Chapter 3 - Rocco

71 days earlier than current day continued...

The closer Ciro got to the main area of our pack buildings, the stronger the scent of blood became. Had we underestimated the rogues? It truly looked like we had been overrun. Bodies laid strewn on the floor… tears filled my eyes at the sight of familiar faces of pack members… some dead… some injured… but still there was no sight of my mate… this attack had become everything we had hoped it would not, and in such a short space of time.

Ciro was becoming unsettled. Almost irate now, I could sense it through the bond I shared with my wolf, and it made me wonder if he could sense her near…

But while his head darted side to side, I needed to arrange help for the injured. I was still in the role of Beta as well as broken mate. There were injured and dead rogues among the bodies too, that needed dealing with. Of that I was sure… but still, there appeared to be no more fighting in this area. I could only hope that was a good sign for us right now.

‘We need medical assistance to the west of the Gym. So many injured, and feared dead. Assistance needed now.’ I boomed across the pack mindlink in the hope both medical staff and warriors alike who may be free could come and help those still able to be saved. While my wolf, Ciro, ran on in his bid to find our mate.

He froze, and the moment his eyes locked upon her, I knew. I was seeing through his eyes right now. His vision was so crystal clear… so detailed, and this was the last thing I needed to see so clearly. This was the worst thing I had ever seen. The body of my fated mate attacked and bloody, tossed to the floor. Her beautiful long blond waves of hair, currently stained with red... her own blood? Or that of others? It was hard to tell in the current state of the pack... but it was not a sight I wanted to see...

The beautiful body of my mate was battered... bruised... bleeding... she had been attacked. And badly. And, with, being a human, she could not shift in order to defend herself. I hated myself for not being there to defend her. I had let my beautiful mate down.

A loud howl came from my wolf, as he pushed me forward. Ciro could take no more. He needed me to take control now. ‘Help her.’ He urged, his howling altering to a persistent whimpering. Help her? How could I help her? She needed medical help. But I did the obvious thing, which was to allow myself to shift. Allowing my body that quick and smooth alteration between forms, now back in my strong and toned Beta form.

My eyes were already dripping with tears as they rested upon my mate. She was unconscious, as I dropped to the ground beside her. I wasted no time in reaching for her hand, desperate to check for her pulse. I needed to know she was still alive. Know that I had not been clinging to false hope... It took a little finding, but it was there… faint… but there.

I scooped Aria up into my arms, without a second thought, and began to make a dash for the pack hospital. She needed medical help, and there was the only place able to offer that right now. I could only hope that when we got there they could help her.

‘Micah, she has been attacked. I am taking her to the hospital. It does not look good.’ I informed my friend, my whole body trembling at the admittance of my fears. Saying them out loud seemed to make them so much more real. I was in real fear of losing my mate today. All because of some rogues who had gotten too big for their boots. A few successful attacks of late had made them feel like they were indestructible. Well, I would bring an end to them one way or another. I would make sure of that. But, first, I needed to make sure my mate lived. I needed to ensure she got the treatment she needed.

I pushed through the doors of the hospital as quickly as I could. The corridors were busier than I think I had ever seen them before. “Doc, please.” I yelled, but not one person looked up.

All so busy with the many patients littering the corridors. Of course, there were so many injured people because of the rogue attack, but Aria needed treatment, one way or another. I would make sure she got it. Perhaps that was selfish of me... because each and every person in this hospital had come for treatment, but something told me that Aria was close to death, and I was not about to let that happen without fighting...

I emitted a deep growl from the place I stood in the corridor, causing many of the pack members to look up in shock, but then they continued with what they were doing. Dr Garner marched down the corridor, an angry look upon his face, his eyes focused heavily upon mine. Well, at least I had gained somebody’s attention, it would seem.

“Beta. I know you may be second in command within the pack, but in this hospital, I am in charge, and I do not appreciate you disturbing the peace. As you are aware, there has been a serious incident in the pack today, and we are extremely busy,” he spoke with such a condescending tone, I was about to kick his sorry ass, had I not been holding my wounded mate to my chest.

“Oh?” I said sarcastically, glancing at my injured mate within my arms, noticing one of her wounds seemed to be bleeding again. “No shit. I thought there was a fucking party going on. Thought I could come and join in. Now, are you going to do your fucking job, ass wipe?”

The brows of the doctor in front of me rose, almost disappearing into his receding hairline, but, thankfully, he followed my gaze to Aria and his brow now furrowed in concern. “Is this your wife, Beta Rocco?” he said, his voice a little less accusing now.

I nodded. I knew I had been an ass. But, I was a mess. Falling apart at the prospect of having to continue a life without the woman I had come to depend upon. The woman I was crazy for... The woman I craved with every part of me. My maye. My entire world. I was terrified I was so close to losing her. Surely he would understand that? I would apologize when the time was right.

