Riley’s POV
I do not know how long I have been lying here.
Everything feels heavy and slow and my entire body feels like it does not belong to anymore. My arms feel weak, my legs feel numb and my head is spinning like I have been asleep for days.
I try to open my eyes.
At first it does not work.
My eyelids feel too heavy and my head throbs painfully when I try to move it even a little. I breathe slowly and try again, forcing my eyes open little by little.
The light around is strange.
It is not bright like dayti and it is not dark like night either. Everything around just exists in a dull grey glow that does not change.
I blink slowly as my vision clears.
The ground beneath is rough and cold and I can feel the dirt pressing into my skin. My clothes are still on but they are dirty and torn and I feel sore everywhere.
I try to sit up.
The mont I move, a painful groan escapes my lips.
"Ah—"
Pain spreads through my body instantly and I stop moving.
My breathing becos uneven as I lie there trying to steady myself. Then a sharp painful sensation shoots through my lower body and the mory cos rushing back all at once.
The wolves.
Those beasts.
My stomach twists and my chest tightens.
"Oh... fuck..." I whisper weakly.
I close my eyes for a mont as I try to push the mories away. My body trembles slightly and I swallow hard before forcing myself to look around.
The place is quiet.
Too quiet.
There are large dark stones scattered around.
But sothing feels different now.
There are no wolves nearby.
No movent.
No sound.
I slowly push my hands against the ground again and this ti I manage to lift myself slightly. The movent hurts badly and I cannot stop the soft groan that slips from my mouth again.
My legs feel shaky and weak but I force myself to sit up.
I look around again carefully.
Empty.
The beasts that had surrounded earlier are nowhere in sight now.
A small breath of relief leaves my chest.
"Thank God..." I whisper quietly.
But before I can relax completely, voices suddenly cut through the silence.
"You survived it."
My head snaps up imdiately.
My heart begins beating faster as I search for the source of the voice.
"And you’re awake," another voice says calmly.
"You’re one strong woman... especially while still human."
I turn toward the direction of the voices and my stomach tightens instantly.
It is them.
The n.
The Pri wolves.
Two of them are standing a short distance away watching closely.
My eyes move quickly behind them.
Only two.
Not three.
The third one... the one who had taken roughly earlier... is not there.
Relief rushes through again and I release a shaky breath.
He is gone.
Thank God.
The two n begin walking toward slowly.
Their footsteps echo softly against the ground and I feel my body tense slightly even though they are not acting aggressive.
I push myself to my feet.
It takes a lot of effort and my legs shake badly as I stand.
I try to hide the pain but the mont I take a step I limp badly.
One of them notices imdiately.
"You should not be standing yet," he says calmly.
I glare at him weakly.
"Yeah... well... I’d rather stand than lie on the ground helpless again," I reply quietly.
The two n exchange glances. Then one of them sighs softly.
"You are lucky he did not kill you," the taller one says.
My eyes narrow."What do you an?" I ask.
He watches carefully before answering.
"His beast recognized you even while fully dominated by lust," he explains slowly.
I stare at him.
"Normally when he loses control like that... he destroys everything around him."
The other Pri wolf nods.
"If it had been anyone else, the beast would have ripped them apart after taking what it wanted."
My stomach twists again.
"But it did not do that to you," he continues calmly.
I swallow hard.
"You are a special one indeed."
I say nothing.
I just stare at them.
They both look serious and calm like they are stating simple facts but I do not know how to respond to that.
The shorter one suddenly turns and walks to a nearby stone platform where several small items are placed.
He picks up a wooden cup and a small container before walking back toward .
When he reaches , he stretches the cup toward .
"Drink this," he says.
I hesitate."What is it?"
"It will ease the pain," he replies.
I look at the cup suspiciously.
"You expect to just drink sothing you hand ?" I ask.
The man sighs softly.
"If we wanted to harm you again, we would not bother helping you stand."
I consider his words for a mont.
He has a point.
My body is still shaking and the pain between my legs is making it hard to even stand properly.
Slowly I take the cup.
"Fine," I mutter.
I lift it carefully and take a small sip.
The liquid tastes bitter and strange but it is not horrible.
"What is this?" I ask.
"A healing brew," he answers. "It will reduce the pain and help your body recover faster."
I drink a little more.
Warmth spreads slowly through my chest and stomach and within a few seconds the sharp pain dulls slightly.
My shoulders relax a little.
"Okay... that actually helps," I admit quietly.
The two n watch calmly.
"If you must travel back soon," the taller one says, "your body must heal first."
I look at him quickly."Travel back?"
He nods.
"Yes."
My mind imdiately fills with questions."How long have I been here?" I ask suddenly.
"This place doesn’t seem to have day or night," I continued.
"So how long has it been?"
The two Pri wolves look at each other again.
Then one of them smiles slightly.
"In your pack... or in Crescent Hollow ti?"
My eyes widen."What?"
He crosses his arms calmly."Ti works differently here."
I stare at him.
"Just answer the question," I say impatiently.
The man nods slowly.
"In your world," he says carefully, "it should be almost two weeks now since you ca here."
My breath catches instantly."Two weeks?"
The word escapes my mouth louder than I expect.
My heart starts beating faster.
"Are you serious?"
The other man nods calmly.
"of course."
"That’s impossible," I say quickly.
"I was only here for a few hours!"
He shakes his head.
"No."
My mind spins. Two weeks.
That ans two weeks have passed in Obsidian Veil.
Two weeks since I disappeared.
Two weeks since everything started happening.
Oh God.
The shorter Pri wolf suddenly steps closer again.
"You should finish the drink," he says calmly.
"It will help you regain your strength faster."
I take another sip slowly.
The warmth spreads deeper into my body now and the pain continues fading gradually.
"Good," he says.
Then he straightens slightly.
"You must leave soon."
I look at him."Leave?"
He nods.
"Why?" I ask.
Both Pri wolves beco serious.
"Because sothing very big is about to happen in Obsidian Veil."
My heart skips."What do you an?"
The taller one looks directly at .
"There is going to be a massive chaos in that pack."
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