7

ALINA

Was I stupid? Yes. Would that get me killed? Apparently.

But my wellbeing was the last thing on my mind. Not when I saw Hailey so close to being killed.

I got there just as the angry lycan tried to pull her. I jumped in front of her, raising my hands up in surrender. I heard someone mutter something about me getting myself killed. I ignored them.

“What do you think you’re doing?” The man barked at me. He towered over me, the scar that covered one side of his face looked scarier up close. I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat, trying to fprce words past my lips.

I’m suddenly jerked away by my arm. I cried out when she tossed me to the ground, shooting a hateful glare my way.

“No. Don’t hurt her, please. She didn’t do anything.” I finally managed to scream out.

“I said follow me and not do anything stupid.” She kicked my stomach. Pain made my eyes grow blurry but I was still shouting for Hailey to be let go. “You’re. Kick. A. Kick. Worthless. Kick. Whore.”

My head must have hit something when I fell because one side of my skull felt like it was on fire and the other was just numb. I curled myself into a ball and closed my eyes, waiting for it all to stop.

Pain. I felt pain everywhere.

My head was starting to swim. The noise around me was multiplying, pounding in my brain. Then it all went quiet. And I thought that was the end.

Something cold splattered on my face. Followed by a loud thud. I curled even tighter to myself at the thought of that being Hailey’s body falling to the ground.

Then I felt shaky hands on my cheeks. “A-Alina? Are you okay?”

Hailey? It was Hailey.

I forced my eyes open and they landed on her tear filled eyes. Relief flooded me at the sight of her alive and hovering over me. Or maybe I was dead too.

I turned my head to the side. A small scream slipped past my lips when I saw lifeless eyes staring back at me. The lady warrior’s head was just a few feet from mine.

Bole rose up my throat as I turned away. I gagged and dry heaved. Since I haven’t eaten anything to be able to throw it up.

Hailey is shoved off me not so gently and I was wrapped in big arms. My head was still swimming. That’s the only reason I allowed my body to relax in his. And he was so big and warm. I didn’t know she. My eyes closed again.

I heard something like ‘star’ being whispered in my ear but i couldn’t be sure. I was already fast asleep.

When I woke up next, I was in a bed. I knew I wasn’t alone in the room because of the voices I could hear speaking.

I recognized Hailey’s immediately. She sounded scared and her words were not very corrigible. I understood why that was when I heard the other voice.

“Let me know when she wakes up. Immediately.” I waited until I heard the door close before sneakily opening one eye open. When I was sure only Hailey remained in the room, I opened both eyes.

Her attention was on the closed door. I could see her shoulders were sagged.

“Pssst, Hailey.” I whispered to her.

She turned around in panic. Her eyes widening when she saw my eyes open.

“When did you wake up?” She rushed to me. She paused by the foot of the bed, contemplating her next move. She made her decision and climbed up, hugging me tightly.

We may not have known each other that long but what we’ve been through in the past two days was enough for us to feel like sisters. She was the only person I could refer to as family. She saved me twice.

“Thank you for saving me.” She whispered, I could feel her tears soaking the top of my shirt.

“You’d do the same for me.” I tried to shrug. The movement made pain shoot up my arms.

“Shit. Sorry.” She got off the bed. “You dislocated your shoulder when you fell. They said they’ll put it on a cast.”

I nodded, biting my lip to fight the pain.

“I should go and tell him you’re awake. He didn’t let them kill me, I won’t give him a reason to.” She paused by the door, not opening it. Then she turned around. “Tell me how you ended up mated to the most evil and powerful man in the world?”

“The universe hates me.” Although it wasn’t exactly funny. She laughed. I laughed too.

“Well, I got to live another day in this fucked earth. Thanks for that by the way.”

“You’re welcome.” I smiled big at her. She shook her head and slipped out of the door.

I tried to adjust my lying position so I was on my side but every part of my body ached.

I glanced down at my body. I was still in my stained clothes. I felt bad about the dirt getting on the bedcovers, but I didn’t do it intentionally.

The Wolf Slayer. He saved me from the warrior. Why?

I’ve heard he treated woman badly. He has lovers but they were all scared of him. It wasn’t because I was his mate. That definitely didn’t mean much to men like him. I wasn’t understanding any of it.

He walked back into the room, without Hailey. I started panicking. He noticed the fear in my eyes because he spoke.

“She’s fine. I told her to go and rest. It’s been a long day.” I glanced outside the window and saw it was dark outside. How long did I sleep?

“You don’t have to worry about Yara.” He spoke, his house soft.

Why was he being kind?

“What you did was stupid today.” I kept my gaze fixed on the window. If it annoyed him I was looking at him, he didn’t show it. “Don’t try that again.”

He was out of the room after that. I let out a breath I didn’t know i was holding.