(Erika P.O.V)

"Where am I...? Why is everything so...cold?”Everything hurt. Her body was screaming in pain and the roar of rapid waters was deafening her ears. The wounds were stinging as cold salty water filled them in. She couldn’t breathe and everything was black. Her eyes refused to open and her body felt like it was drifting off into a long sleep. But she couldn’t sleep, not now!

“You have to get back to him...you can’t leave him now...”

" Back to him? Back to who...?”

“The one who loves you...”

"T-the one who loves me?”

“Yes.”

“Loves me...?

“L...”

“L-...L.Logan!”

Her eyes snapped open and her body awoke. She realized she was at the bottom of a rapid lack of air caught her by surprise causing her to choke out bubbles. She began flailing her arms and legs, trying to reach the surface. But it was no use. Her arm was broken and her legs were numb. The last thing she remembered was Ami’s face along with a red head’s. She heard Ami call her other attacker Alana or something like that.

She had to get out of the rapids fast. She felt her lungs about to give out and she was dying. With the little strength she had, she paddled her way up to the surface, no matter how loud her body was screaming at her to stop.

"I can’t give up, I have to get to Logan! I have to give that redhead a piece of my mind too! I have to see my new friends again!” Those thoughts fueled her strength. Her body protested, wanting to give in. She overcame the angry waves, breaking free to the surface. She gasped for air and her lungs coughed up water. The waves were rough and she collided with rocks She was too weak to fight against them. She withstood the pain and she allowed herself to be carried along until the rapids ceased and smoothed into a calm river stream.

The river carried her for what seemed like hours. Her thoughts were all on Logan, and for some reason, her inner voice was quiet again. Was Logan okay? Did he think she was dead? Somehow, she had to get to him, to make him see her. She was weak and injured and had no way of healing herself. She managed to crawl onto shore on the soft grass. The sun was still hours away from rising and her body was exhausted beyond belief. She managed to fall asleep on the grass, her bare body slowly calming from the pain.

The sun’s warm rays awoke her from her sleep. The first thing she felt was the pain. She opened her green eyes slowly and they watered as she tried moving. She managed to get herself on her back. She almost cried as she saw herself. There was a deep gash on her stomach and her wrists were at awkward angles. She cried out as she snapped her wrist bones into place. It all hurt so much! Why? Why would someone do this to her? She had never done anything to anyone. She was scared and alone; she was lost. A snapping twig caused her senses on high alert.

“Who’s there?” There was no answer. Erika’s heart beat fast. She was injured and naked in the middle of god knows where. She covered her chest and found a sharp rock shard nearby.

“M-mistress...?” Erika turned to the small voice of a child. She had long brown hair and two ponytails and innocent blue irises. “M-mistress Erika? Y-you’re alive?” The child ran to her and knelt beside her. She put her small cloak around Erika’s bare form.

“How do you know my name?” The child didn’t answer, instead, she ran as fast as she could. “W-wait! Where...” The child was gone. Tatsuki ran as fast as her small legs could carry her. Master Logan’s bride was alive! She had to get help quickly. She ran to the servant's quarters gasping for breath and sweating.

“It’s Miss Erika, she’s alive and injured!” The others gasped and quickly followed Tatsuki with medical aids and medicines. Erika pulled the cloak tighter around her as the breeze swept in. She heard footsteps and running coming towards her. She looked up and saw the little girl along with ten other servants. Erika smiled and let her body fall backward as her strength gave out again. She was immediately bandaged and carried back to the mansion. She smiled at the servants and felt grateful to all of them. Too bad she couldn’t voice her gratitude as she would’ve liked. Her voice felt faint and worn out. With heavy eyes, she looked at the little girl who kept holding her hand tightly all the way back to the mansion.

A man with white hair and round silver glasses smirked as he saw the pink-haired girl being carried away.

“He will be very pleased when he finds out his cherry blossom is alive...” He saw a snake slither beside his foot and he picked it up gently as it hissed. “Lord Roshan will be expecting his promise to be fulfilled soon...Erika. So hurry and wake up, no?” A cherry blossom fell in the palm of his hand. The pink flower turned black and withered away.

Erika felt herself be laid down on a bed. She heard a bunch of commotion and loud voices, everyone sounded to be in a hurry and her arm felt like it was being pricked. The pain of her injuries seemed to be fading slowly. A comforting feeling washed over her. It was warm and it seemed to numb her body. If she could let out a content sigh, she would. On the outside, doctors were surrounding Erika’s body, putting bandages, stitches, and numbing medication to do a quick surgery. She had broken bones and internal bleeding. The doctors were amazed at how this small thin girl had been brought in by a group of servants into the hospital wing of the mansion. The doctors recognized Logan’s bride and immediately began to work.

Erika drifted off into a deep sleep, well, it seemed like it to her. She opened her eyes, only to find she was surrounded by black.

