Chapter 3

• My tires screeched as I pulled into the hospital gates, the security guard barely jumping out of the way in time. I didn't have time for formalities - I needed to get her inside, now.
• "Hey, you can't just-" the guard started, but stopped short when he got a good look at me. "Alpha James?"
• "Move!" I barked, clutching the bleeding woman in my arms. She was so still, her white dress soaked with crimson. The smell of her blood and the floral scent of her perfume twisted my gut.
• "R-right away, sir!" The guard scrambled to open the gates, eyes wide. "Dr. Michael is-"
• I didn't wait for him to finish, barreling through the entrance and into the lobby. The underground hospital was bustling, wolves of all ages darting between exam rooms and surgical suites. But I had eyes only for the familiar figure rushing towards me.
• "Michael!" I called, my voice cracking. "You have to help her, please!"
• Michael took one look at the woman and immediately snapped into doctor mode. "Get her to the OR, now!" He gestured to the nearby orderlies. "Type and cross, we need two units ASAP! And page Dr. Wilkins, tell her we have a critical trauma patient inbound."
• The bustle of activity was dizzying as they wheeled her away. I tried to follow, but Michael put a hand on my chest, stopping me. "Stay here. Let us work."
• "But-"
• "James." His voice softened, brown eyes filled with concern. "Trust me. I'll do everything I can."
• With one last fleeting glance at the woman, I let them take her. My legs felt shaky as I sank into the nearest chair, head in my hands.
• Amelia sidled up next to me, draping herself across my lap. "Jaaamess, what's going on? Why are you so tense?" Her fingers traced lazy patterns on my chest. "I thought we were going to have fun tonight."
• I gently pushed her off, guilt churning in my gut. I shouldn't have brought Amelia with me. She was the last thing on my mind right now.
• The woman's still, pale face haunted me. Why had she been out there alone, in a wedding dress of all things? Where was her mate, her pack? Rage boiled in my veins at the thought of her being abandoned. No one deserved that kind of pain.
• It reminded me too much of my own loss. Three years ago, I'd been just like this woman - ready to get married, ready to pledge my life to the woman I loved. And then, in an instant, she was gone. Ripped from me in a senseless accident, the driver fleeing the scene and leaving her to bleed out on the road.
• I'd been devastated, shattered beyond repair. For months, I couldn't even bring myself to shift, the wolf inside me howling with anguish. The pack had tried to help, to console me, but nothing could fill the gaping hole in my chest. Not even Amelia and our casual arrangement.
• Now, seeing this woman so close to death, my wolf stirred restlessly. It wanted to protect her, to keep her safe. I didn't understand the pull, the need to be by her side. Was it because she reminded me of my lost mate? Or was there something more?
• The elevator doors opened and I looked up, hope flaring in my chest. But it was only Jason, striding through the lobby with his usual air of cool detachment. I braced myself for the impending lecture.
• "What the hell were you thinking, James?" He demanded, storming over. "Driving while intoxicated? I thought you were done with that reckless bullshit."
• "I wasn't drunk!" I shot back, hackles rising. "She just came out of nowhere, Jason. I couldn't stop in time."
• “Typical of you brother, expecting others to clean up your messes.’’
• “Just shut up Jason. She’s going to make it. She can’t die because of me.’’
• “Why? Because your mate died just like this and maybe it means you’ve become the very person you hate the most.’’ His words felt like knives in my chest. I clenched my fist,my wolf wanted to come out. To shut my brother up.
• “Take that back right now!’’ I demanded, getting in his face, “I am nothing like that coward. He hit her and left her behind to bleed out. I took her and brought her here.’’
• “Well congratulations brother, you’re now a decent wolf. What’s the next miracle? Will you start acting like a true Alpha instead of drinking all the liquor and hosting stupid parties?”
• "Enough!" We both turned at Michael's sharp bark. He strode towards us, surgical scrubs stained with blood. "This is a hospital, in case you two morons forgot. Keep your pissing contest outside."
• Jason's lips thinned, but he inclined his head slightly. "How is she, Michael?"
• Michael's gaze flicked between us, suspicion clear. "Stable, for now. She had some internal bleeding and a nasty concussion, but her wolf is strong. Already started the healing process by the time we got her."
• I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "So she'll be okay?"
• "She'll live." Michael crossed his arms, eyes narrowing. "Though I don't know if I can say the same for you two, if you keep this up."
• Jason's jaw tightened. "I assume you have something to say, Michael."
• "As a matter of fact, I do." Michael stepped closer, anger radiating off him in waves. "Now that you’re here, I don’t need a stupid appointment to see my brother.’’
• “Step brother.’’ Jason corrected him.
• “When are you going to stop being a stubborn ass and let me open a clinic in the pack? My patients deserve the best care, not this dingy overflow ward you call a hospital."
• Jason's brow arched. "When you stop expecting handouts and earn your place like the rest of us."
• "Earn my place?" Michael's voice rose in pitch. "My mother married your father, in case you've forgotten. This should have been my pack from the start!"
• "My pack?" Jason laughed, a harsh, mirthless sound. "You're lucky I even allow you to practice here, considering your family's history."
• "History?" Michael's eyes flashed gold. "The only history here is how your father used and discarded my mother like-"
• "Enough!" I roared, my own wolf rising to the surface. "This isn't helping her!"
• They both fell silent, glaring at each other. I took a steadying breath, trying to rein in my wolf's protective instincts.
• "Michael, please." I looked at him, pleading. "Just tell me she's going to be okay."
• Some of the tension left Michael's shoulders. "She'll make it. But..." He hesitated, glancing at Jason. "There's something else you both need to know."
• Jason arched a brow. "Well?"
• Michael's gaze shifted to the closed OR doors. "When we were operating, I... I noticed something. About her wolf."
• I felt a tendril of unease curl in my gut. "What do you mean?"
• "She has four mating bonds." Michael's voice was barely above a whisper. "All of them are active."
• Jason's eyes widened fractionally, the only sign of his surprise. "Impossible."
• "I'm telling you, it's true." Michael shook his head. "I've never seen anything like it. Her wolf is so... powerful. Overwhelming, even. It's like she's drawing in mates from all over."
• I stared at him, mind racing. Four mates? How could that be? I'd only ever heard legends of such rare, blessed wolves. To have even one fated mate was considered a blessing. But four?
• “You know what that means, right?’’
• “Yes. We shouldn’t be associated with her. Whoever her mates are, they’ll bring war to us when they find out James hit her with his car.’’ My brother said, and for the first time, Michael agreed with Jason.
• “We all know the legend. A woman with more than one mate bond holds a bigger destiny. Destruction and death follows them everywhere. One hundred years ago, women like her were hunted down and burned like witches. We cannot be connected to her.’’ Michael said.
• Michael's gaze flicked between us, a strange mix of emotions flickering across his face. "Once she’s healed, send her off to her family, anonymously. Ensure no one ever finds out what happened here.” Michael spoke quickly, he led us into the room where the girl was just sleeping, machines hooked to her. “If you don’t, you two are about to have your worlds turned upside down."
• “We can’t just abandon her,’’
• “Don’t you get James,’’ My brother roared, “This is not just about us. If we’re linked to her, our pack is in danger. Everyone we know. Sooner or later, the ax will fall. It’s been 100 years since a woman with more than one mate bond was born. She has four. Whatever she is, whatever her destiny is, best to not be linked to it.’’
• I opened my mouth to say something, but the woman stirred in her bed as she opened her eyes. The three of us froze, she looked at us.
• “Where..where am I?’’
• The second I looked at her eyes, they turned bright red. That’s impossible, she’s my mate.