My One and Only Alpha

Chapter 23

Louis woke up to Harry's gentle caresses on his belly, and hot breath against his neck. He noticed secondly that it was still night, and everyone seemed to be deep in their dreams, so he didn't dare move to upset the tranquility. His mind was spinning with flashbacks of the battle, and he missed Camila so much already - this healing process was going to be a long one. He was skeptical he would ever truly move on, but hopefully it would grow to be easier as time progressed.He had been so happy with the way things had been going. They were admittedly a little high-strung, but Louis' depression and loneliness had long since disappeared, and his mental stability was fireproof at this point. He'd slayed a lot of rogues since his introduction into Chehalis, but he didn't even feel one twitch from his thigh telling him to punish himself for it. Having an Alpha really did mend everything that had been broken.And then he lost Camila. And even with Harry, it still felt close to impossible for Louis to get overthis. He knew he'd be hopeless without him, and he tried to count his blessings for that. His Alpha and his family were the only things keeping him together right now, and Louis thanked the Gods once every five minutes for this.Eventually he felt his Alpha's stroking thumb slow its movement and then stop entirely, and theOmega closed his eyes to try and get back to the other world of consciousness when Niall quietly whispered into the darkness."Louis?"Louis took a bit of time to respond, shifting his weight a bit to get his hand under his cheek andsituate his hips so they were more comfortable. He could tell from Niall's tone that thisconversation wouldn't be an easy one. "Yeah...," he asked in a non-questioning tone."... Do you think she knew?" the blonde asked, careful not to speak too loudly and wake theirAlphas up.Louis took even longer this time to respond and silently stared at the faint outline of Niall he could see in the darkness. He knew the blonde understood he was just trying to find the right words, so he didn't rush.

When he thought he finally got it, he shifted his legs again and took in a breath to discuss the emotional topic. "I don't know... part of me thinks she did, you know? 'Cuz that's just so quintessentially Camila...," he began, taking a calculated pause before continuing, "But then... the other part says there's no way she could have. Doesn't want to believe it, maybe. If she knew, she didn't know for long. 'Cuz I just... I feel like she would have made sure to say goodbye. She would have tried to have outstanding last moments with us, even if we didn't know why at the time. We would have figured it out afterward. And instead she just left so suddenly and I didn't even get to hug and kiss her, or anything."

"Draco says she did," Niall countered quietly."What?""Yeah... Draco said she went around to everyone's tents last night to give a manner of goodbyes.Also that she was gonna get us all together today. That's why I asked you.""Why didn't she come here, then? If that's true, she would have been here," he pressed."You were asleep," Harry suddenly rumbled against Louis' back, voice deep and husky fromhours of not using it."How long have you been awake?" Louis asked, scooting back further into his mate's chest.Harry stretched his limbs and gathered Louis back in his arms like he wanted. "About twenty-four hours," he admitted."Eavesdropper. But what do you mean I was asleep?""Remember when she came and pulled me out to talk to me? She mentioned it then, that she knew we would lose someone, and it would break every heart of our family, but she didn't know who or when. And the whole time, it was her and Lauran... When she came back, you all weresleeping and she held your hand for a while and acknowledged Zayn and Niall. Then I guess shewent everywhere else," he informed, loosening his arms when Louis dramatically rolled over toface him."Why didn't you wake me?" he demanded, slightly hurt that he hadn't gotten his proper goodbye."Oh," Harry sighed sympathetically, stroking his mate's accusatory face and planting kisses on his forehead. "I am truly sorry, Lou. I didn't know it was her last night here, you know I would have woken you otherwise. I feel awful about it, please don't hold it against me," he pleaded.Louis softened his frown and pressed his lips to his Alpha's, melting into the resulting embrace.