Pain

It was dark and silent. Total darkness, not a single shred of light could be seen. Too dark for Layla to see anything. She listened hard, hoping she would hear a sound that would make her know where she was.

Nothing.

Just darkness all through.

Layla felt the familiarity of the place. She had been here before. She knew it. She tried to move but found her body immobile. She couldn't move a muscle. Her limbs felt like lead, weighed down by invincible weights.

The last thing she remembered was curling up in bed with Riven's arms around her. The room had been illuminated with a burning lantern and she remembered snuggling into Riven's embrace. Now that she was back in this place, she began to wonder if it was a dream like last time, or if it was real.

The intensity of the darkness suddenly began to choke her and she struggled to free herself. She wondered where Riven was and she longed for his safe arms. Terror seized her throat and she cried out in fear.

"Riven...",she sobbed. The darkness felt like it was crushing down on her and she was greatly terrified. Scary thoughts roamed through her mind and she felt she would die from fear.

She jerked in fright when a hand suddenly went around her waist. Her first thought was, Riven! But that thought was wiped off when she didn't feel the familiar sparks from his touch. Cold lips suddenly touched her neck and she gasped.

He was back. The strange man in her dreams was back. His lips trailed up her neck and stopped in the corner of her lips.

"Mine...",he whispered against her lips.

Layla found herself responding to his touch and she tried hard to move away from him. His arms encircled her waist and pulled her closer.

"No...",Layla whispered, shivering as his lips grazed the curve of her neck. This was wrong, she thought. This was totally wrong! She shouldn't be having dreams of a strange man when she was mated to another. With a determined move, she jerked away from his embrace and snapped her eyes open.

She was back in Riven's room. She sat up quickly in bed and looked around. The darkness was gone. The strange man with his hot kisses was gone. It had been just a dream like the last time.

Sighing deeply, she ran a hand through her hair and rubbed her eyes. The room was alight with the glow of a full moon and with the purple streaks colouring the sky, she knew daylight wasn't far behind.

The space beside her on the bed was cold and empty. She wasn't surprised though. Riven usually got up in the middle of the night most times and she knew he would be in his study room that was just two doors away. Falling back on the bed, she curled herself under the blanket and thought of the dream she just had.

Who was that stranger? Why did his voice sound so familiar? And why did she feel comfortable with his presence? It upset her that she was having dreams with a strange man while she was mated to Riven. It was almost like she was cheating behind his back.

Not wanting to fall back asleep and dream of the strange man again, she got off the bed and made her way to the bathroom. Scooping water out of the sink, she splashed her face with the cool water until she felt every trace of sleep disappear. She would go to Riven's study room and curl up in his lap. She knew he would hold her close with his arms around her, while dropping sweet kisses on her cheeks. She longed for a real kiss from him and wondered how brazen it would be of her if she took the initiative and kissed him first. She would surely die of embarrassment and she looked away from the mirror as her cheeks turned warm with a deep blush.

Knowing she would never be able to do such a thing, she walked out of the bathroom, going towards the door.

Suddenly she doubled up as a familiar sharp pain slashed through her guts. She screamed, falling to her knees and holding her stomach. It was happening again, she thought. The pain was back with a vengeance and it increased with a terrifying intensity. Another scream tore out of her and she collapsed on the floor, one hand stretched out, her lips trembling as she tried to call out Riven's name.

The door flew open and Riven rushed into the room, eyes wild and fearsome, looking for whatever threat or danger that lurked in the dimness. His eyes focused on Layla and he rushed towards her, gently taking her into his arms. Her body burned with a fever and she was soaked with perspiration.

"My love...what is wrong?",his voice shook with worry as he gently turned her face to his.

"Hurts...",Layla cried out as another pain lanced through her stomach. "It hurts Riven...I can't take it..."

At a loss of what to do, he picked her up and gently dropped her on the bed, worry and fear twisting his guts as Layla writhed on the bed in pain.

[Cade!]

It took a little while before Cade replied his mind link.

[Yes Alpha]

[Get Henrietta right now. Hurry!]

Already knowing what was happening, Cade didn't need to reply. He was out of the mansion instantly.

Riven sat on the huge bed, cradling Layla's hot and trembling body in his arms. Each time she cried out in agony, a part of him felt the pain she felt. He knew he had to do something about it. This was the fourth time Layla was going through physical pain and he noticed it always occurred on the night of a full moon. He knew it wasn't ordinary and he would find out the cause of it.

"Hold on my love",he whispered softly when she stirred in his arms. "Henrietta will be here..."

He was going to say Henrietta would be here soon when Layla's eyes suddenly opened and he froze, staring at the golden hues of her eyes.

The last thing Layla remembered was gazing up at Riven before the darkness consumed her.

...

The buzzing sound of voices was the first thing Layla heard before her consciousness fully returned. Henrietta was talking in a scared worried voice and she was talking about her condition.

"I've done all I can Riven",she said exasperatedly. "There's nothing wrong with her. She just has a high fever". She was totally stressed out with everything and Riven didn't allow her a moment of rest.

"Just a high fever? Then why isn't she awake?", Riven's cold voice was laced with fear and anger. He hadn't left Layla's side since she passed out and he roared at everyone who got on his nerves. Henrietta was at the receiving end of his anger because she couldn't find the cause of Layla's ailment.

Henrietta said nothing and continued to check on Layla while Riven sat beside his mate with his eyes fixed on her face. Cade and Caleb stood close to the door, worry etched on their faces.

Layla had been unconscious for three days straight and Riven was on the brink of releasing his beast out of worry and fear. She had lost the weight she gained recently and it killed him within to see her looking so gaunt and pale. Her eyes were sunken, with dark circles surrounding the lids. Her once vibrant hair looked dull, scattered over the mountain of pillows she lay on. He didn't want to think of how her eyes had turned gold again, three nights ago. It arose so many questions in him but he pushed them to the back of his mind. His mate's health was more important to him.

Riven held her wrist in his, noticing how weak and fragile she looked. The room became totally silent, with only the sound of Layla's shallow breathing. Riven's eyes never left her face as he watched for signs of wakefulness.

He sat up suddenly when her eyelids fluttered and slowly opened. Her eyes were glazed over for a second, confusion evident in their grey depths. She blinked slowly and focused on his face.

"My love... you're awake",he said and the three other figures quickly gathered around the bed. The relief that went through them all was undescribable and the tension in the air reduced.

Riven placed the back of his hand on her forehead and the hotness scalded him but he was glad that she was awake now.

However, his joy was short-lived as Layla's face scrunched up in pain and she curled her body tightly. Her voice came out weak and frail, filled with so much pain.

"Riven....it hurts so bad..."

All the worry and fear that washed off Riven's body returned with full force.

"Where does it hurt?",he asked in a tight shaky voice.

Layla cried out and clutched her chest, writhing with pain.

"HENRIETTA DO SOMETHING!",he roared at the witch.