Zac looks over at me, disgust covering his face, before turning back to Marcus. I’m not sure if that was disgust for me, Marcus, or himself. “Remember who wants her. He won’t be happy when we bring her in looking like this. I don’t know if she’ll even make it.”
“She’ll be fine. She’ll heal.”
“She hasn’t turned yet. Can you not tell? Aren’t you an alpha?”
There’s silence before Marcus speaks again. “I did wonder why she never shifted…”
“Probably from all the abuse you put her through.”
Marcus’ growl is cut off as the back door bursts open, banging against the wall, and I force my eyes to focus.
There’s a man standing in the doorway.
I blink rapidly. It’s not just any man. It’s Ash.
Ash scans the room until they land on me. His face is laced with confusion but quickly contorts into fury.
He takes a step and suddenly he isn’t there anymore. My brain is slowly processing where he went.
Looking around, I find Ash holding Zac by his throat.
Marcus begins to change, his body morphing. His bones shift, fur bursts from his arms, his body enlarging onto all fours until there’s only a large, dark brown wolf. He’s in an aggressive stance, snarls erupting from him with his fur and ears up.
He leaps at Ash, but Ash side-steps and throws Zac at the wolf. They collide and crash into the cabinets, completely busting them.
My eyes grow heavy but I force them open as I watch. They stand back up and Zac is the next one to morph. My eyes trail back to Ash, whose body is completely tense.
Ash glances down at me, with fury and pain, before turning his attention back to Zac—who is now a golden-haired wolf. Marcus and Zac are wolves. My brain hasn’t quite caught up to processing what is happening.
Ash takes a step forward in front of me, blocking me from them. My breath leaves me as his body shifts as well, but much faster than the other two. His shirt and pants rip off of him as he changes into a wolf.
Zac’s wolf form dashes out of the barely-hanging-on-its-hinges back door. Marcus and Ash follow close behind.
Going in and out of consciousness, I hear snarling and growling, and even some whimpering. After what seems like forever, it grows silent.
I try to move again, but it’s pointless. My mind is reeling despite the shape my body is in. How did Marcus find me? Am I going to die on Emma’s kitchen floor? Did I really run for the past three years just for this? Is this really how my life comes to an end? Tears roll down my face as sobs rack through my body, causing my body to flare up in pain. I don’t want to die.
Sensing a presence, I glance up. I see a black shape in the doorway. I blink a few times until it comes into focus. My wolf, no, Ash in his wolf form, is standing at the threshold. I extend my arm toward him and open my mouth, but no words come out. Tears are pooling and running down my face. I want to tell him I’m sorry for running away from him. To tell him everything I’ve been hiding.
He slowly walks to me with sorrowful wolf eyes. I watch his fur ripple and his body shift. In the blink of an eye, he is no longer a wolf, but Ash in nothing but boxers.
Ash falls to his knees beside me, his own tears streaming down his face.
“Ellie.” His voice is deep and thick with emotions; it’s a balm for my aching heart and body. I watch a muscle twitch in his jaw. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner. But I’m here now. Everything will be okay.”
He sets into motion. I cry out when he grabs under my arms and lifts me up. He holds me flush with his body and puts my arms around his neck, stretching my wounds. I sob from the pain.
“Hold on, Ellie. I know it hurts,” he says, his voice strained, “but just...hold on.” He urges my legs to wrap around him, his hands span the back of my thighs to hold me up.
Blackness seeps into my consciousness. I don’t have any energy left to hold on. My breaths are shallow and the pain is slipping away. Death is slowly approaching. Losing my grip, I start slipping downward.
He quickly adjusts his grip. One large arm supporting my butt, the other across my shoulders touching parts of my wounds, but I can’t feel them anymore. Everything is starting to seem so peaceful. Why did I fear death? All my worries seem to fade away.
He dashes out of the house and into the forest.
“Please hold on, my little human.”
“How is she? Will she make it?” a deep voice asks, lined with worry.
