Jacob's P.O.V
"Help."
The word rang in my head like a bell, sharp and desperate.
Ellie's voice.
My body skidded to a halt mid-stride, my heart stopping as if someone had punched the air from my lungs. The wind hissed through the trees around me, but all I could hear was the echo of her voice. Faint. Weak.
My hand shot to my side — no wound, no blood. But a phantom pain lanced through me anyway, like I was feeling her injury through the bond.
She was hurt. Badly.
"Ellie?" I reached out through the link, panic rising. No response. Just silence.
I shifted without hesitation. The second my paws hit the ground, the world snapped into sharper focus — scents, vibrations, the heat of scorched earth on the wind.
That's when I caught it.
The smell of her blood.
My muscles tensed. I ran.
Branches whipped past me as I tore through the forest, lungs burning, heart pounding like a war drum. The scent trail grew stronger — blood, fire, smoke, pain.
She was close.
She was slipping away.
"Hold on," I whispered aloud through gritted teeth, shifting mid-run back into my human form without stopping. "I'm coming, Ellie. Just—please—hold on."
The clearing broke open ahead.
My heart slammed against my ribs. I launched forward, pushing my legs harder. I leapt over fallen logs slick with moss and ducked under low-hanging branches brushing my face. The forest blurred past, but the scent grew stronger.
Smoke burned my eyes before I even saw the flames.
No.
I skidded to a halt at the northern borders. Trees crackled and hissed, flames licking hungrily at dry bark and dead leaves. A wide circle of scorched earth lay in the clearing's center. The smell of smoke and blood hung thick in the air—coppery and bitter.
One rogue's blood, and one of Ellie's.
Rogues had invaded our territory. And I hadn't known.
"Ellie!" I shouted, voice raw with fear.
No answer.
I crept forward, scanning the clearing. The ground was trampled, leaves crushed beneath invisible feet. Blood splattered against a tree trunk—fresh and dark.
"Ellie!" I called again, louder, shaking with dread.
Then, soft but clear: "I'm right here."
My head snapped toward the voice.
She was slumped against a tree, her skin pale as ash, her breath shallow. A rusted pipe was jammed deep into her lower abdomen, blood oozing from the wound and soaking her clothes.
"Ellie..." I dropped to my knees beside her, heart breaking at the sight. Her golden eyes fluttered open, barely meeting mine.
"What... took you so long?" she whispered, forcing a weak smile that didn't reach her eyes.
I brushed damp hair from her face. "I'm sorry. I'm here now. We're going to get you out."
Her fingers clenched my shoulder tightly.
"This is going to hurt," I warned, dread twisting in my gut.
She nodded faintly. I braced myself and pulled the pipe free. Her scream tore through the forest as she collapsed against me.
No time to think—only action. I ripped off my shirt and pressed it hard to the wound, trying to staunch the bleeding.
"We have to get you to the pack hospital," I said, lifting her bridal-style. Her grip tightened on my shirt as I started running, every step jarring her fragile body.
"Hang on," I murmured, voice steady even as panic roared inside me.
I mind-linked Dr. Jake, ordering him and his team to meet us at the hospital doors in two minutes flat. His immediate response was a relief I barely dared feel. I also pinged Christian—he already knew Ellie was out there, engaging the rogues. Christian was investigating the patrol's disappearance at the northern border.
I sent quick messages to Ted, Mariah, Mom, and Dad, telling them to meet me at the hospital.
The hospital was quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos outside. The sterile scent of antiseptic hung heavy in the air, mixing with the faint metallic tang of blood that seemed to cling to my clothes. The soft hum of medical equipment was broken only by the hurried footsteps of doctors and nurses moving swiftly through the corridors.
I carried Ellie carefully through the sliding doors, the weight of her fragile body heavier than I expected. Her breathing was shallow but steady, the rise and fall of her chest barely perceptible beneath my arms. Her skin was cold against my bare chest where I had pressed my shirt to her wound, now damp and stained dark red.
Aunt Mariah was waiting inside the hospital, her face pale but composed. Her eyes, though, betrayed her—red-rimmed and glistening with unshed tears. She was the pack's top doctor, but the rules kept her from operating on family members. She had come anyway, to get updates and offer what comfort she could.
As the medical team took Ellie from my arms, I felt a surge of helplessness. They moved quickly—Jake barking out orders, nurses prepping stretchers and equipment. The smell of rubbing alcohol and iodine filled the room as they wheeled Ellie away, leaving me behind in the stark hallway.
The corridor walls seemed too bright, too white. The echoes of footsteps, the distant beeping of machines, and the muffled voices of doctors filled the silence that pressed down on me.
I stood there, fists clenched at my sides, barely breathing.
After what felt like an eternity, Dr. Mariah approached, her voice low and steady despite the tears pooling in her eyes. "Jacob..."
I looked at her, swallowing the lump in my throat.
"What happened to my baby girl?" she whispered, her hand trembling as she reached for mine.
"I don't know exactly," I said, my voice raw. "There was an attack. Ellie was out there when it happened."
Her eyes filled with tears, and she let out a soft sob, leaning into Ted for support. I could see the weight of fear and helplessness pressing down on everyone here.
Ted's jaw was tight, his voice fierce as he asked, "Do you know who did this?"
"I don't yet," I admitted, anger simmering beneath the surface. "But I'm going to find out."
Before I could say more, my father stepped forward, his voice steady but commanding. "Why weren't we warned? Why was the patrol missing?"
