New Beginning

CHAPTER SEVEN

Continuation from previous chapter…  

Daniel’s P.O.V

Suddenly I’m pulled out of my train of thoughts by the sight in front of me. OH NO!!!

“Get away from her you filthy scumbags!” I eye the first guy that stands up from leaning over her. He has light brown hair that’s quite long and has a scruffy beard. He is rather tall, but not as tall as me and has a muscular figure, which shows that he must work out a lot.  They look like common thugs. Who knows what they did to her? He wipes his hair from his face and gives me a sly smirk. One that sends a chill down my spine. The other two still hovers over her. It seems like they are trying to wake her up.

“Watch your tongue boy! You seem a bit young to take on all three of us!” The bearded bastard says this in a very loud and harsh tone. They all started to laugh. Pissing me off even more! Why is it that everyone always underestimates my skills?

“What the hell did you do to her? Why is she unconscious?” I try to sound as intimidating as possible. I don’t care if they take it as a threat. The bearded guy is the one who answers. He must be the leader or boss of whatever gang these guys are from. It’s common in this part of town.

“That’s none of your business boy! Now get out of here before the boys and I lose control and rip you to shreds.” He says this with so much venom in his voice like he means every word he just spoke. What the hell! This guy can’t be for real, can he? Well, if he is then he’s definitely a sadist. Ripping me to shreds! That just sounds disgusting and I’m sure it’s not even do-able. While I’m still busy comprehending what the guy said, with a look of disgust on my face, I see one of the other guys also standing up. He is short with a lean body built; his arms completely covered in tattoos. And unlike his bearded friend his face is completely shaven, and his short dark blonde hair is completely gelled back. By the look in his dark brown eyes, I can see he’s just as evil as his boss, maybe even more so. I put my hands up to show that I mean no harm and I don’t want to start trouble, but I still keep a serious expression on my face.

“I’m not looking for any trouble guys. All I want is the girl. She’s a friend of mine and as you can see, she’s not in a very good condition. I really just want to get her to a hospital before she gets worse. You guys wouldn’t want her death on your conscience, now would you?” I try to play the sympathy card, but I doubt that it will work on these scumbags. I chuckle slightly to try and ease the mood. Oh no! Now the third guy also gets up. And damn I must say I’m taken aback slightly by the height of this guy. He is even a little taller than my 2.0 meter height, well at least I’m still growing since I’m only 17 years old. He must be easily just over 2.2 meter in height. He has dark red locks hanging just above his shoulder and is built like Dwayne Johnson, and if you do not know who that is, just think about WWE wrestling, he is known as ‘The Rock’. He must be the fighter of the group. Sh!t I hate to admit it, but I don’t think I stand a chance against that mountain of a man, or shall I say giant! I’m once again pulled out of my thoughts by the leader of the group.

“Are you for real d!ckhead? You’re not getting the girl, now scram before we make you!” He growls at me while saying those words. Or wait maybe I just imagined that... F#ck what am I going to do now? Should I try and fight these guys and most probably end up dead or should I go and look for help? But on the other hand, what will these as$holes do to her or where will they take her? Sh!t, Sh!t, Sh!t... OH f#ck this! I can’t just leave Adelaide here. I get a sudden adrenaline rush and reply with a smirk.

“I’m not going anywhere! Now bring it on b!tches, because I’m not going anywhere without my girl!” I shout this at them, but wait... Did I just say, ‘my girl’? Oh, what the hell. No time to ponder on that thought. Before I even realize what’s happening the giant is in front of me ready to punch me with his right fist. Luckily, I dodge the blow and move to the left to put a bit of distance between us. I notice the other two didn’t join in the fight and is now hovering over Adelaide, maybe trying to wake her up again. They probably think the giant red head is enough to take me out. I take another step back trying to think of the best way to take this guy down. But yet again he is right in front of me and I block his punch to my stomach. The next thing I know he punches me in the face and F#ck it hurt like hell. My nose starts to bleed. At least I managed to block the next blow to my face, and I use the opportunity to swipe my right leg under him and trip him so that he falls on his back. Well they do say the bigger you are the harder you fall. I instantly start kicking him in the ribs and stomach while he tries to block the blows. I guess taking out a giant isn’t that difficult after all. By this time, the others realized that I have the upper hand and they start walking our way. I quickly kick the giant in the head a few more times, before the other two reaches us, so that I can make sure he’s passed out before I must deal with the others. As soon as I see the giant is lying there limp, I turn around and smirk at the others, standing about three meters away. I started laughing in their faces with my arms crossed over my chest.

