I ran as fast as I could back through the woods. We had left a couple of vehicles half a mile from the coordinates. I needed to get Azalea to safety quickly.

When we reached the cars, Damien jumped into the driver's seat. I climbed into the back, holding Azalea close. Her body felt light, and she was cold.

Damien sped back to the pack house. I knew Azalea would object, but she needed a doctor and safety. I held her close, trying to warm her and prevent her from bouncing around.

"Please be okay…" I whispered, kissing her head gently. She stirred. I pulled her away slightly to look at her face. "Azalea?" I whispered.

"Liam…" she croaked. Her eyes fluttered open and closed. Damien looked at me through the rearview mirror.

"We need to get to the clinic now," I said seriously, never taking my eyes off her.

As soon as we arrived, I jumped out of the car. My uncle was waiting, ready to see Azalea. We rushed inside, and his staff led us to a large room. I gently laid Azalea on the bed. Her breathing was shallow and slow. They immediately hooked her up to machines and began examining her.

"Liam, you need to wait outside!" my uncle commanded.

"I won't let her out of my sight!"

"Damien, take him out now. I can't work on her with an emotional Alpha breathing down my neck," he said firmly.

Damien grabbed my arm, pulling me from the room. The door closed, and I lost sight of my mate. A tear rolled down my cheek.

"She will be okay. Your uncle is the best; he won't let anything happen," Damien reassured me.

"What if we were too late?" I asked.

"We weren't. She was awake when we got there. I'm sure she just needs rest."

I paced the floor. Later, Lily met us outside the room. We couldn't hear inside, so there wasn't much to update her on. She stood with Damien, watching me nervously.

After another fifteen minutes, Lily whispered to Damien and left. I was too preoccupied to notice.

"We need to know what's happening with our mate!" Gavin said.

"I know! Don't you think I'd go in there if they wouldn't throw me out?"

"Mate needs us!" he insisted.

"Don't even start. This is all your fault," I retorted. He growled but didn't argue further. I continued pacing.

A few minutes later, the door opened, and my uncle emerged. "How is she?" I asked. He raised his hands, signaling me to calm down.

"Patience, nephew," he began. "She's stable. She's severely dehydrated and hasn't eaten for days. She has several sedatives in her bloodstream. They sedated her and kept her asleep. Those medications will take time to clear her system."

"So, she's asleep?" I asked.

"Yes, for now. Her body didn't process the sedatives properly. We're giving her fluids and vitamins. Then we can try to feed her."

"When will she wake up?"

"I don't know. It could be an hour or a week. She's small and weak. The emotional trauma before and during her abduction could have unpredictable effects."

"She was so cold…" I whispered.

He placed his hand on my shoulder. "Right now, I have no reason to believe she won't be okay. We just need to give her time. When the nurses settle her, you can go in. Your presence might help her wake up."

I nodded. "Thank you," I said.

"Of course." He motioned for Damien to follow him. They left me. I didn't wait long; the nurses came out, saying I could see her. They cautioned me about her monitors.

I entered the room. Azalea's small frame lay on the bed in a hospital gown, hooked up to IVs and monitors. An armchair was nearby. I walked over to her. Her face looked sad in her sleep.

Bending down, I kissed her forehead. "I'm right here, baby. I'm not going anywhere," I whispered. I pulled the chair closer and held her small, cold hand, rubbing her knuckles.

I sat watching her. I didn't notice Damien and Lily enter. Damien put his hand on my shoulder.

"Yeah?" I said, not taking my eyes off Azalea.

"I talked to your uncle. He thinks she'll be out for at least a few more hours. Why don't you come with me for a bit and let Lily stay with Azalea?" he said, concerned.

"I want to be here," I said. I wouldn't leave her side.

"It'll be okay, Liam. Just shower and freshen up. I'll stay with her," Lily said gently.

"Shower and a sandwich. We'll come straight back," Damien said. "You won't be any good to her when she wakes up if you don't get cleaned up and some food in you. You haven't eaten much for days. Half an hour, tops, come on," he urged.

I sighed. "Okay, thirty minutes. Lily, please contact me immediately if she wakes up." Lily smiled and nodded. I stood, my back aching. I bent over, kissing Azalea's forehead. "I'll be right back, baby," I whispered. Lily sat and took Azalea's hand as I left. Before exiting, I took one last look at my sleeping mate.

Moon Goddess… Please let her wake up and forgive me…

Azalea

A soft beeping surrounded me. My body felt strange. I tried to remember what happened before I fell asleep. My eyes struggled to open. I felt something warm in my hand. It was pleasant. I turned my head and opened my eyes slightly.

