I had no words for how I felt at that exact moment. Horror? Pain? Guilt? Those are the closest words you could come to describe the mixed emotions running through my head. Once I finally stopped screaming, everything seemed to slow down and go black and white, like watching an old film rerun with no sound.

People ran around the room, from the dining room to the hallways to the kitchen, then finally back to Tiberius.

Tiberius!

Coming back to my senses, my feet picked up and flew towards my unconscious mate, who was lying next to a naked and panting Gail. Sliding on my knees to him, I gripped his shoulders since he was on his stomach, leaving 3 gruesome claw marks ripping his bare flesh open for everyone to see. Holding his wrist to feel a pulse, my heart dropped.

No, NO!

Suddenly I felt a light thump, so faint I would've missed it if I had not been so intent on finding it.

Thump......Thump......

Hands wrapped around my upper arm, trying to pull me away from him.

"No!" I screamed, tears streaming down my face. "He needs me!" Not letting go of his shoulders, I leaned down and combed his messy hair, hoping he could feel it.

"Ellie, they need to get him to the pack doctor!" A voice insisted. Haley crouched down next to my face, forcing me to make eye contact with her. "Elenore, they need to fix his wounds. Do you want him to die here or get better?" she asked sternly, not giving me any room to argue. Nodding, I let her take my hand and help me up, wiping my face once I stood.

Turning to Tiberius once again, I saw Gail-who finally had shorts on- helping a few guards ease Tiberius on a white stretcher. Lifting the bed of it, they rolled him off into one of the many hallways.

"There's a pack doctor here?" I asked, just then realizing I never knew that.

Haley nodded. "Yea, I must've forgotten to show it to you when I gave you a tour," she said absentmindedly, her voice dull compared to her usually light tone.

Slowly ambling towards the pack doctor, following the trails of people worried for their Alpha, I found myself infront of a white closed door. Hearing snips, sizzling, and groans from inside, I went to turn the handle. Lilly, though, suddenly came up and laid her hand on mine. Shaking her head lightly, saying I shouldn't open the door, she pulled me into a hug.

Letting her warmth flow into my clammy, quivering body, she brushed my hair down with her fingers soothingly.

"Thanks," I mumbled thickly, foamy saliva coating my tongue. Nodding, she pulled back and placed her hands on my shoulders.

"Don't go in there yet, okay? Let the doctors do their job, and you go take a nap." she softly ordered, pushing me lightly in the opposite direction of the room.

Shuffling my feet along the vacuumed rugs, I felt my heart tug with each step taking me farther from my mate.

'Everything will be okay, Ellie. Tiberius is strong, he'll survive for you,' Nikita comforted me. I knew she was feeling the worst out of the both of us, since she already admitted she takes most of my emotional pain.

'I know..I know,' I whispered back, mostly to myself. Wrapping my fist around the banister, I slowly pulled myself up the stairs and down the Alpha hallway, into Ti's and ours room.

Opening the door, I was embraced with the Earthy, woody scent of him, the very same scent that is running through my veins. Grabbing a T-shirt of his from our closet, I snuggled under the covers, holding the shirt under my neck as if it were the last thing I would ever have of him.

~~

"Ellie?" A voice called out. I looked around the empty living room, seeing no one. "Ellie, where are you?" Where was it coming from?

"Ellie, there you are!"

I swung around, seeing Haley striding towards me, dressed in a long white skirt and blouse. "You look amazing!" she motioned towards my white and golden knee length sundress, coming into a sweetheart neckline. "But what are you still doing in here? Tiberius is waiting outside!"

Careful not to stumble in my cream heels, I ran out of the back door Haley was pointing to. Smiling as I passed her, I exited the house and into the warm summer air, immediately looked around for Tiberius. Where was he?

Suddenly I spotted a white flash contrast against the dark green trees and grass. Squinting through the glaring sunlight, I spotted someone waving me over, exactly where Tiberius and I had the picnic a few days ago. Grinning, I took off my heels and dropped them on the grass, running towards the white figure, my mate, whose arms were open wide.

Jumping into his embrace with my arms around his neck, he swung me around and around, chuckling deeply and I giggled. Finally letting me down, he held me close to not let me fall.

"I missed you, baby girl," he whispered into my hair, sending chills onto my scalp.

"I missed you too, Ti. You have no idea how worried I was!..When are you coming back to me?" I finally looked into his golden green eyes, so mesmerizing I could see myself in their reflection.

He sighed. "I don't know, Ellie, but I'll tell you this; I will fight to get back to you. No matter how hard I have to, or how desperate everything seems, I will come back. I promise you that." Tears threatened my eyes, and he pressed light kisses to my lids. "Just wait, Ells. Don't give up on me yet."

Shaking my head and laughing humorously, I placed my hands on either side of his face. "I will never give up on you Ti. No matter what happens, I love you, and only you." Pressing my lips to his passionately after I pulled his face down to mine, I relaxed under his touch. I could stay like this forever, I thought. But forever doesn't last.

Sitting upright in my bed, I clutched the shirt tighter to my upper chest, inhaling his scent.

He'll be back. He promised.