Mated to my Victim

Chapter Eighteen

Jessika

"Oh, thank the gods you made it when you did! I thought I was going to die for sure!" I sob into Mom's shoulder, clutching her tightly as if letting go would mean facing my nightmares again. Her hand strokes my hair in gentle, rhythmic motions, grounding me in her presence.

"Shh, I'm here now. Let's go back home," she whispers, her voice a soothing melody amidst the chaos. She shifts into her wolf form, her body transforming seamlessly into a magnificent creature of silver and gray fur. Her eyes, still warm and motherly, meet mine as she crouches down, allowing me to climb onto her back. She moves with the fluid grace of a predator, each step powerful yet careful as she carries me to the Red Wolf village.

As we arrive, the unfamiliar surroundings heighten my anxiety. The village is a stark contrast to our home, with its imposing wooden structures and watchful eyes. "Why are we here?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Dad steps forward, his eyes softening with a mixture of relief and sadness as they meet mine. "The Red Wolves' alpha and elders have decided to take us in after the attack on our village," he explains, his voice a comforting blend of strength and sorrow.

A sudden wave of nausea hits me like a tidal wave. "Oh, I don't feel so hot," I mumble, my vision blurring. Mom quickly swivels me around, her movements swift and sure. I vomit a foul-smelling, green-blue viscous sludge, the taste acrid and bitter as it coats my mouth. The world spins violently, and the last thing I see before everything goes black is the concerned faces of my parents.

Traeger

The air is thick with tension as I notice Kaiden's intense glare, his eyes burning with barely contained fury. He's been staring daggers at me ever since he arrived three days ago, his suspicion palpable.

"Listen, Kaiden, I didn't cause the—" I start, my voice measured, but he cuts me off with a snarl.

"I think you did. Now get your hand off my daughter before I bite it off!" His growl is low and menacing, his body coiled with barely restrained aggression. Despite his threat, I hold my ground, my thumb gently circling Kynas knuckle in a silent plea for her to wake up.

"That's enough, you two!" Sophia's voice slices through the tension like a whip. "Kaiden, stop being such an asshole to Traeger. And Traeger, quit bringing up that you didn't cause the crash. You're just going to make him angrier. If you don't stop, I'll bend you both over my knee and whoop your asses!"

"Yes, ma'am," I respond, trying to mask the mixture of relief and tension in my voice. Kaiden's growl softens but doesn't disappear entirely, his eyes still locked onto me with suspicion and anger.

"Kaiden!" Sophia warns, her voice a blend of authority and frustration. She strides over to him, her movements purposeful and deliberate. She leans in close, her tights clinging to her figure, unintentionally offering me a view. Holding her position for a few moments, she straightens up with a smirk. "That's what I thought," she says, her tone dripping with satisfaction and a hint of triumph.

Suddenly Kyna's breathing becomes erratic, shallow gasps turning into desperate wheezes. Her skin pales to a ghostly white, a stark contrast to the dark circles forming under her eyes. The beeping of the heart monitor, a steady reminder of her fragile state, begins to accelerate, each beep growing closer together in a frantic rhythm.

Suddenly, the beeping halts, replaced by a continuous, deafening tone. My heart skips a beat, terror clawing at my chest. Kyna's body convulses briefly, her eyes rolling back before she goes limp, her chest eerily still. The monitor displays a flatline, the unbroken line a harrowing symbol of life slipping away.

Panic grips me. "No, no, no!" I shout, my voice breaking. Within seconds, doctors and nurses rush into the room, a whirlwind of white coats and urgency. They surround Kyna, their voices a cacophony of medical jargon and commands, their movements swift and practiced.