The door opened and the pack doctor came out looking stressed. His blue scrubs were darkened in places and my stomach turned at the thought of him being covered in my mate’s blood. His eyes darted anxiously from me to The Luna before settling on The Alpha. He instantly calmed as he acknowledged his leader.
“Aiden’s okay,” he started carefully. “We had to slow down his healing process because some of the bones weren’t going back in place. We injected him with some Wolfsbane, which is going to obviously cause a high fever and some pain—unfortunately it couldn’t be avoided. It would have hurt more if we let him heal the way he was healing. We didn’t want to have to rebreak bones.”
The Alpha nodded tightly.
“The extreme bleeding couldn’t be explained. I’m honestly shocked. I don’t understand how his injuries could have caused that. This has me believing that whatever happened out there was no normal accident. A magical force was involved.” The doctor rubbed his eyes. “We stopped the internal bleeding fast enough but he’s out for the count. I wouldn’t have him wakeup for at least two days. His body is fighting against the Wolfsbane and the unnatural wound that was caused.”
“I could heal him,” I said quickly and The Luna put her hand on my shoulder.
“It’s important he heals himself,” the doctor told me with a small smile. “He needs to be able to rely on his wolf to fix his injuries. If his body doesn’t stay used to repairing itself, he could lose that ability altogether.”
“How about Sam?” The Alpha questioned.
“Sam’s injuries were very extensive and honestly, if he hadn’t taken the brunt of the fall, Aiden may not have made it.” The doctor looked as surprised as I felt with The Alpha’s question. “He’ll heal and he’ll be okay. He proved some true loyalty to his future Alpha today. Karla couldn’t be prouder of him.”
“When can I see him?” I asked breathlessly and my wolf whined loudly.
“You can go in now,” the doctor approved. “But don’t expect much.”
I didn’t wait any longer. I made my way inside quickly and my steps faltered at the sight of Aiden propped up in the hospital bed. He was surrounded by sterile white walls, ugly blue bedding and machines that beeped along tirelessly. It was so strange to me… to see him looking so vulnerable. Aiden was this strong and untouchable figure and to have him like this…
Tears gathered once more in my eyes as I made my way to his bedside, taking his hand in mine and shakily bringing it to my lips.
I’m so sorry, I thought painfully.
Look at the mess that I was creating. This awful secret was going to be the end of me and the people I loved. If I said anything they’d get hurt but even when I didn’t say anything they still got hurt. Was there even a point in staying quiet? Should I just throw the grenade and hope for the best? I needed my father, I needed to speak to him. Or Hannah, she should have some sort of knowledge… some answers on how to handle this.
Whoever I went to though would face danger…
Sam had saved his life. I was amazed at the situation and even more amazed that Sam had been even permitted to run alongside Aiden. Imagine if he hadn’t been? What if Aiden had been running lead by himself? He could be dead right now.
My stomach twisted and I knew there was no way I could ever thank Sam enough for putting his life on the line for a wolf he didn’t even like.
Aiden’s face was marred in pain and I knew the Wolfsbane would be burning through him like fire. I wished I could help him, I could take it all away so quickly. What was the point in having all this power if I couldn’t use it to help the people I loved? I felt as if it was used when people wanted it but then I had to put it away the moment they said so.
Leaning forward I pressed my lips to his forehead I felt him tremble.
“I love you,” I whispered tearfully. He made a muffled noise in the back of his throat while I stroked his cool cheek.
“Thank the Goddess he’ll be okay,” The Luna whispered beside me. I jumped in surprise and pulled away from Aiden. “Sorry darling, I didn’t mean to surprise you.”
We were both silent in the room and the sound of the clock ticking up on the wall echoed through my mind. What was I supposed to do or say? This was all clearly my fault and directed at me and everyone knew it but wouldn’t say it. Everyone had seen what they thought attacked Aiden and The Shadow—no, Salem threatened me right before it happened.
I trembled.
