Chapter 145
-LANA-
It’s been two days since I last saw Apollo. His mother has been completely unresponsive, refusing to provide any updates and ignoring all of my stepdad’s calls. It feels like she’s purposely shutting us out, making it impossible to find out what’s going on with my step–brother
“Still no word from her?” Isabella asks, walking into the kitchen and grabbing a bite of the sandwich our mom made for her.
We haven’t talked much about Havenville since our last conversation, but it’s been heavy on my mind. What if my sister was onto something? What if the rejection between mates who were bonded by the mystic river felt different from that of regular mates? It would explain why Apollo was in so much pain the second I rejected him.
“No,” my stepfather replies, his frustration evident. “She just keeps ignoring my calls. I sent her a message a little while ago, letting her know that if I don’t hear from her soon, I’ll be showing up at her place before the night is over. She cannot keep this up for long and think that I will do nothing about
it.”
My mother sighs, “She’s being totally unfair to us,” she says. “It’s as if she thinks no one here deserves to know how Apollo is handling his treatment. We all care about him. He’s spent more time here in the past few years than back home with her, of course we have all grown an attachment to him.”
Isabella’rolls her eyes. “Honestly, why is everyone surprised? Apollo’s mother has always acted superior to the rest of us. Of course she’s going to treat us like dirt now that she has him back. She doesn’t have to put on a front anymore; she’s finally gotten what she always wanted. He is back home with her and none of us are around him anymore. The fact that he hasn’t tried to reach out is quite concerning. What nonsense is she filling in his head or what is she doing to convince him not to call on his own?”
My sister is right. Ms. Reign has been waiting for an opening like this and seized it the moment it presented itself. But she also raised an important question. Why hasn’t Apollo reached out yet? Was it possible that his mother convinced him that I had betrayed him? Did she say to him the same things
that she said to me?
Lutters, staring at his phone in disbelief. “It seems my threat actually made an impact this time.”
“Well, would you look at that,” my stepfather
Before I can ask him what he means, he presses the phone to his ear to take a call. Could it be my mate’s mother on the line? I was hopeful that it was her. I needed to get an update on Apollo before I completely lost my mind.
Isabella and I lean in, desperate to catch a glimpse of the conversation. I haven’t been able to eat or sleep properly since everything unfolded, and if I could just get a single update on Apollo, I’m sure I could finally relax a bit.
“So, you finally decided to pick up the phone and call me,” I hear him say. I try to listen, but Ms. Reign’s response is lost to me. She was speaking softly for once and it irritated me that I couldn’t hear a single thing.
“Of course I’m worried,” he snaps, frustration evident in his voice. “I’ve been trying to reach you since yesterday, and you’ve ignored all my calls. He’s not “just your son; I need to know he’s okay too. It is unfair that you are refusing to communicate with me.”
She says something that no doubt irritates my stepfather even more. Isabella looks at me and rolls her eyes, “I am sure she’s being difficult as usual.”
“Of course, she is.” I agree.
“What are you saying?” my stepfather demands suddenly, his voice sharp and laced with disbelief.
I feel an icy surge of nervousness wash over me, my heart pounding as I register the look of sheer alarm that has swept across his face.
It’s as if he’s just heard the most shocking news imaginable. The air feels heavy with tension, and I can’t shake the feeling that something is terribly
wrong.
“What do you think is going on?” Isabella asks me, her gaze fixed on his shocked expression.
“Shh-” I whisper, leaning in closer. “I’m trying to hear what they’re saying.”
“What do you mean he isn’t waking up?” my stepfather barks, slamming his fist against the counter. “And why did it take you so long to tell me this?!
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Chapter 145
thought my son was on the mend, only to find out his condition has been getting worse since the last time I saw him!”
His words send a shudder coursing through me, as if ice–cold fingers are trailing down my spine.
Isabella leans back in her chair, the soft creak of the wood emphasizing the tense silence as she surveys me with an intense gaze. Her long black hair falls delicately over one shoulder as she takes my hand in hers, momentarily distracting me from the weight of the unspoken words hanging between us. The atmosphere in the room feels unsettling as we both try to understand what was happening.
What does this mean? How is it possible that Apollo hasn’t awakened yet?
As soon as my stepfather hangs up, I confront him, “What happened? Why isn’t he waking up? What exactly did she say? I want to know everything”
He runs a hand through his hair, looking weary. “It’s worse than I imagined,” he confesses.
1 frown, steeling myself for bad news. “What do you mean?”
He looks crushed as he says, “She told me that every doctor they reached out to and asked to help with Apollo has turned down the offer. She said that she even promised to pay more than they’ve ever received from a single patient, but they all said there was nothing they could do for him.”
Nothing they could do for him? That is impossible. I knew that Ms. Reign had enough money to hire the very best doctors. The fact that none of them were able to help my mate was very alarming.
All the color drains from my face. “What?” I exclaim. “That can’t be right! Someone must be lying!”
That was the only explanation. Ms. Reign must be lying to us about his condition. She doesn’t want us to know that he is awake.
He shrugs helplessly. “I don’t think so, Lana. This sounds serious. Apollo isn’t waking up. They’ve run tests, and everything came back normal. They can’t find anything wrong with him, yet he remains unconscious.”
I feel a wave of nausea wash over me. If he believed her words and he knew her better than all of us here, then she must be telling the truth.
Isabella turns to me and asks, “What do you make of my observation now? Think about it, sister–mates connected by the river share a bond that’s ever stronger than regular mates. Something must have happened to Apollo when you rejected him. It’s the only explanation.”
My mind races, desperately seeking a solution.
“Then what can I do?” I demand. “How can I help him?”
She sighs, her expression uncertain. “I’m afraid I don’t have a clue.” Then her eyes widen as a thought strikes her. “But I think I know someone who might.”
“Who?“Task, desperate for any help that I can get.
She hesitates, then says, “Think about it, Lana. The locals in Havenville know things we don’t. I’m sure they can help.”
I frown, trying to piece it together. “What are you suggesting?”
Her eyes sparkle with a newfound idea, a glimmer of hope illuminating her features. “I think we should take a little journey to Havenville, my dear sister. The locals there must hold the answers we’ve been desperately seeking. I’m certain of it!” she exclaims, her voice brimming with confidence.
“What?” my mother demands, her tone sharp with concern. “I don’t know how I feel about the two of you traveling to that town, especially after what happened to Lana just days ago. Those kidnappers are still on the loose, and we’re still left in the dark about their true motives!”
I realized she was right. We still weren’t sure what the kidnappers‘ ultimate plan was.
However, I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing while Apollo’s life was in danger. I would never be able to live with myself if I left him to suffer and didn’t even try to help.
“Mom,” I whisper, my voice a mix of determination and urgency. “This is important for me. I need to go. Apollo needs our help. We can’t let him down
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when he meets us the most. He would do the same for me if I were in filt position.
She pauses, caught in a web of conflicting emotions. Her gaze wanders to my stepfather, weighing the risks against the determination in my eyes
After a moment that felt like an eternity, she let out a resigned sigh. “Alright, but the second you find what you’re looking for, I expect both of you to return immediately! And I want updates every hour while you’re gone!”
AD
