Between Life and Death

Damian’s POV

“Alpha!”

I ignored Rowan’s voice as I dropped to my knees beside the wolf lying motionless on the road.

Rain poured heavily over us, soaking through my clothes within seconds.

The scent of blood hit me hard.

My wolf snarled violently inside me.

“Female,Injured,Werewolf”.

I carefully turned her body over and the moment her skin touched my hands, the air around me went still.

My chest tightened instantly.

“No way…” I muttered.

The wolf had already shifted back into her human form because of the impact. Wet dark hair clung to her pale face. Bruises covered almost every visible part of her skin.

Then I recognized her.

The woman from the hotel.

“Maddison.” Her name left my lips quietly.

Henry rushed toward us. “Damian, we need to move now. More rogues could still be around.”

I barely heard him.

My eyes remained fixed on Maddison’s unconscious body.

Her lips were slightly parted and blood trickled from the side of her head onto the wet road.

Something inside me snapped.

“Get the car ready.” My voice came out dangerously calm.

Rowan froze for half a second before nodding quickly. “Yes Alpha.”

I slid one arm beneath Maddison carefully, trying not to worsen her injuries. Even unconscious, her body trembled weakly against mine.

My wolf growled again.

Protect her.

The thought came so suddenly that it startled me.

I carried her into the backseat myself before getting in beside her.

“Drive.” I ordered.

The car sped through the rain immediately.

The hospital hallways smelled like antiseptic and blood.

I stood outside the emergency room while doctors and nurses rushed around frantically.

Henry leaned against the wall watching me silently.

“You know her?” he finally asked.

I did not answer immediately.

My eyes remained on the closed emergency doors.

“She’s the woman from the hotel.”

Henry’s brows lifted slightly.

“The same one that disappeared the next morning?”

I nodded once.

His expression softened a little but quickly became serious again.

“She looks badly abused.”

My jaw tightened.

I remembered the bruises on her arms.

The fear in her eyes.

The way she kept apologizing even while drunk.

At that time, I knew something was wrong.

But not this wrong.

The emergency room doors suddenly pushed open and the doctor walked out looking tense.

“Well?” I asked immediately.

The doctor swallowed nervously under my stare.

“She lost a lot of blood. Three broken ribs. Her shoulder is dislocated and there are signs of repeated physical abuse over time.”

Henry cursed under his breath.

The doctor continued carefully. “We managed to stabilize her for now but…” He hesitated.

“But what?” I growled.

“She may not survive the night.”

Silence fell heavily.

Something dangerous rose inside me instantly.

“You will save her.” I said coldly.

“Alpha—”

“You will save her.” I repeated slowly.

The doctor stiffened. “We will do our best.”

“That is not enough.”

The hallway became silent again.

Every nurse passing by lowered their heads immediately.

“If anything happens to her,” I said quietly, “every doctor in this hospital will answer to me personally.”

The doctor’s face paled. “Understood, Alpha.”

He rushed back inside immediately.

Henry stared at me for a long moment after the doors closed again.

“You’re attached already.”

“I barely know her.”

“That has never stopped the bond before.”

I looked away sharply.

“No.”

But even I did not believe my own answer.

Hours passed and the rain outside became heavier.

I remained seated outside the room while Rowan stood nearby giving updates about the rogue attack.

But I barely listened.

My attention stayed on the woman fighting for her life behind those doors.

Finally, close to dawn, the doctor returned.

This time his shoulders relaxed slightly.

“She survived the surgery.”

The tension in my chest loosened for the first time that night.

“But she is still unconscious,” the doctor added carefully.

“She needs rest. Her body has been through severe trauma.”

I nodded once.

“Can I see her?”

The doctor stepped aside immediately.

Inside the room, machines beeped softly.

Maddison looked smaller lying on the hospital bed.

Fragile.

Her face was pale and bruised. Bandages wrapped around her shoulder and ribs.

For some reason, anger burned through me again.

Whoever did this to her…

My wolf wanted blood.

I moved closer unconsciously.

Then her fingers twitched weakly against the bed.

I froze.

Slowly, painfully, Maddison’s eyes fluttered open slightly.

Confusion clouded her gaze at first.

Then fear replaced it instantly the moment she saw me.

Her breathing quickened.

“No…” she whispered weakly.

“You…”

I softened my voice immediately.

“You’re safe.”

Her body trembled harder.

“Please…” she whispered brokenly.

“Don’t take me back there.”