“Where am I...?” Everything seemed so warped and dark around her.

“You’re finally awake...”

“Inner? What’s going on? Why is everything so dark?”

“You’re asleep. Well, technically you’re in surgery right now.”

“Huh? Surgery?”

“You suffered so many serious wounds, Cherry...”

“Oh, right. That little girl found me.” Erika remembered the little girl running to her with a worried expression. “Everything’s a blur after that.”

“He’s losing it you know...Logan’s doing everything he can to break into the surgery room. He thought you were dead.” At the mention of Logan, Erika’s heart clenched. If only she could see him.

“Wait, how do you know?”

“Huh? Can’t you hear him? You may be unconscious, but right now you’re in here in your mind, my home if you will. Listen...” She closed her eyes and listened. She heard loud crashing noises and her name being called out in desperation. What on Earth was going on out there?

Logan felt her as soon as she had come within Ellwood gates. His senses picked up the scent of blood and bare skin. She was injured and exposed and being taken away from him again! Logan’s demon went wild. He jumped from the balcony in his room and followed her scent.

“She’s alive!” Logan followed the scent to the hospital wing of the mansion. Erika was behind the operating room doors.

“Erika!” A hospital nurse stopped him from entering the room.

“I’m sorry Master Ellwood, but I can’t let you in.”

“The hell you can’t my mate is in there!” His eyes turned red and his fangs pierced his bottom lip. His sensitive hearing picked up the sound of a knife piercing her skin. Logan shoved the nurse aside and pushed the doors open. Bodyguards blocked him from going in any further near Erika. The doctors tried calming him.

“Master Logan, please! We need to operate or else she won’t survive!” His words didn’t reach Logan. His demon instincts were yelling at him that his mate was hurt to the point of death and that these doctors were cutting and pricking her skin. Her blood filled his senses, and it only made his rage grow. These men were trying to get in the way of him and Erika. That was one thing he couldn’t allow. Logan punched a hole in the chest of one of the bodyguards. The man was dead in an instant. More guards appeared and tried holding him down. It was no use. He easily overpowered them.

“Master Logan please!” Logan saw one of the surgeons about to cut Erika once more with the scalpel.

“Get away from her!” Logan’s eyes were bloody red. He was about to attack the Doctor and rip his arm off for cutting his mate. An orange blonde blur appeared. In an instant, he was punched and flew backward out of the room. Logan easily recovered and was beyond seething. He felt a weight on either side of him. He tried to move his arms too but found that he was being restrained by Michale and Dustin.

“What are you doing?!”His voice was distorted and demonic, a sign that his demon had partially taken over. Jay appeared in front of him with an angered look.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing attacking the people trying to save Erika!”

“NO! Let go! Jay, she’s dying!”

“Then let these people save her teme!” Logan threw Michale and Dustin against the doors of the hospital wing, charging for the surgery room once more. Jay appeared in front of the surgery doors, blocking Logan.

"Get out of my way dobe." Jay looked Logan directly in the eyes. Jay’s eyes had changed to red, and he began to emit an orange glow.

“No.” Jay punched his best friend in the face and sent him flying. Michale and Dustin pinned Logan’s arms and legs down with full force. Logan tried calming himself. But how could he? His mate was on the other side, dying.

“Tell me! What would you all do?! Huh?! What would you all do if Vanessa or Jessica had been taken from you?!” Michale and Dustin’s faces didn’t change. They were still concentrated on holding down their best friend. “What would you do dobe if Synthai was on the brink of death?! I’m sure your instincts would have done the same as mine!” Logan’s eyes stung. “I almost lost her...” Jay looked down at his best friend, his eyes changing to blue.

“Look, I don’t know how you feel teme. I don’t think any of us would know what to do if we were in your situation.” Jay knelt to meet Logan’s eyes. “But I do know teme that if I was in your place, you’d be the one punching me and keeping me away.” Jay stood up above Logan. “Erika-chan’s gonna be alright. But you have to let them help her. Don’t get in the way teme, we’ll stop you.“Logan looked at his best friends, his eyes changing to black.

“I almost lost her...“After sometime later the doctor comes and said: “The surgery went well master, your bride is now in recovery and you can take her in a few hours.” A wave of relief washed over Logan and the others.

“Can we see her,” asked Jay.

“I’m afraid not yet, she sustained too many deep injuries and broken bones. She’ll need some time to recover for a bit.” He noticed Logan’s eyes flash red. How much longer was his mate gonna be kept from him? The doctor bid his goodbyes and Jay and the others went back to the mansion to update Logan’s parents.

Logan calmed himself. He told himself he would be with her soon. The red moon would begin in a few days and last for a week. Gods he needed to keep her safe until then. Erika was everything to him now, nothing else mattered. Logan made his way out of the hospital wing and back to his shredded room. He needed to get it fixed before Erika came back.