Chapter 294

Chapter 294
Alex's POV

“You are going to hate me for this,” I said quietly and she didn’t respond. Of course she couldn't, she was completely unconscious.

I sat on the edge of the bed for a moment and ran my hand through my hair. My mind was racing.

I thought about the night I first saw her in the forest. The moment my wolf recognized her the moment my life changed.

Before Caitlin appeared, my life had been simple. My duty as Alpha was clear. Protecting the pack follows our laws and keeps humans away from our world.

Now everything feels complicated because my mate was human. And humans were never supposed to become part of our world but the bond between mates was stronger than any law.

I leaned forward slightly and looked at her face. She looked fragile lying there. Her injuries had almost healed, but she was still recovering.

Part of me wondered if I should wait longer but I already knew the truth waiting would only make things harder.

I stood up slowly and my heart began beating faster. There was no turning back after this I stepped back from the bed and closed my eyes for a moment.

Then I let the shift begin and the change started deep inside my body. My bones shifted first. My muscles tightened and grew stronger, my senses sharpened and my vision changed.

Within seconds my wolf stood where I had been. The room smelled different now. Every scent was stronger. I could hear Caitlin’s heartbeat clearly.

Slow, calm, unaware I stepped closer to the bed, this moment would change her forever.

Once my bite infected her blood, the transformation would begin. Her human body would fight the change. It would be painful.

It was very painful but if she survived it, she would become like me. A werewolf, my mate would live the same long life I would.

I lowered my head slowly toward her shoulder. My wolf hesitated for a second. Even my wolf understood what this meant then I bit down.
My teeth broke through her skin easily.

Her blood touched my tongue.

I held the bite firmly, making sure the infection would spread into her bloodstream. My blood mixed with hers through the bite.

Her body twitched slightly, even though she was still unconscious. I held the bite for several seconds before pulling away blood stained her shirt near the wound.

The mark would stay there forever, a sign of the moment her life changed. I stepped back from the bed and my chest rose and fell heavily as I watched her.

The change would not happen immediately. It would take time for the infection to spread through her body.

Soon the pain would begin. I shifted back into my human form. The room suddenly felt colder against my skin.

For a moment I simply stood there staring at Caitlin’s still body.

“She has to survive,” I murmured quietly to myself.

Then I walked toward the cell door. I stepped outside the bars and pulled the iron door closed the heavy metal shut with a loud sound.

I locked it and the sharp click echoed through the basement now Caitlin was secured inside. When the pain began, she would not be able to escape or hurt herself.

I walked a few steps away and sat down on the floor directly outside the bars. From there I could see her clearly through the metal.

She still hadn’t moved her chest rose and fell slowly with each breath for a long time nothing happened.

The basement remained silent. I rested my elbows on my knees and stared through the bars. My thoughts were loud in my head.

I wondered what Caitlin would say when she woke up. Would she scream? Would she demand answers? Would she look at me with anger?

The thought made my chest tighten again but there was also another possibility. Maybe she would understand. Maybe she would accept the bond between us.

But I couldn’t depend on that hope as hours began to pass. The house above us remained quiet at some point I heard footsteps on the stairs.

My father appeared at the bottom; he stopped when he saw me sitting outside the cell.

His eyes moved toward Caitlin lying inside. “It’s done,” he said quietly.

I nodded once. “Yes”

He stepped closer to the bars and looked at her. “She hasn’t started reacting yet?”

“Not yet.”

“That will change soon.”

I nodded again. “I know.”

My father studied me for a moment. “You are going to stay here the entire time.”

“Yes.”

“You need rest too.”

“I’m not leaving.”

He didn’t argue. Instead he placed a hand briefly on my shoulder. “Call if you need anything.”

Then he walked back toward the stairs. I remained where I was, time passed slowly. Eventually Caitlin’s body began to move slightly.

At first it was small movements her fingers twitched, her breathing became faster.

I leaned forward immediately. “It’s starting,” I whispered.

Her body suddenly jerked a low sound escaped her throat then the real pain began.

Her back arched against the bed as her body reacted to the infection spreading through her blood.

She began to groan and the sound of her pain hit me like a physical blow.

I gripped the iron bars tightly. "I'm here,” I said quietly, even though she couldn’t hear me clearly yet.

Her body twisted again, sweat began forming on her forehead, her breathing became fast and uneven.

The transformation had begun and all I could do now…

I watched and waited outside the bars.