"She wasn't dead but she wasn't alive at the same time."

"What's that?" I asked, trembling. They had silver over a fire. It was in the shape of a coin and he was heating it over a fire. He snickered wickedly at my reaction. I watched as he held it there for a couple of more minutes before walking to me. He held the silver circle with a tweezer. I couldn't move as he pressed it to my chest. I screamed loudly, my neck baring in pain.

"No!" I screamed out when he was about to burn me again on my arm. But he did it anyway and it felt like it was burning through my skin, burning me to the bone.

My eyes turned to my mother who just walked into the cave with a small object in her hand. I don't think I could handle anything else. She was emotionaless as she held the syringe to my neck. I shook violently through the pain, trying for her not to stab me with it but she did it anyway and the black dots surfaced again.

"Go to sleep."

The knife that they stabbed into my shoulder and stomach hours ago were still there. I did not dare move for the pain would continue. Why haven't I died yet? My father was right when he said I would wish to be dead. My ribs were broken and my stomach hurt to even breathe. It could be that or the time when my father choked me until I was almost dead. I've never been happier to be close to death but obviously, he stopped.

The cave that we were staying in, they drilled holes so they could chain me up. My legs gave out a long time ago from standing so I was just there, hanging from my hands with blood covering my body. My dress was ripped and disgusting, reminding me of its once beauty.

I was dying. It was hard not to know. I could just feel the lack fo blood in my body and the pain wasn't helping the situation either.

My father walked back into the cave. My mother had just left. After two days of torturing me and sleeping in his cave, they finally packed up their stuff and my mother took it outside. "What's happening?" I mumbled. It was hard to speak for some reason and I was very dehydrated. I felt like spongebob when he went to sandy's house without water.

My father snickered, the face and sound I came to hate so easily. He pulled out a knife that was tucked into the pocket of his belt. He approached me and I wasn't even scared. Even though it was only two days I got accustomed to it. "See you in hell, Everest," My father told me before stabbing the knife into my stomach repeatedly and then I was out.

Finally.

That's it.

I bolted out to the forest, not caring that I accidentally knocked into a couple of shoulders on the way. Finally, at last I was surrounded by the comforting trees. My speed slowed as I just walked, not caring that I could get lost. My wolf, Rilas, could get me out of here.

The scent caught me off guard.

Coconut and lavender. What the fuck? I hate the scent coconut or anything flavoured coconut. Yet why did it smell so delicious?

"Mate is hurt! Get to her!" Rilas shouted at me and I could feel him pushing me to the surface. My eyes widened. The scent was my mate's one and she's hurt. Using his speed, I ran towards the direction the scent was taking me.

I kept running and running until I ended up in the circle between the trees. I froze when I saw her laying amongst the dirt and fallen leaves mixed with twigs. No, the moon goddess isn't so horrible. She wouldn't give me a dead mate. I'm the king, damnit. Who will rule by my side?

I felt a golden aura around her, feeling as if I just found treasure or something. "No, no, no," I repeated, running closer to her. I pulled her weak body on my lap, cradling her to my chest. Fuck, she's beautiful.

I scanned her body that was covered in blood and fresh scars. I need to get her to Rieka. Now. Rieka was the best doctor I know who just happened to be with me on this visit to the golden cove pack. She was also my beta, Jayden's sister and things between us are...complicated.

My mate's pulse was too faint. She wasn't dead but she wasn't alive at the same time. She was barely holding on. "I got you, don't leave me so soon, you're gonna be okay," I cooed her, pushing off the ground and began running into the woods.

My mate?

My mate. I finally found her. Goddess, Rieka better save her.

"Get me Rieka Knight! Now!" I shout, holding the girl to my chest. The doctors froze, looking at my mate and I. "Sir, with all the respect there is no doctor by that name in this hospital," one of them told me. I growled at her and they all took a step back. "She's at the alpha's house. Bring her to be now!" I ordered. Their eyes go fogged and I slightly relaxed.

Two minutes of waiting, Rieka ran in. "I need a bed, now!" She shouted, running to me and putting on a coat over her outfit. "Thank the goddess, I need you to help her, I don't know- I-I -please just save her. I need her to be okay," I panicked as doctors came with a rolling wheel. Rieka was confused and showed me not so hopeful eyes when she took in my mate. "She is going to be okay," she told me uncertain and I held back a growl.

"Save her, Rieka, please," I whimpered, about to get on my knees for her to save my mate. Rieka had super powers when it came to being a doctor. She could do anything with a lab coat on and a fuctioning hospital.

"I will, I promise," she promised. I was uneasy as the four doctors rolled the bed into the patient room and I followed right after. My eyes narrowed on the male wearing scrubs that tried to touch my mate's hand but I growled at him before he could fully touch her.

"Rieka only," I bluntly told them the warning and they all disappeared.

Every step of the way Rieka told me what was happening. I learnt that she was beaten badly. Showing signs of an abusive husband or attempted murder. She had broken and fractured ribs, blistered and swollen throat, silver burns, bruised hips, one broken wrist and two broken ankles. Her cause of almost death was several stabs to her stomach. Her head had signs of deep wounds, showing signs that her head was banged on a wall. She suffered from severe dehydration, internal bleeding and worst of all...

She wasn't healing.

How she was still alive was a complete mystery but I've never been more thankful.

I was in fear about the girl I was supposed to live the rest of my life with. Is she even gonna survive this? And I know the chances are very low right now.

"Do you want to know her name?" Rieka cautiously asked me. I shook my head with a stiff jaw. "She'd tell me her name herself when she wakes up," I told Rieka before she left. I sighed, leaning back on the chair just staring at my mate. Her chest rose and fall and I couldn't be more thankful.

She is gonna be okay.