Chapter 47 - It Was All A Lie

Madeline stirred, waking up from her slumber. She had changed into different clothing, and her right arm was wrapped in a bandage.

Looking beside her, Madeline was relieved to see no one laying beside her.

'It was a dream.'

'Nothing more than a dream,' she convinced herself.

'It was all a lie,' Madeline said.

But… if it was just a dream, then why didn't she feel glad it was just that?

However, just to make sure, she looked around the room to see a nervous Xavier pacing around, murmuring something to himself and unaware she'd just woken up.

Madeline felt something damp against her. She lifted her comforter to look at what was damp and fidgeted at the sight, alerting Xavier.

For a second, Madeline almost thought Xavier was on the brink of a smile when he saw her conscious and awake, but she shrugged it off. Xavier never smiled. Or at least, when he did he wasn't around her.

"You're awake."

Madeline nodded.

"How long was I out for?"

"Since last night, of course," Madeline added, assessing him to see if there was any change in his face.

"Last night?" He looked at her, a look of confusion painted across his face.

Madeline was proven right. It had been a dream after all.

Clutching the comforter even tighter now, Madeline dismissed it, "Never mind."

Xavier gave her an odd look before walking over to her.

'What's he--'

'Oof!'

Madeline's eyes widened as he embraced her.

Was Xavier… hugging her?

'Why is he hugging me?' Madeline wondered, her brows furrowed.

'Why's he being so gentle?'

Had she been out for that long?

Blinking, Madeline gently patted him on the back, wondering when he'd let her go from this embrace.

Briar was about to have a field day. Where was she anyway? And what was this bandage around her arm?

Madeline didn't recall her arm being injured, but strangely, she felt completely fine. Like nothing had happened. She wasn't numb, but

watched as Xavier separated from her.

Looking at him questioningly, he scratched the back of his neck.

"Um," Xavier swallowed.

"I'm glad you're awake," was all he managed to get himself to say.

Madeline smiled thankfully.

"You saved me again, didn't you?"

Xavier shook his head, "All I did was bring you back here."

She tilted her head.

"I could've found you before you passed out."

Madeline wondered if he knew how thankful she was. In that cave, she had really thought she was dead. Even if she escaped the cave using her own means, it meant a lot.

'Now where's Briar?' Madeline thought.

Briar was nowhere to be seen.

Had Briar refused to see her?

Madeline looked upwards.

Right, Xavier was in the room. Didn't seem like Briar had a choice, and even if she did she was too intimidated by Xavier to stay. Had Xavier not been there, Madeline knew Briar would've been at her side 24/7.

"You're wondering what happened," Madeline guessed.

It didn't take much effort to figure that out.

Xavier hesitated before he nodded.

"What did he do?" Xavier questioned, hoping Madeline would tell him.

And the funny thing was, he didn't fathom why he cared. And why he bothered to ask her.

Suffice it to say, had this been someone else. Say, a wolf of lowly ranking to have been found injured, he would've made sure they were brought to safety, but it was to that extent.

"Xavier," Madeline called.

"Hmm?"

"He said he knew you," Madeline began.

Xavier's gaze on her faltered.

"Miles said that?"

Madeline added, "He also said that Miles was just a nickname people used to call him."

"Ah."

"You know something."

"You don't know that," Xavier insisted.

"I can see it in your eyes," Madeline frowned.

"Do you really want to know?"

"Why do you think I asked in the first place?"

Xavier's eyes glittered perilously, causing Madeline to think she wouldn't get anything out of him.

She cleared her throat, telling him, "And something else he said was that you had something to do with him being stuck in the cave."

"So you were in the cave," Xavier inhaled.

Madeline stared at him.

So, it really was his fault she'd been put in danger.

Why oh why was it his fault?

Well, that cave was special. It's location constantly changed, and finding it was and is impossible. Xavier couldn't track her no matter what resources he used. It was meant to never be found again, so how Madeline stumbled upon it and had visions of it shocked Xavier as well.

"Does he know we're soulmates?" Xavier asked next.

To his relief, Madeline shook her head, "No, he doesn't."

"Madeline, do you realize what you've gotten yourself into?" Xavier inquired.

Strangely, it seemed like he was more upset with himself than he was with her.

"Aren't you supposed to be upset at me?" Madeline blurted out without thinking.

"Why would I be upset at you?"

Madeline shrugged, "I hurt whoever he was and got myself into trouble again."

Xavier raised his brow.

"Y-you hurt him?" He spoke with a stutter in his voice.

"W-why are you stuttering?" Madeline stuttered.

He peered at her, "Start from the beginning, tell me everything."

"And tell me every last bit of how you managed to hurt him," Xavier ordered.

'E-eh? Why all of a sudden? He didn't seem as interested at what happened till now.'

Crossing her arms, Madeline reckoned this was the perfect time to strike a deal.

"Information for information."

"I'm not telling you until you tell me something in return."

Xavier scoffed, "Seems fair."

Grinning, Madeline then said, "In exchange for everything I'm about to tell you, you just have to tell me one thing."

Albeit Xavier seemed perfectly calm and collected, inside he was dreading her request.

What would she ask of him?

Surely it couldn't be anything too personal, or something he had to keep secret no matter what, right?

Despite knowing he'd come to regret it, he braved himself to ask her, "And that one thing is…?"

"Who Miles actually is of course," Madeline answered.