Chapter 3

CONNECTIONS

Ayla’s eyes fluttered open, taking in her surroundings, her head throbbing in pain. She winced as a sharp pain shot through her skull. She was met with the sterile smell and pale walls of a hospital room.

As she tried to sit up, a wave of dizziness hit her, forcing her back onto her pillow. “What am I doing here? What happened?” She groggily said.

“You’re in a hospital, Miss Thompson.” The gentle voice of a nurse responded, “You were brought in here with a head injury, do you remember what happened?”

Ayla’s mind raced, the confusion evident on her face. “What are you talking about, Where are my babies?” She asked.

“Your triplets, sweetie. They're not here. Can you think back to the last thing you remember doing with them?” The nurse told her.

Ayla's eyes widened in horror as memories suddenly flooded back. “Oh God, oh God, no! We...we were going for ice cream...their birthday...then...then...The van! It pulled up and took them! My babies, oh no, my poor babies.” Ayla's frantic screams filled the room

The nurse rushed to restrain her, “Miss Thompson, stop! You'll hurt yourself!" But Ayla was beyond consolation, her mind consumed by the nightmare she had just recalled. "I tried to fight...but someone hit me...and...and...everything went dark.” She sobbed.

Ayla got frantic as she tried to get out bed.“Oh dear, I need to find my babies, let me out of her so I can go find them!” She begged the nurse who desperately tried to hold her back, finally she said,

“Ma’am, you need to calm down.” She held her back. “The cops are outside and they’re here to ask you some questions, they’re here to help you find them, okay?” Ayla nodded, then the nurse let the officers in.

They began by introducing themselves and asking some routine questions. “Do you know anyone who you think may be responsible? Any enemies?” They asked, but she couldn’t think of think of anyone.#

“From the footage we were able to pull,” one of the officers began, “you were able to pull off one of the attacker’s mask, did you recognize this person?”

Ayla tearfully replied “Before I could see his face, I was struck with the gun. Officers, please help me find my babies, I beg of you.”

The first man nodded as he took notes. “We’ll enhance the footage and work hard to find the perpetrators. We’ll do our best tot reunite you with your children, be rest assured.” He told her.

Days turned to into weeks and Ayla still hadn’t gotten a word from the cops.She visited the police station daily, pleading for updates. She was miserable, she couldn’t eat, sleep or even focus on her job, it had gotten so bad that her boss had to lay her off.

Then, a there was breakthrough! The police had a lead. Ayla’s heart raced with hope as she rushed to the police station that morning.

But when she met the officer in charge of the case, his expression turned grim. “Ma’am, we've managed to identify the man in the footage. His name is Ryker, a notorious terrorist werewolf with ties to powerful organizations. Our last Intel suggests he's returned to DC.”

“So?” Ayla's eyes widened in horror. “What does this mean? Can you arrest him?”

The officer's face turned understanding but firm. “Unfortunately, Ma’am, our hands are tied. Ryker has connections, powerful allies who protect him. Unless you have connections of your own, I'm afraid we can't help you.”

Ayla's heart sank, as a sense of dread crept over her. “Con-Connections” She stuttered. “You mean like money or influence?”

The officer nodded. “I'm afraid so. In this city, justice often comes with a price tag.”

Ayla swallowed hard as her mind raced, and then one person came to mind, bur she reminded herself that she couldn’t dare go back.

FLASHBACK

Ayla stood behind the Blackford Estate in the dead of night, the moon casting eerie shadows on the grounds as she impatiently waited for Sophia. It had been four weeks since Sophia’s marriage and coronation but then, Ayla made a recent discovery that she couldn’t keep to herself anymore.

“What are you doing here, Ayla?” Sophia asked as she emerged from the shadows. “Weren’t you banished? Weren’t you supposed to leave town and never come back?”

Ayla came closer to her, but Sophia quickly stepped back, “What are you doing?” She asked, her tone laced with disgust.

“Soph, we need to talk.” Her voice was urgent and shaky. “Please, it’s important.”

Sophia raised a brow. “What could you possibly have to say that’s so important?”

Ayla voice cracked with emotions as she said, “I’m pregnant. And Ethan is the father.”

Sophia’s face remained devoid of emotions as she replied. “And?”

“And? You’re not upset?” tears swelled down her eyes. “He was supposed to be my mate, I was suppose to be the Luna. He rejected me, he chose you over me. He threw me away like I meant nothing…I thought you were forced into this.”

“Oh, I wasn’t forced into this, this was my destiny, Ayla.” She retorted in a cold tone.

“So you’re not even sorry, you’re not even sorry that you hurt me so bad?” Tear finally trickled down her face.

Sophia’s expression didn’t falter as she told Ayla that she had moved on, and so should she. It was obvious that she didn’t care about Ayla and probably never did, but Ayla just realized it. She watched as Sophia pulled out a fat envelope from her cloak. “Somehow, I knew it was you, I wouldn’t be caught dead talking to you right now, Ayla. Here’s a large sum of money. Get an abortion and leave town. Faraway.”

Ayla felt a mix of emotions: anger, hurt and betrayal. Sophia was ruthless, her voice dripping with manipulation as she continued. “Ayla, if you ever come back, it’ll be a betrayal of our friendship. I finally got everything I wanted, do you want to ruin that? Look, if you ruin this for me…I’d never forgive that. So promise me you’ll never cone back, that you’ll start a new life and leave the past behind.”

Ayla felt a pang of guilt and sadness, she knew that Sophia was using their friendship to control her. But she also knew she had no choice. So with tears pouring down her face, she took the money and nodded. “I promise, Sophia…I’ll never come back.”