Chapter 3

ANNA’S POV

With the last strength in me, I carried my child. Was it a mother’s instinct? Whatever it was I was feeling, I needed to heed it. The hospital room was so dark all of a sudden. The lights had gone out, but of course, because of our keen senses, I could still see through the fog of darkness.

I knew immediately I needed to take my son away from there. Doctor Sara must have gone home; she was with me all day, and the nurses were working nonstop. The noise in other wards and the hallway showed everyone was as surprised as I was. What could have happened to such a luxurious hospital's electricity all of a sudden?

I heard footsteps advancing through my room door. I could feel murderous intent from them. Who was it? I sent a letter and picture of our son to Landen yesterday, but he didn’t respond or even visit. Did it perhaps fall into the wrong hands? I wrapped my child in the baby cloth he was lying on. Despite the pain in my head and body—though it had been three months since I gave birth, I had yet to recover—I needed to get my son out before the person came in.

“Hey! She isn’t here. Are you sure you brought us to the right room?” a man said, turning to the one behind him.

“Definitely. The address and ward were written in the file that was sent to the Alpha,” the second man responded.

The item got to the wrong person. It has to be Hannah. Why would she go to such lengths? Does she think I will be coming back to Landen? I just needed him to know he has a son.

“I can perceive a different scent from ours. She’s probably around. Find her,” the second man said, silent enough for the other to hear.

Fear gripped me. I was alert, and my body trembled at the realization that they truly came for me and my child. I needed to escape from the place. I sneaked out from under the table where I was hiding, dashing down the stairs. The reception was empty; they had set a distraction for even the security at the reception and gate.

Still, in the surgery gown, I dashed out, running to any secure place I could find. I could hear their footsteps running after me. My whole body ached so badly. Grunting and panting, it began to rain. I looked down at my poor baby in my arms. Covering him well, I needed shelter from the rain, a place they would never find me.

I suddenly felt the adrenaline rush through my body and glanced around frantically searching for an exit. It was very hard to distinguish anything because it was rainy and pitch black at the time of the night. My bones felt battered, each muscle of my body crying in pain for not being able to rest but this was only the beginning. Well, not when my baby’s life is on the line.

 I could hear the two men's voices becoming louder, the sound of their wet shoes slapping the wet muddy ground as they frantically looked for us. My panic lifted at once, and I realized I had to get going again for a second time. Gathering all the remaining energy in my body I stood up and held my child tightly to my heart. I needed a new place to hide – a place no one would ever expect them to look.

 I wandered aimlessly through the rain-soaked streets and with tears streaming down my face and deep fatigue overwhelming me. Every move was a struggle, but I couldn’t quit. Not now. Not when my baby needed me.

 At last, I found a small passage between the two buildings. It was gloomy and unwelcoming but it was the only way for me to go through it. I ran into the alley and leaned against the moist, damp wall, and I made my body as flat as I could so as not to be easily noticed. I struggled to breathe, and my chest heaved up and down, my heartbeat deafening.

 I listened keenly in the hope that the men would not come across us. Their voices sounded still clearly, however, it appeared that they were going, the footsteps becoming farther and farther away. I had to remain alert to see if they were drawing nearer or not, so I had to breathe slowly and quietly. It felt that time slowed down and turned into an unbearable and endless chain of anxious moments.

I caught sight of a building with no light in it. Who lived there? What was the place? Is it safe? Those were questions anyone should ask themselves before going into such a quiet building, but I didn’t have much time. I leaped as fast as I could. The raindrops had increased, and I was totally wet, making sure my child was fully covered.

Behind the building, a small space between two parked cars seemed to have been there for a long time. I hid between them. It was okay to stay there for now; the rain must have washed off my scent, so they couldn’t follow me—or so I thought.

In that little moment, I prayed to the moon goddess for help. My eyes felt heavy, tears blurring my vision, and I sniffed in between sobs. I really wanted to cry out to let out every pain, but now wasn’t the time.

As soon as I raised my head, the men, soaked in the pouring rain, ran around, looking for any possible place I could be.

“She’s not well, and she’s carrying her pup, so she will need a place to protect her from the rain,” one of the men yelled.

“Take that way. I will search the building over there,” he instructed. My heart dropped to my stomach. They would find me if they came this way. My heart began to beat faster. I held my child tightly. I needed to run away from there.

I leaped out as fast as I could. I didn’t pay attention to the throbbing pain all over my body. They were so fast. How could I even escape from two healthy men in my state? I mumbled my pleas to the moon goddess to show me a way out of this mess.

“Get her! We can’t lose them!” he yelled, running after me.

They were getting closer. I turned to see how close they were when I felt like I bumped into a huge rock. All I could feel was my body hitting the wet ground with a force.

“No, no, no. My son, my child!” I yelled as I crawled from where I was, disregarding the pain from the fall. I grabbed him immediately when my hand felt him.

Everywhere became extremely dark, but I held him close, and my grip tightened. I checked him as I felt him. He was too calm for that kind of fall we had.

“Plea… please, be okay, please!” I cried, rocking him. Sitting there on the wet floor. I needed to hear him make a sound. I brought his face close to mine to feel his breath from his small nose.

The rain continued to pour, soaking me to the bone, but I didn’t care. My baby’s tiny breath against my cheek was the only thing that mattered.