“Do you think he’s in a lot of pain?” Grace’s voice asked quietly.
“Tremendous,” The Luna whispered. “Wolfsbane… the way it burns through your veins… it’s almost as bad as giving Witch Hazel to a witch.”
“Witch Hazel?” I asked in surprise.
“Every being has their kryptonite Evelyn,” The Luna told me. “The vampires can’t walk in the sun, wolves can’t consume Wolfsbane—or at least parts, thanks to our ancestor. Giving a witch Witch Hazel… it hinders all magic useless. It makes a witch weaker than a human, almost catatonic.”
“Wow,” I mumbled with a tight frown. Why had my father never informed me of this? Would it even work on me?
Then it got me thinking.
Witch Hazel was supposed to render my power useless… If I consumed enough of it to suppress my power then I could get someone to help me without fear that my magic would be used without me being able to stop it. I could go to Hannah and I could make her help me. Her mother would have some stashed. For the first time in months I felt a glimmer of hope in my chest and when those icy hands tried clawing its way around my heart I managed to shrug it off with confidence.
“Evelyn?” Grace asked softly. “What are you doing?”
“Hm?” I blinked back to reality and found the lights were flickering and my hands were trembling.
“Are you okay?” The Luna asked.
“Fine,” my voice came out breathy. “I want to see Karla, she must be freaking out.”
“Of course, Evelyn,” The Luna said softly and she wore a funny smile on her face. “Comforting your pack members is going to be your fulltime role someday,” she explained as she led me from the room. “It’s great to see you taking initiative.”
Part of me glowed with pride from her words while the other half nearly fell over at the fact that I allowed myself to think on being Luna. Those ideas… they sent chills down my spine and I had enough to worry about as it was.
We walked down another corridor and the doctor directed us to where Karla was being held while they finished off with Sam. She looked shattered and nothing like the tough fighter we all knew she was. She hadn’t a speck of makeup on her face and her eyes were red raw, her cheeks damp and her hands were clenched into tight fists, so tight that her fingers were turning white.
My wolf encouraged me to go to her and I did as I was told, feeling the empathy of my wolf come through me as I softly touched her on the arm.
“Oh Evelyn!” she sobbed hoarsely. “It could have ended so much worse.”
“I know,” I told her softly, albeit awkwardly. It wasn’t often I comforted other people.
“He’ll be okay,” she said and it sounded more like she was talking to herself. “He’ll be fine.”
“He will,” I promised.
“Karla?” The Pack doctor called and she flew out of her seat in a mad rush, not even waiting to listen to the doctor as she pushed past into Sam’s room.
The Luna came and sat beside me and rubbed my hand. “Don’t think on this too hard sweetheart. Everyone’s okay and we don’t need to think about what could have happened. It’s a waste of energy.”
I nodded and put my face into my hands as the tears threatened to spill. Tonight, had been a night of way too many revelations and it sickened me to think that what I had seen hadn’t been a dream… but Lucy was fine. Aiden had been hurt because of my anger… Salem was going to drive me crazy, trying to separate me from the people that kept me grounded and in control.
He was working for Danyeela and Tatiana an
d they wanted me taken out.
Why?
“Your father will want to know of this Evelyn,” The Luna told me. “Make sure you let him know what’s happened.”
“I will,” I croaked tiredly.
The Luna got up and began walking back to Aiden’s room and I knew I should go with her but something in my gut had me sitting firm on my chair as a terrible thought flashed across my mind like a blinding beacon.
Get out of here.
I needed to leave before anyone else got hurt. I couldn’t fix this—take care of this when I was so close to the people I loved and who I could quite possibly kill if Salem lost it with me or I lost this battle entirely. I needed to leave, it was the only way.
Unease hit me hard at the idea of being all alone, without the comfort and protection of Aiden and the happy sphere of my friends. What if Salem ended up killing me and no one could find me?
Where would I even go?
Aiden would be distraught if he woke up and no one could find me, but it was also the best time to leave, while everyone was so distracted. I had to do this for him, look at the position he was already in because of me.
