Chapter 52 ONE DOWN
VANCE'S POV
'Why the fuck are you so slow tonight?' I growled impatiently at my Gamma as we ran into the forest. My mood was not going to tolerate slackness.
We ran through the forest. My heart was beating fast, almost at the same rate to match the throbbing of the empathic Alpha bond. The moon in the sky was hidden behind the thin sheet of clouds. The stars decorated the night sky like brilliant silver snowflakes.
Hold on, I urged desperately, as I felt another sharp pain in combination with the throbbing. My mind also hoped that Sianna was coping well with the pain. I'm partly sulking about having to leave her tonight. But she's a brave and strong woman who can handle the unexpected and that is what encourages me to focus on the pack member who needed his Alpha at this time.
'Your Alpha is coming to help you. Just hold on.' I tried to send the message through the mind-link.
We continued to move deeper and deeper into the forest, attempting to locate my injured pack member. Ensuring that we missed the twigs and dried leaves to avoid the crunching noise under our feet, and not wanting to alert the enemy in case they were still nearby fighting the warrior.
The closer that I got to him, the lesser the pain would feel. So, I used this agony as a compass. I had not even considered who or what could have caused such anguish in them. But I would find out as soon as I discovered him.
I paused, trying to figure my way to him and the direction that I should take, looking from left to right in the darkness of the night, when a piercing scream shattered the silence that surrounded me.
At the same time, the pain tripled in intensity, almost knocking me over with my hand over my heart. This was a murder, which seemed uncanny.
"Damn it," I growled out loud, before looking up at the starless sky, and the moon in its waning crescent. "Where are you? Give me something more so that I can find you faster."
My ears pricked up at the sound of gurgled coughing at that moment. "Help me..." someone pleaded, desperation in their voice. "I'm here," I said more to myself before repeating myself and screaming it out in the forest, which ended up echoing all around. With the Gamma on my tail, I moved slightly to the left, walking through shrubs.
"Alpha," I heard whispered, and I moved quickly without a second thought about where I was going.
He was wedged between two broken branches on the ground. His hand was on his chest. His face was pale white with blood- stained lips. My nostrils flared as I detected the distinct odor of his blood. Blayne and I knelt by his side to assess the extent of his injuries. Before taking him to the hospital, we both considered what little we could do to save his life.
Who did it? Anger and concern for my pack member filled my veins. When he saw his warrior fighting for his life, Blayne growled.
Losing a pack member on the battlefield is different from losing one on your private pack grounds. Because it meant infiltration, and having the enemy too close in the backgrounds. An enemy that could strike too easily. The impact of the repercussions of such a danger could be devastating.
"Hold on," Blayne said to him, grabbing one of his arms while I got the other. We carefully raised him. His clothes were soaking with blood.
"A woman," He stutteringly tried to tell us. "w-woman."
"Was it a rogue, do you know her?"
"R-rogue wo.....man." He tried again.
"Let's get you to the hospital quickly." Blayne nodded to me in agreement. He immediately lost consciousness and his heartbeat became fainter. "Save your energy. We will talk after the doctors take care of you."
He obeyed his Gamma, and closed his eyes. I remembered the name of the pack member, Jeffrey, who was part of the patrol team sent to scout the forest. They were supposed to keep an eye on the mountain rogues who were camped near our borders.
He was slipping away. I knew he didn't have much time as I looked down at his slowly bleeding out form in my arms. As we began to race through the forest, I could feel his heartbeat as if it were mine.
Dr. Stone, hopefully, would be on duty. We ran, taking care not to disturb Jeffrey's unconscious form, and soon we were out of the forest and on our way to the hospital.
My brow furrowed in surprise as we turned the corner. Sianna was standing in front of the hospital, doors open, with two doctors by her side.
Her hand was over her heart, and she appeared slightly disturbed but hopeful. However, I didn't give it much thought because the life of this pack member was all that mattered right now. I knew she'd understand because she was my mate, and she, too, felt the painful connection.
True to my expectations, she touched her mother's arm, perked up, and took a step towards me when she noticed the unconscious warrior in my arms.
Her face took on a determined expression, and she met my gaze while nodding. Her mother and the second doctor directed a nearby nurse to bring out the stretcher. Blayne and I gradually lowered him onto it to lie down. He was still struggling for breath. His heartbeats were too far apart.
"He requires immediate medical attention." Dr. Leland Parker informed us, despite the fact that we already knew. They turned around and pushed him away. They did not waste time in the race to save Jeffrey's life; every second counted. The majority of those seconds were spent pacing up and down the waiting room. Nurses and waiting persons avoided approaching me because they were intimidated by my aura and facial expression. This attack bothered me and my wolf wanted blood.
To anyone on the outside, I was terrifying. With the intense posture, my arms folded over my chest and my muscles bulged. I was aware that my gaze was fixed in front of me, staring intensely and angrily into space. Who dared to step into my pack and deprive me of my pack member?
What woman could Jeffrey have been referring to? He had mentioned a rogue woman. The fact that I didn't have these answers right away was not conducive to my temperament. To catch this wicked person, to discover how far this goes, and the horrible reason behind this murder, I wanted to be on the hunt immediately. Regardless of who it was, I intended to seize that person and make them pay.
Because they sacrificed a lot to keep everyone else secure, I value my warriors. When it came to security, they were mostly responsible for the hard job.
They defended their respective packs and were fighters in our werewolf society. They function as our kind's protectors and are honored for their prowess. After training, only those who are the fastest, strongest, and most powerful are chosen to be warriors.
Blayne was agitated; by pacing up and down the hospital ward hallway, we had attracted the attention of the only other person present.
The sound of a throat clearing made us whip our heads to see Sianna, looking nervous and tired. "The doctors are doing all that they can." She tried to comfort two of the most powerful wolves in existence, "We will get through this."
Blayne sighed as if he found comfort in her words. I, on the other hand, needed prompt answers. She had gone to retrieve clean shirts for us because ours were stained in blood. We changed right there and she sat down in the chair against the wall.
For the first time, I scanned her appearance. I should get her home to sleep, and I supposed that I do stink right now. Her body had to get sufficient rest for the pregnancy. Once I am here, there's no way that she would leave my side. I looked across at Blayne, "I am going to take Sianna home."
She protested, "I am fine and you should be here when the doctors are through."
"Blayne is already here and will keep us updated. I am getting you off your feet." Bidding my Gamma goodnight, I swished her into a bridal-style position and carried her home. It was her turn to be taken care of.