Moonlit

Chapter Ninety-Two

Something was happening outside but he couldn't tell exactly what. There were howls and barks and all sorts of cries. Perhaps just Sonya and Aaron's wolves celebrating their victory. Maybe that meant they would return for him soon. Make good on their promise and finally just do away with him.

It was all too much to think about. And he was just so tired... Jrasic didn't have the energy to even raise his head anymore. He simply remained as he had for who knows how long, slumped against the wall, half hanging from his strung up arms, blood coating his body and infection putting his skin on fire. But it would be over soon, he was sure. The dying sounds outside seemed to promise that, then suddenly, everything went silent.

Noise again interrupted his silence, but this time the voices were closer. His arms were released from their chains, but hands helped lower him before he could fall. In the midst of shouting commands, soft hands touched his cheeks and a hazy Terra appeared over him. His name was formed on repeat on her lips, and blood was dried on her forehead.

A misplaced smile managed to cross his lips. He fought through the haze to see her clearly, even if she wasn't real. He didn't care anymore, just so long as he could see her again. Tears actually sparked the corners of his eyes and he tried to say her name but no sound came, his lips barely even moving.

Terra leaned down and kissed his forehead before she moved out of sight once more. Jrasic was lifted again and kept steady before fading sunlight hit him. He registered snow falling against his face and torn torso before the light became too bright, blinding him into darkness.

• • • • ☾ • • • •

The darkness didn't keep him long. At least, not to his mind. That should have been it. The final goodbye with the woman he loved and lost. Jrasic clung to the retreating darkness at first, begging it to stay with him and to keep him forever. He wasn't ready when it abandoned him completely and his eyes fluttered open.

It took a while for his vision to adjust enough to the dim lighting that greeted him. It was similar to the light he survived in for months in the cellar. But this time there wasn't a hard floor beneath him and pillows supported his back and head instead of the bloody cellar wall.

He was in a bed, sheets carefully tucked in around him to cover most of his body. It stopped along his stomach, exposing the layers of bandages that wrapped his torso, even stretching to his arms which lay at his sides instead of strapped above his head.

Something at his bedside drew his attention. It made his heart leap for at first it looked like a person, hovering there, but instead he only found a rack that held a clear bag with a tube running from it. He followed it with his gaze and that's when he noticed the needle in his arm.

Images of a syringe pressing into his skin leapt back into his mind. Declined pleas for death. Endless shifting that broke and ruined his body. Jrasic moved and instant waves of pain coursed through him. He could barely move his arms and when he slung one hand to the needle, his vision blurred and the bedroom swam. His fingers fumbled against the tube, making it jostle and sending more pain and nausea to rack his body. His breathing picked up as he tried to fight through it, unsure of what flowed into his veins, but unable to make his fingers seize the needle to rip it free.

Someone suddenly came up beside the bed even though they'd been hidden before. "Jrasic," Terra mumbled, still half asleep. She grabbed his hand and tried to force it back at his side. "Jrasic, stop, you're okay."

It took a moment for her words to truly reach him, though his hands slowly stopped. That oh so familiar voice stilled him. Terra's voice. He didn't want to believe it. It couldn't have been real. But if the pain was real...

Jrasic's gaze slowly drifted to the woman, beautiful even with fatigue and sleep still painted across her face. His throat tightened and his heart skipped a beat. He tried to swallow, to will his mind to clear. He felt her hands against his. So real. His lips parted and though his voice was nearly nonexistent he still managed to whisper, "Terra?"

She smiled down at him and her grip loosened. Terra shifted so she sat on the bed beside him and pressed her hand against his forehead. The smile immediately fell away. "You're still burning up." She turned her head away to look at the time and then turned back. "I'll let Jason sleep a couple more hours, though."

Despite the pain and effort it took him, Jrasic reached a hand back out to her. "Terra," he whispered again, his eyes watering over. "You're...here. Right?"

Terra stopped her movements to focus on him and ran her fingers into his hair. "Of course I'm here. I'm so sorry, Jrasic. I...I couldn't do anything. I tried, but..." Tears filled her eyes and she tightened her hand around his.

A smile spread across his lips as he clutched at her hand, feeling the realness of her. His tears slipped free a he watched her, his gaze traveling every inch of her face. He lifted his other hand to her, just able to trace his fingertips along her cheek. "You're here," he murmured. "They lied."

Terra's eyes widened as she took in what he said, and her own tears dripped against him. She leaned in closer, her body shaking. "I promise I'm here," she managed.

"I thought I'd never see you again." Jrasic managed to keep his smile, his fingers straying into her hair a bit. "I...I thought..."

"I'm sorry," she said again, her tears coming faster. "I wanted to fight then, but we weren't ready and we promised- we promised each other..." Terra drew in a shaking breath and her grip on him fell away. She clutched the pendant around her neck, even though he was right in front of her. "I'm sorry."

Jrasic rested his palm against her cheek. "Terra..." he murmured. "I love you."

Terra rested her other hand against him, but the tears continued to flow. "You should rest," she told him in a whisper. The Alpha leaned down and pressed her lips to his, the touch gentle as she tried not to hurt him. "I love you, Jrasic, and I'm right here if you need me."

"Stay," Jrasic whispered. He held fast to her as if fearful he might lose her again. "Please?"

Terra looked at the empty side of the bed and nodded. She pulled away and leaned down to grab pillows from the floor, then moved around him to leave the side with the IV open. With a small sigh, she settled down beside him, a hand on his arm.

Jrasic moved a little, as much as his body would allow. It made him wince, but he opened an arm to her to silently invite her closer. A smile pushed at her lips and Terra slid into him, pulling a pillow with her so she was pressed against him, but not putting weight on him. Tension immediately left her body as she breathed in his scent.

Her own surrounded him and calmed him considerably. Jrasic watched her still, reluctant to close his eyes. He was fine with just watching her for the rest of the night but soon enough, the exhaustion and weakness won over him and he fell under again, this time with a smile on his lips.

There's only four more chapters to go! It's been a long journey but now it's nearly the end for Moonlit. Thank you for coming along on this adventure. We appreciate you being here and all the support you provide. 

Thank you.

-Samantha and Runaja