"I'm fine, Cayden. Stop hovering over me." Selena said.
Cayden checked her cuts again; they had mostly closed up.
"Where the hell is the doctor?" Cayden snarled at a scared nurse and asked, "Are all the doctors in this area taking a coffee break or what?"
"Am I supposed to actually answer one of those questions?" As he walked into a hospital, a guy in a white lab coat said.
Cayden did not like hospitals. The smell of old urine, cleaning products, infections, and despair was bad enough, but when you add the sensitive nose of a wolf to the mix, his stomach turned. Stressing over his partner made it worse.
Cayden sniffed the air; he knew right away that it was another wolf.
"I am Dr. William. I am from the Yellowstone pack."
"Cayden Greymark," he said. I am....,"
"Oh, I know who you are. I was asked to help your mate. Sorry for the delay. I was at another hospital. This hospital gets wolf patients sometimes, as we have a system to keep things discreet."
Cayden nodded, relief flooding through him.
"Thank you, Dr. William. Is she going to be okay?" Cayden asked, his voice filled with concern.
"I haven't examined her. I was with the other three girls. But she seems fine," Dr. William said.
"She is pregnant!" Cayden said he was worried.
"I am fine, Cayden!" Selena said it again, trying to reassure him.
"We'll do a thorough examination and monitor her closely. It's important to stay calm and trust that we'll take care of her." Doctor William first checked Selena's reaction to the small pen light he flashed in her eyes.
"Hmm, pupils dilate normally," said Dr. William.
"Is that normal?" Cayden asked right away.
"Very much so," replied the doctor. "Selena, do you see two of everything? Have a headache?"
"No. There's a knot in my head where I got hit, and it's sore but not painful."
"Which year is this?" Dr. William asked as he touched the bump with his finger. Selena moved a little when he felt it, and Cayden let out a low growl.
Selena said, "2023," and then she looked at Cayden. "Cayden, please calm down."
"Does it hurt?" Dr. William inquired, concerned. Selena shook her head and assured him, "No, it's just tender to the touch." The doctor nodded and continued his examination.
"Does your stomach hurt?"
"No," said Selena.
"Any bleeding?"
She gave a headshake.
"What about my baby?" She put her hand on her belly and asked.
"Your baby should be fine, but we'll need to do some tests to be sure," Dr. William told Selena. "It's important not to worry too much."
"Thank God," Cayden said again with a growl.
"I'm going to clean out some of the larger cuts and put bandages on them."
Dr. William said, "It will hurt a little, but I'll be very careful."
The doctor cleaned her cuts. Selena didn't want Cayden to pay attention to the doctor, but to her. She kissed him on the neck. Cayden got close to her and put his head on hers.
"Okay, I'm done, and Selena is doing fine."
"Has my mum reached home? I'm so glad I sent her off with Dr. Colin, because if I hadn't, she would have been in the accident, too." As the doctor left, Selena said something to Cayden.
For a moment, Cayden was confused and unsure of the whereabouts of Jennifer and Dr. Colin. They did not know Selena had been involved in an accident.
"That reminds me; let me call them." Cayden quickly reached for his phone and dialled Dr. Colin's number, anxiously waiting for him to pick up. He couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to her after what Selena had just been through.
There was no response.
"He didn't take the call. Let's go back home. I am sure Jennifer and Dr. Colin must be back safely," Cayden said.
Selena nodded. They headed back to their car, hoping to find Jennifer and Dr. Colin was waiting for them at home. As they drove, Cayden couldn't shake off the worry that something might have happened to them too. He silently prayed for their safety, hoping that they would be alright when they arrived.
***************
As Cayden, Selena, Max, Anna, Maya, and Milli went home from the hospital, the night had fallen like a heavy veil. Selena's thoughts were drawn to her mother, Jennifer. Her heart filled with a mix of anticipation and concern, hoping to find her mother safe and sound when they arrived.
Selena's heart filled with excitement as they entered their pack's area and saw the vast mansion looming in the moonlight. Her mother, she supposed, would be in her room, possibly resting after all that shopping. However, as she mounted the steps and entered the dimly lit room, she was greeted by an unnerving emptiness.
Selena opened the dark bedroom and cried out, "Mum?"
Her voice remained unanswered in the silence. There was no trace of her mother's presence in the room, and a sensation of worry crept in.
Selena mumbled to herself. "Where could she be?"
Her footsteps boomed down the quiet corridor as she examined the house, her concern growing with each empty room. Selena had expected seeing her mother as soon as she arrived home. Her disappearance was perplexing.
Selena was still looking for Cayden when she heard footsteps behind her and saw his worried expression.
Cayden, I can't find Mum. She's not in her room or anywhere else in the house."
Cayden's brows furrowed, his worry mirroring hers. "That's strange. She should have been there. I was looking for the doctor, and the guards informed me that his car never returned to the pack."
Wolf territories were heavily guarded and monitored to detect any trespassers or innocent humans who stumbled upon the area. It was unusual for someone to go missing without a trace. They exchanged concerned glances, realising that something might be seriously wrong.
Before they could look into the mystery more, Cayden's phone rang, which surprised them both. He replied, and Ruben's voice filled his ears.
Ruben sounded urgent. "Cayden, we've got a problem."
With his jaw set in anticipation, Cayden's hold on the phone became more firm.
What's going on, Ruben?"
"Hawk. He's escaped from the prison."
As Cayden thought about what Ruben had said, his heart skipped a beat. The words lingered in the air like a scary ghost. Hawk, who had caused them so much trouble, was on the run once more.
Selena's heart was beating fast, and she was filled with fear and worry. She looked at Cayden with worried eyes.
"How is that possible, Ruben? You promised Hawk was secured in the prison."
Cayden's voice trembled with a mix of disbelief and anger.
"We were betrayed." Ruben said. "Councilman Fenrir was working with Hawk."
"This changes everything," Cayden said, his voice filled with shock. "If Fenrir is involved, then we don't know who else might work against us. I can't trust anyone. How did you know it was Fenrir?"
"Well, that was easy, since Fenrir was found murdered in Hawk's cell. He also killed the prison guards," Ruben explained.
"WHAT?" Cayden exclaimed, his eyes widening in horror.
"So not only was Fenrir working with Hawk, but he was also killed by him? This situation just keeps getting worse. We need to find out who else might be involved and stop them before it's too late." Ruben said.
Selena whispered, "Could it be that Hawk took them?"
Cayden's gaze met hers, his expression grim.
"It's a possibility we can't ignore. We need to find Jennifer and Dr. Colin."
Selena couldn't help but worry as they exchanged troubled glances. The stakes were high, and time was running out.
"Don't worry, I will find your mother." Cayden whispered while gathering Selena in his arms.
He held her tightly, trying to offer some comfort amid their uncertainty. Selena clung to him, finding solace in his presence.
"I will do it with you." Selena said while clinging to Cayden.
"Go with me where?" he asked, puzzled.
Selena looked up at Cayden with determination in her eyes.
"Wherever Mum and Dr. Colin maybe we'll search every corner of this city if we have to." Selena "I can't let you do this alone, and I am going to kill that man myself."