I could do this, I had the power to protect myself. If danger came anywhere near me I could simply turn invisible before anyone got to me. This needed to be fixed and it needed to be handled now. I couldn’t leave this any longer otherwise, I would either go crazy or all my family would end up dead. There was no going to my father and risking that problem on any of them either.
With a steady resolve I found myself getting to my feet and entering the storage closet across from me. Closing my eyes, I took a breath and blended myself into my surroundings. No one would see me, I was nothing—not there to be seen.
As I exited the storage room I looked ahead of me and my reflection didn’t appear on the giant window. As I walked through the clinic, no one paid any mind to me.
I wasn’t here and they couldn’t see me.
Now I had to move.
Chapter Seventeen
Aiden
Evelyn.
My body felt weighed down and my limbs—I felt as if I had none. I was still in the moment where that thing came at me and my first thought was to get Evelyn and make sure she was okay. What if it came after her? I had to protect her first. What happened to Sam? He had taken the fall, I knew that much. He was a rogue, but he was also going to be under my lead one day—his recovery was now paramount.
He risked his life for me.
Running Jane’s Spring was not for the fainthearted wolf. It had a terrifying drop and if you ran too close to the edge, you’d be saying your prayers and hoping for the best. Sam and I were lucky we fell where we did. More ground had been rising and it was only a steep slope and not so much of a straight drop to your death. Obviously, there were still things that could kill you on the slope and I could only imagine Karla’s face if her mate died saving me, the wolf who hadn’t given him a chance.
Evelyn! my wolf growled in annoyance and my head broke out in splitting pain. I can’t smell her.
Shut up, I grumbled. She’ll be here.
“Aiden?” a soft voice whispered and I frowned.
That wasn’t Evelyn’s sweet tone.
Where is she! My wolf demanded once more. I don’t feel her!
Panic rose in my chest and my eyes tore open as I realized that the general tug I felt in my chest wasn’t present. Evelyn’s scent was in the room, but it smelled stale and was mingled together with fresher scents of well-wishers.
“Aiden,” a firm voice started. “Stay calm, I know what you’re thinking.”
I tried to demand answers but the moment I went to speak I coughed so violently my throat ached. A foam cup was placed at my lips and I took a sip of water, waiting out the blurriness that was ruining my vision. She wasn’t here, and something was wrong, my father’s tone made it very clear.
I could feel my eyes burning amber and my wolf straining for release. He would find her and he would bring her back. Why did she leave? Did she not want us anymore? My chest ached at the idea and my hands clenched into fists. Did someone take her? Why was everyone just standing around? Why was no one searching for her?
EVELYN! My wolf roared.
“Where. Is. She?” I seethed as I pulled myself up in the bed.
Goddess, that hurt.
“Aiden,” my father started sternly. “Lay down now.”
“Where is Evelyn?” I growled as anger quickly replaced worry. “Why is everyone just standing around!”
My sister stood off to the side, practically squeezing the circulation out of Trey’s hand who looked just as petrified.
“Evelyn ran,” Trey started. “The last we saw was her walking into an old storage closet and never coming out. We checked all the security footage and nothing. That door never opened again. We don’t know where she went or why she even left.”
“We called her father and he’s on the way,” my dad told me as he forcefully laid me back down. “Your mother has been frantic with worry, she’s been scouring the compound with the other trackers for the last twenty-four hours—”
“Twenty-four hours?” I shouted so angrily it echoed in the room. This time a new wave of anger hit and I threw myself from the bed, tearing the drip from my arm and whatever else they had stuck all over me. “My mate has been missing for twenty-four hours? My Evelyn?”
“Aiden, you need to keep a clear head,” my father instructed. “We’ve been waiting for you to wake up, so you could track her through the bond.”
“I can’t feel her,” I croaked anxiously.
“Then that confirms it,” my father sighed. “She’s definitely done a runner and she’s using her magic to stay hidden. Now we need to find out why.”
