108 Attacked

Olivia’s POV

Levi and I had barely made it down the stairs when a shout echoed from outside the pack house gates.

“Open up!”

We rushed outside, hearts racing, and what we saw stopped us cold. Lennox was staggering through the front gates of the mansion, drenched in blood. One hand gripped his side while the other dragged along the ground for support. His shirt was torn and soaked through; blood dripped from his fingertips onto the gravel path. His steps were slow, as if he could collapse at any second.

“Lennox!” I screamed.

“Guards!” Levi bellowed, charging forward. I ran with him, fear crashing over me like a wave.

As we reached him, Lennox looked up. His face was pale, his lips trembling, blood smeared across his cheek. But when he saw me, something like relief flickered in his eyes. Then he collapsed—straight into my arms.

The force of his body knocked me down, and we both hit the ground. My hands immediately went to his face.

“Lennox! Lennox, stay with me!” I cried, brushing his hair back. “What happened?”

“Call the healer now!” Levi ordered the guards, who were already rushing toward us.

“I… I went to the woods for a night run…” Lennox’s voice was weak, raspy. Blood stained his teeth as he coughed again, more spilling from his mouth. “Rogues… they attacked me. But not just any rogues… they had Wolfsbane…”

My heart dropped. Wolfsbane. That explained the blood, the weakness, the fact that his wolf wasn’t healing him.

“It weakened me,” Lennox whispered, his head resting against my chest. “I tried… I tried to fight, but there were too many…” He coughed up more blood and then looked up at me, his piercing green eyes losing their life. “Olivia, I feel like I am dying… my organs are shutting down.”

“No, no, don’t talk like that,” I cried, cupping his face. “You’re going to be okay, Lennox. You’re not dying.”

He smiled faintly, pain etched into every line of his face. “If I am… at least I’m dying in your arms.”

“Stop it!” My tears were falling now, fast and uncontrollable. “You’re not dying! You’re strong! You’re a warrior—you’re not going to die!”

Lennox chuckled softly and coughed up blood once more. “You’re… right,” he murmured, his hand reaching up to brush away my tears. “I’m weak, Olivia… I need to train more…”

And then his body went limp.

“Lennox?” I shook him. “Lennox, no—wake up! Please!”

The healer finally arrived, skidding to a stop beside us with a satchel full of supplies. “Step back!”

Louis came running down the steps of the mansion, his eyes widening in horror when he saw Lennox. “What the hell happened?”

“Rogues. Wolfsbane,” Levi growled, pacing like a caged animal. “They ambushed him.”

The healer rushed to Lennox’s side, her hands steady but swift as she assessed the severity of his wounds. She didn’t speak for a moment, her brow furrowing in concentration. Then, she began to mutter incantations under her breath, each word blending into the next as she worked quickly, grinding herbs into a paste and pressing it against his wounds. Her movements were almost mechanical, but I could see the worry in her eyes. “We need to move him now. He’s fading.”

The guards gently lifted Lennox, blood still trickling from his side, and carried him into the house.

“I’m coming with you,” I said, refusing to let go of his hand.

Louis nodded tightly. “Stay close.”

I walked beside Lennox all the way to his room, still holding his hand even though he was unconscious. I couldn’t stop shaking. We arrived in his room, and he was laid on the bed while the healer continued her work.

The door opened, and Anita rushed in, moving to the other side of Lennox. “What happened… what happened to him?” she asked in fear, but no one responded.

I looked at Lennox, my tears falling freely down my face. He thought he was weak.

My chest twisted painfully. My knees gave way, and I sank slowly beside his bed, still gripping his hand like it was the only thing anchoring me to this world. How could he think that?

Lennox—Alpha Lennox—was the strongest man I had ever known. His strength wasn’t just normal; he fought like a skillful beast… And now… now he was lying here, unconscious, thinking he was weak because of me. Because of what I said.

I squeezed my eyes shut as guilt rose up my throat like bile. I had been angry—hurt—and I let it lash out through words like blades. I told him he was weak. And he believed me. God, what had I done?

“Lennox,” I whispered brokenly, brushing his matted hair from his forehead. “I didn’t mean it. I swear, I didn’t mean what I said…”

Tears slipped down, one after another, soaking into his blanket.

“You’re not weak. You never were. You’re the strongest man I’ve ever met.” My voice cracked. “I was just angry. Angry at everything… and I took it out on you. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

His hand lay limp in mine, cold and still. The bond between us pulsed faintly, like a dying flame.

“Please don’t let this be the last time I speak to him. Please,” I whispered to the Moon Goddess.

“You fought off rogues,” I choked out. “Even with Wolfsbane in your veins, you made it back. You walked through that gate, bleeding and broken, just to get home… just to get to us. How is that weak? Tell me, Lennox—how is that weak?”

I leaned down, pressing a kiss to the back of his hand. “I never meant it, Lennox… please come back to me.”

The healer looked up suddenly, her eyes locked on mine. “It is working… keep talking to him. He can hear you.”

I gasped, tightening my grip on his hand. My heart pounded as I stared at his pale, still face. My voice trembled as I leaned closer, brushing my lips against his knuckles.

“Do you remember, Lennox?” I whispered. “Do you remember the promise you made to me on my thirteenth birthday?”

I paused, tears burning my eyes. My voice cracked, but I forced the words out.

“You said you’d protect me. You said you’d never leave me. You told me nothing would ever take you away from me.”

My voice broke on the last word, a sob rising in my chest.

“Are you going back on that now? Was it all a lie? Because I don’t care what happened between us, Lennox—I don’t care if we fight or if you hate me now. I don’t want you to leave me. I can’t lose you like this.”

I cupped his face, my thumbs brushing over the blood and dirt.

“I know things are broken between us. I know I said horrible things. But I didn’t mean it. You’re not weak. You’ve never been weak. You’re the strongest man I’ve ever known. Even now… lying here like this… you’re stronger than anyone.”

I kissed his forehead gently, my tears landing on his skin.

“I need you, Lennox. So please… don’t go. Don’t leave me. You promised. Damn it, Lennox, wake up!” My voice cracked as I broke completely. “You don’t get to die on me. Not like this. Not after everything.”

And suddenly—his fingers twitched in mine.

My breath caught as his eyelids slowly fluttered open, those piercing green eyes blinking into the light. My heart jumped in my chest. He looked at me—really looked at me—and even though he was pale and weak, a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

“Moon Goddess…” he rasped, his voice hoarse, “your voice is so annoying.”

My mouth dropped open in shock.

“And these tears…” he coughed lightly, his eyes still fixed on mine, “they’re soaking my shirt. Disrespectful, Olivia.”

Despite everything, a watery laugh escaped my lips. But before I could say anything more, his smirk faded, and his eyes slipped shut again—gently, as though he were simply drifting off to sleep.

“Lennox?” I whispered, panic starting to rise again.

The healer placed a calming hand on my shoulder. “He’s fine,” she said softly. “He’s not unconscious from the wounds anymore. His wolf is taking over now—he needs to rest completely so the healing can begin.”

My whole body sagged in relief.

“He’s going to make it,” she assured me. “Thanks to you, he will be fine.”

I looked at Lennox, his breathing now deep and even. And I smiled through the tears.

“I’m not done annoying you yet,” I whispered. “So don’t even think about leaving me.”