Chapter 16：15.

I sat against the door frame, my heart in my throat as panic seeped into my bloodstream, the adrenaline from before vanishing altogether and leaving me a jumbled mess. I'd been so close to death I could taste it. I looked down towards my tattered leg, the blood seeping from the wound as it pulsed. I ripped the sleeve of my shirt, tying it effectively around the wound, the blood loss slowing.

The scratching and pounding against the back of the door had ceased, the Guardians were gone, vanished as soon as they had appeared. 

'I'm sorry I couldn't be more help India.' My wolf said sadly as I brushed her off. She couldn't help her instincts.

"The Guardians, what were they?" I asked smally, afraid of her answer.

'They are the Guardians of our version of Heaven. When a wolf enters transition the Guardians take them in or cast them down, wolves can't disobey them, they are above every other wolf in creation, humans however, can. If you would've left me, you could have gotten out of transition, but you would've become mortal, I would have died. You took me with you, and we made it through the first test. We're closer to getting back to our mate. We've taken the first step to prove to the Goddess we need to get back."

"Where to now?" I sighed, pulling myself together and getting gracelessly to my feet. I knew if I wanted to survive, I had to keep moving.

'We should head north from here.'

"Are you sure?" I hesitated.

She looked at me in annoyance, an eyebrow raised and I sighed, nodding as I followed her away from the door and further away from the darkness.

COLTON'S POV

'Sir, there's a wolf approaching our borders. Shall I capture or ask questions?' my betas voice rang clear through my mind, bringing me back to the real world. I had a pack to run, as much as it killed me to do so without my mate by my side.

'Wait until they actually cross borders Eric, then bring them to the cells.' I replied, never taking my eyes off of the sleeping beauty in front of me.

I felt his bow of respect and acknowledgment through the link as I heard the door to the infirmary open, the hinges protesting at the weight of the solid steel door.

I knew it was Mikayla before she'd even opened the door. She was a loyal friend to India. She came every day around the same time to give me a break, not that I ever needed or wanted one. I would stay by her side until the very end, until I could no longer feel the bonds that tied us.  

"How is she today?" she breathed as she took a seat on the opposite side of the bed.

"Doc says her white cell counts elevating, she's fighting today." I smiled smally, squeezing India's hand lightly in my own.

"That's great." Mikayla responded in relief. It had been days, nearly weeks since she had made any kind of progress. Any news was good news at this point.

Mikayla hesitated then, fidgeting in her seat.

"Spit it out." I sighed.

"Don't you think you should step out for a moment. I know Eric's probably bringing in a trespasser and you haven't seen anyone in weeks Colt. Your pack needs you. They need to see that their leader is strong, and hiding away isn't any way to show that to them. They love her too, and they love you. No matter what happens, you still have a pack, and they want to be there for you, but they need to know that their love isn't wasted, that they can count on you to lead them through this, they are just as lost as you are, more so, since they hadn't properly met India, they didn't get to see her light, to witness her sunshine like you did. They need to know you're going to fight for them as much as you're fighting for her." She said smally, afraid of my reaction no doubt. Though Mikayla was the Beta female, and the next in line to lead should India and I fall without heirs, she knew that speaking out against the alpha could have consequences, but I knew her words rang true, she was right, India wouldn't want me to abandon my pack, our pack. She would want me to be strong in her absence. 

"I need her.." I sighed brokenly, my heart aching at the thought of losing her, or not being by her side when she awoke.

"I know you do, but think of her. Would she want you to abandon your pack like this?"

I shook my head in defeat. 

"No. She'd want me out there, leading." I sighed, standing slowly and leaning in to plant a delicate kiss against her heated temple. She'd been running a fever for days now, her body fighting furiously. I stepped around the bed then towards the door, looking back towards where my feet really wanted to go back to. 

"Don't leave her side until I've returned please." I said towards Mikayla and she nodded.

"I wouldn't dream of it Alpha." She inclined her head as I pulled the door open, stepping out onto pack grounds and away from her for the first time since she'd been poisoned.