Page 158 of Her Cold-Hearted Alpha: Part 2

I stilled, I had used up everything I had… but I couldn’t risk the pup. If it wasn’t for my pup, I’d have drained my entire life source for Alejandro. My tears spilt down my cheeks as I kept my hands on Alejandro’s chest. His heartbeat was so faint…

"You’ve healed him. The rest is up to him. Endora tried to take him with her, but she didn’t succeed. Have faith, Kiara." Rafael’s hoarse voice came.

I looked up at him, seeing the pain in his eyes.

"He’ll be ok, Kiara… We all know how stubborn Alejandro is." Dad said softly.

I didn’t reply, looking at the man before me, his body covered in dirt, blood and sweat. His handsome face looked as if he was simply asleep. I cupped his jaw, leaning over and placed a deep kiss on his lips.

Wake up, my king… Please wake up…

Nothing. I could barely feel him breathing. What was wrong? Why wasn’t his heartbeat steadying? My mind was going through a vicious cycle of questions that had no answers.

"Kia…" Mom said softly.

"Let’s take him inside." Rafael said, gently.

I didn’t want to move away. Mom pulled me back and Rafael lifted his brother. I could barely stand, my energy was completely depleted. I reached out to Alejandro, don’t leave me… please… My vision spun and I felt myself fall forward before darkness welcomed me…

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TWO DAYS LATER…

The devastating aftermath of a battle was never one of happiness… We had won, yet I felt nothing but remorse for our losses.

We had lost so many… Uncle Aaron, Grandma Amy, Grandad, Aunty Indy, Daniel and his mate... Valentin… Someone I had struggled to save, in the end, he still lost his life. So many had lost their mates, parents, siblings. It hurt more than I could ever put into words.

Everyone was affected, one way or another.

Two days had gone by, yet my king never awoke. His heartbeat was fainter than an unborn pups… I was unravelling.

Looking back, I felt like he knew there was a chance of this happening. I had seen how he had shielded me from her right until the end, but he was not protecting himself… At that last moment when he had her heart in his hand… The silent apology in his eyes, the pain and the guilt.

The man who said he was a monster, sacrificed everything for our kind.

Why did you leave me?

The worst thing was, I couldn’t even let myself break. An entire pack was looking at me for guidance. For answers to why their king did not make it? To know that it’s going to be ok.

I looked towards the shining moon. Was this fair? I felt as if I had failed everyone… I had failed my mate. Every day I tried to heal him, but nothing. Callum had come as well, but there was nothing. It was not magic. We both had determined that… But there seemed to be nothing we could do.

Whatever Endora had done in her last moments by linking their hearts had all but destroyed Alejandro. Although I had been able to stop it from completely killing him, it only put him in a deadlock. It was as if I had simply frozen him on the brink of death. The bond was so weak I could barely feel it, and in its place was a terrifying emptiness that was pulling me into its depths.

"Kiara, It’s time for the farewell." Liam’s voice broke me from my thoughts, and I turned towards him.

His eyes were filled with sadness, I nodded.

We had burned our dead and tried to list everyone who was gone, but not everyone was intact. It had been hard to tell their families that there wasn’t even a body for them to look upon. Many Alphas had taken their dead and moved on, but The Black Storm, The Blood Moon and The Night Walker Pack remained. We were combining our farewells, those who had lost mates and family had all joined us here.

Liam took my hand and led me from the room. I saw Grandma Jessica standing there and it hurt to see that she was losing it. The loss of her mate and daughter had hit her so hard. She also didn’t understand why Grandma Amy had not saved Aunty, not understanding when Mom told her the baby was holding out thanks to something Grandma Amy had given to both me and Aunty beforehand. This only triggered Grandma Jessica even more, to the point where she was blaming Grandma Amy for not stopping us from joining the battle.

But I understood, whatever Grandma Amy’s gift was, it seemed she couldn’t really foretell it. She always seemed to know things, but at the same time, she never said much. We would never truly understand the depths of Grandma Amy’s past or her heritage. But to me, no matter how many people were disgusted that she had a witch heritage and that she had lived amongst us, I would always remember her as that beacon of light who had always been here for me and for my mom. The one with witty crass remarks and how she loved to tease all the men.

That was another thing that pained me. The hatred our people felt towards witches had increased ten-fold. It hurt considering Janaina had helped us somewhat, Delsanra had given her life to relay the truth and Grandma Amy, maybe not a full witch, but she had some lineage. No one saw that, in fact… the disapproval that mom agreed to carry a child transferred by magic had hit the wrong way. It seems no matter what we accomplish, something else takes its place. The negativity and stigma that Mom was facing shocked me. Although she took it all and put people in their place, it did not stop people from talking.

"We should go." Mom said to Grandma, who clung to her.

Dad was quiet too... He had lost so many people he loved, including his best friend. Damon had stepped in as Beta already, although he wasn’t showing his emotions at all. I tried a little, but there was nothing I could do when I myself was crumbling from within.

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