Healing Hearts

C H A P T E R | 17

Marley was completely frozen. She felt pain. It spread through her body, hurting her even more than anything in the last two years.

Layla was dead.

The mate bond was broken, lost, destroyed.

Alpha Joey watched as Doctor Brian came running in; Luna Denice following. Gabby covered her mouth with her hand, holding back a whimper.

Nobody knew which was more heartbreaking: Layla's death or Marley's reaction.

Marley looked dead inside, completely lost without Layla. She leaned over, placing her forehead on her dead mate's.

She whimpered, "Please."

Nobody knew who she was speaking to. If she was begging Layla to magically come back to life — maybe she was praying to the Moon Goddess herself.

It didn't matter because nothing instantly happened.

Layla was still dead.

Marley was still alone.

Gabby still lost her best friend.

The pack still lost their best doctor.

Alpha Joey turned around, signally everyone to leave. Doctor Brain nodded his head swiftly before leaving without a word. Luna Denice glanced back at her old beat friend, tears running down her face before sulking away.

Alpha Joey knew how much Denice wanted to fixed her and Layla's relationship.

Gabby stood there, softly shaking her head. As much as she wanted to leave Marley, she was worried what Marley would do.

When mate's bonded with each other, they become inseparable, and the last thing Gabby wanted was Marley to follow Layla.

Alpha Joey understood, and made sure to leave the door open a crack as he walked away.

Gabby whispered softly, "Marley?"

Marley cried, "They said she was ok." She felt like she was internally bleeding at her heart. Her voice cracked, "Why wasn't she ok?"

Marley went to grab her mate's hand, bringing it to her lips before she placed Layla's palm over her own heart, her alive beating heart. She closed her eyes as the room fell silent once again.

Then there was a light.

A force that traveled through the air. Gabby's eyes widen, her skin tingling as if she meet her own mate. Her wolf bowed her head, showing submission to the light gracefully flowing around the room.

She was brought to her knees, not in fear but in love. Gabby closer her eyes, hurting from the bright light.

However, Marley wasn't effected by the force the same way Gabby was. Instead, she felt the bond between her and Layla grow stronger. Her wolf tilted her head back, howling alongside the howls they both head in her head. A long chant, descended deep within her family tree.

She recognized her grandfather's howl, deep and low, full of life and love— even in his passing. Somehow, she knew her grandmother's sharp voice, reaching her ears. She smiled in happiness when she couldn't hear her living family through.

They were still alive. They were still fighting.

She could still save them.

Tears rolled down her face, and she opened her eyes. She could feel the heat behind her gaze, wondering if her irises were glowing.

The light started to twist around her body, weaving between her limps as she accepted the feeling — a godly feeling that made her believe the Moon Goddess was standing beside her, urging her to continue.

Before her very own eyes, Layla's wounds started to heal. The cuts and scrapes that reappeared when the wolfsbane took over the Doctor's wolf and soul. Like magic, the blood stains were washed away, as if it never happened.

Marley felt a sharp burning on her chest, and she glanced down seeing her pack's symbole burn. It was tradition when a pack member used their gift, it burned, reminding them of their history, of their blood, of their family. With each use, the burning pain turns into bliss, reaching the innermost soul of the user —making them stronger to protect themselves.

A deep breath went past Layla's lips. Her heart started to beat at that exact moment, the beeping restarting at a perfect beat.

The light flashed across the room before disappearing.

Layla felt like a phoenix being reborn in the ashes of her death. She first felt the bond between her wolf snapping back into her soul, and her wolf was howling, alone in her mind. Crying, whining, and whimpering as she tried to restart their life, to keep fighting.

Then the mate bond established once again, and Layla could feel her hand touching Marley's chest, how their souls were intertwining once again.

When she took her first breath, she opened her eyes, finding a pair of glowing eyes staring back at her.

"Marley," she whispered, not believing anything she's feeling or seeing. She reached her other hand to cup Marley's face, feeling the wetness of her mate's tears.

At the sound of her mate's voice, Marley collapsed. Layla let out a groan when her mate's body weight landed on her with full force, but she didn't care as she wrapped her arms around Marley.

Marley snuggled into her mate, "You're alive!"

It was that moment Gabby opened her eyes, jumping on top of both them, "Layla!"

The groans of the couple echoed in the room.

———— A U T H O R N O T E | 19 ————

Most of you have probably put things together. For example, Layla wasn't going to stay dead. Nevertheless, I hope that I can surprise you guys with what will be coming in future chapters.

QQ (#23): For my readers who have been with me since the old version, is there anything I missed in the last version that you want in this version?
QQ (#24): What character represents you the most?