“Really guys? I suppose this was the best fighter you had, right?” I can not help but laugh again, but this time bending over and holding my stomach because this is just too hilarious. They just stand there straight, with their arms hanging by their sides. But I can see by the looks on their faces that they are fuming with anger. Their faces are red with rage. It serves them right because they have no idea who they are messing with.

“You piece of sh!t! I will f#ck you up so good that your own mother won’t be able to recognize you!” Oh man the boss is seething with anger. His saliva spits everywhere with his constant yelling. I notice Blondie hasn’t said a word at all, but I can see he wants to kill me with the evil look in his eyes.

“Calm down boss man I’m sure if you continue yelling like that, you’ll have an aneurysm soon. Besides are you really ready for round two after you saw what I did with the giant over there? Oh yeah, and another thing, don’t you dare speak about my mother again!” Blondie takes a step forward, but before he can proceed his boss holds a hand in front of his chest to stop him. Boss man takes quick strides towards me his hands balled in fists from anger. I watch him cautiously to see what he plans to do first. But just as he was about to throw a punch with his balled fist, Blondie speaks up.

“Alpha we have to go right now! They are coming this way!” Oh, my goodness! Blondie can actually talk, like in say real words. I start laughing once again with them checking me out as if I’m an alien.

“What? I just came to the realization that Blondie over there can talk. He seemed so quiet the whole time I thought he’s a mute. And what the hell did he mean by ‘they’. Who are ‘they’? And what type of a name is ‘Alpha’? Shame, poor soul. Your mother must have really hated you when you were a baby.” Now they stare at me even more weirdly... Okay... At least it doesn’t seem like they want to kill me anymore.

“f**k of human! You’re lucky this time. But next time, believe me I will kill you and take that pretty girlfriend of yours for myself.” And with that said they pick up the giant and walk away as fast as they can. There is no way he’s coming near Adelaide again. As soon as they are out of view I quickly run to Adelaide. I check her pulse first and unfortunately her pulse is very weak.

“Damn what do I do?” I don’t have a cell phone on me. As soon as I was about to check my pockets for change, so I can call 911 from the phone booth, I hear a loud howl followed by a few more. Okay, that most definitely didn’t sound like dogs so now I’m officially terrified, because the howls didn’t sound that far away. I rush quickly to the phone booth and take out the little change I have in my pocket. I throw in the coins at the booth and as I was about to put in the 911 digits I was stopped by a very deep male voice.

“There’s no need for that.” I turn around slowly, and I am met with a tall man, dressed only in a dark faded jean without a top on. He looks like he is in his early thirties. He looks much taller than me with chocolate brown hair and piercing, forest green eyes with yellow specks around his irises. Weird, it looks exactly the same as mine. I’ve never met anyone with the same color eyes as mine. After looking over his features I start speaking.

“And why can’t I phone 911? I don’t know if you’ve realized but there is a girl lying there and she needs urgent medical attention? She is a dear friend of mine and I need to get her help. Please.” Yes, I’m begging. And I never beg. I’m just so worried about Adelaide. My heart starts to ache at the thought of her being in so much pain and I have no idea what’s wrong with her or if she will even survive. The next thing I know I see a few wolves emerging from the shadows. Dammit!!! What else will go wrong tonight. I think I’m about to faint.

“Calm down Daniel. They mean you no harm. They are with me.” And with that words said I am totally flabbergasted. I’m sure I am as white as a sheet right now, because I felt all the blood drain from my face. 

"Holy freaking moly! This is insane!" I say as I hold my  head between my hands, and stare wide eyed at the biggest wolves I've ever seen. He says 'They are with me.' as if it’s the most natural thing for a human to be walking around with a pack of wolves. 

BUT WAIT! Did he just call me Daniel? How does he know my name? I can feel the blood draining from my face. I take a few steps back so that I’m closer to Adelaide. I take a look around at the three wolves to make sure they don’t come near us. The shock must have been evident on my face, because he immediately tries to calm me down.

“Daniel I know you are shocked right now, but I promise you there is a really good explanation for all of this. I can explain everything to you later, but I suggest you and your lady friend come back with us so I can take her to my pack hospital. I’m afraid if we don’t get her there within the next half an hour she won’t make it. Her pulse is weakening by the minute. And the nearest hospital from here is over an hour away. So please trust me.” By the way he spoke I couldn’t catch any hint of a lie. 

Strangely I feel like I can trust him. It’s not like I really have a choice in the matter. Adelaide’s life depends on my decision. “Okay fine, but it’s only because my friend’s life depends on it. But I swear if my gut tells me something fishy is going on I will fight my way out of this.”

He starts to chuckle. And then there is a moment of silence. The next moment a black BMW SUV drives up to us. “Come on, get in. I will let my driver carry your friend to the car so she can sit at the back with you.” Oh how I hate being told what to do! 