With a brief glance over her, he nodded curtly. “She needs to go into surgery.” He said, taking her from my arms in one swift movement and walked away from me with Aria before I had a moment to think, or a chance to even fight back. And just like that, Aria was gone from my arms once again; and I did not know if my mate was going to live or die…

My whole pack was in chaos. Treatment centers were being set up in places outside the hospital to try to cater for the injured. Temporary morgues… this was the effect of a rogue attack. A rogue attack we had simply not been prepared for. We had always considered ourselves a well defended pack. After today, we would be looking at all aspects of our defenses in great depth. But right now, my focus was upon my mate…

I had been pacing the busy, starch white hallways of the hospital for what felt like an eternity. Radio silence from doctors and nurses. My wolf, Ciro, was lost in the pits of my mind, whimpering for his mate. I, however, clung to the hope she would be okay. But as the hours… minutes… seconds slid by, my hope was draining. I had heard nothing. Just how much did they need to do for her in surgery?

I sat down… I walked… I drank coffee… and still there was nothing. It became almost a cycle. A cycle of waiting. I just wanted news. News that my beautiful girl was okay. We had been together barely any time. A year. One year since my beautiful Aria had walked into my life. Or, perhaps, I should say I came thundering into hers…

I allowed my mind to wander back to that sweet little cabin in the forest. The cabin she had taken over from her parents when they had passed away. Passed on from her Grandmother, I believed. A place she held so fondly in her memories. I had needed a long run that night, and it seemed my girl was relaxing on the deck of her cabin - reading a book on the rocking chair, a blanket over her legs, and a hot chocolate in hand; looking incredibly adorable. And the moment Ciro got a scent of her, our worlds were turned upside down…

For my adorable Tesoro, soon had a naked man at her door to contend with, as Ciro did what he did best, and acted without thinking. Oh! How we laughed when we looked back…

I felt tears stabbing at my eyes at the thought. The beginning of our time together. The start of Aria and I. And one of my most fondest memories. How can things have changed so drastically so suddenly? I could not lose my sweet angel…no. I had waited so long for my fated mate, I was not going to lose her.

“Beta?” a low voice spoke from behind me, making me spin to seek out the sound of the voice, knowing what it could mean. My heart was pounding in my chest, fear now rising once again, as my stomach churned. Had they come to share bad news? No. No. I would have felt it if she had gone, wouldn’t I? I kept reminding myself, in almost reassurance.

I looked at the doctor almost pleadingly, urging them to go on. He smiled sadly at me. “Aria is in one of our private rooms up on the second floor. She had considerable injuries, and considerable bleeding, all of which took some time to deal with. But, that aside, I think we have done what we can. However, the rest, I am afraid, is upon her.”

My heart dropped at his words. I knew she was badly injured. I could see that myself when I had found her. But I had assumed with medical treatment she would be okay. Did this mean she may not be? “She isn’t safe?” I choked out the words, my mouth suddenly dry.

The doctor awkwardly ran his hand through his hair, seeming to avoid my gaze now. He did not seem to want to share details with me. But instead he slowly shook his head. “I think it may be too soon to say. She is in the best hands, you know that. We will continue to do all we can for her. All her injuries are dealt with. We just need to allow her to heal.”

“Could I mark her again?” I urged, knowing that for mates this often helped them to heal. I had been pondering this possibility in the many hours that I had been pacing. Hoping that in some way I could be the one to bring my mate out of her near death state.

The doctor slowly shook his head. “I do not think so, I am afraid, Beta. For us, it would work, but your lovely wife is not one of us. She is human. I do not think it works the same, I am afraid. There is no wolf there to assist her, and I do not think your wolf would be able to either. We discussed this in great depth while we operated.”

My shoulders sagged as what felt like my last hope drifted off into the ether. I was beginning to think there was no hope left now. “Shall I take you to see her?” The doctor asked, that same sad smile upon his face. One filled with pity… sympathy… a look I have to say I detested. Yet I nodded eagerly. Of course, I wanted to see Aria.

I quickly followed behind the doctor as he walked along the now familiar hallways of the hospital. That strong antiseptic smell hanging heavily in the air, mixed with the odor of blood. No doubt after all the wounded pack members that had been admitted in the past hours. I could only hope our pack would recover. Be stronger in the long term. But, for the moment, my focus had to be my sweet girl. She needed me. I was all she had left.

And as the doctor opened the door to her small, private room, I felt my heart feel like it was crumbling into the smallest of pieces. Seeing her lying there on the bed, fragile and so badly damaged it broke my heart. Tears filled my eyes, and I felt myself frozen. “You can sit with her as much as you would like, Beta. She may sense you are there. And talking to her may help too. It is often said when someone is unconscious there is a chance they might hear you.”

With a brief nod in my direction and that same sympathetic smile, he was gone. Back to the business of caring for the others within the hospital, leaving me alone with my mate. This was not how I envisioned spending my night alone with Aria, I know that much. And as I moved toward her bed, tears slipped from my eyes. Pain radiating from every pore within my body. I felt like I had failed my mate. I did not protect her the way I should.

I reached for her hand. “Oh Tesoro, why? Life seems so cruel. I will find a way to make this up to you, my angel. But your big, strong Beta is here. He will be here until you wake up. Do you hear me? I am not going anywhere.”