Alone • Liam Dunbar

Thirty-Four

Hayden's condition worsened almost instantaneously.

The moment we all clambered into Argent's SUV she started to whimper and moan in agony from the backseat. I was desperate to get her to the clinic, to a place of safety, but the curtains of rain that poured over us, and Theo's truck that led the way, made me refrain from doing so. I didn't want to risk an accident at the speed I was traveling on wet roads, especially with such precious cargo.

When we arrive at our destination, Theo and I park in random areas of the back lot before clambering out of our respective vehicles. He and Liam rush to open the doors while I tend to Hayden. I don't bother to force her to support herself against me any longer, and make the decision to simply carry her, since it was what I was practically doing anyway. 

Hayden lets out a surprised grunt as I take her into my arms bridal style, kicking the door to the SUV shut behind us.

"Are you really strong or am I just light?" she asks jokingly, making me grin despite our situation due to her poorly timed humor. It was refreshing, even now. 

Liam and Theo hold the double doors open as we pass through, following behind Hayden and I after we enter. I take her into the examination room and gently place her on the observational table. It was the only flat surface she could lay on besides the floor, and I didn't want to have Hayden rest on dirty tiles.

She shivers as she touches the surface of the table with flat hands. She already felt like she was freezing when I held her, so I doubted that the cool metal soothed her. Her body temperature was also dropping, which betrayed her appearance because of how drenched in sweat she was.  

Theo comes forward when Hayden's eyes start to droop.

"I don't think it's a good idea for her to fall asleep," he warns.

When it dawns on me that he's right, I swiftly start to shake Hayden's shoulder.

"Hayden, you have to stay up," I demand. 

She groans in response and tries to push my hand away.

"I'm tired," she counters sleepily, her head lulling to the side.

I reach beneath her upper back, forcing her to sit up. She whines in protest but accepts the new position anyway. I keep my hands behind her for support and don't mind having to stay here all night, but when Liam catches my eyes and gestures for us to have a private moment, I ask Theo to take my place. He does so without argument, which I'm grateful for, but it's unsettling that Hayden hardly notices the switch as her senses aren't what they used to be.

Liam guides me to the doorway between the exam room and the lobby desk, keeping his voice hushed.

"Jac, what are we doing here?" he asks. 

I stare at him oddly, thinking it was obvious.

"Scott said to come to the clinic," I state blankly.

"Exactly. Hasn't he already proven he can't help us?" Liam retorts, his tone laced with annoyance. It's not directed at me, but at his Alpha.

I refrain from adding to that, keeping my vexed opinions of Scott to myself. I may have been frustrated with him but with the supermoon upon us, and all the terrors that came with it, I had to find a way to control my temper, especially if Liam couldn't.

He meant the world to me, but I was under no illusions that I could pull him out of his bloodlust with the might of our next lunar phase.

"We can still cross the border," Liam says.

"Not with her like this," I lecture him, tilting my head at Hayden.

She was beyond worse for wear. There was no telling what would happen now that she had been injected with mercury. Our circumstances had shifted drastically, and I doubted that even Argent would be able to help us fix that.