Chapter 23

We kept running trying to use the trees as protection, which worked fairly well but we ended up with a group of six hunters running after us, we stopped behind a bit tree looking at each other wondering what he could do, the thing that made the most nervous was the fact that Aldahir was stuck as a wolf, I had the option to sneak around, transform back into a human and they would stop hunting me.

While we were hiding one of the female hunters got closer to us and shot in my direction, the bullet nearly missed my head, which freaked me out, Aldahir noticed it and he started growling furiously, before I even had time to react and try to stop him he had already jumped at the hunter that nearly shot me and was mauling her.

I tried to push Aldahir off of her before the other hunters arrived and shot him, but I was unsuccessful so I made a decision, hoping not to mess up. I transformed back into a human and started yelling at him.

-Aldahir stop! -I yelled at him crouching down in front of him

He growled at me, finally letting go of the woman, who was already dead and started walking towards me.

-Don’t you dare – I said to him not moving an inch

He growled again but then I saw something flickering in his eyes and he calmed down looking at the woman he had just killed.

-We don’t have time… Attack me – I said to him

He whimpered and shook his head saying no.

-Attack me, I’ll go to the hunters asking for help while you run away, do it!

Aldahir whimpered again but then stepped forward and jumped at me, his claws went into my chest, stomach and face, he then bit my arms and legs, he knew how much he could hurt me without seriously injuring me.

-Okay, go, I’ll see you at hour apartment later – I told him struggling to get back up

Once I got up I walked back to where he had hidden our things and grabbed the pants and blouse I was wearing, I put them on and then shredded them both to make the wolf attack believable, immediately after I started yelling, asking for help and walked towards where I heard the hunters.

In a matter of a couple minutes all the five hunters were on top of me, trying to check up on me and make sure I was at least still breathing.

-What happened? What attacked you? – Asked one of the male hunters leaning over me and putting his hands on the biggest injury I had on my stomach

-A wolf – I answered pretending to have difficulty talking

-Where was the wolf? – Asked one of the female hunters

-Not now idiot, she’s literally bleeding out – said another male hunter reprehending her

-Both of you shut up – said another female hunter - can you carry her? – She asked to the hunter who was still over me

-I’ll take her – said another male hunter – don’t let go of her

The hunter that was over me nodded and moved giving the other one enough space so he could pick me up, once he was carrying me he started talking to me, asking me stupidly simple things in an attempt to make sure I wouldn’t pass out so I did my best to answer those questions pretending to struggle.

-Were is Anne? – Asked one of the female hunters suddenly

-She’s dead – I answered

-How do you know? – Asked the hunter who was carrying me

-I saw her, I ran into the wolf attacking her and then it jumped at me – I answered hoping they wouldn’t want to go back

-Are you sure she’s dead? – Asked one of the female hunters

-Yes, or she was about to be when I saw her, she was mauled very badly – I explained

The female hunter that had asked me about her let out a frustrated scream and kicked a nearby tree, her reaction – obviously – made me feel extremely guilty realizing they were either close friends or even family. The hunters got me into the truck their truck and drove me to the nearest hospital, the hunter that had carried me grabbed me again and took me inside of the hospital, immediately one of the doctors rushed towards me, grabbed me from the hunter and placed me on a wheelchair, I was wheeled into a room and I was left alone for a few seconds while the doctor went back out to get whoever was going to patch me up.

The second he exited the room I got my claws out and reopened the wounds, which were already healing. Another doctor came in, cleaned the wounds, gave me anesthetic and gave me stitches, I was surprised and thankful over how quickly he worked, because it meant he didn’t get to see the wounds magically closing in, which would undoubtedly freak him out.

Once the doctor was done he exited saying he would get my medical history and get back to me, I nodded and watched him leave, as soon as he closed the door I jumped out of the bed, ripped out of my arm the iv from my arm and grabbed my clothes, they were of course covered in blood and completely shredded so I stopped to think what could I do to get out of the hospital without being noticed.

I ended up tying the hospital robe as tight as I could and simply walk out of the room, I looked around making sure the doctor wasn’t coming back yet and rushed across the hall, I looked at the map of the hospital and went into the morgue hoping to find a pile of clothes that used to belong to the dead people.

My theory was right and I ended up grabbing a big sweater, which was long enough to seem like a dress, I put a belt on my waist and walked out, I quickly stopped in a bathroom where I washed off the blood I still had on my face and legs and immediately after I walked out of the hospital. When I got out I realized it was already sunrise so I rushed back to our apartment knowing Aldahir would be waiting for me there.

-Aldahir! – I yelled out as I opened the door, which concerned me because it wasn’t locked – Aldahir!

-Dhalia – he said walking out of our bedroom

He ran to me and hugged me tightly; I hugged him back and immediately he started crying on my shoulder.

-I killed her – he said struggling to get his words out – I killed someone Dhalia

I stepped back from him and seeing him totally broke me, he was still naked, covered in blood – some was his and some was the hunter’s - and mud, shaking violently and bawling his eyes out over the guilt he felt about killing the hunter. I couldn’t think of anything to tell him that could possibly calm him so instead I guided him back to our bedroom, walked him to the bathroom and opened the shower, he walked into the shower and I got rid of my clothes to then join him.

I slowly helped Aldahir wash off the mud and blood off his body, which seemed to make him feel better because he turned to me and started helping me shower, since I had already washed myself off back at the hospital, he decided to help me take the stiches off instead. When we were done with the shower I helped him dry out a little and I took him back to the bedroom, he was still crying with the guilt violently crushing him, but he was a little calmer, he wasn’t shaking as badly as before and we was concerned with what had happened to me.

-Did they take you to the hospital? – He asked pulling me towards him

-Yes… Even though they had no issues killing innocent animals they really wanted to make sure I was alive – I said holding his face

-Dhalia what on hearth possessed you to do it? – He asked suddenly – I attacked you, I could have really hurt you but…

-But nothing – I cut him off – I had to do something, I had to get them away from you and I couldn’t do it by just running away in the opposite direction

-You’re crazy – he said hugging me

-I guess I am, but it was worth it, and I would to it again if I had to… Minus the blood somehow, I really hate how thick and sticky it is

My comment made Aldahir chuckle, which made me smile so I hugged him and kissed his forehead.