Elena’s POV.
I couldn’t hold back my scream as well, watching Graham collapse to the floor, I tried to keep my eyes open despite how fast I was losing my breath.
Just as he rolled over, my gaze landed on the arrow stuck at his back. He has been shot with an arrow, but by who? There was no way someone could have found us right? I mean I was abandoned here for few days and there was no sign of anyone nearby.
Could my rescuers be rogue werewolves? They had saved me from Graham to themselves to do with whatever they pleased.
Despite how extremely close I was to passing out, I tried to stay awake to at least get a glimpse of what was going on.
Suddenly, the rustling footsteps increased and now I could hear them a few feet away from me.
“Please don’t hurt me,” I managed to mumble through my weak state.
“Elena?” I heard the unmistakable voice of the man my heart yearned for, even at my weakest point. My mate.
I watched through blurred vision as he ran towards me at a vast speed. “Elena! Elena!” He screamed shaking me vigorously.
I was too weak to say his name or mutter a word to him, I was slowly slipping into darkness.
He suddenly let go of me and turned towards Graham on the floor. “How dare you!” He roared releasing series of punches on him, his blood splashing on him.
Graham was dead but Killian cared less as he continued to sink his fist into the battered body of Graham.
My strength was failing me now as my eyes began to squeeze shut and I couldn’t help it.
“Killian,” I muttered with the last string of strength left in me before I was pulled by a heavy force into the world of darkness.
**
I felt a loud bang hit my forehead as I slowly slipped back to consciousness.
I groaned in pain, as rays of sunlight hit my heavy eyelids.
The discomfort prodded me to push my eyes open but as soon as I did, a sharp groan escaped my lips and I quickly squeezed them shut almost immediately as a heavy pound of pain hit me hard on the forehead.
I slowly reached out to feel whatever I was lying on and it was a wooden furniture.
It suddenly struck me, it was the chair that Graham had tied me to at the warehouse. I was still in his grasp.
“No!” I screamed out and forcefully sat up while trying to climb down and run for my dear life. The pain from the cut on my thighs nudged painfully at me but I ignored it. I needed to be out of here as fast as I could.
Almost immediately, I heard footsteps approaching and next thing, I was pulled into a warm hug.
“I’m here Elena, don’t be scared, everything is fine now,” I heard that voice again. A voice I would recognize even in a fit of uncertainty.
It was Killian. His hands stroked my back soothingly as he whispered soothing words into my ears.
Slowly, I felt myself relaxing to his touch as I snuggled deeper into his arms.
The events of the previous night suddenly came rushing back to my head in a heavy rush.
I could remember almost getting raped by Graham, then he was mysteriously taken down by a stray arrow. I could remember Killian furiously hitting him till I passed out.
“Killian,” I mumbled as he continued to stroke my back soothingly.
“It’s alright Elena, you are safe now, I’m here,” he whispered into my ears.
I clutched onto him tightly, snuggling deeper into his arms. The feeling of safety and warmth lured me deeper, I wanted to stay that way forever.
Shortly afterward, he pulled away from the hug and grabbed my cheeks with both hands, staring deep into my eyes with so much affection.
“I’m so sorry I couldn’t find you sooner,” his voice was laced with guilt and sadness.
“Graham… He tried to..”
“You don’t have to worry about him again, I’m glad I could stop him before he went any further,” he cut in, his hand on my cheek caressed softly.
I nodded, a small smile managed to creep up to my face. I couldn’t believe I was still alive, I survived Graham’s evil claws, the cuts on my thighs meant nothing. I was alive.
I felt a pang of guilt hit me hard across the chest as I recalled Graham’s horrible death. Somehow, he didn’t deserve that. He was only fighting for the safety of the pack. As the lead warrior, it was his responsibility to protect the pack at all cost but sadly, that cost him his life and it was all my fault.
Little droplets of tears rolled down my cheeks, why does my life have to be filled with so many thorns?
“You killed him… You shouldn’t have…”
“No Elena, he chose his path, he could have killed you, after raping you if I hadn’t shown up when I did, I wish I had more time to make him feel so much pain that he would beg for death,” he gritted, his eyes, a storm of raging anger. “He deserved it for tempering with what’s mine,”
I couldn’t hold back the smile that broke out on my face.
“I couldn’t have forgiven myself if anything happened to you Elena, you are like air to me, and without you, it’s so hard to live,” he mumbled in a low voice, filled with so much emotions.
“Killian,” I managed to mutter through tears.
“Hey… Please don’t,” he pulled me back into his arms.
“You are here now and that’s all that matters to me,” he whispered into my ear.
“Thank you for coming to rescue Killian,” I mumbled through tears.
“I will always come to your rescue Elena, even if it means putting my life in line,” he broke the hug and placed a quick kiss on my cheek.
He helped me lay down back on the bed. “The healer will be here in a minute to check your wounds again, it’s beginning to heal up,” he smiled.