JAYDEN
I was deep in the woods running trying to get my brother’s menacing threats off my mind. I haven’t got a chance to meet with him but considering how he speaks to me on the phone, tells me he’s already in Vancouver, somewhere near the pack house but no matter how far I’ve searched him and the nearby packs, I couldn’t find him. This shit of playing hide and seek while jeopardising my people freak the shit out of my guts. I shifted in my human, scratching my head, tired of this unending madness. I’m sick and tired of all these unending wars. I want some peace with my mate. Us alone without worrying about the pack. Without worrying about her safety when she steps out of the house. Without getting worked up with jealousy thinking that she and Gabe might be doing some intimate things when she goes to see her family. Is that too much to ask…?
As I raked a hand through my hair, I heard a whimpering. Whoever you are, show yourself before I get to you. I said in an even tone but menacing. The whimper continued which was for a woman but she dared me. She must’ve seen me shifting so I swiftly marched to her.
She was curled down in leaves wearing nothing, scratching her body, and leaving bloody trail marks.
She’s going through a transformation. My wolf said and I agreed along.
She looked up at me before throwing herself into the small branch twigs backwardly. She looks miserable and petrified.
I think I’m going crazy.
What’s wrong with me?
Am I going to die?
Why is my body like this?
Everywhere hurt me. From my bones to my skin. My skin has been itching me nonstop. I’ve been scratching like a maniac, hoping I can relieve this irritating feeling but it’s like I’m doing nothing. This feeling became the scourge of my life. I’m really scared. She stuttered, still lacerating her skin, drawing out blood.
No one would ever understand how scared she is right now.
I crooked down to her level to talk her down.
Stay away from me. She screamed, swatting my hand away. Stay far away from me. She said repeatedly. I clutched her shoulders. Stop screaming and listen to me. She stopped but didn’t look me in the eyes.
Listen, woman, you’re not crazy. You were attacked by a wolf, right? I asked and this time she looked me in the eyes, her face conveying shock. How did you know? She asked with a trembling voice, along with her body. Fuck! I swore to myself to never leave a bitten human alone but I never swore to explain to them why they are becoming wolves. It’s the reason I started a school for them and pays people to help them through it. I heaved a sigh. If this is the real destruction I was looking for, then am up to it-–
First of all, you need to calm down. Don’t be scared. You weren’t attacked by a normal wolf. You were attacked by a werewolf. And what you are going through right now is called a transformation. It’s very normal for new werewolves to have bone aches and itchy skin. But I promise you that it’s temporary. All the pain will go away. In a few days, you’ll become a werewolf too and will be fine. You’re not alone. There are a lot of you in the same situation. What you’re going to do, Is come with me to my house, learn more about werewolves and you’ll feel much better and more comfortable as the time comes.
When you see my wolf… I stopped myself because I know she won’t be able to take it when I shift to my wolf. I backed away from her, shifted and as I guessed, she passed out. I had to shift back to human, take her out of the twigs, shift back to my wolf and slid her on my back before drifting back to the pack house…
The pack members I mind-linked with were already waiting for me and they barreled over to me carrying the unconscious woman, wrapping her in a blanket before taking her for treatment. Back to human form, I shook my hair out of my face as I marched over to the house using the main door because I don’t expect to see people around, mostly kids roaming around. We might be werewolves that care less about nudity but I’m very strict with bareness around kids. I reached the end of the foyer and stunningly came to an abrupt stop when my eyes landed on Catriona’s grandmother and her brother standing at the far end of the hallway with Sandra, godmother, Alia and her twin sister. My mate’s grandmother let out a loud gasp before covering the boy’s eyes. God have mercy. She said, turning around with the boy.
I soundlessly ranged my eyes over to them, bemused. When did they come? Where is Catriona? Could she have stayed back with Gabe? The thought made my heart pound. Don’t be stupid, human and go put some damn pants on. There’s a child here. My wolf spluttered.
I rushed upstairs and yanked some clothes on before heading back downstairs but the boy wasn’t there so I assumed he was taken to bed.
“Why are you all still here at this time?” I asked.
Before anyone could answer me, Evan barged in, breathing hard. Catriona’s grandmother was the first to jump on him.
How is my girl? Is she okay? Is her baby okay? She asked, confusing me. They are both fine. She didn’t lose the baby. Evan replied to her. She heaved a sigh of relief and looked up into the air. Thank you, heavenly father.
Aren’t you seeing me? What is going on? I snapped, averting their attention over to me.
Pardon us alpha, says Evan, bowing his head. What was that about? I pressed.
It was about ma’am. One of the students attacked her from behind, aiming for her pregnancy but fortunately, we were quick to take her to the hospital.
I stilled in my posture, eyeing Evan and everyone’s fearful stares. I turned my gaze to my mate’s grandmother who was still audibly thanking God before looking up at me.
“Catriona is three weeks pregnant. We just found out-–”
I dashed out of the house and barreled at the hospital knocking one of the nurses as I entered. I found Vanessa in a deep conversation with Pamela and when they saw me they stopped but I paid them no attention as I walked past them and just went to the patient’s closed door, pushed it open and entered before closing it behind me.
My mate was lying on that small patient bed with two IVs inserted in both her hands. She was breathing fine but my heart broke for her.
Why does she have to go through this again? She must’ve been terrified thinking she might have another miscarriage. She doesn’t deserve to go through another nightmare. She deserves the best. I held her small warm hand in mine as cold sweat broke out of my body, hating myself for that she keeps getting hurt in my own house which I think is the safest place for her. It’s such a nightmare that the alpha’s mate gets hurt by his people.
I won’t show any mercy to whoever made you lie on this bed. I’m going to end their lives excruciatingly, painfully. I kissed the back of her hand and buried it in my big hands waiting for her to gain consciousness.
Jayden…! Catriona’s soft voice lurched me awake from my half-sleep, still holding her hand. I looked at her and saw tears running down her cheeks as fear drowned her.
“Did I lose-?”
You didn’t lose the baby. I said, cutting her off.
Really? She asked, sobbing with tears as she slowly sat up.
Thank you, lord. I thought- you don’t know how traumatised I was when I clashed my stomach on that huge kitchen island. She stammered, sobbing loudly. She turned to me…
“Why do your people hate me so much?”
The question rushed deep inside my body, hitting and crushing my heart into a million pieces.
Your people aren’t the ones to blame. I’m the one with the problem of hatred and rejection. That old man appearing in my life after so long made me think I was cured but it was a mere momentary lapse of a good dream I had.
I looked down at my crying mate. She looked hopeless, timid and nervous. I felt sick to my stomach. I can’t deal with watching her afraid, mostly because of me, her mate, who’s supposed to bring a smile to her face. My fucking brother I never knew existed is also fucking with my head. I can’t let him get his hands on Catriona as Alfredo did. I have to take her away from the pack house and far away from Vancouver.
I pulled her into my hands, rubbing my hands over her back. I pulled back just to look at her face…
Don’t cry, baby. It is my fault that I didn’t protect you. From today henceforth, no one will ever get their hands on you and our child because I’m taking you and your family to a safe place where no one except me knows.