concerned tones. It took a moment before she could get a clear vision but as her vision cleared, she finally recognized them—It was Katherine and Marie. A slight relief washed over her at the sight of them, but it was short-lived, quickly replaced by the confusion that gnawed at her mind.

“Lucy… Lucy, are you alright?” Katherine’s voice was laced with worry as she gently shook Lucy’s shoulder. Marie, on the other side, was equally anxious, her hands hovering just above Lucy, unsure whether to touch her or not.

Lucy’s body was drenched in sweat, her skin clammy and cold. She could feel her heart racing like she was still connected to where she had come from somehow and the remnants of fear still clinging to her from the strange world she had just escaped. She attempted to sit up but her muscles protested the movement, but Katherine was quick to stop her, pressing a firm hand against her chest and helping her to lay back.

“Don’t try to move just yet,” Katherine urged, her voice gentle but firm. “You’re still too weak.”

Lucy hesitated, her eyes searching Katherine’s face, looking for answers in her steady gaze. “What… what happened?” Her voice came out as a raspy whisper, her throat dry and sore.

Marie looked away from Lucy and exchanged a glance with Katherine before she answered. “You’ve been unconscious for almost a day, Lucy. We were so worried. You wouldn’t wake up, no matter what we did.”

Lucy’s mind reeled at the revelation. *A day?* It didn’t seem possible. It felt like she had only just closed her eyes. At that moment, panic began to rise in her chest, but she forced herself to stay calm, taking slow, deep breaths. She held her chest and wagged her head sideways but slowly 

“How did… How did I get here?” Lucy asked, her eyes flitting between the two women. She needed to piece together what had happened, to understand how she had gone from that terrifying place in her dream to this bed, surrounded by her friends.

All she could remember was the field where she was, talking with Marie and peeping on Leo and Ethan who were training on the field. But then to her, everything felt like a second. She looked at Marie, expecting some words to come out of her. Marie seemed to understand her look and readjusted herself on the cold floor.

“Ethan was the one who helped me carry you to this place… I guess Leo sent him, and remember that they were around when you fell.” Marie explained softly, her eyes filled with gratitude. “He’s the one who helped you out at first when I had lost hope and he was the one that found Katherine and brought her here under Leo’s orders. He was so determined to make sure you were alright.”

Lucy’s mind latched onto the name. “Leo…” she murmured, her thoughts drifting to him. The memory of the connection she had felt with her wolf, the strange, unsettling experience of talking to her, and Leo’s role in all of this—everything was a tangled mess in her mind.

Marie nodded. “Yes, Leo. He’s been looking out for you, maybe silently, making sure everything is done to help you. And Ethan—he’s the one who made sure no one disturbed us. He told me not to unlock the door for anyone, not even Isabella when she came looking for us. He said it was for your safety.”

Lucy frowned at the mention of Isabella. “Isabella was here?” she asked, the idea of her coming around was frustrating 

Marie nodded again. “Yes, but I couldn’t let her in. I didn't know what she might say or do and your life was on the line. All I could do was keep you at bay and stay silent myself.”

Lucy took a deep breath, her chest tightening at the thought of the chaos that had been happening while she was unconscious. She tried to push herself up again, and this time Katherine helped her, supporting her back as she propped herself up on the pillows. The room felt small and dark, the dim light casting their shadows across the walls.

“Katherine,” Lucy began, her voice more steady now, though still laced with uncertainty, “I was… I was in this place… it was dark, and there were these trees, and I—” Her words faltered as she recalled the terrifying encounter with her wolf. The memory of that voice, so powerful and angry, still sent shivers down her spine.

Katherine’s expression turned grave, and she nodded for Lucy to continue. “It was your subconscious, like you were in a dream. All that you saw was fragments of your fears.”

Lucy mused as she tried to grasp the meaning of Katherine's words but then, Katherine spoke up again. “Go on,” she urged, her voice calm, but her eyes were sharp, clearly assessing the situation.

Lucy swallowed hard, the words catching in her throat. “I was… I was talking to my wolf,” she finally admitted, her eyes wide as she searched Katherine’s face for some sort of reaction.

Katherine’s gaze didn’t waver, though there was a flicker of concern in her eyes. “Your wolf?” she repeated, as if to confirm what Lucy had just said.

“Yes,” Lucy whispered. “She… she was there. She spoke to me. She said… she said I kept her imprisoned, that I buried her deep inside me. I don’t even know how…” Her voice trembled with the weight of the revelation. “Katherine, is this connected to everything you told me?.”

Katherine’s grip on Lucy’s hand tightened, and she took a deep breath before speaking. “Lucy, what you experienced was more than just a dream. It’s a manifestation of your wolf trying to break free. I told you before, how your mother locked your wolf away. She was scared she wouldn't be around to help you and that you might lose yourself as you are just like your mother, maybe more powerful than her.” Katherine let out a smile.

Marie could not believe what she was hearing and all she could do was keep mute. She wondered how powerful Lucy could be but with what Katherine was saying, she wouldn't lie. Thought swirled through her mind. “How could Katherine have known all this? How could she have known Lucy this much more than Lucy herself? The only thing she knew about Katherine was what Lucy had said about her. As she was the friend of her father and Katherine would do anything for Lucy even if laying her life down for her. After that, nothing else and this was something different entirely.

Marie directed her eyes to Lucy and stared at her for a moment. She doesn't know the way to react to what she just heard but immediately composed herself as Katherine continued with her words.

“Your emotions, your anger, your hate, your worries—they’re the key to your wolf’s strength. If you let them get out of control, if you get too emotional, your wolf will feed on that energy, and since she’s still locked away, it will only make things worse… like in a prison, your wolf has been locked up. She's trying to break free and it's affecting you.”

Lucy’s heart pounded in her chest, a cold dread settling over her. She hadn’t realized just how close she was to losing herself in the dream she had. “This is the reason I've been losing myself.” 

Katherine nodded in agreement to her suggestion. Marie kept mute and just listened, knowing there was nothing she could say or do. 

“But… what am I supposed to do?” Lucy asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “How do I keep her at bay? How do I stop this from happening?”

Katherine’s expression softened, and she placed a reassuring hand on Lucy’s shoulder. “Have you forgotten what I told you the last time I told you the truth about who you are.” 

Lucy mused as she thought back to the last time she had a chat with Katherine. She furrowed her eyebrows and nodded slightly as she was yet to remember whatever discussion she had with her. The remnant of the turmoil still coursing through her veins.

Katherine took a deep breath in and held on to Lucy. “I told you, you need to find your mate, Lucy. He’s the only one who can truly help you now. He’s the only one who can break the lock that’s holding your wolf back.”

At the mention of a mate, Lucy’s mind reeled once again. Her mate? She soon remembered what Katherine had told her before. “But how am I going to do that… I'm just a maid here and the only one I thought to be my mate is an Alpha son and there is nothing that could happen between the both of us.” 

Marie, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. “But there must be another way. We just have to find out what that is? But what if… what if it’s too late?” There was a note of fear in her voice, her concern for Lucy evident in every word.

Lucy looked down at her hands, which were trembling slightly. The thought of being so close to losing herself, to being consumed by something she didn’t understand, was terrifying.

“I need to find my mate, yes I know. My mate is the only one that can help me, yes I know. Well, Leo is the only one I know of as my mate but with the situation at hand. He can't help me.” Lucy said and yawned as she readjusted herself right where she sat. 

Katherine was about to respond to her but before she could respond, the door to the room creaked open, and all three women looked up in unison.