Claimed

Chapter 15: Empty

Red's POV:

Whispering was real pointless if you were the kind of person that whispered loud. I mostly had loud whisperers around me and that's what I woke up to.

"Would you shut the fuck up?" Ezra hissed. "Don't wake her. The healer said she needs rest."

"I'm being quiet," Levi defended.

"How long is it before she's been asleep too long?" Noah's tone was thick with concern. My poor little baby of the bunch. He worried too much.

"Goddess, unless her heart stops, she's fine," Levi said. "Chill out."

"Someone's heart is gonna stop if you two don't shut the fuck up," Ezra warned.

"For fuck's sake, she's already awake, you dumbasses." Ah, there's my Darius.

My eyes fluttered open on Darius lounging out on the bed next to me in the room we were still all sharing, his back against the headboard. Relief washed over his face and he offered a small smile as he reached over and brushed my hair back. "Hey Luna."

"Hey Alpha," I whispered, getting my arms under me so I could push myself up. I winced at the ache in my chest and set my hand over it. I did not remember getting back to my room at Blood Moon pack but having my boys around kept me calm about my gap in memory. A lot of things were fuzzy. "What happened?"

"You were hurting pretty bad after..." Darius made a face then composed himself. "You fell asleep in the car and we couldn't wake you. The healer, Alejandro, said that this kind of thing is normal for someone in your position. Said to just get you comfortable and leave you be for a few hours."

"How long is a few?"

He glanced over to the nightstand then back to me. "It's almost midnight."

"Goddess," I sighed, leaning back against the headboard and pressing my fingers to my temples. It was still afternoon when...

That ache came back and I hated it. I hated he had any power over me. I hated he had the power to hurt me at all anymore. Though now, I guess he didn't. Our bond was severed and I felt its absence like a deep, unending and painful void. I thought it was bad when I rejected him but it was nothing compared to this. It was like part of me was ripped away and all that was left was just the space where there was supposed to be something. A connection, a place of safety and unconditional love. Instead, it was just as void as that awful cell I spent so many months in all alone. How fitting.

"Luna." I looked up, seeing Noah knelt beside the bed, brows furrowed. "Are you in pain?"

"I'm okay," I assured. Just feel so empty I almost want to sob uncontrollably. "Promise."

"Are you hungry?" Levi asked, sitting on the bed near my feet. "They left you a plate in the fridge downstairs. Said you could help yourself whenever you feel up to it."

"Did you eat?" I asked, my eyes darting to Ezra. Fucker never ate without me. I loved him to death. Maybe I could fill that void with platonic love because after that experience with José, I wasn't sure I ever wanted a connection with anyone again. It was too much power for someone to just be able to rip away at any second.

"I made everyone eat," Darius said. "Everyone."

I sighed in relief. Ezra just stared at me with his arms crossed, brows furrowed in concern.

"Thanks, Dari," I said, leaning back against the headboard. I was still in the stupid dress. I just wanted to wash it all off. "I'm going to shower."

"Are you okay to stand?" Ezra asked.