I heard whispers and prayers coming from the lips of one unknown man. His warm hand covering mine or rather, gripping mine in desperation.

His words brought me comfort as well as empathy towards the person chanting them.

"Goddess... Please bring our queen back. Her mate needs her. I would do anything. I can't have my friend lose his mate like I have. It ruins a man. It strips him bare of anything and everything that keeps him sane and humane. Please. I beg of you. -" his words became faded as darkness consumed my senses once more.

____________________

I became aware as a splitting headache assaulted me. I tried to reach up and rub my temples but I found myself unable to move.

I tried to open my eyes but they wouldn't budge. Tried to say something but yet again nothing happened!

So I listened... Listened to everything around me. I heard the beeping of a monitor. I'm in hospital?

The soft whispers somewhere in the room, prayers.

I heard sobbing and whispered I-love-you's and I heard the tapping of an impatient foot... Oh my Goddess that is annoying, stop that!

I tried to smell. I smelt flowers, Luke, then... Lewis and... Dad!

What is my dad doing here? Why isn't he with the pack? What's wrong with me?

I tried to do anything that's considered moving. Tried wiggling my toes - nothing. I even tried moving my fingers that were covered by something and still nothing happened. Come on Lexi! Try harder!

So I repeated the process. I tried wiggling my toes - nothing. I tried moving my finger - AHA!

I tried opening my eyes with everything I had and was surprised to find my eyes fluttering open and my body shooting upright in bed as my lungs were out of breath.

"Lexi! Oh Lexi, thank the Moon Goddess, you're okay!" Luke said almost crushing me with his arms and wetting my hospital attire with salt water.

I tried to voice my protests in having Luke crush my tiny frame with his big ass body but epically failed as only a moan of pain escaped my lips.

He immediately put me back down on my bed and started to examine my body from head to toe.

"W- Water... I- I need... Water." my voice hoarse and throat dry from being out of it for I don't know how long.

"Sure, anything for you my love." Luke said, rushing to the table in the corner of my room.

Fumbling with a jug and a glass, trying not to spill the contents in the jug and make a mess due to his trembling hands but failing epically as half of the clear content splashed onto the floor.

Luke rushed over, not paying attention to the mess he made and gave me the glass, holding his trembling hands over mine, making sure I gulp all the water without spilling.

Clearing my now hydrated throat, I whispered, "How long have I been here?"

Luke sighed and bluntly replied, "A week."

Before I could say anything, he cut me off.

"A week of me worrying about you, driving the healers mad with questions, forcing them to do tests and whatever bullshit to make sure you're fine. You were in a coma, Lexi. I called your dad. Why didn't you tell me about your anxiety attacks? We're mates! We're supposed to trust each other and be able to tell each other everything. Don't you trust me?" his voice cracking as he finished his tirade.

I looked up to see him crying and my heart ached. My wolf begging to comfort our mate.

"I love you. Don't you get that?" He whispered, sniffling through his tears.

"I know. I just. I was scared. Why... Why would you love a freak like me?"

"Lexi, you're no freak... You're my baby girl. My mate. My world. My life. My everything. I love you because you're you and just because the Moon Goddess bound our souls together, doesn't mean I wouldn't love you if she hadn't. I love you because you're that easy to love and anybody who thinks differently should have their heads checked. Lexi, you are perfect. Why would you think any different?"

"I don't know what to say. I really don't. I'm just so afraid that I'm not good enough. I'm afraid you'll leave and never come back." I croaked as tears came streaming down my face.

"I'll never leave you. Lexi, I would never and I could never hurt you like that. I care for you way too much to be able to do that! I love you, Lexi." he said as he kissed my forehead and his tears wet my face.

"It's just, after Marcus... I was so alone and all the cruel names other people called me. It made me feel so small. So unloved and so terribly unwanted. I felt worthless, Luke. I started cutting and drinking and basically tried anything, just to numb the pain. Yes, you know about my cutting being related to Marcus and I'm sorry I didn't tell you the whole reason why I carry my scars. I just didn't want you to think of me as a pathetic pup. "

Luke stared at me with wide eyes. Eyes filled with sadness and shock from what he'd just heard. He dropped his gaze for a moment and looked back up as tears filled his eyes once more. He came closer as if to embrace me but he pulled me into his lap instead, dragging all the attached monitors and IV with me.

"That's in the past, my love. I promise on my soul before the Goddess on this day that you'll never have to go through that again. I'll do anything and everything in my power to make you happy. Please, just promise me you'll never hurt yourself again? And promise me you'll let the healers give you something for your anxiety? Please?" he begged as he kissed my hair and held me tightly to his body.

"Okay, I promise." I whispered almost incoherently as I breathed in his peppermint and cherry scent.

We heard a soft knock as the door to my hospital room slowly creaked open.

Lewis came in with a big grin on his face as he held out a box of chocolates and a bunch of lilies with a card attached to it.

"These are for you. Uhmmm... I didn't know what to get you so my mother helped me pick these out for you. I hope you like them. There's a card attached with notes from the whole pack written inside. Uhhh, everyone hopes for our Luna, I mean Alpha's rapid recovery and return, especially the girls, they just can't seem to shut up about how you guys are gonna be besties and blah blah blah." he chuckled as he quite nervously ended his rapid blabbering.

"Thank you Lewis, it's very kind of you." I smiled up at him.

"Anything for our Luna, I mean Alpha. That's so confusing. So uhm, I hope you feel better. Don't have to worry about nasty girls around here like Darcy anymore, you got me and my cousin here to do some punishing," he chuckled before continuing his rant "since you are Luna, I mean Alpha... No seriously, they're punishable by death if they disrespect you. Luke here doesn't take kindly to rule breakers. Fucking scary if you ask me!" He whispered, chuckling to casually play off his nervousness but failing as a loud gulp escaped him causing Luke and myself to break out in fits of laughter.

"You're such a scaredy cat, cousin! What? You afraid I'm gonna catch you like the bogeyman?" Luke joked, pulling all kinds of faces to mock Lewis.

"It's not funny you jerk, you scare the shit out of me sometimes!" Lewis said, his voice becoming high-pitched.

"Ahww come on Lewis. I'm only playing. Don't be so serious! And I can't be that bad." Luke said as he rolled his eyes before smirking and showing off his canines.

"Yeah you are! Especially when you go all 'Rawr, I'm Luke the destroyer and I'm gonna suck out your soul'" Lewis said as he pulled faces, his index fingers by his mouth in attempt to portray sharp canines.

Suddenly a head popped through the opened door.

"May I come in?"

"Sure, dad. " I said as I chuckled at Lewis when he suddenly stuck his hands behind his back in an attempt to act casual.

My dad cleared his throat, nervously looking at me as Luke signalled Lewis that they should leave.

Luke put me on the bed and kissed my forehead as he covered me with my bedding, turning on his heel to leave and closing the door behind Lewis and himself once they were out.

A few seconds of silence passed before my father opened his mouth to speak. "I'm really happy you're okay, my girl. You had us all so worried when Luke called in a panic saying you had a viscous panic attack which made you comatose. Please never scare us like that again? I beg of you. I can't afford to lose you, you're all I have left after -" he cut himself off before speaking again "I love you so much." my father finally said as he reached out and held me in his arms while he cried. I listened to his heartbeat and his sobs, this man means so much to me, I can never hurt him like that again.

It was there and then when I decided to never again show weakness or let anything get to me like that ever again. I promised myself for the sake of my family and the people I was responsible for.

"I love you too daddy." I whispered before falling into a deep sleep in the arms of my father...