Chapter 158

Ava’s POV

“She lost the baby,” I braced myself for that sentence, its cruel inevitability a constant presence. But Isabella’s next words shattered my expectation, though I wasn't sure if they were any better.

“There was a major complication that night… but the baby survived.” Her voice trembled, her expression a mix of relief and uncertainty. “Crystal healed strangely fast, faster than even a normal werewolf should. But…” She hesitated, her eyes flickering away, searching for the right words. “The news is there’s a possibility it’s not over. I don’t understand all the medical terms, but apparently, the baby was affected by the fall. The impact—it had consequences.”

I closed my eyes, the wave of guilt hitting me full force. My chest tightened, my hands clenched into fists. It felt like chaos and harm followed me, no matter what I did.

Isabella noticed my shift in energy and reached for my hand, her warm hand enveloping mine. “Lilian,” she said softly, her grip firm yet comforting, “Everyone saw it was an accident. No one blames you. And with the Alpha King missing, what happened at the ball was overshadowed. You know how things are—people focus on the next big thing. It’s probably already forgotten.”

Her fingers tightened, as if afraid I’d disappear. “But you—” Her voice broke. “I was so worried, Lilian. Terrified. Two whole months, and no one could find you. No one knew where you were.”

I placed my hand over hers, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I’m sorry, Bels. I don’t know how any of this happened. Everything feels unreal, like a bad dream. I didn’t mean to worry you.”

She managed a shaky smile. “You’re here now. That’s what matters.” Her voice softened. “But you should rest. It’s almost one in the morning.”

I shook my head. “I can’t sleep, Bels. I don’t understand what’s going on. What happened while I was gone? Another attack? Did anyone try to take the throne?” My questions tumbled out. “I need answers. And honestly… I need a drink. I’m not sure I can take any more of this sober.”

Isabella chuckled, her shoulders relaxing for the first time since she’d hugged me in the woods. “I didn’t think you’d actually say that.” She tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Come on, then. Let’s raid Grayson’s bar.”

I stood, the thought of a drink appealing. But before I could move, Isabella’s gaze scanned me.

“Wait,” she said, raising a hand. “I was trying to be polite, but… you should probably shower and change out of that first.”

I glanced down. I was still wearing Grayson’s oversized shirt, wrinkled, dirty, and grimy. She was right—I looked like I’d crawled out of a grave.

“Fair point,” I muttered.

She nodded. “I’ll wait while you clean up.”

I arched an eyebrow. “You don’t have to wait. I can meet you there.”

“Nope,” she said firmly. “I’m not letting you out of my sight again. Not yet. I’ll check on you if I have to.”

Despite the gravity of the situation, I laughed. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And you’ve been gone for two months,” she retorted, her tone teasing but her eyes serious.

Smiling, I turned to the bathroom. “Fine, I’ll make it quick.”

The bathroom was quiet as I closed the door and stripped off the shirt. The shower’s sound filled the room, and for a moment, I just stood there, watching the steam. The hot water washed over me, scrubbing away the dirt and some of the tension. But no amount of water could wash away my racing thoughts.

How was I supposed to explain any of this to Dr. Griffin? To anyone? Two months gone. No explanation. No answers. Only fragmented memories and the knowledge that everything had changed. How could two days turn into two months?

The guilt weighed heavily on me, especially concerning Crystal and her baby. Even though I despised Crystal, and Isabella said it wasn’t my fault, I couldn’t shake the feeling my absence had set off a chain reaction.

Stepping out of the shower, I felt cleaner but no less burdened. I wrapped a towel around myself, found one of Grayson’s shirts, and put it on. It was long enough to be decent.

Isabella was waiting, scrolling through her phone. She looked up, her eyes softening.

“Feel better?” she asked.

“Marginally,” I admitted.

She smiled and stood, gesturing for me to follow. “Come on, let’s get that drink.”

We walked through the quiet hallways, moonlight streaming through the windows. The mansion felt eerie, its usual bustle replaced with silence. But Isabella’s presence made it bearable.

At Grayson’s bar, she grabbed a bottle of whiskey and two glasses. “This should do the trick,” she said, pouring generously.

I took my glass, the amber liquid catching the light. “To surviving the unimaginable,” I said, raising my glass.

“To finding our way back,” Isabella said softly, a mixture of relief and hope in her voice, clinking her glass against mine.

I drank the whiskey in one gulp. The burn was instant, spreading warmth and grounding me. I closed my eyes, savoring the sensation.

When I opened my eyes, Isabella was watching me. “I think I’m ready to hear everything that’s happened.”

She hesitated, swirling the whiskey. “I don’t even know where to start,” she admitted with a nervous laugh.

“Anywhere,” I urged. “Just start somewhere.”

Her brows furrowed. Then, almost reluctantly, she said, “I don’t know why this is the first thing I think of, but… Elaine.”

“Elaine?” I repeated, confused.

“Yeah,” she said, looking down. “While you were gone… Elaine and Liam mated.”

I blinked. “I knew they were dating, but still…” I trailed off, shaking my head. “Why would anyone want to bind themselves to Elaine?”

I was about to say more when Isabella’s expression shifted. She glanced around nervously, then laughed—a quick, awkward sound—and swept her hair back.

My eyes widened. I saw a mark below her ear, faintly glowing.

“I probably should have started with this,” she said sheepishly, touching the mark. “Rickon marked me.”