“It’ll be touch and go,” a woman’s voice says. “She’s extremely injured. We put her on a ventilator because one of her lungs collapsed. Her organs are bruised, and she lost almost forty percent of her blood. She has a few broken ribs and a concussion... I’m surprised she wasn’t dead when you brought her in. She’s one tough human.”
Is she talking about me?
“Yes…she is,” the man murmurs. At first, I think he’s answering me, but soon realize he's agreeing with the woman in the room.
I try to open my eyes, but they’re too heavy. I try to speak, but there’s something in my throat.
“I think she’s waking up,” the man says with a touch of panic.
“What? She shouldn’t be waking up yet,” she says. “I’ll give her more of the sedative.”
He hums in response. There’s warmth and a slight pressure in my limp hand. The warmth spreads and becomes tingles throughout my whole body. “You’ll be okay, Ellie, just hold on for me,” the man says softly. My hand is lightly squeezed.
Ah. My hand is being held, that makes sense. Who’s holding it though? He seems so familiar. Blackness ebbs its way into my mind as the drugs take effect.
I’m a fool, an utterly stupid fool. Somehow Zac found out about the time I’ve spent with Ellie. That’s the only explanation I can come up with for why he would target her.
I left to go back to the pack, to show my face, to take suspicion off of my whereabouts. But even after having been gone for weeks in the past, I found Zac and his betas sniffing around, asking others where I was. I even caught a few of his pals following me around. On Halloween they got sick of asking where I hide, and instead decided to get rough with me. Usually they leave me to heal somewhere alone, but that night they must have followed me.
I curse at myself.
I should’ve been more careful, should’ve stayed away.
But I couldn’t.
I had to see her, had to check up on her. Even if it was in the shadows as a wolf.
But then she saw me. She ran to me.
And when she fell asleep snuggled up against me, on top of forget-me-nots and snow...I knew I would never be able to stay away.
I’ve never felt such a deep connection with anyone else before. She’s special, I know that. When it came time for her to leave the barn, I couldn’t walk away then, just like I couldn’t walk away now. I had to get to know her. And I wanted her to know me as a man.
She may be human and I lycan, but I want her. As we laid under the aurora borealis, I realized that I didn’t want to give her up. Didn’t want to let her go. Didn’t want to be just a wolf to her anymore. I wanted my arms wrapped around her, holding her tight. But I didn’t know how to tell her the truth. Because what would she say, what would she do, if I told her?
I swear under my breath and look at our joined hands. That doesn’t matter anymore though. She knows, and now she’s hurt.
Bringing her hand to my lips, I kiss it. I notice bruising on her wrist and clench my jaw, anger boiling up.
How could I have let this happen?
Zac and the other lycan got away; one of his buddies, I’m sure. But I’ll remember his scent—rotten and metallic.
Zac has to come back anyway and face the challenge I issued. But I’ll find the other. I’ll make them both pay for what they did to her.
They almost killed her. So if making them pay means killing them, even Zac, then so be it. If I had arrived just a little later, she would’ve been gone.
My mind continues to
rage as Ellie’s body finally relaxes from the sedative Kathy gave her. I gaze upon her face. A bandage covers one cheek where angry claw marks reside. The rest of her face is swollen and covered with bruises. Her body is in much worse shape with broken ribs, shredded skin, and torn muscle. I thought my heart had stopped when I saw her beaten and bleeding on the kitchen floor. Seeing her so pale, and her heartbeat so weak, nearly killed me.
I grip her hand in mine, the warmth of her skin reminding me she’s alive. Hearing her heartbeat with my own ears and watching her chest rise and fall with my own eyes are the only things that keep me calm.
“Ash, you should go clean yourself up,” Kathy, the pack doctor, says, standing at the end of Ellie’s bed. “She’s out of the woods now.”
I look down at myself and see red. My anger simmers under the surface. Ready to burst and attack anyone in my path.
