Chapter 203 CHASE IN THE NIGHT
Edeline
I was taking this time to heal, to find myself. That was the truth.
She nodded, but tears brimmed in her eyes. She glanced over at Darius, who was struggling to stand on his own. Their eyes met, and for a moment, there was nothing but love between them.
"I love you, my pup. Please take care of yourself. I will send for you once things get better," she whispered, her voice cracking.
Darius gave her a small smile, his lips barely curving. "I love you too, Mama. I am sorry..."
Her sobs came suddenly as she pulled him into a tight hug, burying her face into his shoulder. I could feel the weight of her pain, how desperately she wanted to protect him. She turned to me and said, "Be careful."
The back door of the truck swung open with a creak, and the engine roared to life. Darius and I climbed into the extended cab, moving with urgency. I gave Annabel a quick nod and helped Darius settle into the seat. He winced, but he was strong. As he got in, Conor turned to look at us from the driver’s seat.
"You guys ready to roll?"
I smiled faintly and closed the door. With a deep breath, I climbed into the passenger seat, buckled my seatbelt, and leaned back. Glancing in the rearview mirror, I saw Darius lying down in the back, his eyes heavy with exhaustion. A small smile tugged at my lips as I watched him close his eyes, finally at ease.
But the thought of going back up that dirt road made my stomach twist. The same road where so many houses stood... mine, Doc's... all waiting.
As Annabel waved goodbye, Conor put the truck in reverse, and we pulled away. This was it.
Most of my nerves had settled, but I knew I needed to get out of here without being noticed. Everyone knew Conor had left, and I had told him everything that happened. He had made the choice not to visit Tatiana. He knew her too well—she would be furious, and he did not want to make things worse for either of them.
As we sped down the road, my hands started to sweat. My wolf stirred within me, angry that I had left. She understood now, but the anger remained, snapping at me in frustration.
The cab was filled with silence as we drove, the sun dipping below the horizon, leaving a trail of dust in its wake. The air felt heavy, like something was weighing down on my chest.
As we passed the house where I had grown up, a quiet, painful goodbye escaped my lips. I pressed my cool hand against the glass, the cold surface doing nothing to ease the ache in my heart. It felt so empty.
When we turned the bend onto the dirt road, my pulse quickened. I was on high alert now, my eyes scanning the horizon as the clinic came into view.
"Speed past, just in case," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the sound of the tires crunching on the road. Conor nodded, pressing down on the gas until we hit twenty miles per hour.
The clinic's lights shone brightly as we approached, illuminating the porch and front yard in a harsh, unforgiving glow.
I cringed as soon as we saw it. Everyone I cared about was standing in the front yard, their faces drawn with sadness, eyes glued to the commotion in the middle of the yard.
Two large wolves—Percival and Nixx—were locked in a brutal fight. I had never seen anything like it, their growls echoing in the air, both of them on their hind legs, lashing out with fury. Blood splattered from their fur, staining the ground as they clawed at each other. William was shouting something, trying to maintain control, while he and his superiors circled the two wolves, desperate to intervene.
I could not understand why Conor slowed down. "What the hell..." he muttered, eyes darting between the fight and my family and friends standing helplessly nearby.
Tears pricked my eyes, a lump forming in my throat. "Just keep going!" I cried, my voice breaking.
For a moment, Percival’s wolf stumbled, jerking away from Nixx as his head snapped toward the road. His eyes—sharp, wild—caught the movement of the truck. I froze. His eyes were on me.
Even though the windows were tinted, I knew he sensed me. Because of our bond, he knew. He always knew when I was near. He could feel me, even in the chaos of the fight.
I cursed under my breath. "Shit!"
Conor realized his mistake, slamming his foot on the gas. But it was too late. Percival’s wolf lunged forward, leaving the fight behind and charging after us. My heart pounded in my chest, bile rising in my throat as panic set in.
"Don’t worry, Edeline," Conor said, his deep voice trying to calm me. "He can’t catch up. I just wasn’t expecting that."
But I was not so sure. My gut twisted as we sped up the dirt road, leaving the clinic and the watchful eyes of my family behind. We were almost in the clear—until something slammed into the side of the truck, knocking us off course. The truck swerved into the grass as Conor slammed on the brakes, bringing us to a jarring stop.
Conor’s eyes narrowed in fury. "That little shit," he growled, his voice low with barely contained anger. "Edeline, you need to handle this before I do." His midnight-blue eyes darkened, flecks of silver flashing through as his wolf bristled at the insult. Percival had disrespected his Alpha, and Conor wasn’t going to let it slide.
I let out a shaky laugh, though there was no humor in it. I was terrified. Darius was still lying in the back seat, oblivious to what was happening. I didn’t want to face Percival. I didn’t want to get caught. But this—this was why Percival wouldn’t let me go. His wolf wouldn’t allow it.
I turned to Conor, my eyes wide with fear. "Please, don’t let him take me."