5

Alpha Luca’s POV

"You all saw that too right?" I ask, just to make sure I wasn't imagining it all. They all nod and I look down at her tiny body, lifeless in my arms.

She must be only 5'4" at most. There are bruises that are very evident on her delicate face, neck and arms. I growl as I continue to notice more damage to her body, along with the fact that she weighs absolutely nothing. The sudden urge to care for her and protect her runs through me, crashing straight into my heart.

She's mine now. I can't kill her.

"Right, we need to go to the hospital wing. Now. Noah, stay on guard please" I growl.

The guys nod once more. Richard shifts and bounds back into the forest as we begin our run back to the pack village.

I send a silent prayer to the moon goddess and hope that my beautiful rogue mate will be okay.

'Teresa, we're on our way to you,' I mind link to the pack doctor, glancing down at my mate.

'Okay, Alpha. I'll prepare for your arrival. What seems to be the problem?' she replies calmly.

'We have a rogue. She's um, my mate, and she's not doing well at all. Currently unconscious, I think!

'Oh Alpha, congratulations!'

"Thanks,, but let's not get too excited just yet. Let's make sure she lives to accept me first.'

'Oh right, sorry Alpha. I'll see you soon then'

As soon as we reach the hospital,the doctor

is waiting for us, prepped and ready to go, just as asked. I dismiss Dave and Daniel , thanking them for their help before turning my attention back to my mate and Teresa .

I carefully lay her down on the hospital bed and watch as Teresa begins to race around her, examining her thoroughly.

Pacing nervously for what seems like hours, the doctor finally stops and turns to me, worry lines on her forehead.

"As you said, unconscious. I can only assume that it's her body's response to dealing with fear and stress." she starts, glancing at me occasionally. "What happened before she passed out?"

"Well, when we found her, she was already like this. Super thin and covered in bruises and cuts and scars. She also didn't fight back when Dave tackled her." I reply, concern creeping into my voice.

Damn it, Luca ,What happened to the man that was stone cold, kept his emotions in check? We only met this girl like thirty minutes ago.

You know that shit went out the window once we saw her right?' Dante smirks in the back of my mind. I groan and turn my attention back to Teresa .

"Well Dave tackling her explains the cracked ribs" she replies, quietly.

"He cracked her ribs?!"

"Yes, Alpha. Not surprising considering the state her body is in. And by the way, she reacted to the whole thing, I have a sneaking suspicion she's been through a large amount of trauma” she continues.

"She's extremely malnourished to the point where I'm surprised she's not already dead."

I growl at the thought, eyes narrowing on the Doctor.

"She is a wolf right?" she asks me, unfazed by my previous reaction.

"Well yes, we all saw her in her wolf form and watched her shift back" I reply, frowning.

"Interesting. Because she shouldn't be this badly wounded as a wolf which means something inside of her is not working as it should."

"Well run some more tests then" I growl at her, annoyed

"No shit Alpha, I'm getting there. I just thought you might have liked an update before I whisk her away for tests" she replies with full sass present in her voice, breaking her

usually calm nature.

I stare at her in shock for a moment. She stares back at me, annoyance present in her expression.

"I’m sorry, I know you are just doing your job" I reply tiredly, after breaking our eye contact by rubbing my hands over my face.

"It's okay Alpha, forgive me for snapping at you"

"You are forgiven. It's just been a strange day, that's all"

"I know Alpha. Why don't you get some rest? I doubt she's going to be awake anytime soon. I'll be back with her after I run some more tests" she replies gently, motioning to a chair for me to sit down in.

I give her a small nod as a thank you, and make my way over to the chair as she wheels my mate out of the room and down the hall to the theatre.

,I hope she's going to be okay.