Fated

Chapter Seventeen

LEX

I wake up to a blinding white light, my head pounding as I try to piece together where I am. Everything feels distant, muffled, like I'm underwater. I blink a few times, my vision slowly coming into focus. A sterile smell hits my nose, and I realize I'm in a hospital room. The soft hum of machines, the faint beeping of a monitor—everything starts to make sense.

Then it all comes rushing back. The fight. The wolves. Gaia.

I try to sit up, but a sharp pain slices through my side, forcing me back down. My body feels like it's been run over by a truck, every muscle aching, every wound burning. I grit my teeth, trying to push through it. I need to get up, I need to find her—make sure she's safe.

Before I can move again, a strong hand pushes me back against the pillows. "Easy, man. You're not going anywhere."

I turn my head and see Luke standing beside the bed, his expression calm but firm. He's been by my side this whole time—I can tell by the tired look in his eyes. He leans in a bit closer, his grip on my shoulder keeping me grounded.

"Everything's okay," he says, his voice steady. "You're in the hospital. You took some nasty hits, but you're going to be fine. The border is secure, and the pack is recovering. We've got things under control."

I force myself to take a deep breath, trying to process his words. The fight was brutal, I remember that much. I was fighting to protect Gaia, to keep her safe, and the memory of her in danger makes my blood boil all over again. I glance down at my bandaged torso, the pain a reminder of what I almost lost.

Just as I'm about to speak, the door to the room swings open, and Mia walks in, followed closely by Olivia. Mia's eyes soften when she sees me awake, but there's tension in the way she holds herself. Olivia's expression is more guarded, and I can't help but notice the way she avoids meeting my gaze.

"Good to see you up, Lex," Mia says, trying to sound cheerful, but I can hear the underlying worry in her tone. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I got hit by a bus," I mutter, trying to force a smile. It's weak, but it's something.

Mia nods, glancing at Luke before looking back at me. "The council's been busy. We've been securing the borders, making sure everything is locked down. The pack's healing, but it's going to take some time."

Olivia shifts uncomfortably beside her, and I catch the subtle tension between them. Something's off. I can feel it in the way they're talking, the way they're avoiding something.

"Where's Gaia?" I ask, cutting through the conversation. My voice is low, but the urgency is clear.

The room goes silent, and the unease I've been feeling intensifies. Mia glances at Luke, and he drops his gaze to the floor. Olivia's lips press into a thin line, and the silence stretches on, too long for my liking.

I sit up again, ignoring the pain that flares through my body. "Where. Is. Gaia?" My wolf stirs inside me, pushing against my control, demanding answers.

"Lex, just—" Mia starts, but I cut her off.

"I don't want to repeat myself," I growl, the warning clear in my tone. My wolf is on edge, ready to break free if I don't get a straight answer.

Luke sighs heavily, finally meeting my gaze. "She... she's missing, Lex. We don't know where she is."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, the air leaving my lungs all at once. My hands clench into fists, the sheets crumpling beneath them as I fight to keep my wolf in check. Everything inside me roars with fury and fear, the need to find her, to protect her, overwhelming every other thought.