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The room is filled with an almost palpable sense of hope as the healing ointment works its wonders. Mahalia’s breathing becomes steadier, and her features relax as the pain slowly ebbs away. The tense lines that had marred her face start to soften, and color returns to her cheeks.
Relief washes over me like a warm wave, and I can’t help but smile. The sight of Mahalia recovering before my eyes is a testament to the strength of our bond and the power of the remedy. I reach out and gently take her hand in mine, offering silent support and reassurance.
As I turn my attention to the other pack members, I notice a similar transformation taking place. The glow envelops him, and I can see the tension leaving his body. It’s as if the salve is breathing life and vitality back into him, knitting his wounds together with a kind of magic I can’t fully comprehend.
I sit there, keeping a vigilant watch over them both, my heart filled with hope and gratitude. The dark cloud that had hung over us seems to be lifting, and I can’t help but believe that we’re on the path to recovery.
FOURTEEN
MAHALIA
Consciousness returns suddenly like a switch being flipped. But the world around me is not what I remember. I find myself back at the waterfall, surrounded by my pack members. My head is spinning with confusion, and I struggle to make sense of my surroundings.
Blinking against the disorientation, I take in the concerned faces of Vaughn, Lars, Kit, and Maddox. They all look at me with a mix of relief and anxiety, as if they’ve been through a harrowing ordeal themselves.
“Mahalia, you’re awake!” Vaughn exclaims, his voice filled with genuine relief. He’s the first to reach my side, his strong arms wrapping around me in a warm, protective embrace. “Thank God you’re okay. How are you feeling? What do you need? We’re all here for you.”
I try to respond, but my throat feels dry and scratchy, and the words come out as a hoarse whisper. “What... happened?”
Lars steps forward, concern etched across his face. “We were trapped in the Rift, Mahalia. You saved me, but I thought I’d lost you.”
The memories start to flood back, hazy and fragmented like pieces of a dream. The monsters, the eerie emptiness, the desperate search for Lars—all of it rushes back to me. But now, I’m back, and the relief of being among my pack members washes over me.
Kit and Maddox offer reassuring smiles, and I can see the traces of worry in their eyes, even though they’re trying to hide it. It’s then that I notice the strange sensation on my skin, like a warm, tingling glow.
“What’s happened to me?” I finally manage to ask, my voice still weak.
Vaughn pulls away slightly, and his eyes scan my body as if checking for injuries. “You were saved by a special salve, Mahalia. Laura sent it to us. It worked wonders.”
“Who’s Laura?” He looks a little guilty as he mentions her name, which is weird. Who could Vaughn have to feel guilty about?
“My… ex-wife.”
Ah, I see the awkwardness. This is the woman who made it so he didn’t turn up to the wedding. I’m glad they can still talk enough for her to save me. I glance down at my own skin, and to my amazement, I can still see a faint, ethereal glow. It’s as if the salve has left its mark on me, a reminder of the ordeal I’ve just survived.
Overwhelmed by it all, tears well up in my eyes, spilling over as I realize what I’ve been through. The trauma of those moments surge through me, and I can’t contain my emotions any longer. The tears flow freely, a release of the fear, uncertainty, and despair that had gripped me in that nightmarish place.
The men hold me close, offering words of comfort and reassurance as I slowly begin to calm down. Their presence is a balm to my frayed nerves, and I feel the tension gradually ebb away. But as the initial wave of relief subsides, I begin to notice something peculiar.
There is a subtle change in the air, a shift in the way they look at me, as if they are waiting for something, or perhaps expecting a particular reaction from me. It leaves me with a growing sense of curiosity and unease, like there is something I am missing, something significant that has happened in my absence.
“What’s going on?” I demand, glancing at everyone in turn. None of the men can meet my eyes, which only ramps up my anxiety. “What has happened?”
Vaughn steps forward to begin, with a really pensive look on his face. “Mahalia, I think you know by now that I have always been in love with you. I never stopped.”
My eyes pop wide. “Really?”
“Yeah, and while I’m sad that we didn’t get married before, I’m glad that we’re in one another’s lives again now. I want to see where things might go now.”
It’s nice to hear him say this, but strange in front of the other men. His words hang in the air, creating a moment of palpable tension among our small group. I meet his gaze, surprised by the sincerity in his eyes. Vaughn’s confession catches me off guard, especially considering our complicated history. He’s been my best friend for years, and though we’ve shared moments of intimacy, I never expected such a heartfelt declaration in front of our pack.
“Wow, I don’t know what to say,” I gush back.
As we all stand there, Vaughn’s confession hanging in the air, I feel Lars’s warm hand gently resting on my arm. I turn to look at him, my heart racing with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. The expressions on Kit and Maddox’s faces mirror my own, as they exchange uncertain glances.
“Lars, what’s going on?” I ask, my voice tinged with both apprehension and anticipation.
Lars clears his throat, his gaze never leaving mine. “Mahalia,” he begins, his words slow and deliberate, “the pack and I have been talking. We’ve all been through so much together, especially recently.”
