Chapter 6: What if…

“Alpha Cole sent me here.” Sydney calmly walked forward to the knights in black armor.

          With no response from the guards, she stepped in further but before her hand could even reach the door handle, a pair of sharp-edged things was pointed near her neck. Beads of sweat started to drip from her forehead, she had to stay still and calm like a statue. One wrong move and those swords will definitely stab her. 

“Let her in, Alpha Cole told her to stay. She’s her friend.” Marcus appears behind her. But the guards still keep their weapons aimed at her, “I’m telling the truth, let me in.” Sydney closed her eyes and simply mind-linked Denise. Her scent was more noticeable behind the door. She’s really in there, no doubt.

          But before she could even talk to Denise, a loud crashing sound was heard from the room. “L-let me in. Let me in!!!” Mind racing a mile a minute, her heart beating quickly. Sydney forcibly opened the door, not minding the blades aimed at her neck slashing a part of her flesh. “Let me in! Denise! Are you in there? Do not touch me, Freak. Denise! Answer me! It’s me Sydney!” 

          Even Marcus nervously dragged the guards off the door, “Get away!” he ordered Sydney. Knowing the door was locked, he shifted. His wolf was large and fiery but not like how the Alpha stood and reigned in posture.

          Rearing its head, flaunting his fur as white as snow. He’s an albino one. Banging the wooden door with all his strength, he successfully smashed the entrance after numerous attempts. On the other hand, the knights suddenly disappeared like a popped bubble.

          

“Denise!” Sydney called her as she hurriedly leaped in. The whole room was neat and organized. No signs of something bad happened, except the jumbled velvet comforter on the bed. “Where is she?” she asked. Walking around the wide elegant room, it was so quiet and eerie. 

          Shifting back to his human form, Marcus walked closer to the bathroom door. Listening carefully, splashes of water was faintly heard behind this door. “She must be in the shower,” he answered. 

“But where did that crashing sound come from?” Sydney buzzed. Grabbing a red silky robe hanging on a closet rod. “Move,” demanding him to step aside from the bathroom door. 

          As she intrudes, bottles of conditioner and shampoos were lying on the floor. The water from the spout was flowing freely on the ground mixed with a pinkish liquid, the strong scent of blood lingers in the entire bathroom.

          As she slid off the shower curtain, a lady full of bruises and wounds was lying unconsciously. "Oh my gosh, is this Denise?"

Sydney whispered with her mouth slightly opened. Her hands trembled as she wrapped the robe around her friend’s tortured body. 

“H-hey! Can you help me here?” calling Marcus’ attention. But before he could even enter, a loud groan was heard from outside. 

“Marcus!” Another voice sprang, shouting in a warning.

          Denise’s skin gradually turns into pale white, her lips darkening and her body temperature decreasing making Sydney wail in panic. She quickly dragged her out of the flowing water and elevated her head.

          Suddenly, a man with fiery eyes dashed towards them. His peculiar aura filled the atmosphere, leaving Sydney speechless.

“Call Leo, Tristan!” the newly entered guy growled in full authority.

          Staring at the guy in front of her, Sydney couldn’t even utter a single word. This man’s presence would literally shut someone with just his dominating and frightening emanation.

          He carried Denise’s soporous body out of the chilly bathroom. Stricken out of nervousness, Sydney tailed them. Leading to the room’s silken-covered king bed. Besides the said furniture were two men standing straight with their chins up, one was Marcus on the left side, on the right was another good-looking man possessing those stunning green eyes, wearing a cotton black turtleneck layered with a long trench coat. 

“Lay her down,” commands a woman who just entered the room. She was in a white coat with a stethoscope hanging around her neck.

          Heartbeat hammering his chest so aggressively, Cole did what the woman had commanded and covered her in a thick comforter.

“What happened to her?” he asked. Hiding his sweaty trembling hands behind his back.

          The doctor began to check her wrist for a radial pulse, “Heartbeat is weak, but she will not die. She must have collapsed due to sudden exposure to water and cold surrounding,” she explained and darted a glare towards Cole who didn’t even bother to face her.

“It’s all your fault, Cole. If you didn’t let her jump into the river, this wouldn’t happen to her. If you didn’t let her run in the cold forest last night, she wouldn’t be suffering like this. Did you push her to shift and use all her remaining strength? All because you just wanted to play with her? You really don’t deserve a girl,” the doctor uttered, blaming Cole’s irresponsibility.

          On the other side, his Beta and Gamma were just silently smiling, hiding their laughter behind Cole. Seeing their Alpha as if he was reprimanded by his mother because of breaking her most expensive flower pot. Mia, the pack doctor, was the only pack member who is capable of trash-talking Cole without earning the Alpha’s retorted responses. 

“I smell the Lupibia’s scent on that tray. She didn’t eat because you put some on it, right?” she added, referring to a bowl and a glass of milk on the tray by the side table. Continued to examine Denise’s body, bandaging and treating her wounds on her back. “Five bullets grazed her back, yet you still let her shift and run through the woods. You really are a careless mate.”

“B-bullets?” Sydney interrupted. She darted an accusing stare at her friend’s mate, not frightened anymore from his strange horrifying aura. “Did you just chase her with a gun? How dare you do—”

           

“No, I didn’t. Why would I do that? She was chased by several men, armed with guns. It was her choice to play tag with those persons from Laxon. I just let her, she’s happy with that though,” He simply explained while his eyes were still on Denise’s wounds. 

“But still, you let her out and exposed her bleeding wounds in the open cold air. It is your fault! I wouldn’t ask what more terrifying inattentive things you did to her. After she wakes up, we will leave,” Sydney proclaimed. 

        Cole’s fist balled, “You can’t.” 

“Yes, we will. I bet she already told you she didn’t need and want a mate or maybe she even rejected you,” she snorted. “Leave her. She doesn’t need someone to destroy her. You don’t know how much she will loath and curse you once she still wakes up inside this territory with your face greeting her every morning. I understand you and I understand her, whatever your reasons are for keeping her.”

          Again, the two men beside them giggled, making Cole look back and send death glares at them.

“I take her side, Alpha,” Mia agreed. Bandaging Denise’s bleeding arm. 

“Maybe… Maybe this is not yet the time for you and Denise to be with each other. If she still doesn’t want to accept you, let her have some time. I wouldn’t convince her for you, she has the decision and everything. You need an heir, Right? Then she is not a solution to your problem if that’s what you think. We will leave and you can’t do anything about this,” Sydney added with a drop serious look on her face.

“No, you can’t take her away.” 

“Heh, you will still force her?” Sydney grinned and sarcastically looked at her still unconscious arrogant friend. “You will still keep her inside this place? What do you think she is? A slave? She hates the concept of mates. Even if you cage her on and chain her in silver metal rings, she will still choose to leave and escape. If something bad happens more than this, will you take responsibility and endure seeing her suffering from your selfishness?"

“Then tell me how would I secure my pack if I’ll be letting her go again? If I always would listen to you or her, would that save Nightshade? If you’re thinking that Silvan could take over, I don’t want to risk my brother’s life. If things go against the plan, all eyes will focus on him. I don’t want to burden him with responsibilities at that age,” he uttered. His eyes screamed in despair, watching Denise lying on the bed. Her breathing goes back to normal, lips and body temperature return to their normal color and heat.

“W-what if— she got pregnant?” Sydney alleged in a low voice, enough for everyone to hear it. “Then you’re giving another responsibility to her.” The room was stunned silent for a few seconds that even one’s heavy breathing could be heard. 

“Let her be… I will let her decide. She can reject me but not the child. I will let her go, take her with you. But when the clock stops ticking, I will get her back.”