Page 102 of Caged Between the Beta & Alpha
I nodded, knowing he was the fastest to get her there… but to my surprise, he held her out to me, his cerulean eyes full of pain.
“Make sure she’s okay,” he said, his voice hoarse.
My heart thudded as I took her in my arms. She was tiny and didn’t weigh much at all, her head falling against my chest. I nodded, not saying anything as I turned and ran from the house.
I knew he wanted to find whoever did it, and I could see the pain in his eyes as he let her go.
I could feel her blood coating my arm, which meant she wasn’t healing. Was it the same poison that was killing the people around us? If it was, it meant we’d be able to save her. The fact that the killer let the body shut down itself by using a mix of ricin, silver, and wolfsbane was very intelligent.
I quickly mind-linked the head doctor and told him I was on my way, filling him in on the situation and carrying my little mate as I ran as fast as I could.
When a pack member is killed, or when they broke pack ties or joined another pack, the Alpha would feel the pack-link break, but when an ill person passes away or if someone is dying slowly, it wasn’t really noticeable to the Alpha. The tug was so subtle, you wouldn’t realise it at all. The murders shut down the organs first, slowly yet surely. The fact that they seemed to have thought this entire thing out so fucking cleverly worried me. Time was running out and we were no closer to the truth.
I rushed to the room the nurse guided me too and placed Raven on the bed, placing a kiss on her forehead. She was pale and looked so fucking fragile…
“Please step outside, Beta Damon!” The doctor said before he began to shout orders. “She’s been poisoned, get the antidote for silver and wolfsbane. The Alpha said there may be ricin! We need to pump it from her body. Hook her up, check her blood pressure!”
I was pushed from the room, my heart thundering at the clear worry on the doctor’s face. We couldn’t lose her. I tried to contact Liam, but all I reached was a block. Fuck!
How is she?Taylor’s strained voice came through the link.
I don’t know yet. Where’s Liam?I asked.
He’s trying to search for clues. He’s angry, and I feel so damn guilty. I’m sorry, I swear I feel like shit. I didn’t hear her leave or I would have gone with her… I’m sorry, I know she’s your two’s mate, and I can’t imagine how you must be feeling.
She’ll be okay…I said softly.
I ended the link, pacing the hall feeling so damn frustrated, worried, and helpless. I ran my fingers through my hair dropping onto the bench. Please be fucking okay…
I was scared of losing her. We needed her. Heck I’d give anything for her to be okay. I’d happily take her place, too. Her smile, her unique eyes, her selflessness…
Come on, Raven, fight.
A few hourshad passed. Liam had mind-linked a few times asking how she was, but that was it. He didn’t say much but I could sense his pain from his voice, although he was desperately trying to hide it.
Finally, the doctor said she was safe. The poison had been administered close to her neck, and if she had been brought in any later, things could have been worse. I entered the hospital room. A bandage was wrapped around her head. The doctor said she had been struck with a sledgehammer, but not with enough force to have done severe damage. Either the killer was in a rush to leave, or they were generally not fucking strong enough. My thought went back to what Zack had said. Was it a woman?
I brushed my knuckles down her cheek, a tingle of pleasure following. Her soft, plump lips were parted slightly as she breathed softly. Her long black lashes fluttered slightly at my touch. I bent down and placed my lips gently on hers. The sparks of the bond rushed through me, and the sweet taste of her mouth was something I wouldn’t forget.
That ache in my heart was growing. I didn’t know if I had a chance, or if I ever would. She was that special, rare gem that you wanted to protect forever and not hurt anymore.
I love you.
I took her delicate hand in mine, thinking how small and slender it was in comparison to mine before I kissed it softly. I heard the sound of running, and I knew it was Liam. I slowly placed her hand down, the pain in my chest heightening. She was meant to be mine, too, but I couldn’t have her. I smiled gently, just hoping that no matter what, she got her happily ever after…
The door opened and Liam ran over. He was shirtless, the necklaces around his neck hitting against one another, the sound loud in this silent room. His eyes were fixed on Raven as he caressed her forehead, his other hand stroking her arm before he curled his fingers under her chin and pressed his lips to hers. His heart was racing; I knew he was as worried as I had been, if not more as he wasn’t able to be here.
I looked away, feeling the painful tug at the scene before me. His love was so intense for her... was mine any less? Was there a difference between our love?
Don’t think like that, Damon…
But no matter how much I told myself to stay positive, I did feel like I was losing all hope of the three of us making it work.
Liam pulled the armchair forward, sitting by her bed, holding her hand to his chest.
“Found anything?” I asked.
“A footprint, a partial one but it’s there. The killer wasn’t expecting Raven to show up, that was for certain,” he answered coldly. “But we found no one that looked suspicious. Everyone seemed to have been asleep, but I did fucking order a search of the nearest places. I don’t know… I feel like we are missing something big,” he said, running his free hand through his hair.
