Chapter 62 CHAPTER 62
Chapter 62 CHAPTER 62
The fabric of the dress smoothed against my skin as I pulled it up over my hips in the small hospital room.
Selena knew I would refuse not to attend my gifting ceremony so she packed my clothes in a bag.
The zipper’s teeth catching slightly before Selena’s fingers tugged it smooth along my spine.
Cool air from the vent brushed the back of my neck where the dress dipped low. My bare feet pressed into the cold tiles, toes curling tight against the chill that traveled up my legs.
Selena stepped back, her silver bracelets clinking. She tilted her head, eyes scanning the fit. “Turn around, let me see.”
I swung around slowly. My pulse tapped a steady rhythm at the base of my throat.
“You look beautiful, baby. As always.” I smiled, blushing at Selena’s comment.
The dress hugged my waist and flared at the hips, the hem brushing softly just above my ankles.
“Alex left an hour ago,” Selena said, folding the discarded hospital gown with quick, precise movements. “He’s making sure the pack house is perfect for the gifting ceremony.”
I nodded and slid my feet into the low heels. The stiff leather pinched at my heels. “Do you think everything prepared on his end?”
“Yes.” She checked her phone, thumb moving fast across the screen. Who is she texting furiously.
“And I need to gather my coven. The protection spell requires time and space to set properly. We’ll cast it before the main part of the evening.”I fought the urge to give her a look, I don’t remember agreeing to any of that.
My fingers stilled on the thin bracelet I was fastening. The clasp felt tiny and slippery. “You’re not going to be there for the ceremony itself?”
“I’ll join later in the day,” she answered, slipping the phone into her coat pocket.
“I just want to make sure nothing will happen to you again, I will see you later. I hope everything goes on smoothly.” She said hugging me slightly, I softly brushed her arm.
“I’m sure everything will be okay, that man won’t come back.” Selena hummed in my response but she couldn’t hide the worry etched on her face.
“Bye.” She kissed by hand and gave my shoulder a light squeeze, then turned toward the door.
It clicked shut behind her with a final, hollow sound. The room fell quiet except for the distant beep of monitors down the hall and the low, constant hum of the air vents.
I stood still for a long moment, then gathered my small bag. My hands moved steadily, but my breath came a little shallower as I stepped into the corridor.
The two vampires waited there by the wall in their tall form, silent, dressed in dark clothes that seemed to match their personalities.
One had eyes like polished obsidian; the other moved with a calm grace that made the air around him feel colder.
They fell into step on either side of me as soon as I stepped outside the room without a word.
We took the service elevator down. The metal walls echoed every small shift of weight.
The lift brought us at the back of the hospital back exit, evening light slanted low and golden across the loading area.
A black SUV waited, engine already running with a low purr. I climbed into the back seat. The leather creaked under me as I arranged the dress around my legs.
The interior smelled of new car and a faint metallic tang. We pulled away, tires humming smoothly over pavement.
The city edges gave way to thicker forest, tall pines lined the narrowing road.
My fingers traced the seam of the seatbelt again, trying to distract myself from the loud silnce in the car. Is this whats it lime having a chauffeur? Awkward?
Perhaps because it’s different circumstances for me, i’m forced to be guarded because of some old idiot who wants to drink my blood to save him from burning when the sun’s out to play.
Then a violent jolt. The world lurched sideways. My head whipped hard against the window and the glass spiderwebbed with a sharp crack.
The SUV rolled once, twice. My body slammed against the belt, breath driven out in a single harsh gasp.
The car came to rest on its side, wheels spinning down with a dying metallic whine.
Obsidian Eyes kicked his door open, metal door making a loud groaning noise in protest.
The second vampire reached back, cool fingers closing around my arm. “Stay low,” he said, voice tight.
He helped pull me through the broken window frame. Shards snagged the hem of my dress.
Gravel bit into my palms and knees as I crawled onto the road. The air reeked of hot engine oil, burnt rubber.
My heart hammered against my ribs, each beat loud in my ears. My throat tightened as I pushed up onto unsteady legs.
Three werewolves stood near a battered sedan parked sideways across the road, its driver door hanging open.
Broad shoulders strained against their clothes. One was already partially shifted, claws lengthening with wet popping sounds.
My gaze locked onto the middle one. A jagged scar cut through his left eyebrow, pulling the skin tight.
The shape of his jaw, the way he held his head slightly tilted something twisted deep in my chest. I knew that scar.
The memory hovered just out of reach, refusing to surface. My breath came faster, shallow and ragged, as if my lungs had suddenly grown too small.
The first vampire blurred forward with a hiss. He collided with the scarred werewolf in a heavy, meaty thud. Fangs flashed.
What’s going on? Why are we fighting?
Blood sprayed in a hot, dark arc that splattered the asphalt and caught the edge of my dress. The wet, coppery smell flooded the air.
The second vampire joined the fray, knife glinting. Steel rang against claw.
A massive paw swung, ripping through the vampire’s chest with a sickening tear.
Red welled instantly, dripping steadily onto the road. The vampire snarled and drove his fist into the wolf’s throat. A choked gurgle followed, spit and blood flying.
I stumbled backward. My hands shook as I pressed them to my turning stomach. Another wolf lunged at Obsidian Eyes, jaws snapping shut inches from his face.
The vampire twisted away, but not fast enough teeth grazed his arm, tearing a long gash that bled freely.
The sounds blurred together: deep snarls that vibrated in my bones, the smack of bodies hitting the ground, a high-pitched cry of pain, the wet rip of flesh.
My knees threatened to buckle. I helplessly looked around. Vision narrowing at the edges, I turned and ran toward the forest.
Branches whipped my face as I plunged between the trees. One heel snapped off and the other shoe I kicked away. So weird that we were tossed and turned by a car by my heels were still on.
Bare feet pounded over roots and stones. My dress caught on thorns, tearing with sharp rips.
Each breath burned in my throat. Blood from a cut on my forehead trickled into one eye, blurring my sight.
Heavy footsteps crashed behind me. A low growl rolled through the underbrush, so deep it rattled my ribs. I pushed harder, legs pumping.
A root caught my ankle. I sprawled forward, scraping my palms raw. Before I could rise, hot breath washed over my neck. That’s the moment I knew i’m fucked.
Teeth sank into the meat of my shoulder firm, unmoving, piercing fabric and skin. The pain flared bright and hot. The wolf lifted me off the ground, I cried out in pain.
The world tilted wildly. My body dangled helplessly from the wolf’s jaws, arms swinging loose.
Blood trickled warm down my back and chest, soaking the front of the dress in spreading dark patches.
My fingers clutched at coarse fur, nails digging in, but the grip only tightened.
Each bounding stride jolted pain through my shoulder and down my spine. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth where I had bitten my tongue.
Distant sounds of the fight still carried faintly another snarl, a pained cry that cut off abruptly then faded as the wolf carried me deeper.
The forest grew denser and branches scratching my legs dangling in the air.
My pulse thundered in my ears, drowning out everything except the wolf’s heavy breathing and the thud of its powerful paws on the earth and it’s teeth digging deeper into my sides.
The scarred wolf’s scent clung to the fur: earth, wild musk, and something almost familiar.