Chapter 28 - Mia

Another week has gone by, and I'm still not feeling any better. If anything, I'm feeling worse. My mind is such a mess that I can barely get out of bed in the morning. My sister comes in every day to try and cheer me up by talking about how soon I'll have a nephew to hold, but nothing works. Nothing helps.

I know the pack is worried about me, and I hate putting them through this. I don't want to be this weak, pathetic female, but that's how I feel right now. I've given up on everything, including myself. I know I'm being dramatic, but I can't help it. Evan's face haunts my dreams. All I can think about is him. Every time I close my eyes, I see him. He's a constant reminder of what I've lost, and it's killing me.

My stomach rumbles, but I ignore it. The last thing I want is to go downstairs and have breakfast with everyone. They're all so happy and cheerful, and I'm a wreck. I can't pretend. Not right now.

If I was still in Green Lake, I'd be at the warehouse right now, stitching together some blankets or assembling a purse with Shawna and Nina. Then in a few hours, I'd hang out with Queenie while we played with the orphans. It was a simple life, but it was a fulfilling one. But here? I feel useless. Everyone has a job or a place in the pack, and I just sit around, moping and feeling sorry for myself. The last thing I want to do is be a burden.

Maybe the best thing I can do for myself is go for a walk. It's a gorgeous day, and I need to clear my head. The sunshine always seems to help when I'm feeling blue. It's worth a shot.

I roll out of bed and get dressed, pulling on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. I brush my hair and then stare at myself in the mirror. I look tired. No, not tired—exhausted. It's not surprising, considering the way I've been living lately. I haven't eaten much, and I barely sleep. My eyes are red and puffy, and my cheeks are gaunt. This isn't healthy, and I know it. I can't keep going on like this. I'm going to have to do something.

I sigh and turn away from the mirror. There's nothing I can do to fix the way I look right now, and I know it. So, I tiptoe downstairs and sneak out the front door before anyone can notice me. It's cowardly, but it's the best I can do right now.

The sunlight warms my skin as I walk down the road, but I don't pay much attention to the scenery around me. All I can think about is him.

As I get closer to the edge of town, I realize where my feet are taking me. I'm headed east, toward the mountain road that leads to Green Lake. For a moment, I consider making a break for it. But what good would it do? Ram would only find me again, and more people would get hurt because I was being selfish. Besides, Evan doesn't want me anymore, anyway.

Instead, I just stare at the trees, the ones between me and my mate, and let out a soft sigh. This isn't fair. None of this is.

I don't know how long I stand there, but my attention comes back to the present when I catch sight of something moving behind a tree. It's not a bear or a deer. No, it's definitely a wolf, and a very large one at that.

It takes me a minute, but I finally recognize the wolf as Rafe, Evan's beta and brother. My heart starts racing, and a million questions flood my brain. What is he doing here? Is Evan okay? Why did he come all this way?

My feet start moving, and before I know it, I'm running toward him. When I'm within reach, I grab his fur and pull him into a tight hug. My eyes are squeezed shut, but I feel him shift beneath my touch, and suddenly, his arms are wrapped around me. He holds me for a few seconds and then steps back. I see the worry twisting his face.

"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes," he comments with a laugh.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, searching his face. "Did you come to kidnap me again?"

I realize I sound almost hopeful, but I can't bring myself to even appear ashamed.

Rafe's eyes widen in surprise. "Is that what you want?"

"Well..." I kick at a pebble. "Maybe. I don't know. I guess I wouldn't mind seeing Evan."

"You mean, you miss him?"

I shrug. "Maybe."

"You're a terrible liar."

"So what?"

Rafe grins. "He misses you, too. Terribly, actually."

I roll my eyes, trying to act casual, but a spark of hope has lit in my chest. "He hasn't been in touch, so..."

"You can blame that on your alpha," Rafe says. "He made it very clear that if Evan tried to reach out, all of Green Lake would suffer. You know how Evan is. He would've done anything to save the pack, even if it meant losing you. He's been miserable, though. Worse than miserable."

My heart clenches. I know that feeling all too well.

"So, if you're not here to take me back, then why are you here?"

Rafe runs a hand over his face and lets out a long breath. "Because I have a problem, and it's time to deal with it."

"Okay. What's wrong?"

"It's about the curse."

My stomach drops. "What about it? I thought that was all taken care of."

"Well, it was, but now that you're gone, that's complicated things a bit. You see, Evan has been in really bad shape. I mean, really bad. He's literally wasting away. Now, I know that when bonded wolves are separated, there's some grief that happens, but this is more than that. Much more."

I take a step back and stare at him, my eyes wide with fear. "What are you saying?"

"I don't know for certain, so don't freak out. But I think that now that you've left, the curse is attacking Evan directly. Not the pack, but him. He's dying, Mia. And even if the curse doesn't kill him, if he gets any weaker, someone is going to step up and challenge him for his position, and you know that would kill him. He'd have to fight them, and I don't think he's strong enough to survive. And even if he did... he wouldn't accept that."

I blink at Rafe, trying to process what he's saying. "Evan's dying?"

"That's what it looks like. We don't have any proof, but none of us think it's a coincidence that this is happening just after you left. You're the alpha's mate. He needs you."

That's all I need to hear. I know that I spent my life in Stardust Hollow, but this isn't my home. This isn't my pack. Evan is. My mate, my husband, needs me, and I can't let Ram get in the way of what we have.

"Come with me to see Ram," I tell him.

He barks out a laugh. "He'll kill me on the spot!"

"No," I argue. "No, Ram isn't like that, I swear. He'll listen. If I just run off to Green Lake, he'll come looking. But if he knows without a doubt that it's what I want, he won't stop me."

Rafe considers me, chewing his bottom lip. "You really believe that?"

"I do. Come on, Rafe, please? For me? I want to go back to Evan. I want to go home. I don't want him to die. Please."

Rafe hesitates a moment longer and then nods. "Fine. But if this goes wrong, it's on you."