Blessed By The Moon

Chapter 16

Kaiden's pov :

They say that those who lose their mates never recover, that they are never whole again, that the ache of it runs too deep for words.

The entire ceremony, I felt her eyes on me, the weight of her heartbreak filling the air like a storm. I heard her quiet, desperate sobs from the back of the room, each one twisting a knife deeper into my chest. But my hands were tied. 

My parents stood sentinel, ensuring I followed through with their vision of the right choice—a life without Gem. The choice I should've had, the one my heart was screaming for, would've been unforgivable to them.

 They were ready to kill her if I didn't comply.

And then she stood up, tears streaking down her cheeks, raw, shattered, and somehow still so brave. She told me she wanted me. She told me to come to her. My heart felt like it would tear out of my chest. But instead of running to her, I gave her the hollowest words I've ever spoken: "I'm so sorry." 

The words left my mouth, but I wasn't there—I was already breaking inside. I thought maybe, if I let her go, she'd be set free. She could go back to her life with Richard, untouched by the chains of this world, safe from the pain of a bond with someone like me, that she could be happy.

But I was wrong. My marriage didn't set her free—it almost ended her life.

She smiled at me before she let go, standing at the edge with her arms spread wide, like she was welcoming oblivion. I felt something in me break in that moment, something primal. 

I ran faster than I thought a body could move, muscles tearing, bones screaming. And just as she tipped forward, I shifted mid-air, a howl ripping from my throat. I didn't care about the people calling after me, didn't care about the horrified gasps. All I knew was that I couldn't lose her.

I caught her, barely, my wolf took the worst of impact, it was so brutal I felt my bones shatter, but it's okay, I healed fast. 

Her head struck the ground with a sickening crack, her fragile human body cradled against mine, and the world went quiet. 

She's been lying in a hospital bed ever since, locked in silence, her beautiful eyes closed, her hand cold in mine.

Every night, I stay by her side, praying to the Moon for forgiveness, begging for a chance to make this right. She sleeps, her breaths shallow, and I sit my her side and talk to her, asking to come back to me, to be with me, begging for her forgiveness.

Not that I'll ever deserve it.

While my wolf tears himself apart in punishment, running and haunting every day, as we're doing right now, pushing us to exhaustion just to keep from losing our mind. 

I know if she doesn't wake up, if I've lost her because of this, then I'll follow her. I can't bear the thought of life without her, not when she was willing to leave hers for me.

It's been three days since she fell. The wedding has been called off—the idea of standing beside anyone but Gem makes me sick. She's my mate, my everything. 

If she wakes up, will she want to talk to me? Or will she turn away, leaving me with the shadow of her rejection?

I won't let her reject me, no, she's mine.

I remember our kiss, how her lips trembled against mine, how perfect it felt to hold her, like she was made for me. And yet here I am, lost in the ache of knowing I failed her. She gave everything, and I gave her nothing but pain.