As Arya was getting ready for bed, she got the most frantic mindlink. 'Arya, can you hear me? I need help. I'm lost.'
It was Michelle. Her voice was so pained that Arya couldn't help but respond, 'Michelle? Where are you?'
As Michelle described the tree and surrounding area she was in, Arya remembered that while looking for her cave, she had stumbled upon that same tree. The beautiful scent of jasmines covered the area, and the air was so fresh.
After Arya grabbed the flashlight from the drawer, she got out and ran towards the forest. After some time, she heard Michelle calling out to her. "Arya? Arya, over here!"
She shone the light towards the sound and saw a hand waving weakly, trying to grab her attention.
The first thing Arya noticed when she got closer to Michelle was that she had small cuts all over her face and hands. Then she saw her feet when she had failed to stand up. They were covered in blisters.
Arya felt really sorry to see her this way. She had gathered so much courage to admit that she was indeed the mole in front of not only Rodriguez but also the entire pack. Even Arya wouldn't have been able to gather this much courage.
Looking at her struggling to move, Arya suggested that she go and get help, but the way Michelle grabbed her hand told her all about how terrified she was of being alone.
Arya knew she wouldn't be able to carry her, and she was too hurt to move, so she thought of something.
At last, there was only one option left, call Rodriguez!
"Don't worry. I'll do something. I'm calling someone. I hope he answers!" Arya said.
"What? Who?" Michelle asked, hope flaring in her heart. Was there still anyone here who would be willing to help her despite knowing she is a traitor?
"I don't want to get your hopes high, so if he comes, you'll know!" Arya said, and she could literally see Michelle's face sink.
"He won't come. He had told me he'll test me to see where my loyalty lies, and if I fail, he will kill me," her face showed the pain. Her voice carried that self-pity sound.
"We have to try."
Michelle just looked at Arya with big, hopeful eyes, and it almost broke Arya's heart. Almost! She couldn't forget that Michelle also betrayed her, but Arya understood that whatever she did was to reunite her and Alfa.
Arya closed her eyes and mindlinked the alpha of rogues, 'Rodriguez, I'm in the forest. She needs your help. Please come and help me help her.'
'You both can spend some time in nature. I heard it's good for the health.' Came the reply.
'She's hurt badly. She can't call forward her wolf. She will die if you don't help her.'
There was a long silence. The tension on the other end was thick. At one point, Arya thought that Rodriguez had cut the link.
'Where are you?'
'Under the huge tree surrounded by jasmines.'
The mindlink cut off, and Arya helped Michelle sit back down. The mosquitoes buzzed around them, singing their annoying song that no one wanted to hear, and the night creatures made their presence known by calling out in their language.
Arya sat beside Michelle as they waited. "You know, I did it because I wanted to repay Alfa for everything he did for me. I thought you would return, and things would go back to normal, and he'd never know!" Michelle confessed. "I never thought I'd find my mate here and fall for him! Now, he hates me, and the worst part is, I deserve that hate!"
Arya sat there listening. She didn't know what to say. She did understand the part where she came here as a spy for Alfa. The part she didn't understand was why, after discovering she is Rodriguez's mate, did she still go through with the job! She could have said no.
"You must also hate me, right?" Michelle asked, looking at her.
"Honestly, I don't know," Arya replied, staring straight ahead. "What you did was right from your point of view, but what I don't understand is why you still worked for him after discovering Rodriguez was your mate?"
"I was afraid he'd tell him that he had sent me here as a spy!" Michelle said, half laughing. "And now look at me. I told him, and I am suffering the consequences."
"You're not suffering because you told me!" A voice came from the dark that made both girls jump. "You're suffering because you didn't tell me when you entered my territory."
"Holy christ, Rodriguez! You almost gave us a heart attack! Don't you ever do that again," Arya screamed. "How long have you been there?"
"Long enough. Who's dying?"
Arya, who had already stood up, moved aside to reveal Michelle. Something in Rodriguez eyes shifted. Pain? Love? Pity? Only he knew, and neither of the girls was going to ask him.
Without saying a word, he moved forward and picked Michelle up in his arms and started walking away, with Arya following close by.
The current that ran in Michelle's body was so soothing. She felt that only her mates touch healed her from the inside. She wondered if Rodriguez also felt this tingling sensation, and by the way he was clenching his jaws, she knew he was.
Because her pain had significantly reduced, Michelle had finally fallen asleep in his arms, hoping that the journey wouldn't end.
They soon came out into the clearing, and Rodriguez headed to the clinic. He dropped Michelle off on the bed and walked away as the doctor examined her. Arya stayed behind to answer any questions.
Dr Penelope, a middle-aged woman, took a look at Michelle's injuries and began cleaning up her cuts. She didn't need to put medication or bandage as the wounds had begun to heal.
"Doctor, is she going to be alright?" Arya finally asked.
"Looking at the injuries, they're minor and will heal by tomorrow. But the trauma she went through, I don't know if she'll heal from that or not. I'll need to keep her here for the night and see how she's doing by morning. Another thing, she's dehydrated, which is why her wolf is not coming forward," the doctor said.
"You were at the meeting, weren't you?"
"Had to be. My Alpha called everyone, including me."
"I just hope she is alright... "
"Don't worry, miss. She's way stronger than she looks. It takes a lot of guts to admit you're wrong, especially in front of an Alpha. She'll be healthy by morning."
Arya looked at the doctor, who stared at Michelle. "Well, I'll take your leave now. I have to rest, and I'll try to get here as soon as I can."
The doctor nodded, and Arya left.