Chapter 165: Winnie, Thank You.

Maya thought she was dreaming at first when she heard her name in the dark. She couldn’t see her hand in front of her, not that she had any energy to lift it.

She couldn’t move; her body felt like heavy metal. She couldn’t even adjust to a more comfortable position. She could tell a rock was poking her back, but she was too numb to pinpoint exactly where.

She was glad for the numbness and the cold—it helped the pain—but she was very worried she might fall asleep and never wake up. So, when she heard her name echoing through the walls, she was sure she was dreaming.

She recognized the voice, and it further solidified the fact that she was dreaming. There was no way Winnie knew where she was, and even if she did, Maya couldn’t help but think she wouldn’t come for her.

Her mate was injured, badly enough that he wouldn’t survive. Technically, it was her fault—the High Alpha wanted her to go back home by all means.

How is that your fault?

Maya almost chuckled. It was certainly something Winnie would say. Besides, even if she was dreaming, she wanted to be rescued. Even if this was her fault, she didn’t think it was enough that she deserved to die.

"Winnie," she said, but the sound never left her lips. Her mouth was sealed.

She had heard the echo of her name go further and further. These mines were huge, and Alaina had purposely placed her where it would be a little harder to find.

The women had made their way through the dark a little too easily, taking turns that Maya could barely keep up with. Then, before she could begin to guess how deep they had gone before stopping, she was tossed to the ground.

Alaina had shifted, squatted, and tapped her cheek twice. "Try not to die. You had a good life, didn’t you? While the rest of us nearly died in Verlassen, you were sipping tea, dancing, reading, and even had time to torture Marcus. Ha. You really are greedy. Coming back here to take him after what you did. You think a little victim act and the past would absolve you of guilt?"

She dropped her voice to a whisper. "No, Penelope. You will be sent back to the life you chose. If you ask me, it’s better than what you deserve. You deserve to rot in here and die, but sending you back to the High Alpha would suffice."

She shifted and left the mines with Bess. Maya listened to the vibrations of their footsteps until she couldn’t hear anything anymore.

She might have fallen asleep, but it was hard to tell. She couldn’t even get a hold of her thoughts. Anytime she tried to think of anything, all she saw was Alpha Keenan jumping over her bloodied hand.

She forced her jaw open. "Winnie," she tried again, just as metal echoed through the walls of the tunnel. She felt the vibrations underneath her. Winnie was here. It was no dream.

Her eyes snapped open, and she tried again, forcing the sound out of her dry throat. "Winnie!"

Maya could hear her claws scratch the rocks as Winnie ran in her direction. The relief she felt almost brought feeling to her limbs.

She closed her eyes. This didn’t change anything about her current situation with Keenan, and she knew that—but what it did change was that she wasn’t alone, and that wasn’t a feeling she was used to.

A cold nose nuzzled her face, and Maya’s eyes opened, tears sliding down the corners. "Winnie," she whispered.

If she could move, she would hug her tightly. "Thank you."

Winnie shifted, her eyes shining with tears. "What are you thanking me for? Can you move? We have to get you out of here."

"I can’t. I haven’t had much feeling in my body for a while now," she coughed, speaking for so long tore at her throat.

"Are you okay? You smell like blood—just how much did you lose? By the Goddess! I can’t see in this dark place."

She moved her hands over Maya’s body. "Your arms," She froze. "Is that a bandage?"

"Was bleeding. Alaina."

"Alaina wrapped you up? Why would she do that?"

She lifted Maya to a sitting position, but she immediately started to fall sideways.

"Not die. Sorry." She couldn’t even hold herself upright. Everything felt so heavy.

"Don’t apologize. If she plans to send you to the High Alpha, she needs you alive for that. How did you get the injury in the first place?"

As she spoke, she grabbed Maya’s arms to steady her and stop her from falling. Then she turned around while kneeling and placed her arms on her shoulders.

Winnie knew this was not the time to be asking this sort of question, but it was all she could do to keep the tears at bay—but more importantly, it was to make sure Maya stayed conscious.

She was so cold—even colder than Asher. It was hard to believe she was still alive. She had to keep confirming that. She had to keep her talking.

"Theo bit me," she mumbled into her ear.

"The bastard. Lying that he saw you bleeding when he was the one who bit you."

It was hard to maneuver Maya onto her back. Since she couldn’t move an inch, she had more weight. She had to be careful about how hard she pulled, she didn’t want to worsen her injuries.

"Asher," she whispered.

"That’s not your fault!"

Maya chuckled and nodded.

"Can you hold my neck? I am about to shift. I’m worried you won’t stay on my back."

"Heavy," she replied with a sigh. "I’ll try."

Winnie nodded and shifted. Maya couldn’t help but gasp. It was very brief, but she had felt the shift—the snapping of bones—before Winnie increased in size.

Feeling her neck double in size was not a sensation she would forget soon. It was both fascinating and scary. As someone who had never shifted, this was the first time she had experienced it this closely.

She started to slip off Winnie as she stood on all fours. She panicked and tried to grab something, but her limbs didn’t obey her.

Winnie shifted her body to the right, moving Maya so she balanced more comfortably.

She sighed with relief when she was no longer falling off. She mumbled her thanks while enjoying the feel of her warm fur against her body.