“No thank you! I don’t trust you guys. I will carry her myself.” The driver and guy just eye me with smirks on their faces. Okay so what’s that about? I pick Adelaide up bridal style while the driver holds the back door open for us. I slip in carefully with Adelaide on my lap. When we are properly in the car the driver carefully closes the door. He proceeds to the other side to open the door for the other man. Once he’s done he gets in the driver seat and starts the car. 

I’m curious about the wolves so I decided to raise the topic. “So what about your wolves? Are you just going to leave them there all alone?” The man and driver suddenly start laughing. What the hell?!

“WTF it’s not like I told a joke. It’s a serious question. And by the way, what are your names? I can’t keep on referring to you as ‘the man’ and ‘driver’ in my head” And then they start laughing again. Seriously it’s like I’m dealing with children. 

The man eventually started speaking after wiping the tears from his cheeks because of all the laughing. “Well, to answer your first question, the wolves are fine. They are busy running back to my territory as we speak. And for the second question, my name is Rafael and my driver here is Jack." 

We drive out of this neighborhood and about 15 minutes later we turn left, on to a dirt road. It’s just forest around us. I gulp… I hope these guys don’t kill us here in the middle of the forest. “So where exactly are you taking us?” I ask Rafael. He turns around in his seat to look at me. “I’m taking you to my territory. We will be at the pack hospital real soon." I look at him in confusion. 

“And what exactly does your ‘territory’ and ‘pack hospital’ mean?" He is still looking at me like he does not really know how to answer me. “I seemed to forget that you are not familiar with all of this. Well, let me try and explain it in a way that you will understand. My territory is my land that I guard and where I protect my wol… I mean my people… And the pack hospital is the hospital where they get medical attention if they need it. You can say we are like our own community living here in the forest. Daniel, don’t dwell on this too much. I will tell you everything, when the time is right. Let’s first focus on your friend.” As he says that we stop in front of a huge double-story building. 

Medical staff is already waiting for us with a stretcher. The two men get out and Rafael instructs someone to get Adelaide inside as soon as possible. They open my door and I hand Adelaide over to two guys who put her on the stretcher and they immediately take her inside. I attempt to run after them to be with Adelaide, but a hand around my wrist, stops me. It’s Rafael. I give him an angry glare, “Don’t worry about her. She will be fine I promise. She is in good hands.”

Rafael’s P.O.V

I look at the poor kid. He is so worried about her. Things would have been so much easier if he grew up in the environment that he should have. If only his father wasn’t such a d!ckhead! I totally understand why my sister did what she did. If she did not flee away from Daniel’s father, when he was a mere baby, then he would have probably turned out just as evil as his father is now. I have not been in contact with Sheila, since she ran away from Robert. She wanted to cut all ties with her family, because she knew Robert would keep tabs on all her family members. She chose her son above all else.

I grabbed him by his wrist, before he had the chance to run after her. I don’t want him meddling while the medical staff does their job. “Don’t worry about her. She will be fine I promise. She is in good hands.” He just gives me an angry glare. I can understand why, he already has a strong bond with her. 

“Listen, we can go inside and wait for news in the waiting room. I’m sure you are starving as well. We can get you something to eat.” I let go of his wrist and it seems like he calmed down a bit. “Come on, follow me.” I mind link some guards of the pack to stand guard outside the hospital. I see about ten wolves emerge from the forest. I immediately see Daniel tense next to me, he also saw the wolves. 

“Daniel relax, I told you they are with me. In time I will explain everything to you.” I see he relaxes a bit. I start walking to the entrance of the hospital and he follows close behind.

Daniel’s P.O.V

There is so much on my mind right now. But the biggest part occupying my mind is Adelaide. Sweet, sweet Adelaide. I guess it’s best that Rafael stopped me from following her inside. The medical staff needs to do their job. 

I’m following Rafael inside. I saw some wolves again. Damn! They are huge. I don’t understand this whole situation. I’m hoping Rafael will explain everything real soon. I need to know what is going on. We walk through the entrance of the hospital. On the right hand side there are three cubicles where the receptionists sit. If you walk straight ahead there is a cafeteria. 

Suddenly Rafael speaks. "Let’s go to the cafeteria first and get you something to eat.” I just nod at him and give him a small smile. “Sounds good. Thank you.” “You’re welcome Daniel.” That’s another thing I should ask him. How does he know my name? 

But before I could ask, we are at the counter, to order food. “What would you like to eat?” I look at the wall behind the cashier, where they have the menu displayed. I see the cashier checking me out with lustful eyes and she licks her lips. 

