Aurora James - POV
"…Secure the area!"
"Not here!"
"…rogues did…"
"…Find her!"
I heard snippets of conversations around me, which woke me up. The pain in my stomach intensified as I looked down to see that the skin around the wound was turning black. Tears kept flowing down my cheeks as I tried to keep my mouth shut.
I have no idea who was in here right now and I definitely do not want to get caught. I tried to move, but that only made the pain worse as an involuntary moan left my mouth.
"I smell blood!" I heard someone yell before the bush that I was hiding behind, moved, and soon three unfamiliar faces surrounded me. My adrenaline pumped up again when I tried to get up and fight, but that rogue had done enough damage already.
"Sir, she is here!" One of the men shouted, and a few seconds later, the bushes moved again when I saw a familiar face. He was only wearing a pair of briefs, his hair was a mess, and sweat covered his body.
I didn't know if I was hallucinating or if Levi was truly there as he knelt on the floor next to me. "Aurora, are you all right?" He asked me. I tried to tell him that my entire body was filled with pain, but instead of words, painful growls left my mouth. "I think you need to shift, Aurora." Levi gently spoke, but I shook my head.
I know if I shift, the pain that I am feeling right now will only increase tenfold, and I am not ready for that. "We can't take you like this. We need you to shift. I know it would hurt, but I need to make sure you are all right." I heard guilt in his tone as he looked at me with regret.
It was true. I could feel my black fur soaked in blood, but I was not sure where I was hurt. "I am sorry, Aurora. I should have fought harder." I heard Lily apologize. Her voice sounded distant, and it was difficult for me to hold a conversation with her.
"You did the best you could, Lily. It's all right." I told her when I felt her control slip away. My bones began to break and reshape while the fur retracted into my skin. As I changed back to my human form, I let out a painful moan as I curled into myself to hide my nudity.
My head was pounding, my back had a burning sensation from where I hit the tree, and I felt every blood cell inside me burn as if someone was poisoning me.
"It hurts, Levi," I whispered when he got up from his place. But before he could do anything, I heard a warning growl, making all the warriors and Levi turn around. My vision was blurred as I raised my head to see Beta Perez standing there.
"Everyone turn around." His voice was strong and firm, which made everyone look away as he walked towards me. I was not able to decipher what he was going through right now as he wore an indifferent look on his face.
He immediately removed the blue shirt he was wearing and handed it over to me. "Wear this." He said as I took the shirt in my trembling hands, and he turned around, giving me some privacy.
I tried to get up and sit, but the moment I straightened my spine, I felt the tears well up as I groaned in pain. Beta Perez immediately turned around and knelt down next to me. "Where are you hurt?" He asked me as I shook my head.
"I don't know," I whispered as I closed my eyes, hoping that the pain would go away.
I felt his hand on my shoulder igniting the sparks, making me gasp as my eyes opened wide. No words were exchanged between us as he helped me wear the shirt. "Can you get up?" He asked me as I took hold of his hand and stood up.
The moment I did, I felt something wet run down my legs as I held onto my abdomen. My vision became blurry, and I swayed before Beta Perez caught me and carried me in bridal style.
The entire car ride was a blur when the bright lights of the hospital made me open my eyes. I was placed on a stretcher when I saw a few nurses crowd around me. "She is injured."
"Please step aside, Beta Perez." I heard someone say when I felt the buttons come off. I saw the nurse wear a pair of surgical gloves as she probed my wound, making me hiss in pain.
"Vial." She asked, and soon someone gave her a small glass vial as she collected some blood in it, and then I felt like I was moving.
Beta Zander Perez - POV
"Take her to room number two." The nurse instructed as she walked away with the blood sample while the other nurses wheeled her out, and I followed. As we entered the room, she was immediately placed on the bed while the nurses began cleaning her wound and setting up an IV.
"Beta Perez, could you please wait outside." One of the nurses asked me, and even though I wanted to demand to stay in there, I didn't say anything as I walked out of the room.
I walked to a waiting chair and took a seat as I closed my eyes. The scent of gardenia and lemon still lingered on my skin as I took a deep breath and sighed. "Mate was trying to leave us because of you," Ares growled.
"Would you shut up! I only saved her because YOU kept nagging."
"So you don't care what happens here?"
"No, you are the person who wants her, not me. I don't like her." I yelled, which made him roll his eyes at me.
"I can feel your accelerated heartbeat and your agitation, Zander. I am a part of you, and I know what you feel for mate. You can never deny a mate bond." He retorted.
"I…"
"Beta Perez." I was broken out from my argument with my wolf when I saw Doctor Jenkins standing in front of me.
"What's her status?" I asked her when a dejected look crossed her face.
"Critical. I don't think she will make it."