Chapter Thirty-seven

Hayden struggled to pull her out of the bog which had swallowed her body to the waist. Tears streamed down her face as all the veins in his arms and face pushed forward to pull her out. His feet shifted and he was getting pulled into the bog along with her.

“I’m sorry Helena. I can’t get you out,” he begged, starting to let go.

“Hayden, no, please,” she begged in tears. The bog had swallowed her up to the neck, and her hand still reached out desperately.

“I am sorry,” he said, tears coming out of his own eyes, “I have to let you go.”

As the bog started to swallow her, and her face was the only thing left above, her face morphed into Alexia’s.

“Alexia!” he yelled, trying to grasp her hand, just as the bog swallowed her face. His efforts were futile as her whole body disappeared into the mud.

“Nooooooo!!!” he yelled from his nightmare as he woke up, covered in sweat. Alexia snapped awake on her bed beside him. She dashed off her bed, yanking out the intravenous needle.

She rushed to his side fearfully.

“Hayden! Hayden, what is it?” she asked. Her hands were all over his face and naked upper body. His blue eyes were unfocused and they tried to find his bearings. Then they landed on her, and all the frantic energy and panic drained out of him.

Alexia saw the change in him, and relaxed too. “Nightmare?”

“Yes. Yes, it was just a nightmare. You’re fine, I’m fine and you’re here. I’m good,” he said, reaching for her hand.

He laced them together, then turned it and kissed the back of her palm. She smiled, then turned their hands and kissed the back of his palm.

He suddenly pulled, and Alexia yelped and fell over him. Her face was merely centimetres away from his, and his eyes flicked to her lips ever so often.

She solved the riddle for him, and kissed him soundly on the lips. Then she made to stand up but he pulled again.

“Stay, please. I won’t have any nightmares when you’re here beside me,” Hayden whispered.

Alexia rolled her eyes and adjusted herself on the bed beside him. “Careful with your I.V though. It took a while before the doctor could pierce your thick rhinoceros skin,” she teased.

Hayden gasped incredulously, happiness alight in his as he looked down at her in his arms. “I’m the Alpha. It’s only right that my skin is impenetrable,” he replied brusquely.

“Keep telling yourself that, darling,” she replied and snuggled closer to him. His arm tightened and he kissed her forehead before both of them slept off.

***

Ken’s men gingerly carried Delilah into their infirmary under he and the doctor’s close supervision. Then they filed out, leaving all three of them alone in the small ward. Shortly after, The Boss rushed in.

“What happened to her, Ken? Doctor?” she asked frantically.

“Well,” began Ken wryly, “Alexia is so much better than we anticipated. Delilah took a real good beating from her.”

The Boss tsked and shook her head. “Damn! How badly is she injured, Doctor?”

The doctor replied timidly, “I am not done with my assessment as she is unconscious, but so far, I can see that she lost a tooth, a few ribs are broken, her pupils are not contracting so she has a severe concussion. Also…she had a dislocated knee and sprained neck. There must be a few internal injuries because I can see some dark purple spots in some areas.”

“What’s the prognosis then?” she asked.

The doctor tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear, avoiding The Boss’ direct and intense gaze, “Bad, ma’am. The prognosis is bad. I may have to invite a few specialists because of the different procedures we have to perform on her. For her to be this injured as a werewolf, her opponent must have been very strong; maybe an advanced Hunter or similar.”

The Boss snarled in anger, and crashed a vase to the ground, making everybody jump.

Ken walked towards her and wrapped his arms around her, “Calm down, Boss Lady. One thing did go well today. I got into Hayden’s head, and I created an illusion in his mind about his ‘mate bond’ with Helena. He’ll run mad very slowly, then we show up again and drop the final bomb on both of them.”

“I guess one thing did go right then, Ken,” she moaned and pressed her lips to his. Ken smirked against her mouth and took the offering.

***

“It seems you improved dramatically overnight, Alpha. I was going to invite Romulus to take a look at you, but I think you’re better. You can go home now,” the doctor said cheerfully and finished writing on his notepad.

“Okay. Thanks Doctor Neil,” Hayden said.

“No problem, Alpha,” he replied, “I’ll still come by the packhouse though. To attend to some other wolves and discuss some things with you.”

“Anytime, Dr. Neil.”

“Ready to go home?” Alexia asked, ruffling his hair.

She was better dressed in her customary black jeans and black long-sleeved top. However, her hair was not in a ponytail.

Rather, she left it to fall in gentle waves over her shoulders and down her back. Hayden was also dressed in a grey t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans. Ace brought their change of clothes and breakfast early in the morning before he went back almost immediately.

“Sure thing,” he replied smiling.

Minutes later, they walked into the packhouse and met Ace and Vanessa kissing on the couch in the common room.

***

Moments ago…

“Why did you instruct us to stay at the midline until this morning?” Vanessa asked Ace, storming into the common room where he was seated.

His face lit up when he saw her, “Oh, hey Nessa. How are you?” he greeted. He stood to his feet and came to meet her. He tried to put his arms around her in a hug, but she pushed him away angrily, glowering at me.

“Answer my question, Foster. I was forced to perch in that tree for about 5 more hours after the battle. I am not a freaking bird!” she protested.

“It was necessary, Vanessa. I’m sorry for any inconvenience. I thought it would be necessary for you guys to remain there in case there were any stragglers or last-minute opponents who would want to plant a bomb or a charm or something. And, it helped kill off most of them before and after they entered the clan, so, good job.
By the way, how are the others? Were you paired with Cole?” he enquired further.

“The others are fine. Exhausted and sore, but fine. They went home to rest.” Suddenly her voice grew angrier and she said, “About Cole. I need to tell you something.”

“What about Cole?” he prompted.

“Cole is unto us. He is really threatening to inform the Coven council that I am ‘sleeping’ with a werewolf. You have to stop this! I’m not ready to lose my place. I don’t want to become a rogue!” yelled Vanessa angrily.

Ace was smiling, with his hands tucked in the pockets of his sweatpants.

“Why the hell are you smiling?!” she yelled again, pulling at her immaculate hair. She was pacing around the common room.

“It’s funny. The way you said ‘coming unto us’ like it’s a bad thing. Are we doing a bad thing, Vanessa?” he asked, his voice dropping an octave towards the end of his sentence.

“You’re deliberately misunderstanding me, Foster!” she screamed.

“I assure you; I am not. I’m only trying to make sense of your rant. So, what you’re saying now is that I should stop my relationship with my mate, simply because another person whose opinion I don’t give a fuck about is not in support?” Ace stated.

Vanessa groaned loudly, then her face crumpled, “Why me? Why me?” she moaned.

Then she stopped and crossed her arms. “If that is how it is going to be, then I have no choice but to say this.” She avoided his gaze and swallowed. Then she tossed her head, cleared her throat and looked blank.

“I Vanessa Baldwin hereby reject you, Ace Foster, as my—”

The words were swallowed up by Ace as he stalked towards her and smashed his lips on hers. She pushed him away and tried to continue.

“I Vanessa Baldwin hereby—”Ace shut her up again by kissing her, this time, he put his arm on her waist and drew her closer, and his second hand gently held her face.

He kissed her thoroughly and languidly, then he broke the kiss and laid his forehead against hers.

“You don’t get to do that, Vanessa, you don’t,” he whispered.

Vanessa was tongue-tied, so she didn’t reply.

Sparks flew between them again, and Vanessa’s gaze flicked to Ace’s lips. She tilted her head until their lips met slowly, and he lowered them both to the sofa behind her.

They were so lost in each other that they did not hear the front door open and their friends enter.