Chapter 118 DESPERATE RUN
Edeline
Without making a sound, I darted into the woods behind Doc's clinic, the hospital gown flapping against my legs as I ran. The echoes of Mirabelle's laughter trailed behind me, growing fainter with each step until they were lost in the distance.
I sprinted as fast as my legs could carry me, driven by a desperate need to uncover what was happening at the pack house. Whatever it was, it had to be big for William to go to such lengths to keep me away.
Before I knew it, I found myself in a place that tugged at the edges of my memory, a place that felt unsettlingly familiar. Yet, I couldn’t quite recall where I had been the night before. The fog in my mind parted just enough to reveal a chilling memory—Darius, forcing a connection with me.
I came to an abrupt halt, my gaze falling to the ground as the memory washed over me. My eyes drifted to a spot nearby... My clothes, shredded and torn, lay in a heap on the ground, stained with blood. My blood.
A wave of nausea hit me as the memories surged back... the feeling of being trapped in the grip of my tormentor... his claws digging into my hips... my hands brushing against my barely clothed body...
Why did you choose Darius?
"I don't have time for this, Edeline... just push it down. Come on, wolf... I really need you right now. Please come back to me. Wake up," I whispered to myself, forcing the words out through clenched teeth. I needed to silence my mind, to drown out the pain, to keep feeling the numbness until everything was over. Numbness was all I had left, and I was going to cling to it, let it consume me until I couldn’t feel anything else.
Taking a shaky breath, I forced myself to move. I pushed my body forward, breaking into a run again, as if my very life depended on it. The rough ground stung my bare feet, but I didn’t care.
I ran the entire way, not stopping for anything, until I burst through my front door, bounded up the stairs, and entered my room like a storm. Panting and pressed for time, I quickly remembered Mirabelle’s advice and hurriedly stripped out of the bloodied hospital gown, replacing it with a clean outfit.
I didn’t have time to freshen up, but I refused to go out smelling like fear and sweat.
Grabbing the first thing I saw on my bed, I slipped into a pair of jeans and a fitted black t-shirt that Mirabelle had left behind. The shirt had "bad ass" boldly emblazoned across the front in white letters.
I couldn’t help but scoff at the irony, but there was no time to be picky—it was laundry day, after all. I pulled on socks and a pair of black Nikes, then quickly gathered my hair into a messy bun on top of my head before bolting down the stairs and out the door. Who needed deodorant and a toothbrush when something major was going down that the pack Alpha didn’t want you to know about?
The wind whipped through my hair as I ran, and for a moment, I felt like I could outrun anything, even my own fears. As the pack house came into view, I squinted at the sleek Black Yukon Denali parked in the front drive.
Were we expecting guests? I didn’t recognize the vehicle, and nobody had mentioned any visitors...
Without a moment's hesitation, I burst through the front door of the pack house with incredible speed. I skidded to a stop as I noticed everyone staring at me in shock. Quickly scanning the room, I took in the sight of all the wolves my age, feeling a surge of pride when I saw how they instinctively submitted. If only my wolf were awake to witness this.
But there was no time to savor the moment...
"What’s happening?" I panted, my voice raspy as I addressed the wolves watching me. I bent over, placing my hands on my knees, struggling to catch my breath.
Jaz approached me slowly, her eyes filled with genuine concern. "Conor just showed up. There’s a meeting happening upstairs in the Alpha’s office," she said hesitantly, as if unsure whether she should be telling me this.
Alpha William!
Oh right, I totally forgot Alpha Conor was coming... So much has happened in such a short time.
"Thanks!" I quickly planted a kiss on her cheek, leaving her momentarily stunned, before sprinting up the stairs two at a time. I reached the top and, without pausing, pushed open the office door. Every pair of eyes turned toward me as I entered, still breathing heavily, leaning against the wall to steady myself. A few low growls echoed from the Alphas, probably in reaction to a perceived threat.
"Edeline! I thought I told them to keep you at the hospital!" Alpha William stood up, looking more annoyed than I had ever seen him. I raised an eyebrow, my jaw clenching as I met his gaze with thinly veiled disgust.
Liar...
"Yeah, and miss out on this? Not a chance. I should have remembered about the windows, Alpha... much easier to slip through than knocking out Gerald and Benny—though I did think about it. But then I remembered my wolf was napping... shame on you for putting them at risk." I winked, flashing him a cheeky grin.
His expression darkened, clearly irritated by my lack of respect, but he eventually sank back into his chair.
I noticed my parents in the corner, my mom clutching my dad’s hand, her eyes wide with uncertainty. I took a moment to observe her... She should probably start worrying.
Nixx and Percival were seated side by side, their attention fixed on me... Feeling guilty? Luna Annabel stood beside an agitated Alpha William, her expression calm and unreadable as usual. And then there was Tatiana, who seemed visibly on edge when our eyes met, as she probably should have been. I couldn’t help but feel a rush of satisfaction as I watched her squirm, sinking deeper into her chair and pressing closer to her aunt.