"Wake up!... Wake up, Elena!"

I heard a still small voice calling on me as I struggled to regain my sight. I opened my eyes weakly and discovered I was not lying on the floor anymore but, was being carried away by a stranger. I was yet to see the stranger's face.

Just when I was about to look at his face he spoke again. "Thank God you are alive," he brushed my hair gently with a pitying smile.

I realized I was being carried by Allan in his arms. He was hurrying as he walked. He seemed to be walking in the direction of his room.

"Where am I?" I asked with a faint voice, my eyes partially opening and closing forth and back. I was weak and powerless but, I never resisted him. I have already been beaten black and blue, therefore, it makes no sense now to put forth any form of resistance.

"Relax, Elena...You are safe in my arms," he smiled again. The expression on his face made me think if he was about to shade tears. But why will he do that?

"Allan, is that you?"

"Yes, it's me! Don't worry..."

I caught in immediately, "Where are you taking me to?"

"To a place where you will be safe and your wounds can be attended to. Now, if you wouldn't mind, save your energy. You will need them to recover later."

"Why should I trust you?... You and he have put me through a lot. Tell me then one reason why I should earn your trust?"

"Yes, I know you don't trust me...I know that I and my brother have put you through a lot but, I'm not my brother, my name is Allan and he--he is Faran. We are two different people!"

"Why are you telling me all of these now?...why did you wait until now to tell me all of this?" I queried bitterly.

More tears poured out of my eyes as I recalled the horrific things they have put me through. For some unknown reasons, I have always had the feeling that Allan was being forced by his brother to go against his will... Perhaps, with all the difficulties I have been through, he aided them just to impress and show Faran his loyalty.

Nevertheless, I was not going to let him sweet-talk me so, I remained defiant even at what seemed to be my final moment in this life.

"Because I never had the opportunity to tell you... I'm sorry for all I have put you through," he continued.

"It's too late, Allan...it's too late!" I cried. "You may finish what your brother started.... finish up and let me die, after all, my life is miserable and meaningless already. Any way you believe it, I'm gonna die."

"No, you are not gonna die, not under my watch!" he said with a nervous voice as he kicked the door in front of him. He was not patient enough to push the door via the handle because he thought I was losing grip on life as seconds pass by.

"Let me die please, I beg of you!" I cried but he wouldn't listen. He was bent on saving me.

"No, Elena!..No way! I'm never gonna allow this to happen!" he dropped me slowly onto his bed and close the door behind me. It was two of us in the room all alone.

I could feel his heartbeats but I can not read his mind because were never Mind-linked. To be mind-linked to a wolf, one must have found a mate who she has bonded with. Here I was--a loser who was gonna die soon after living a miserable life here on death.

Finally, I can see eternal peace coaching on me; I can see death knocking on my door but how long must I wait?

"You are late. The damage has been done!" I shivered in sadness and pain.

"Stay right here and don't move, Elena, I will be back!" he pointed a finger at me as he spoke.

I looked at him for the last time. My blur vision was getting worse. It was a matter of time before I start seeing shadows instead of images.

However, I was able to get a final glance at him. His body was already soaked in my blood especially, his face and chest. One could mistake him for the victim because of the way he was being painted by my blood.

No doubt, I have lost enough blood and was not able to go on living.

He pulled off his clothes and toss them away. He rushed to get his first aid box. He began to explore the box for medicines and other instruments.

Suddenly, I began panting heavily. He stopped abruptly, what he was doing and inched closer to me grabbing my left palm at the same time. "What's going on, Elena?... Why are you panting heavily?" his body shivered as he touched mine.

I could not speak because it seemed I was living in the final moment of my life. My eyes glared at him in complete exhaustion. "Gi-gi-gi-me-mee waa-ter!" I managed to speak out.

At once, he rushed to get some water. He came back in a twinkle of eyes with a cup of water. As I gasped for air and breath, he assisted me to take a sip.

Perhaps, we both thought sipping some water could make the situation less severe...How wrong we were! it never got better rather it go worse.

Soonest, I began coughing. It was a gradual once but a few minutes later, it escalated.

"Do you want more water?" he asked with a concerned voice. It was as if he was doing all he could to redeem his confession.

I used sign language to tell him, no, I don't need any more water.

He dropped the cup and held my hands again gently squeezing them like a groom to a new bride.

Suddenly, he stood to his feet and grabbed a tin of ointment and proceeded to apply them to my wounds. It was the least he could do amid my cough, he was no doctor.

The ointment he brought out was exactly the type I have been receiving from my secret sympathizer. Could Allan be my secret sympathizer? Could he be telling the truth which I doubted so much in my heart?