Rafael speaks first. Causing the cashier to look his way right away. “Claudia, I would like to have two double chicken and cheese burgers with a large fries and a double shot of espresso please.” The cashier looks up at him, and what she says next, shocks me to the core. 

“Sure Alpha. And what would you like to order sir?” She looks at me with a wide smile, but for a moment I’m too shocked to answer her. So I just say the obvious thing. “I will have the same as Rafael, thank you.” I make sure to say his name loud and clear so she can hear me. That’s what he said his name is, not Alpha… 

“Claudia please make sure they deliver it to us at the VIP waiting room please.” “No problem Alpha. It will take about 15 minutes.” Again with ‘Alpha’! 

We turn around and walk towards the reception desk, but before we get there we turn left and walk down a hallway. All the units in the hospital are marked and has direction signs showing which way to go. We turn left again towards the emergency unit. We walk a while longer and on the right is a door with a sign that says VIP. 

We walk in and I’m stunned at how luxurious the place looks. On the left side, in the opposite corner there is a coffee machine on a rectangular table. There are also cups and everything you need to make coffee or tea. On the right side, also on the opposite corner, there is a TV mounted to a wall. A few sofas are placed in a rectangular manner making it look like a mini living room. There is also a small coffee table in front of the sofas with a vase on top that has beautiful lilies in. While I still admire the beauty of the waiting room, Rafael speaks up. 

“Daniel please have a seat and make yourself comfortable. I’m sure the food will arrive real soon. You can switch on the TV if you want to watch something.” Seriously, he wants me to watch TV while I’m worried about Adelaide and I need answers about everything that has been going on.

“I’m sorry Rafael, I don’t want to seem disrespectful, but I have too many questions to even be bothered to watch TV. And my first question is: How do you know my name?” I make myself comfortable on one of the one-seater sofas. Rafael takes a seat opposite to me. “Well, that is quite a difficult question, but I will answer it none the less. I will be straight with you. There are a lot of things that happened in the past, which you know nothing about.” I interrupt him rather rudely. “I don’t care! There are just too many questions that need answers. So spill the beans please.” I look him straight in the eyes with a serious facial expression. 

“All right… If you insist… I am your uncle. Your mother Sheila is my sister.” I stare at him wide-eyed. My mouth agape. What? How is this possible? How come my mother never told me that I have an uncle? “You have got to be kidding me right?” I start laughing. Yeah that is how I handle it when I’m nervous. I start laughing. Rafael clears his throat. It probably seems odd to him. That I get the laughing fits while he is having a serious conversation with me.

“I’m sorry Rafael but that hardly seems believable. My mom would have told me if I had an uncle. I know I have an aunt that lives in America, aunt Malia. And her son, my cousin David, lives in Cape Town. I know nothing about you!” I say the last part in a loud tone. Just then someone knocks on the door. 

“Come in!” Rafael says, while he keeps his eyes on me. Claudia comes in with the food and gives me a shy smile. I just give her a small smile in return. “Just put it on the coffee table please Claudia, then you may leave.” 

Rafael seems angry. Claudia did what he asked and immediately leaves. Rafael’s eyes are still on me. “Give your mother a call and ask her if I’m joking, because that is what you seem to think. This is serious Daniel. Do you think those guys are randomly after you and your girlfriend?” He seems enraged now. His arms are leaning on his thighs and his hands are balled in fists. “She’s not my girlfriend. And what do you expect of me? I just met you and now you’re telling me you are my uncle.” This is just getting too much for me. I bend forward and put my elbows on my thighs and hold my head in my hands. I close my eyes. I just want to get Adelaide and go home. 

I look up at Rafael and he looks deep in thought, his eyes looks glazed over. I break him out of his thoughts. “Do you mind if I eat my food now?” He is still deep in thought. I stand up and walk to him. I click my thumb and middle finger together in front of his face to get his attention. It takes a moment then he shakes his head from left to right and then he looks up to me. “I apologize, what did you say Daniel?” 

I scrunch my eyebrows together. What the heck just happened to him? Oh whatever… I’m hungry. I look him straight in his eyes, but it doesn’t seem glazed over anymore. “May I eat now?” I ask in an irritated tone. He replies: “Sure Daniel, help yourself. I need to go and take care of something quickly. I won’t be long.” With that he stands up and with quick strides he is out of the room.

Thank goodness. Now I can eat in peace. I grab my tray with food on and start munching one of the burgers. This is delicious! While I sit there alone, eating my food I can’t stop my wandering thoughts and think back at what Rafael told me. He can’t possibly be my uncle… can he? I try to think back to when all this drama in my life started… Suddenly there is one memory that comes to mind…

To be continued...