Focusing, I saw dark hair lying face down on the bed. A hand grasped mine, and a small tube came from my arm. I moaned weakly. The head shot up. Bright blue eyes, laced with concern, peered into mine.

"Azalea?" he whispered.

"W-water…" My throat was dry. His free hand came to my face, brushing hair from my eyes. I closed my eyes, savoring the warmth.

"Baby, please, open your eyes. Come back to me," he pleaded softly.

I opened my eyes. His face looked sad. "W-water," I managed to breathe. Relief washed over his features. He got me water and a straw. I sipped slowly. Once finished, Liam set down the cup. His hand cupped my face, his eyes watching me intently.

"You're awake…" he breathed. I nodded. I saw the exhaustion and stress on his features. He looked as though he hadn't slept or eaten properly in days.

"Where…" I started quietly.

"You're in the pack clinic. Do you remember what happened?" he asked gently. Pack clinic? My eyes widened. Why am I here? Why would he bring me here?

"Azalea, baby, calm down. Okay? I had to bring you here. You passed out; they drugged you. I was so worried… I'm so sorry…" He rubbed his thumbs across my cheeks. Warmth spread from his touch, and I was able to breathe normally. The beeping slowed.

"Kol… and John… they took me…" I said, piecing together what happened. Liam nodded. It all came back at once. "Liam, you accepted. He's going to kill you and… and… and t-take me…" I sobbed.

"Shhh shhh…" Liam cooed. He scooped me into his arms and sat on the bed. "No, I won't let him do that. He will never have you." He rocked us, calming me. I buried my face in his neck, inhaling his scent. Calm spread through my body.

The door opened, and Liam's uncle entered. "Our little Luna is awake. I see Liam has wasted no time reuniting with his mate. How are you feeling, Azalea?" he said.

I smiled at Doctor Ronald. "I'm okay," I said.

"Think you can unhand her for a few minutes so I can check on her?" Doctor Ron said to Liam, raising his eyebrows. Liam blushed slightly. He set me down gently. I instantly missed his arms.

"You've been asleep a while," Doctor Ron said, turning his attention to me. "What's the last thing you remember?"

"Um, Kol had me in a field, and Liam came. Kol challenged him for the Alpha title, and Liam accepted. Then Kol let me go…" I said.

"Good," he said, examining me. After about ten minutes and a few questions, he seemed satisfied.

"We'll keep you here for observation. A nurse will bring food. You've lost weight, and eating will help your recovery," he said, smiling. He started to leave.

"Wait, what's the first?" I asked.

He looked back at me and Liam. "Maybe you two should talk," he said and left.

Liam came back to my bedside. "Liam, what's going on?" I asked. He looked at me sadly. "This has to do with our… mating… doesn't it?" I asked quietly. He nodded silently. I took a deep breath. I hadn't even begun to process what happened, and now this.

"Azalea, I'm so sorry. I should have never let it happen. I should have been honest with you. I was trying to protect you, and I hurt you. I fought Gavin, but I wasn't strong enough…" he apologized quietly. I stared at my hands, trying to hold back tears. I felt his eyes on me.

"I know what happened is unforgivable, and I wouldn't ask for your forgiveness. I just hope you can give me a chance to make up for it," he said. He gently grasped my face, tilting my head up. "Azalea, you are my entire world. Imagining my life without you is torture. I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make up for my mistake if you'll give me a chance."

I closed my eyes and took a shuddering breath. "Liam, the entire time Kol had me, a huge part of me only wished for you to rescue me. But I can't lie and say part of me didn't want you to come." I looked away as tears fell. "It seemed like a cruel joke from the Moon Goddess that you, of all people, would be my mate. After you rejected me at the Inn, I thought the joke would be over. I was done suffering; I had paid for my parents' mistakes. I thought I could have a small, quiet life. Then you came back, and despite my efforts, you made me fall in love with you. I think the mate bond helped; it made me feel less scared and made me seek your comfort. But I fell in love with you, and then…" I trailed off. I rubbed my wrists, took another breath, and continued. "I want to hate you, but I can't. And I hate myself for still wanting you. I realized it when Kol touched me: I will never be able to be away from you. I need you, Liam." I looked into his face. Relief washed over his features.

"Azalea, I am so sorry…" he said quietly.

"I know," I said. "I think I can feel it." His eyes widened. "What?"

"I just didn't think you could feel the bond. I thought you were only feeling a small pull, not the connection…" he said, surprised.

"Liam, what did your uncle mean earlier? What would be the most important part of my recovery?" I asked hesitantly.

He looked at me nervously. "Well… he thinks… that… you would recover faster if our bond were… stronger."

"What does that mean?"

"He thinks… that I should… mark you…"