CHAPTER 4

HELENA

“The Alpha wants her alive.” Those were the last

words it said before a massive paw hooked beneath my arm and dragged me out of the twisted car.

Agony exploded through my shoulder.

“Let go!” I screamed, kicking wildly.

I clawed at its face, earning a furious snarl as my

nails scraped through thick fur.

I twisted with everything I had, throwing my weight backward to break free.

For one heartbeat, I almost succeeded.

Then another wolf slammed into me from the side and I lost my footing.

My body crashed onto the gravel, straight onto my stomach.

Pain unlike anything I had ever known ripped through me and a cry tore from my throat as both arms wrapped protectively around my abdomen.

“My baby…” I whispered, trying to get away but the wolves closed in, one dragging me from behind with my legs.

I screamed again just as one of them opened its jaws, teeth sharp and pointed.

Only for a roar split the night.

We all paused, the silence deafening just as something huge burst from the darkness and hit the nearest wolf with enough force to send it flying across the road.

Fur and blood exploded through the night as another enormous wolf threw itself between me and the pack.

Something warm glided down my legs as an unshakeabke wave of dizziness engulfed me. My hands were trembling as I touched the warm liquid and brought it under the moonlight.

I gasped.

My baby…

I looked up just in time, my eyes locking with a wolf, his coat black as midnight.

He turned and my breath caught.

His eyes…were emerald green but something about it was familiar.

A name called out to me as a chill settled on my spine. My limbs had grown weak.

“Jar…”

The name barely escaped my lips before darkness swallowed me whole.

First thing I heard was a beep.

Then came the astringent smell of bleach.

My eyes peeled open, a painful groan escaped my lips as white light rushed into my vision. I blinked furiously to adjust my focus only for everything to crash into me at once.

I struggled to sit up, my hands on my head as it throbbed violently only for a hand to steady my shoulders and plop a pillow behind my back for support.

I opened my mouth, words about to tumble out when my eyes landed on his.

“Fuck!” I shrieked, fear making me flinch and press my back firmly into the wood panel of the bed.

Jarrett’s eyes held confusion and a bit of hurt.

“What the fuck are you doing here? Get away from me!” I rasped, my body trembling now.

I remembered everything. How those creatures pulled me out of the car and wanted to kill me. Him coming to save me.

They were wolves. Murderers.

“Woah, woah,” Jarrett threw his hands up in surrender, his brows furrowed with worry.

“I want you to get out, right fucking now,” I screamed, goosebumps cascading my skin despite how firm my voice sounded.

Jarrett had the nerve to smirk “is that the thanks I get for saving you?” He questioned and rage exploded in my chest.

“You didn’t save me. You’re a monster, a werewolf!”

I sneered and I watched his face morph into a confused frown.

Why was he frowning? Why was he confused?

“Wolf? What are you talking about?” He asked and not too long, a doctor walked in, his steps stoppijg abruptly as he took in the scene before him.

“Ms Helena,” he called but I didn’t answer him.

“You’ve suffered a huge head trauma Helena, I can assure you that the only thing I’m guilty of is following you last night,” he said and I shook my head.

No.

The car that followed me last night caused the accident.

“No. That’s not real. That’s not true at all! You are a werewolf, a monster!” I spat with rage and the doctor managed to insert himself between Jarrett and I.

“I know, this may sound silly but patients with head trauma as severe as yours normally remember things that never happened,” the doctor explained and I scoffed.

This was just like my therapist all over again.

Making me feel like I was crazy but I wasn’t . Last night was real.

“Maybe if we just—“ Jarrett reached out for me and

I snarled.

“Don’t touch me. Get out. Now!” I shouted and his expression fell. His features turned sad.

I looked intensely at the doctor before he turned to Jarret and Jarrett in turn heaved a heavy sigh.

“There’s so much we have to talk about but if you ever want to know the real reason why Brent betrayed you then—“ he fished for something in his pocket and dropped in on the desk.

“And if you want to take your revenge then—“ he gapped the card on the desk.

“Call me,” he finished. His eyes held a familiarity I couldn’t shake off but it was gone way too soon.

My body suddenly dropped some Celsius as he left through the door. Leaving the doctor and I in the room.

I breathed out, trying to get my temperature up when the doctor cleared his voice bringing me back to reality.

“Ms Helena, there’s something you should know,” he started “it’s not easy to say” he finished and somehow, my body knew before he said it.

A horrified gasp escaped my lips as my hands grazed my bare stomach seconds before the doctor opened his mouth one more time to say

“I’m sorry but we couldn’t save your baby,”

His mouth was still moving but I had experienced a loss in hearing. My mouth tasted like ash, my fingertips were like unwanted ridges of jagged stone.

I had lost it.

Tears welled up in my eyes. Shoulders shook as a feeling so strong, I couldn’t name it overwhelmed me. I buried my face in my hands.

I didn’t hear when the doctor left but my heart was cold. My womb was empty.

Brent had taken everything from me even down to our child. A child made with love, promised a life of happiness and peace. Now a mass of blood, forgotten.

I felt responsible for the loss. I should have known better. Seen the signs and counter attacked Brent before he even made the move.

Now, I was just an empty shell.

I raised my head up slowly just when light reflected off of the desk. My fingers reached out to touch the card before I could stop it.

A sound came on on the TV with headlines that screamed —

IS HELENA CALLAHAN, DEAD?

RUMORS CIRCULATE THAT BRENT CALLAHAN IS ATTEMPTING TO SWITCH TO ICY BEARS.

I scoffed. He was already moving the remaining chess pieces.

My chest tightened at the realization that Brent never loved me. Only what I could offer him and now that that was gone ... .well.

I ignored the tv, my brows furrowing. I didn’t have the time to question if I was doing the right thing.

This was the only option left. If I had one chance to take it all back then I was going to take it.

I picked up my phone and dialed the number of the man who left me for the wolves eight years ago.

He answered on the first ring.

“Where do we start?”