chapter 4

Scarlett

I woke up to a slow beeping sound. I blinked thrice before opening my eyes, adjusting to the blinding bright lights.

" Ummm," I moaned uncomfortably in pain as I tried to move.

" aah, my head," I mumbled to myself, my voice coming out hoarse.

" I see you are awake," a soft feminine voice said, making me gasp.

My eyes snapped in the direction of the door from where that voice came.

I saw a beautiful girl with red hair. She looked like a model in her mid-twenties. She looked at me and smiled, before looking down at the board that she was holding.

" Ummm," I groaned in pain when I tried to get up.

" don't. You will hurt yourself," the girl said, walking towards me.

I looked around to observe my surroundings when my gaze fell on the machinery that was attached to my body. The pain in my left hand was so intense that it became cold.

" Where am I?" I asked in my hoarse voice. I tried to remember but I felt like my mind was in some kind of fog.

My throat felt dry and rough from not talking for too long. She looked at me and then walked to the side table of the bed where I saw there was a jug of water placed on top of it. She poured me a glass of water and placed it on the table.

" Come," she said and began to help me sit up on the bed. Once I was comfortable with my sitting position, she handed me a glass of water. I took the glass from her before gulping the water in one go. I felt relieved after drinking the liquid.

" Thank you," I said to her.

" I am Maria," she said, as she sat on the bed.

" I am Scarlett," I said to her.

" Why am I here?" I asked her. She looked at me with pity. She looked like a nice person, but I didn't like the look she was having on her face.

" And where is my father?" I asked her again before I looked at my shoulder, which was wrapped in a white gauge and blood was evident on it.

Then the realisation hit me like a truck. All the memories of that night came back floating. My eyes went wide when I remembered how that wolf bit me. It felt like I could still feel his mouth on my shoulder. My breathing became heavy and the sound of the machine that was attached to my body was now beeping loudly. But all I could think and hear was the growl of that beast.

" sshh," Maria said.

" It's okay. You are here and safe now. You are here with us," she tried to calm me down and it worked when she moved closer to me and rubbed my back soothingly.

" That… that wolf," I said shuttering.

" That wolf is gone now. Our pack members found you in the forest and they took you here," she said in one breath. I nodded my head before narrowing my eyes at her, what is the pack?

" What is the pack?" I asked her. Hearing my words, she stiffened.

" It's like a community," she replied. My mouth formed an 'o'. I should have known when she said that they had found me in the forest. No person from the city would roam around in the jungle in the middle of the night.

Then I remember my father. The look he gave me one last time before that man dragged him away.

" I need to go," I said, and began to detach the machine from my body.

"You can't," she said, making me a little angry.

" Look, Maria. You are a nice girl but I need to see my father," I said to her, holding her hand, hoping she would understand.

" But you can't go anywhere in this state," she said, her voice laced with concern.

" Thank you for what you did. But I need to know if my father is alive or not," I said.

" Tell me about him and maybe I could help you find him," she said.

I sat still before I started to tell her what had happened before I met with the nightmare that will haunt me forever. She sat there listening to my story calmly until the wolves arrived and she visibly stiffened.

" This is what happened," I said with a sigh. I took a long shaky breath before I looked at her. Her eyes showed concern and guilt which I didn't understand why.

"How about I ask our… people to search for your father and when they find him I will let you know," she offered.

" but…." I trailed off.

" not buts. You will be safe here and I promise you we will find your father," she said, making me feel relaxed.

" I know what you are doing for me is a lot, but if you ever need my help, feel free to ask. I will definitely try to do my best," I said genuinely. She was the first and only person who offered to help me.

" All I need right is you to rest and leave everything to…. She stopped what she was saying and went still.

" Are you okay?" I asked, shaking her arm.

" huh? Oh yeah," she said, clearing her throat.

I was going to ask her how long I need to stay here and where exactly this place is. But all my words died down in my throat when the door of the room swung open and the most handsome man walked in.

He has the most handsome face I have seen in my entire life. He looked at least 6 feet tall, tanned skin with broad shoulders and a wall of pure muscles. His hair looked messy like he had run his fingers through his hair a lot before coming here. He placed his hands on his hips, making his biceps bulge in the white shirt he was wearing. It looked like the shirt was going to rip on its own. I would have drooled by now if he wasn't looking at me with those striking ocean-blue eyes and I didn't have to find my father.