I looked to Christian, who had just arrived. His face was grim. "Ellie mind-linked me before the attack. She smelled rogues on the territory and went to check it out herself. The patrol was supposed to be there—but they weren't. They were all at the coronation party."
A heavy silence settled over us, the weight of failure almost suffocating.
Mariah wiped her tears away and straightened. "I'll stay here, get regular updates, and support Ellie once she's stable since I can't operate on family."
I nodded at her in acknowledgement and the room went quiet. I should be heading out to see to it that the borders are tightened and punished those warriors who left us unguarded but I can't leave when Ellie is like this. The image of her impaled body against the trunk of the tree now forever itched into my mind and I have to know she'll be ok before I go do what I need to as Alpha.
I need to
Third Peron P.O.V
Ellie lay on the hospital bed, pale and fragile beneath the harsh white lights that seemed almost too bright for tired eyes. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the room, mingling with the faint, sharp scent of blood that still clung to her skin and clothes. The steady beep of the heart monitor was a rhythmic reminder of her fight to stay alive.
Outside the operating room, tension hung as heavy as smoke.
Jacob stood motionless in the hallway, his chest heaving with restrained panic. His pants were still stained with Ellie's blood, drying in dark splotches over his skin. Christian stood beside him, grim and silent, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the double doors of the OR like they might offer answers if he stared long enough.
Only one person was allowed beyond the crowded hallway—Dr. Mariah Hudson, Aunt Mariah, and one of the senior physicians on staff. Hospital policy forbade any family members from being involved in treatment, but Mariah's position gave her clearance to be near. She didn't ask permission; she simply took her place outside the OR viewing window, her hands trembling slightly as she braced them on the glass. She couldn't step inside. She couldn't touch her pup. But she could watch.
Inside the operating room, the medical team worked with relentless urgency. Ellie lay pale and motionless beneath the harsh surgical lights, her breathing shallow, lips tinged with blue. A bloody compress was pressed against her abdomen as Dr. Jake and his team moved with swift coordination, assessing and repairing the damage caused by the rusted pipe that had impaled her.
"We've got a ruptured vessel here. She's still bleeding internally," Dr. Jake said sharply, voice muffled by his mask.
"Pressure's dropping—seventy over forty," a nurse reported. "We're losing her."
That's when the heart monitor flatlined.
The tone was sudden and unforgiving—a flat, continuous beep that sent a chill through every person in the room.
"Code blue!" someone shouted. "Initiate CPR!"
"No—charge paddles! Clear!"
They shocked her.
Nothing.
Again.
Still nothing.
"Come on, Ellie," Dr. Jake whispered under his breath, sweat beading on his forehead. "Don't you dare give up on me now."
On the third attempt, her heart gave a faint, flickering beat. Weak, but there.
Mariah clutched her arms to her chest, staring through the glass as Ellie's body jolted. Her vision blurred with tears, but she refused to look away. Her instincts screamed to be in there helping, holding Ellie's hand, reassuring her that everything would be okay. But the oath she took as a physician kept her rooted to the spot—watching, waiting, praying.
---
Back in the hallway, Jacob leaned against the wall, every fiber of his body thrumming with helpless rage. He wanted to punch something, to scream at the universe for letting this happen, for almost taking her from him. Christian put a steadying hand on his shoulder, grounding him.
"She's strong," Christian murmured. "She's gonna make it."
Jacob didn't reply. He couldn't. Not until he saw her eyes open again.
He could tell that the former Enforcer was also feeling the same way.
----
Inside the OR, the complications mounted. Every time they gained ground, something else faltered. Her heart stopped twice more, each time returning weaker than before. It was a brutal cycle—repair, stabilize, lose rhythm, revive. They packed the wound, stemmed the internal bleeding, and finally managed to stabilize her.
When Dr. Jake gave the nod to close her up, the room exhaled in collective relief—but none dared to call it over. The battle was still being fought inside her body, and it would be for days to come.
Hours later, Dr. Jake stepped out of the OR, his scrubs soaked and his expression drawn.
"She's stable," he announced, voice hoarse. "We lost her three times on the table. Her heart... it kept stopping. But she's alive. We've moved her to the ICU."
Mariah closed her eyes with a quiet sob of relief. Jacob nearly collapsed to the floor, gripping the wall for support.
"She's going to need time, now that her wolf would have to work overtime to heal her wounds from the inside...and given her wolf's already weakened state, she'll probably fully heal in a week," Jake added. "No visitors yet. Her body is still under extreme stress. We'll keep her sedated for now."
"Can I see her?" Jacob asked, almost begged. Jake looked skeptical and was ready to deny the Alpha of his request.
"Through the glass. That's all I need for now." Jake sighed and nod his head in return
He followed in silence to the ICU window. There Ellie lay, still as death but breathing. Machines surrounded her, the steady rhythm of the heart monitor now the most precious sound in the world.
Jacob pressed his hand to the glass.
"I'm right here, Ellie," he whispered. "You held on. I'm proud of you."
Mariah stood beside him, eyes fixed on her Ellie, whispering a silent prayer to the Moon Goddess. There was still a long road ahead, but for now, Ellie was alive.
And that was enough.
After a few moments, Christian pulled up. "Gamma Carl is rounding up the patrol team now. We need to handle it." he said to Jacob.
Right, now he has to go back to being an Alpha.
I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders. He nods his head in acknowledgement before he bids his goodbye to Aunt Mariah.
***
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Izzy