Bullied Mate Of The Lycan Kings
Chapter 104

Lily's

POV

The first face I saw when I opened my eyes again was the face that I wanted to see.

Ren Hawthorne. The boy I loved.

His brilliant smile when I opened my eyes made the world look brighter and when he reached forward to help me sit up on the bed, I noticed that Zac was in the room, even though he was standing so far away, leaning against the wall by the door.

That was when I realized that the hospital room would have been a luxury hotel room with the way it was bathed in soft, warm lighting, boasting a tasteful decor with soothing earth tones and plush furnishings. My bed was big enough to accommodate about two or even three people and it was much comfier than any bed I have ever slept in.

I knew that all of this comfort had to have been thanks to the princes, especially Ren.

I was in so much pain, it was difficult to even move but I realized that the pain had become nothing but a dull throb and from the intravenous fluids being pumped into me, I knew that I was probably under heavy medication.

"Sit with me." I whispered to Ren, my voice hoarse from disuse and he obliged, carefully entering the bed and pulling me into his arms and I sighed contentedly, happy to be in his arms as he kissed my hair.

"I'm so sorry that I didn't realize early that you were taken." He whispered gravely, his voice so quiet that if I was not literally beside him, I would not have heard him.

"I was so terrified when we found out that you were in the forbidden forest of all places and I'm scared to imagine what could have happened if we had gotten here late. I don't even want to think about how I could have lost you when I just got you." His voice shook and my eyes softened as I looked up at him, eyes brimming with gratitude.

"Thank you for saving me. For coming to my rescue in time."

He shook his head, his smile still ever gentle.

"I wish I could take credit for that, Lily but it was not me that found you. It was Aiden. He found you and brought you out. “

Like a door opened, Ren's words jeered my memory and even though I didn't want to accept the fact that it was Aiden that saved me, I remembered him in his Lycan form, bigger than any creature I have ever seen and far more terrifying and how ruthless he had been as he tore the Ferals to pieces. That was exactly how I had always pictured Aiden Vanderbilt. Strong, dangerous, unforgiving and ruthless. But I also remembered how gentle he had been when he transformed back and carried me out of the forest, and how he had held me to his chest.

How his voice had managed to make me calm even though we had both known that I was losing too much blood.

But I didn't want to feel anything but anger and hatred for Aiden. I needed to remember that he was responsible for all of this in the first place and even if he had not been directly involved in the recent assault that had led me to nearly lose my life, he was the one who had put a target on my back and made my life a living hell at the academy. I remembered how he had gazed at me when he found out we were mates and how my body had needed his approval, no matter that he was supposed to be the enemy. "For what it's worth, he already hates himself for everything that he allowed to happen to you." Ren whispered and I remembered that he had the ability to read thoughts. An ability that unfortunately meant he could read mine too. Frowning at me, I gently slapped his hand.

"Stay out of my mind." I warned but my words didn't have any actual power and I yawned, my stomach growling.

Ren grinned and I blushed, looking at my hands.

"I'll go get you some food." He answered, kissing my forehead and I saw that he paused where Zac, both of them communicating with what I was sure was their eyes since I didn't hear any talking.

And when Ren left, I suddenly realized how anxious and restless I had become, knowing that I was in the room alone with Zac.

The last time we had spoken was when I rejected his feelings for me and I had no idea where that placed us, but when Zac came to sit beside me on the bed, placing a hand on my forehead, all of my restlessness vanished and when I looked at him, it felt like he was the first rain that I had seen in ages and I was a patch of dry land, desperate for moisture.

"Duchess," He sighed, taking my hand and pressing a soft kiss to my pulse.

There was a warm feeling in my chest as he drew lazy circles around my palm and I rested my head against his shoulder.

"How do you feel?" He asked, his cheek in my hair. "Do you feel any different? Thirstier than usual? Feel funny?"

I shook my head and looked at him, realizing that he probably could not see my gesture.

"I'm perfectly fine." I answered, then realized that I was not even lying. The pain that had felt like a dull throb seemed to ebb even further at his proximity.

Heaving a sigh, he turned and buried his face in my neck and I realized that I didn't even feel uncomfortable by his closeness. Infact, all I could think about was how his face seemed to fit perfectly in the crook of my neck, like he was always meant to be here. I gasped when he cupped the back of my neck and placed a kiss on the shell of my ear but the next words that he whispered made my entire body freeze in confusion because he sounded heartbroken.

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart."

Thinking he was apologizing for not being able to replace me in time, I nodded in his embrace.

"It's fine, Zac, there was nothing you could have done. You did not know this was going to happen."

His laugh was brief but filled with so much sorrow, it confused me.

"I need you to remember that everything I have done, Lily, all of it has been to save you because I'm a selfish bastard and I want you here with me, with us at any cost. Please remember this when the time comes that you need to forgive me." His words sounded really ominous and I began to wonder what he could have done that made his eyes wide with dreas as he pulled back from me to stare into my eyes.

"What are you talking about?" I asked but he only gave me a smile and stroked my hair, reaching forward to kiss my forehead.

"Go to sleep, duchess," He whispered and I was about to argue but I realized that to my surprise, I started feeling sleepy and the last face that I saw as I succumbed to unconsciousness was the face of another man that seemed to pull at my heartstrings too. Zac Talaverra.