She collapsed before I could stop it.
One second she was standing—
The next
Her body gave in.
"Baby."
I caught her before she hit the ground.
Too light.
Too still.
Something wasn't right.
Not just exhaustion.
Not just shock.
This was deeper.
"She needs to be taken inside," my Beta said quickly.
"I know."
I didn't wait.
I carried her myself.
Past the training grounds.
Past the stares.
Past the questions I had no time to answer.
Straight into my residence.
My room.
No one spoke as I walked in.
"Call the pack doctor," I ordered immediately.
My Beta didn't hesitate.
"And the witch," I added.
That made him pause.
Just for a second.
"…Understood."
"Now."
He left instantly.
I turned toward the maids who had already gathered.
"Prepare her," I said.
"Clean her up. Change her clothes."
They nodded quickly.
Careful.
Respectful.
But I didn't move.
I stayed.
Right there.
Watching.
Not because I didn't trust them—
But because something about this situation didn't allow distance.
She didn't belong to this world.
And yet—
Everything was already reacting to her.
The maids worked quickly.
Gently.
Cleaning away the dust and traces of everything she had gone through.
Dressing her in something softer.
Something fitting for rest.
She didn't move once.
Didn't react.
That bothered me more than it should.
"Be careful," I said quietly.
"We are, sir," one of them replied.
I didn't look away.
Not even for a second.
Because something told me—
If I did—
I might miss something important.
Or worse—
Lose control of what was happening.
The doctor arrived shortly after.
An older man.
Experienced.
Careful.
He examined her thoroughly.
Too long.
"Well?" I asked.
He exhaled slowly.
"She's stable."
That didn't satisfy me.
"But?" I pressed.
He hesitated.
"She's extremely weak," he admitted.
"Her body shows signs of poor nourishment over time."
My jaw tightened slightly.
"She hasn't been taking proper care of herself," he added.
"She needs consistent meals. Rest. Stability."
Silence.
That… I didn't expect.
After everything she carried—
After everything she was—
She had been living like that?
"Fix it," I said.
"I'll begin treatment immediately," he replied.
"Good."
He worked quickly after that.
But even when he finished—
She didn't wake.
Didn't move.
Didn't respond.
"She should regain consciousness soon," he said.
I didn't believe that.
Because something inside me already knew—
This wasn't something that would pass quickly.
"Leave," I told them all.
They hesitated.
"Now."
One by one—
They left the room.
Until it was just me.
And her.
I didn't leave.
Hours passed.
Then night.
Then morning again.
Still—
No change.
The wind outside my window shifted slightly.
Restless.
Like it felt it too.
Something was happening.
Not outside.
Inside her.
A week passed.
Seven days.
And she still hadn't opened her eyes.
In that time—
Everything changed.
The pack grew uneasy.
The Guardians became alert.
And the presence of the Windbound Wraiths—
Increased.
They were watching.
Waiting.
For her.
I stood in the council chamber.
The air was tense.
"You brought something into this territory," one of the elders said.
"I brought someone," I corrected.
"That someone is affecting the balance," another added.
Before I could respond—
The doors opened.
And she walked in.
The witch.
The entire room went silent.
Even the elders.
She didn't rush.
Didn't bow.
Didn't speak immediately.
She simply walked to the center of the room.
Then stopped.
Closed her eyes briefly.
And smiled.
"…So it's true," she murmured.
My gaze sharpened.
"What is?" I asked.
She opened her eyes.
And looked directly at me.
Then said—
"The one they tried to erase…"
A pause.
"…has returned."
Silence filled the room.
Then—
She added quietly—
"The Chosen Goddess is here."
Everything went still.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
But I felt it.
The shift.
The fear.
The realization.
And for the first time—
I understood something clearly.
This wasn't just about protecting her anymore.
This was about what she would become.
And what the world would do when it found out.
And she still hadn't woken up.