Page 129 of A Chance at Love for the Twin Alphas

“We know,” Elden reassures me. “Harmony felt the tug but she couldn’t respond.”

Harmony looks at me sadly. “I’m so sorry. I couldn’t get you back.”

I reach out my hand to touch her cheek, her scent grounding me instantly. “It’s not your fault. It was impossible to get me out of there.”

“You are not unconscious this time.” Elodie sighs in relief.

Harmony cradles me in her arms, her eyes wide in fear.

“She… she took the punishment of using my gift this time,” I mutter tiredly.

“Who?” Elise asks.

“Bastet.” Saying her name makes realization settle in. This is real. It really happened. “I woke up the deity… Maahes… who can shift into a lion. He fought something or someone, probably the being responsible for Auset’s comatose state, and then Bastet saved me.”

My eyes snap open, and I push myself up, crawling towards Auset’s bed.

“She has had a short episode,” Cassiopeia explains, but she is stable. “And Lapis…” She pauses. “Lapis? Where is she?”

I feel joy filling me as I grab Auset’s arm, feeling how her skin is warm. “Her lynx is back with her,” I exclaim. “I just know it.”

Auset’s fingers move slightly, and she gently tabs at my arm. “You are a loud bunch,” she says quietly.

“Aunty,” Cassiopeia blurts out, hurrying towards her aunt and wrapping her arms around her.

“Cass.” Auset brushes over Cassiopeia’s arms, her voice tired. “My dear. We have a lot of catching up to do. Just give me an hour.”

“You should absolutely rest a bit more,” Elden says earnestly. “I’ll send a doctor here to check on you. Everyone else aside from Cassiopeia should go and get some rest too before we meet again.”

I don’t feel like arguing. I’m so tired and drained, grateful that Harmony takes the lead and drags me to our guest room. The moment I crash on the mattress, I fall asleep.

*DALILA*

Seeing blood ooze out of Arman’s eyes and nose and not being able to do anything was the most horrifying experience I ever had. His mate was shaking him, and both she and Alpha Elden were trying to get him back.

Everyone thought we were losing him when suddenly Luna Flora popped up and, with one tug at the thread, had him come back.

Alpha Elden sent us all to get some rest and to just calm down a bit.

Tony and I use this moment to walk a bit through the Silverlake Pack. When we arrived here earlier in the day, he introduced me to Elden, Flora, and some other ranked members. But I haven’t seen much of the pack grounds. It’s a huge pack, bigger than Emerald Moon, and Tony keeps explaining a bit about their hierarchy, the role Elden, Flora, and his children are playing in their world. Then Tony and I decide to just take a bit of a rest in Luna Flora’s beautiful rose garden before returning to the pack house and grabbing something to eat.

“Here you are.” Elise and Marcel join us. “How are you holding up, Dalila?” she asks me in worry.

“I’m fine.” I shrug. “Well… it’s a lot to learn and take in, but it’s getting easier.”

“I can’t wait to know what Arman saw,” Marcel mutters.

“Me too.” Tony nods. “He freed Auset, so whatever he did, it must have worked.”

“But he was locked in her mind,” I point out. “I’m sure some terrifying shit went down there.”

“His gift is amazing,” Elise says. “But I don’t envy him for it.”

I nod at her. “It’s bad enough having to live your own nightmares but to dive into others’ has to be even worse. And then to wake up, just to find yourself in your own worst memories again… Why is it like that?”

“His gift is a very special one,” Elise explains. “Werewolves and lycans who have such a powerful gift… also have a price to pay for using it. It’s like the Goddess’ safety net to prevent them from abusing it. Prince Eric’s mate for example, Valerie, she is a healer. Her touch can heal, it’s amazing, but her price to pay is that she is physically weaker than normal werewolves, too weak to even shift.”

“It makes sense,” I mutter. “But how is it fair? Arman didn’t ask to have this gift. He didn’t have any say in it.”

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