Page 119 of Twisting You

Chapter 33

Alec

The hospital doors slid open and the smell of disinfectant was thick in the air. I was dripping wet after running back, my muscles aching from such a long run. But it would have taken me longer to get here if I had driven.

I spotted Dan right away, sitting at the back of the emergency waiting room.

“DAN!” my voice boomed across the room, and his head snapped up. I knew I looked a mess. I was only wearing a pair of shorts, which I had stolen. I was still breathing heavily. But I didn’t care. I would do it again. All that mattered was Chloe.

“Where is she? Is she ok? Is she stable? Where are her parents? What is her condition?” I spoke so fast my words were linked.

“Her parents are with her. Like I said on the phone, it’s bad but I don’t know how bad. I haven’t gotten an update.” Dan looked me up and down. “Did you run back?”

“So you’re telling me you know nothing?” My hands curled into fists. I needed to know. I needed to know NOW!

“The doctors won’t tell me anything. She is the alpha’s daughter. Everyone is more tight-lipped than ever.” Dan glanced in the direction of the nurse’s desk.

St. Core was a hospital run for and by werewolves. Not one human was treated here. They couldn’t ‘afford’ the private health coverage to be a patient here. All you really needed to get treated here was to be was a werewolf, but they didn’t know that.

“How did it happen again?” I ran a hand through my wet hair. My heart was pulsing with panic. I couldn’t lose her.

“She drifted on to the wrong side of the road, overcorrected and the car flipped down an embankment.”

“Dammit.” I shook my head. This was my fault. I should have answered my phone. I pulled the phone out of my pocket. I had run back with it in my mouth. It wasn’t pleasant. “Why was she on the road so late at night anyway?”

Dan suddenly moved uneasily. I knew my brother. He was keeping something back. I arched an eyebrow at him and looked him square in the eye. He couldn’t lie to me.

“She was, um, well, she was heading to you.” Dan looked at the ground. “She was worried that you had, well, I guess, gone back to your mate.”

“You told her I went and saw Gab!” I growled. “What were you thinking?”

“How was I meant to know you hadn’t told her?” Dan spat back in disgust. “How could you keep that from her?”

“Don’t give me a goddamned lecture.” My body shook with rage.

“Boys.” Maddison’s voice was below a tiny whisper. She nodded her head in the direction of the nursing desk. Spinning around, I saw Chloe’s parents were coming out of the glass sliding doors.

My stomach fell when I noticed the tears in Chloe’s dad’s eyes. Gulping, they walked in our direction. Chloe’s mom curled into her husband’s side.

“Is she ok?” Dan asked.

“She is…” Chloe’s dad started to speak, but then paused. I noticed him pull Chloe’s mom closer to his side. “Chloe isn’t responsive.”

“She’s dead.” My voice was hollow. This can’t be happening. Chloe can’t be dead. This morning I was holding her hand. This morning I was helping her choose her clothes for school. How could everything change within 24 hours?

“Her wolf won’t heal her.” Chloe’s mom’s voice was low. “Her body is seriously hurt and, without her inner wolf’s power, she won’t make it.”

“Xavier. Get Xavier here,” I suggested. He could help her. He could save her.

“Xavier can’t help.” Chloe’s dad shook his head. “Chloe wouldn’t want his help anyway.”

“Chloe wouldn’t want to die either.” It hurt me suggesting, no begging them, to get Xavier. A man I hated. Who didn’t deserve her. But he could help her, and that was all that mattered.

Chloe’s mom looked up at Chloe’s dad. They were having a silent conversation with each other. I knew Chloe wouldn’t want Xavier’s help. But if it meant she didn’t die, wasn’t that more important?

“Xavier is with her.” Chloe’s mom sighed. She looked me in the eye guiltily. “We called him as soon as we were told how bad it was. He is with her now.”

“Can I see her?” My pulse was racing. I had to see her. If Xavier couldn’t save her, then we were really out of options. I felt my eyes beginning to glass over. We were going to lose her.

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