36_ Search

Dylan urged me to rest as he led me to my room. “You’ve been through enough,” he said gently, pulling back the covers and guiding me into bed. He slid in beside me, wrapping his arms around me as if he could shield me from all the chaos swirling around us. His warmth was grounding, but my thoughts wouldn’t settle.

“You need to sleep,” he whispered, his breath brushing against my hair. “We’ll figure this out tomorrow.”

I nodded half-heartedly, even though I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep. His arms were comforting, a temporary escape from the storm of guilt and confusion raging inside me, but they couldn’t silence the thoughts screaming in my mind.

As Dylan’s breathing evened out, signaling he had drifted into sleep, I stayed wide awake. I stared at him, my eyes tracing the sharp lines of his face and the way his lashes rested against his cheeks. Despite everything, he stayed by my side. He’d seen me at my worst—angry, scared, dangerous—and yet he still believed in me. How could I deserve someone like him? The thought was overwhelming, and tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them away. Crying wouldn’t change anything.

\---

By morning, the heaviness in my chest hadn’t lessened. Dylan kissed my forehead softly as he prepared to leave. “I’m going to find Hannah at her school,” he said. “Stay here and rest.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” I asked, my voice laced with doubt. “She might not even be there.”

“She’s our best shot,” he replied, determination clear in his tone. “I’ll find her."

He left before I could argue further, leaving me alone in the apartment. The quiet was suffocating, each minute stretching endlessly. I paced the living room, my mind running in circles. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Claudia’s pale face, and my claws dripping with her blood.

The guilt was unbearable. I couldn’t just sit here. I needed to see her. Maybe if I saw that she was truly okay, it would ease this ache inside me.

Although, I didn't know what hospital they might have taken her to. For a moment, I was confused, but then I recalled that I could try finding her through her scent. Afterall, her blood was literally all over me the previous night.

I followed her scent. It was faint but distinct, leading me all the way to the hospital. The sterile smell of antiseptic hit me as soon as I entered, but I pushed forward, letting her trail guide me. When I found her room, my heart clenched.

She lay there, fragile and still, hooked up to an array of machines. Her chest rose and fell in a shallow, steady rhythm, and I let out a shaky breath. She was alive. That should have been enough, but the sight of her like this only made the guilt heavier.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I never meant to hurt you.”

I stood there, watching her, my mind replaying the moment over and over. If only I had been stronger, if only I had fought harder against whatever was happening to me, this wouldn’t have happened. She wouldn’t be lying here, broken and vulnerable.

“Excuse me,” a voice startled me. I turned to see a nurse standing in the doorway, her expression stern. “You’re not supposed to be here. Who are you?”

Panic flickered in my chest. “I’m her friend,” I lied, hoping my voice sounded convincing. It wasn't really a lie though, we were friends at one point.

The nurse raised an eyebrow but didn’t push further. “She needs rest. You should come back during visiting hours.”

I nodded quickly, murmuring an apology before leaving the room. The nurse’s words lingered in my mind as I walked back home. She needs rest. But what about me? Could I ever find rest from this guilt?

When I stepped into the apartment, Dylan was pacing the living room. His head shot up as soon as I entered, worry etched across his face. “Where were you?” he demanded, his tone sharp with concern.

“I went to the hospital,” I admitted, guilt creeping into my voice. “I needed to see Claudia.”

His expression softened, though his concern didn’t fade. “How is she?”

“She’s alive,” I said, relief mingling with the guilt. “But she looks… fragile. The machines—” My voice cracked, and Dylan pulled me into a hug, his arms wrapping around me tightly.

“You can’t keep blaming yourself,” he said gently. “It wasn’t your fault.”

But it was my fault, wasn’t it? My lack of control, my inability to stop myself—it all led to this. I wanted to believe Dylan, but the weight of my guilt wouldn’t let me.

Desperate to change the subject, I asked, “Did you find Hannah?”

Dylan sighed, running a hand through his hair. “She wasn’t at school. No one’s seen her.”

Hopelessness crashed over me like a wave. Hannah was our best lead, and if we couldn’t find her, what could we do? The frustration was suffocating, pressing down on me until I could barely breathe.

Then, an idea sparked in my mind. “Dylan,” I said, stepping back to look at him, “maybe I can find Sabina.”

He frowned, confusion flashing across his face. “What do you mean?”

“I found Claudia by her scent,” I explained. “If I can do that, I can find Sabina too.”

Dylan’s eyes widened as the idea sunk in. “Do you really think you can?”

“It’s worth a shot,” I said, determination replacing my hopelessness. If no one else could help us, I had to try.

Dylan and I set out as soon as I was ready. I could feel the tension radiating off him as he gripped the steering wheel, his jaw set in determination. Meanwhile, I focused on the faint but distinct trace of Sabina’s scent. It was like a thread, barely there but enough to pull me forward, guiding us through the labyrinth of streets and intersections.

“Left,” I murmured, closing my eyes to better concentrate.

Dylan glanced at me before making the turn. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” I replied, the certainty growing as the scent became slightly stronger. “She went this way.”

I felt like a human compass, my wolf senses leading us closer with every mile. The world outside blurred as I focused on the task, my mind set on one thing—finding Sabina. Dylan followed my instructions without hesitation, trusting me completely. That trust was a weight and a comfort, keeping me grounded even as my anxiety bubbled beneath the surface.

After what felt like hours of navigating winding roads and side streets, I suddenly sat up straighter. “Stop here.”

Dylan pulled over, and I pointed toward a modest house at the end of the street. “Her scent is strongest there.”

We got out of the car, the cool air brushing against my skin as we approached the house. My heart thudded in my chest as we knocked on the door. Dylan’s knuckles rapped against the wood sharply, but no answer came.

“Maybe she’s not home,” Dylan muttered, frowning.

I hesitated for only a second before testing the door. It swung open with a soft creak, revealing a quiet, empty interior. “This is her house,” I said, the scent confirming it. It clung to the air and the walls, unmistakable.

Dylan stepped inside cautiously, his eyes scanning the room. “We shouldn’t be here,” he said but didn’t stop me as I moved further inside.

The living room was modest, filled with mismatched furniture and cluttered surfaces. A picture frame on a nearby shelf caught my attention, and Dylan picked it up, holding it toward me. “This is her,” he confirmed, pointing to the woman in the photo. Sabina stood next to an older woman, both of them smiling faintly at the camera. It was Talia, the woman from my dreams and visions.

“She really lives here,” I whispered, the reality sinking in. If this was her home, then where was she?

I turned to Dylan. “If she’s not here, where could she be?”

Before he could answer, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He answered it quickly, his expression shifting as he listened. “Are you sure?” he asked, and then his eyes flicked to me. “Thanks for letting me know.”

“Did he say a motel?” I asked, my voice tight with urgency.

“Yes, hes sending me the address right now.” Dylan said.

Without missing a beat, I grabbed his arm. “Let’s go.” There was no time to waste. Sabina had answers, and I was determined to get them.