CH. 4 BACK

Selena’s POV

I heaved an exhausted sigh as I hung up the phone, Anna's reassuring voice echoing in my ears. "Don't worry, Mom," she had said. "We are all safe at the hotel. I won't let anyone bully my little sisters, not even Jacob."

Letting the phone fall into the passenger seat, I refocused my attention on the bright, sunny road, steering my car towards the office of a renowned doctor—a friend from the Greenfrost Pack had recommended to me. My son's crucial illness had brought me back to this bothersome Knightstorm Pack, my only purpose to secure the lifesaving surgery he so desperately needed.

Pulling into the parking lot, I took a steady breath before stepping out of the car, the hot sun glinting off the polished top. A strange rush of nostalgia crashed over me as I made my way towards the building's entrance, the familiar sights and smells evoking memories I had long buried.

But as I approached the front desk, my steps faltered. A sizable crowd had gathered outside a door inscribed with the name "Dr. Kenneth"—the very man I had come to see. Shoving my way forward, I was immediately confronted by a furious she-wolf.

"Who do you think you are to cut line? Get in the back!" she snapped, shoving me roughly.

I stumbled, barely catching my footing. "What the hell is your problem?" I responded, struggling to shove down my rising anger.

The woman scoffed. "Dr. Kenneth hasn't been seeing patients for the last three hours. Word is out that... he is a fraud!" Her voice wavered, a handkerchief swiping at her eyes. "I-I was really hoping it wasn't true."

My blood ran cold, the woman's words striking me like an acid reflux, burning and bitter. This couldn't be happening—I had given the doctor every penny I'd earned over the past five years at my art gallery in Greenfrost Pack, all in the hope of saving my son.

Panic seized me, and I began fanning my face, willing the tears not to fall. "No, no, no!!!" A scream rippled from my throat at the painful news.

But the crowd's increasing anger told a different story. Chants and shouts filled the air as the crowd pounded on the wooden door, demanding refunds or threatening to break it down. I watched in disappointment as several men slammed their bodies against the door, finally breaking the wood and rushing inside.

The crowd ran into the office, and I followed, just in time to see Dr. Kenneth jump from the window, a briefcase clutched in his hand. A collective cry of outrage rose up, and some of the men gave chase, jumping out the window after him.

Without a moment's hesitation, I tossed my bag to the floor and jumped out the window myself, my feet pounding the roadway as I gave chase. The doctor ran across the busy street, causing a traffic jam, but I didn’t give up, following the mob as they rushed into a clothing store across the way—a supposed shortcut.

The shop owner and staff shouted in anger as we pushed through, knocking over displays and crushing outfits. But just as we neared the exit, two police cars suddenly blocked our path, officers rushing out to confront us.

I made a wild run for freedom, but a muscular cop caught me, twisting my arms behind my back and slapping handcuffs onto my wrists. "You are under arrest for breaking and entering and destruction of property!" he barked.

As I was shoved into the backseat of the patrol car, a bitter laugh bubbled up from my throat. Could this day get any worse? First, I had been conned out of my life's savings, and now I was facing criminal charges.

***

Curled up in the overcrowded prison cell, I hugged my knees, troubling worry consuming me. My children were waiting for me at the hotel, and I was powerless to return to them, trapped behind bars on my first day back in this annoying Knightstorm pack.

With no family here to call upon and no lawyer to plead my case, I was utterly alone. Sighing, I wracked my brain, trying to think of who I could possibly contact.

My thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of a female police officer, who tossed a few loaves of bread into the cell. The other imprisoned she-wolves rushed forward, fighting savagely over the meager scraps. I remained in my corner, unwilling to join the fight.

The officer eyed me curiously. "Aren't you going to eat?" she asked, her tone filled with disgust. "Stop acting all high and mighty, like you are better than everyone; you will starve, and it doesn't seem like any of your family has come to get you. You must be an orphan."

I bit my lip, refusing to dignify her insult with a response. The woman simply scoffed and walked away, leaving me alone with my stormy thoughts.

As I watched the other inmates devour the bread like wild wolves, a bitter disgust welled inside me. My hard-earned savings had been stolen, and my son's life-saving surgery is now impossible. And here I sat, helpless and penniless, unable to even afford a decent meal.

After what felt like a decade, the same female officer returned, unlocking the dirty cell door. "Hey, Miss Orphan, someone is here to bail you out," she announced.

Confused, I rose to my feet and walked out of the cell, my heart pounding. Who could possibly have come to my aid?

The answer became clear as I followed the officer down the hallway—there, in the main lobby, stood none other than—Alpha Dominic, my estranged mate. My stomach cramped, a familiar pain piercing through my chest.

"Why didn’t you tell us earlier that you were the wife of our Alpha? We had to search the computer for your name and the household you belong to." The officer remarked, her words snapping me from my trance.

"I'm not his wife; I am his ex-wife!" I snapped sharply, my gaze fixed on Dominic's underweight face.

He appeared thinner, his golden hair unkempt, dark circles damaging the skin beneath his eyes. A part of me felt cruel satisfaction in seeing him so visibly affected by my absence.

Approaching me, Dominic offered a brief greeting. "Long time no see, Miss Cuddles. I can see you are doing well."

I scoffed. "Unlike you, it seems." Shaking my head, I added, "You didn't have to come. I had it under control."

His brow furrowed. "That's not what I saw when I arrived," he countered. "You should be grateful I came. Now, follow me, I will take you home."

"W–" I opened my mouth to question him, but he had already turned, striding towards the main door. Hurrying after him, I found myself led to a familiar sports car—one that seemed unusually empty of his usual backup of beta and warriors.

As Dominic held the passenger door open, I ignored him, choosing instead to climb into the backseat. He slid behind the wheel, casting me an irritated glance.

"Put on your seatbelt," he ordered. "You have a lot of nerve for someone in need of help."

I smirked, kicking off my shoes and leaning back. "I didn't ask for your help," I responded. "You look awful, by the way. It seems you have been living a miserable life without me and the girls."

Dominic's jaw tightened. "Be quiet and tell me where you want me to take you."

"I'm not done with my questions," I declared, through clenched teeth. "Did Madison give you the son you were looking for? Because I haven’t seen anything on the news about you welcoming a son. And why do you look like you just crawled out of a trash can?"

"Shut up," he snapped.

I shook my head defiantly. "No, you are avoiding the question. Did you sign the divorce papers I left?"

With a throaty growl, Dominic brought the car to a halt, glaring at me through the rearview mirror. "Get out," he commanded.

I blinked in confusion. "What?"

"Get out of the fucking car before I make you!" he shouted, his voice all sharp edges.

Before I could protest, I found myself standing barefoot on a busy night street, Alpha Dominic's car speeding away into the night. I cried out, kicking the air in frustration, but he refused to stop.