Wild at Heart

Just when I thought it was all over, I felt an arm around my waist. I was barely conscious to know who it was, but I was back above the water. I blacked out again and barely woke up with someone on top of me, putting pressure on my chest. I suddenly felt the urge to throw up. I sat up and water flowed from my lips violently.

“That’s it, Emma, let it out.” Alan’s voice eased me slightly, but I still felt like shit. I laid back into the grass and closed my eyes again. “Emma, stay with me.” I was lifted and my head fell into a bare chest. My eyes were so heavy I couldn’t open them to see who it was, but I assumed it was Alan caring me. “Emma, please, honey, stay with me.” His voice was uneven as he ran with me in his arms. “We’re almost there, babe.” I felt something cold against my back as he laid me down. “Let’s go! Move!” He called to someone. My body swayed slightly which told me I was in the van. I tried to focus enough to open my eyes, but it only caused me to black out again.

I woke up in someone’s arms and we were running again. I could smell chemicals and sterilization which told me we made it to the hospital. I lifted my head and was finally able to open my eyes. Alan was holding me tightly to his body as he ran into the building. He laid me down on a bed as a familiar smell came into my personal space. I knew everything was going to be okay now that Dr. Morris was there. She would be able to help me, she would take care of me. I closed my eyes again, but this time I didn’t fight the darkness.

I finally woke up and smiled at the view. Nick was resting his head on my bed with his large hand wrapped around mine. I gave it a gentle squeeze and his head popped up, his golden eyes locking with my emerald ones.

“Oh, my Moon Goddess, little wolf, you have to stop dying on me.” He wrapped his arms around me so tightly I had trouble catching my breath, but I didn’t ask him to stop. I was simply happy to be with him again.

“I’m sorry.” I whispered into his shoulder.

“I’m just glad you’re okay.” He released his grip on me and kissed my forehead gently.

“What happened?” I knew he should be the one asking me that question, but everything was so blurry in my mind that I wasn’t sure how I ended up here.

“Do you remember anything?” He asked in return.

“I went for a run.” I said with a nod. “Alan was calling for help, rogues attacked. I went to help, and we did it. We were safe. The female said you wanted us back to the pack house immediately and we shifted to go back. I was getting dressed and then I—” I trailed off.

“They said you fell.” He said after a moment of silence between us. “Did you slip?” He asked me. I shook my head, but I wasn’t sure.

“I don’t think I fell.” I said, now staring off into space as I tried to recall the feeling of pressure on my back. “I think I was pushed?” I didn’t know if it was a question or a statement. I had my footing, I wasn’t too close to the edge, so how did I fall?

“Who would push you?” He asked.

“I’m not sure.” I admitted. “I felt something on my back before I fell.”

“Do you think maybe the door of the van hit you, and you lost your footing?”

“Maybe.” I nodded. It was very possible. I lifted my arm and looked at it, remembering Alan reach for me. “He tried to catch me.” I muttered.

“Alan said he cut you when he tried to grab for you.” Nick confirmed. “He saved you, Emma. He pulled you from the river.” I smiled at the memory.

“He’s a good wolf.” I said.

“I owe him a debt I will never be able to repay.” Nick leaned into me and kissed my lips as gently as he could.

“What’s the damage?” I asked as I looked down at my body.

“Mostly broken bones.” Nick answered. “Legs and arms. You hit your head pretty good, but Doc said it was a small concussion. Your lungs need a break. She said your bones will heal in a few days with a few shifts, but you’ll need to rest. No runs for a week.”

“I think I can handle that.” I slowly lifted my arm and rubbed my hand across my belly. Nick’s hand instantly covered my own.

“She took a blood sample.” He said. “You weren’t pregnant.” I nodded and held back a tear that threatened to escape. I was thankful for that information. The kind of fall I took would have ended in another miscarriage.

“When can we go home?” I asked with a yawn.

“Tomorrow, little wolf, but for tonight I want you to rest.” I nodded and closed my eyes, letting the pitch blackness of sleep take me over.

Dr. Morris was right when she told Nick that my broken bones would be healed in a few days after some shifts. It had only been three days since my tumble down the mountain and I already felt normal. A few times I had to sit and catch my breath after getting a little too aggressive with my cleaning, but other than that I was fine. Bored out of my skull, but fine. Nick had been out and about with Daniel more often than not, but I couldn’t blame him. He asked Chloe to stop by and keep me company, and she was glad to do so, but I could only handle so much of her. Kyle this—Kyle that. She needed a hobby.

I was curled up on the couch with a hot cup of tea, watching Netflix when Nick came home. He looked utterly exhausted.

“You okay?” I asked him as he plopped down on the couch beside me.

“I will be.” He said with a smile. “The East Pack will be going back to their territory soon.”

“Is that a good thing?” It was for me, but I wasn’t sure how Nick would feel.

“Their stay was always short term, but now that the details of the alliance are planned out and our contracts are all signed, they have no reason to stay unless the South declares war and the air seems clear of that for now.” I nodded and relaxed back into the couch. I wouldn’t have to worry about Octavia or Chase anymore. “But—” I turned to him and raise an eyebrow.

“I don’t think I’m going to like this “but”.” Nick chuckled at me.

“I think you’re right.”

“Well, rip the band-aid off.”

“Reginald has asked me to come to his territory when he leaves.” I let out a long sigh. “Just the two of us.”

“And you can’t decline?”

“He came to our pack when I asked, and he has been nothing but compliant since he’s been here. If I were to refuse his invitation, he would take that personally.”

“And that would be bad for the alliance that we just made official.”

“Exactly.”

“So how long do we have to stay?”

“I’ll make it as short as possible. A few days max.”

“I guess I should pack my bags then.”