Mated To The Crippled Alpha-Chapter 243: I Failed You

Lena covered her face, tears slipping through her fingers as her voice broke. "She’s gone," she whispered. "She has... long left this world."

Grant stood like he’d been turned to stone. His eyes looked empty, like his mind was somewhere else, stuck in a moment he couldn’t undo. Then he lifted his hand and hit himself hard, the sound sharp in the quiet room.

"This is my fault," he said hoarsely. "Not hers. I failed you... and I failed our daughter."

The scent of his regret filled the air, thick and bitter.

Lewis shifted restlessly beside the bed, his shoulders tight. Even without raising his voice, his presence pressed down like dominance in a crowded room. He was worried, and it showed in the way his jaw stayed clenched.

"Lena," he said, trying to keep his tone steady, "I understand your pain. But right now, the only thing we can do is keep her body here. We can’t let her be separated from Elena for too long. If the separation lasts, it could cause more problems."

Lena wiped her tears fast, like she was forcing herself to be strong. Her voice trembled anyway. "What do you want me to do? How can Elena’s soul just leave her body like this?"

Lewis spoke carefully, like he didn’t want to scare her more than she already was.

"This body still belongs to Ms. Gardner," he explained. "But Elena’s soul and this body are not fully connected. For reasons outside of our control, her soul can slip away. Right now, we need to secure her and make sure she stays inside Ms. Gardner’s body."

He looked between Lena and Grant. "Since you’re Ms. Gardner’s parents, you have to make a blood oath to recognize her."

Lena nodded immediately, like she had already decided. Over the past few days, something had changed between us. She pitied me for being abandoned by my real parents, and I understood her pain too—how lonely it feels when the person who vowed to stand by you keeps choosing everything else.

We didn’t feel like strangers anymore.

"Alright," she said firmly. "Let’s do it."

Then she turned to Grant, who still looked lost, like his spirit hadn’t caught up to his body. She shoved his shoulder.

"What are you still doing there?" she snapped. "I don’t care what you think. Whether it’s Riley or Elena, they are both my daughters. You will help, whether you like it or not. If you refuse, I’ll tie you up myself and make you bleed for her."

Grant’s eyes flicked up to mine. They were red and swollen, but there was a raw honesty in them now.

"Did Riley say anything," he asked quietly, "before she left?"

I kept my voice calm. "She asked me to look after Lena for her."

His throat bobbed. He asked again, softer, like he was afraid of the answer.

"Did she say anything about me?"

"No."

That single word landed hard.

I saw it in his face—how his hope cracked. So I added gently, even though I didn’t owe him comfort.

"But don’t worry. Riley never hated you. She was just... disappointed in you."

Grant’s breath shook. His guilt deepened, heavy and crushing.

"I would’ve preferred if she hated me," he whispered. "That silly child... It’s my fault, but she’ll never hear me apologize."

He lowered his head, shoulders sagging, like a man who finally understood what he’d lost.

Then he looked back at me, voice rough. "Elena... did she willingly let you take over her body?"

"The first time I entered," I said, "it was by chance. The second time... she accepted me. She wanted me to finish what she couldn’t."

Grant swallowed hard. His gaze stayed on me for a long moment.

"Since it was her wish," he said at last, "I’ll give you my blood."

The tension in the room loosened slightly. Lewis let out a quiet breath, like he had been holding it in for too long.

"No need to delay," Lewis said. "Let’s begin now."

I thought I was past fear. I had already died once. I had already come back in ways that didn’t make sense. But as the moment arrived, a small unease crawled up my spine.

Lena glanced at Lewis, her voice tight with anxiety. "What do we do?"

Lewis’s tone was calm, meant to steady her. "It’s simple. Press one drop of blood from your fingertip onto Ms. Gardner’s forehead."

As he spoke, he moved the wheelchair closer and gently placed the Soul–Stabilizing Pendant around Riley’s neck. The droplet stone rested against her skin, faintly glowing like trapped moonlight.

My ashes are inside that stone.

It felt strange, watching it sit there like a collar, like an anchor. Like they were trying to bind me to the world with something permanent.

Lena pricked her finger carefully, wincing. Then she leaned in and pressed a single drop onto Riley’s forehead, right between her brows. Her hand shook, but she stayed precise.

Grant did it differently.

He cut his finger like he didn’t care about the pain, like pain was the only thing that made him feel real. Blood welled up and dripped down his skin as he stared at Riley’s face in a daze.

Lena shoved him again, irritated through tears. "Grant. Focus."

He blinked like he was waking from a nightmare. Then he leaned in and let his blood fall on the same spot as Lena’s.

Two drops.

Same place.

The blood darkened the small red mark on Riley’s forehead.

The room went still.

Even the machines seemed to quiet.

Then Lewis’s voice cut through the silence, low and commanding, like an Alpha calling his mate home. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Elena," he said. "Return to us."

Before, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t enter Riley’s body when it rejected me. It was like trying to force my way into a territory that didn’t accept my scent.

But this time...

Something shifted.

Maybe it was the blood oath. Maybe it was the pendant. Maybe it was the bond Lewis and I had built, thread by thread, through pain and loyalty.

An unseen pull wrapped around me.

I felt it in my chest first—like a leash tightening.

Then everything moved fast. The room tilted. Sound stretched. Light blurred.

And I was dragged down.

For a second, my mind went blank, like falling into deep water.

When I snapped awake, the first thing I saw was Lena’s face. Her eyes were wide, wet with fear, her hands hovering like she was scared to touch me in case I vanished again.

My throat felt dry. My body felt heavy. Real.

"Mom," I murmured.

Lena broke. She grabbed me and hugged me tightly, holding me like she would never let go again.

"You’re finally awake," she whispered against my hair. "You scared me so badly."

Her voice shook. Her hands shook. But her arms were strong.

Grant sat nearby, silent. He stared at me like he didn’t know what to do with the truth now that it had a face. His gaze looked distant, unfocused, like his heart was still somewhere between denial and grief.