Wearing only a pair of boxers, Ellie’s blood coats my bare chest. I’ve never been more grateful for my speed. If I was just a little slower, I’m not sure I would’ve made it in time.
They almost killed her.
Why was Zac there? Who was that other lycan? Why did they attack her? Zac has never attacked anyone else before because of me. Why now?
Another thought pops in my head, connecting dots.
Ellie first came here a month and a half ago, but living here was only ever short-term for her. She never planned on staying. She said as much. Is this why? Is Zac somehow connected to her past? Has she been running from something? Someone?
Maybe I’m wrong in assuming this has anything to do with me. So that leaves the question, who was the lycan with Zac?
“Ash,” Kathy repeats, interrupting my thoughts.
Gritting my teeth, I nod and let go of Ellie’s hand. “Could you?” I ask.
“Of course.” Kathy takes my seat once I stand. I won’t be able to do anything if someone’s not there watching over her.
I thank Kathy and head into the room’s connecting bathroom.
When I walk in, there’s already a pile of clothes laid out for me.
Every year, members of the pack donate clothes to the hospital, since lycans tend to go through them faster than normal. But I’ll need to make a call to Russell to bring over my things. I’m not ready to leave Ellie today. Or tomorrow.
I keep one ear tuned to her heartbeat in the other room while turning on the shower.
The hospital dialed Emma and Russell while I watched Kathy and a few nurses work on Ellie. They first called Russell to get the blood cleaned up and have his construction company begin repairs to her kitchen and doors. Next they warned Emma about her place. She wanted details, and when they asked me, I had none to give. I had time to figure out a logical explanation, but my mind has been completely consumed by Ellie.
I place my hands on the counter and look in the mirror. My shift is still close to the surface. My eyes glow and my canines ache to be released. Veins bulge up my forearms as I strain to contain myself. I can’t shift here. Not when Ellie needs me. Not when I need to be near her.
When steam billows from the shower, I remove my boxers and throw them away. Even if I could save them, they’re covered in Ellie’s blood. A reminder that she almost died today. I fist the wall next to me and mutter a curse when it goes through the drywall. I’m going to need to fix that before she wakes up.
I throw the shower curtain aside and step in. Letting the boiling water run down me in ribbons of red. I close my eyes. So much blood. How did she survive losing so much blood?
Tears mix in with the water before I can stop them.
I almost lost her today.
If I was just a little later, she would’ve died.
My parents’ cold, lifeless bodies laying on the floor pops into my head. I push the images out of my mind.
But she didn’t die. Not like them. I made it in time.
I should’ve been there sooner. I should’ve known something was wrong.
Another curse passes my lips as I yank the handle down, turning off the water.
Stepping out of the shower, I grab a towel and start drying off.
I need to find out more about what really happened and why. But first, I need to make sure she stays alive. That she’s taken care of.
Because she’s my little human.
Whether she realizes it or not.
“Mom, do you and dad really have to go tonight?” I ask, watching my mom put on some light makeup while I sit on the closed toilet seat in their master bathroom. Her golden curls match mine. Dad and her have an emergency meeting tonight for some group they are a part of.
My mom pauses and glances at me through the mirror before turning around. She places a hand on my knee. “I know you were looking forward to our family movie night, but we’ll do it tomorrow night instead. Okay?”
I nod but can’t hide my disappointment. “Okay.”
“Now, go get ready for bed. I’ll be in soon to tuck you in. The babysitter will be here after you fall asleep.”
“Fine,” I say with a huff. I jump off the toilet seat and walk to my room.
After changing into my pajamas and brushing my teeth, I head to my parents’ room, but stop outside their door when I hear them talking.
“We need to tell her, Gabriel. She just turned eleven. Most children know by now.”
Are they talking about me? What don’t I know? I look through the crack of the open door to my parents’ room. They are standing at the end of their bed; my dad’s putting on a tie.
He sighs. “Addison, I don’t think she’s ready. She’s not like the other kids. Besides, no one even knows she exists.”