“It has to do with what happened to Aiden,” Grace said quickly. “Her face… yes she was concerned that Aiden was hurt—no terrified… but there was something else. When it was being explained… it’s like she already knew.”
“How can there be no trace of her?” I snarled as my wolf clawed his way through my mind. My skin was bubbling and I could feel the hairs sprouting.
Control.
Mate! My wolf pressed and my teeth elongated.
“Aiden!” Grace snapped at me. “We are going to find her, okay?”
My heart sunk. We wouldn’t find Evelyn until she was ready to be found.
“I knew something was wrong,” I groaned in desperation. “I knew it all wasn’t okay. I didn’t push her, I left it. This isn’t right. It wasn’t just about her getting her wolf—something else was going on and I didn’t ask her what!”
“Aiden none of us did!” Grace said tiredly. “We all knew something was wrong and we believed her when she said it wasn’t. She hates being a burden and if she felt like she couldn’t tell us this… what were we going to do? She probably thought in her own way she was protecting us.”
“I should be out there looking for her!” I growled as I pointed at the window. “Not sitting here in this stupid fucking robe!”
“If you injure yourself again the healing will take longer Aiden,” my father told me.
“Why is it taking so long?” I demanded and my wolf backed up my request.
“You had to be injected with Wolfsbane to stop the healing. Your bones were setting incorrectly and you know that was our only option, Aiden.” My father walked over to me and placed his broad hand on my shoulder. Grace and Trey slipped out of the room and I was angry to find tears stinging in my eyes.
Alpha’s don’t cry.
“Aiden,” my father said gently—perhaps the gentle voice he’s ever used on me. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now. If that was Claudia missing… I would be tearing the walls down and I wouldn’t stop until I found her. We can’t have you injured and roaming around hurt. We need this kept under wraps. Evelyn is an extremely powerful witch who is way too well known. If it gets out that the future Luna of Oregon is roaming around without protection…”
“This is not helping,” I snapped stiffly as my wolf went into full blown panic.
Let me out!
“My wolf is going to get out,” I grunted. “I can’t control him.”
“Don’t let him out,” my father warned. “If I have to ban you from shifting I will.”
“Don’t,” I said quickly. I needed to be able to shift at a moment’s notice, not flail around on my feet with an Alpha command.
I put my head in my hands as so many emotions assaulted me at once. Anger, hurt and fear were the ones I could focus on. I was hurt my mate didn’t trust me enough to confide in me that something was scaring her and she felt the only thing she could do was leave. I was angry that I had been so stupid as to believe she was okay and I was scared that she didn’t understand what kind of danger she put herself in.
“We will find her son,” my father promised me. “She bears your mark and if an ally finds her—”
“What if a rogue finds her?” I asked sickly and my stomach twisted. “You know what happens to Luna’s when they aren’t guarded. The fastest way to take down a pack is to take down its matriarch. In this case, future matriarch.”
I will kill anyone who touches her! My wolf vowed. I want Evelyn. Now.
Sitting in that cold room, void of my mate’s scent and connection I felt the most alone I had ever been in my life. At this moment where was she? What was she doing? Why had she run?
∞
“I’ve tried tracing her,” Hannah said quietly. “I’ve tried connecting to stuff she owns and I draw up a blank. It’s cold and bleak whenever I attempt contact. Something about her aura has changed, drastically in the last few months. I had chalked it down to her wolf… she just seemed so blank lately. So out of it.”
“Why didn’t you express your concerns?” I asked in annoyance. Hannah shrugged and her cheeks flushed and I noticed Josh’s frown as he settled his hand on his mate’s shoulder. “I’m sorry,” I rectified. “It’s not your job to look out for my mate, it’s mine.”
“We all let things slide,” Josh acquiesced. “Once her father gets here it will make more sense. Maybe using more power, it will be easier to locate her.”
Wolfsbane: The Wolf Within Page 22
