Forced To Love You

Hang On

I was stuck in an in-between state for what felt like forever. It was probably only a few minutes but time felt like it was speeding and slowing down all at once. I couldn't open my eyes, I couldn't speak, I couldn't move any part of my body. But I was aware of the noises around me.

I was there but I wasn't sure Everett knew. I wasn't sure anyone knew.

It wasn't long after Everett bit me before someone found me. Everett had left by then. He clearly didn't want to stick around to either watch me die or wait for someone to find me. It probably wouldn't have been good for him if he stuck around.

I wasn't sure how Christian found me or even knew I was in trouble. It was like... he had a feeling that something wasn't right and he knew exactly where to go and how to track me down. In a way, the thought scared me but at least he was coming to help. I probably would have died had he not come to save me.

I could be mad at him later. If I lived, that is.

Christian entered the room and surveyed the scene in front of him. I was still tied down to the bed. My breathing was shallow and quiet. My heart rate had slowed and it was only a matter of time before my body gave up on me.

The bite hurt. But I expected that. Nora Dolly bit me in first grade and bit hard enough to draw blood. I cried for hours that night. The neck was a more sensitive area than my arm so it hurt a lot more. That and the fact that Everett had long canines.

But, now, the pain was gone. It was a relief to not feel anything but the numbness was scary. Not feeling anything was such an eerie feeling. I wasn't hurting anything. But the silence within my body left an uneasiness that even Christian felt.

He approached my body and put his hand over my arm. He looked over me and let out a breath that sounded like a sob. It was the most emotion he had shown around me since we met. And even then, I wasn't awake to witness it.

He pulled his phone from his pants pocket and dialed a number. He held the phone to his ear and started pacing. He stayed close to me, his eyes constantly darting back to me at the sound of my breath or the movement of my chest, like he was making sure I was still alive.

"I-What do I do? H-he bit her." He paused as he listened to the person's response. "She's barely breathing. Her heart sounds weak. I-I don't know how much longer..."

Christian never sounded worried or scared around me. He was the Alpha of a wolf pack. He was the epitome of strength. Yet, at that moment, he was terrified and it was obvious.

"You're sure that will work?" He stopped moving and stood with his back to me as he listened to the instructions that were given to him. "Okay. I will. Thanks, dad." He stuck the phone back in his pocket and turned around to face me.

He extended claws from his fingers. He used them to cut the belt restraints off of my wrists and ankles. He brushed my hair away from my neck and leaned in close.

"Please work..." His voice was so quiet I almost didn't hear it. He paused for just a breath before his fangs extended from his mouth. He bit down on my neck, just a little further above the first bite from Everett. He held in that position for just a minute before he let go.

The heat I'd felt from earlier was back but it wasn't painful like the first time. My body welcomed the heat. I still hadn't regained control of my limbs but the pain started to dissipate.

Christian lifted me off the bed and held me close to his body. The feeling of his skin on mine was soothing and calming at a time when I needed it most.

We exited the room and it wasn't long before we were outside. The cold air whipped at us and sent goosebumps all over my skin. Christian entered a car and carefully held me in his arms, with my head propped against his shoulder.

"Go to the airport. As fast as you can. We need to get her back to the pack."

"What happened? Is she..." Zeke asked, hesitating to finish a sentence he knew Christian didn't want to hear.

"Everett bit her. The bite didn't take so she's..."

"Why are there two bite marks?" Zeke asked as he inspected the damage. "You didn't bite her, too, did you?"

Christian nodded, his eyes focused down on my body. "My dad thinks this will work but we can't be sure until she wakes up."

"If one bite could kill a human, what do you think two would do?"

"I'm an Alpha. My bite should take."

"Not many humans are bit and survive, Christian."

"You don't think I know that? I had to do something. I couldn't just..." He swallowed down the lump in his throat.

"Once we get her back to Twisp, your dad can help her. He's the best doctor I know."

"She just needs to hang on until then."