“She has the right to know who she really is.”
Who I really am? No one knows I exist?
“It doesn’t matter,” my father says. “It’s still years before anything happens. We have time.”
My mom walks to him and takes the tie into her own hands, helping him. “I know we do, but it’s better to prepare her in advance. I don’t want her in the dark about what she’ll have to go through.” She pulls the tie taut and pats his chest, giving him a pointed look.
He sighs, but the corners of his mouth tug upward into a smile. “I can never say no to you. We’ll tell her tomorrow.”
“That’s what I love about you—you can’t resist me.” She stands up on her toes and gives him a light peck. “Let’s go say goodnight to her.”
I quickly turn away and dash back into my room. I make it back into my bed and throw the covers over myself just as they walk in.
“Sweetheart?”
I hum in response as I try to settle my rapid breathing.
“We just wanted to come in and say goodnight before you fell asleep.”
I turn over and look at them. She turned the hall light on, so all I can see is their silhouettes.
She walks over to my bed and sits down, the light shines on her face. She’s so young compared to my other friends’ moms.
“I also wanted to say I love you.”
I sit up and give her a hug. “I love you too, Mom.”
My dad walks over and sits down beside me and places a kiss on my forehead. He wraps an arm around me. “Sorry we have to reschedule. But we’ll have fun tomorrow.”
“I know, Daddy, and I’m going to hold you to it.”
He chuckles and ruffles my hair. “I look forward to it.” He squeezes me once more before standing and waiting for Mom.
She urges me to lay back down and tucks me in and plants a kiss on my cheek. “Love you, sweetheart. We’ll see you in the morning.”
I nod and give them a small smile. I watch as they walk out of my room, wondering what she and Dad were talking about. She closes the door, engulfing the room in darkness.
I wake up choking—something is lodged in my throat. Bringing my hands up to my mouth, I try to remove whatever it is.
My hands are pushed down, and I open my eyes, panic swelling in my chest, and find myself surrounded by strangers. Who are these peop
le? Where am I?
My heart pounds as I try freeing my arms, but they tighten their grips. Tears well up in my eyes as my chest tightens. My fight and flight instincts are trying to take over. I want to scream, but I can’t. I can’t breathe.
I gag around the object still in my throat. I need to get out of here.
“Ellie darling, it’s okay. They are trying to help you,” a deep, soothing male says. I freeze. My gaze rises to Ash hovering above me.
He saved me.
A plastic tube is removed from my mouth. The nurses check my vitals before looking at Ash, who nods to them and they leave the room.
“Ash?” I croak, my voice sounding strange to my own ears.
“I’m here,” Ash says and helps me sit up. He hands me a glass of water.
My arm shakes as I try to hold it, but I’m so weak that it starts to slip through my fingers.
Ash’s reflexes move like lightning, his hand closes around mine to keep the cup from falling.
Tingles travel up from my hand and through my arm—it’s a shock to my system. I’ve felt them before, but my senses seem heightened. Ash’s eyes connect with mine, seeming to pierce them with his intensity.
I avert my gaze and let go, allowing him to hold the glass. He gently leads it to my lips and helps me drink.
“Where am I?” I ask once my thirst is quenched.
I notice the room I’m in. I’ve never actually been in a hospital before, but I’ve seen enough shows and movies to tell that I’m probably in one. Sterile with little to no decorations. There’s a chair on my right next to a door that the nurses left through and a couch on my left near an open door that appears to be a bathroom.
“A hospital,” he says, as he sets my now empty glass down.
“How long have I been here?”
“Five days.”
“What?” I frown. I’ve been here for five days?
“Do you remember what happened?”
Memories start flooding back. I look down at myself, patting my ribs.
I’m wearing a hospital gown, but I can feel bandages against my skin under it. “I’m alive,” I say. My hands go to my face next. It’s tender, and I have a bandage covering my left cheek.
Saving Ellie (Lycans Book 1) Page 10
