ATLAS’S POV
“I made her drink special water that came from the Witch Mountain. Her healing process should get easier now,” said the pack doctor. “If you need anything else, you can mind link me.”
He then left us. I could hardly pay attention to everything he said as my eyes were focused on Tessa. She was lying on the clinic bed; pale and unconscious because of the wounds and blood loss caused by the accident that had happened earlier.
As I was seated on the chair next to her bed, I fisted my hands firmly. My mind recalled everything that happened in the campus field; how all of a sudden she could not move her body, like her feet were stuck to the ground, and that led her to this situation. I was certain that Evelyn hadn’t done it.
No werewolf would have that kind of power-telepathy. Not even us who come from the royal bloodline.
Someone powerful was behind it. That was for sure. Anger rose in my chest, thinking that someone had done this to her even though she hadn’t done anything wrong. I would do everything I could to find who did this to her and make sure whoever that creature was, would pay for pushing Tessa into a near-death experience.
I sucked in a breath and continued to look at my mate. If only I was fast enough to protect her, things like this would have been prevented.
“I swear I’m going to protect you now…” I held her right hand and felt the warmth in it, an indication that she was getting better. “Wake up, little wolf.”
The door of the clinic swung open. I turned to it and saw three werewolves who had just arrived. Cohen, Mikhaela, and Julie.
“How is she?” Cohen asked worriedly, rushing towards the other side of the bed and inspecting Tessa closely before he gave me a glare. “You were there and you failed to protect her?!”
My eyes narrowed at his offensive statement. “Do you think I liked what happened to my mate?”
“Don’t dare say that again. She’s my mate!” He growled.
“Tessa is not yours, Cohen,” I said firmly, slowly becoming enraged by his presence.
“And do you think I let you own her? No goddamn way!”
“Can you please both stop right now?” Mikhaela interfered. “Can’t you see that Tessa is resting and you have the guts to fight like freaking five-year old boys right now?”
Cohen clenched his jaw, threw me one last glare before he turned to Tessa. He would caress her hair and hold her hand. I fucking hated it. However, I was not in the position to call him out… yet.
“How is she, Atlas?” Mikhaela asked worriedly.
“The pack doctor said she’s going to be alright.” I sighed. “He gave her some magical water from the Witch Mountain to help get her wounds cured in no time.”
“Goddess, that’s a relief…” she said as relief washed over her.
“What the hell had happened, anyway?” Cohen asked me, brows furrowed.
I clicked my tongue, shaking my head. “Someone’s trying to play games with her. It’s not a werewolf.”
“What did you say?” Cohen and Mikhaela asked in unison.
“It’s not a werewolf that did this to her,” I repeated.
“What do you think it is then?” asked the familiar voice.
I glanced at Julie, who was standing on the end of the bed and holding the ledge of it. My eyes narrowed as I looked at her. I didn’t expect her to be here, but seeing how Tessa hung around with her only meant one thing, they had become friends too.
“I’m not sure yet,” I answered and looked back at Tessa. “But I have a feeling that it’s powerful and could be the same creature that attacked her the last time.”
“That’s crazy.” Mikhaela shook her head. “Tessa is so kind she can hardly kill an ant. I don’t understand why she has to go through such an accident. That’s really concerning.”
“I think that’s enough reason to keep an eye on her,” Julie suggested. “Compared to us, she’s still a weak werewolf because she hasn’t gone through the full awakening. We have to protect her.”
“Julie is right,” Cohen uttered, nodding his head. “I will protect her.”
“We,” I corrected, warily looking at him.
“I can manage.”
“You can’t own the responsibility alone,” I scowled. “She’s my mate too.”
He sneered at me.
He wasn’t really the Cohen Brookes I used to know. He’d changed.
“I can’t wait for her to feel the mate bond and rub it in your face when she feels it towards me,” he said, and that made my eyes narrow.
“Let’s just see, Cohen.” I leaned my back against the chair. “You can’t assume it unless you see it with your own eyes.”
“You guys better stop now,” Mikhaela warned. “If you don’t stop fighting, then it’s better to do it outside. Come on, aren’t we all grownups here?”
A sound of a whimper interrupted us. We all turned to Tessa, and my feelings brightened upon seeing her waking up.
***
TESSA’S POV
The loud voices made me force my eyes to open. However, I regretted it right away as I felt the throb in my head. Whimpering, I touched my head while I adjusted my vision. That was when I realized that I wasn’t alone. The room told me I was in a clinic, and the worried faces of Atlas, Cohen, Mikhaela, and Julie were the next things I saw.
“W-What happened?” I asked in my weak voice. “W-Why am I here?”
My gaze dropped to the hospital gown I was wearing, and I could feel the pain coming from my chest. It felt like deep wounds that were patched by gauze. Swallowing hard, I looked at Atlas in confusion.
“How do you feel, little wolf?” Atlas asked, cupping my right cheek.
“I-I am good,” I answered softly. “Except for these wounds on my chest that make me anxious. W-What happened?”
“Don’t you remember what happened in the campus field?” he asked.
Atlas’ question made me wonder for a bit. However, as I blinked, it felt as though all the episodes of what happened prior to me being in the clinic replayed in my head like a suspense movie. The fear that I once felt back in the field suddenly crawled over my skin again, making my hands tremble.
“Tessa?” Cohen called out to me.
“I… I remember it now,” I said in fear. “I… I am not sure how it happened. I just felt like a great force had prevented me from moving. That’s why Evelyn was able to slash me in my chest.”
Atlas breathed heavily, and Cohen squeezed my hand, trying to comfort me. I glanced at both of them, as if the questions in my head could be answered if I looked at them.
Who was it?
What was it?
I didn’t know how the hell it happened, but it was damn scary…
“Relax, Tess…” Cohen uttered softly. “I’ll make sure to keep an eye on you. I won’t let it happen again.”
My gaze drifted to Atlas, who was then offering me a thin yet reassuring smile.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, still in a daze at how things ended this way.
Why in the world was I being targeted all over again?
What have I done wrong to encounter such things?