Something So Unexpected

Chapter 11

Aiden’s POV

I opened my eyes slowly and blinking a few times as my eyes adjusted to the light. I took in the room around me, remembering where I was. The heart monitor on Jamie was steady, giving me a sense of security. I looked out of the window in the clinic and noticed the sun was rising. We had been sleeping all night.

There you are, Sleepyhead. Glad to see you up. Hunter joked to me in my mind.

Her sweet scent lulled me to sleep. With the adrenaline crash, it’s no wonder. I defended. Damn. Now it’s like I’m arguing with myself.

I understand. I could feel your concern over Jamie. I was worried too. Hunter replied, which pacified me. The last thing I needed was my wolf giving me s**t.

I thought of something, remembering my conversation with Dr. Michaels. Did you know she was part wolf?

No. Her initial scent was masked and I could not sense her. My mind started wandering trying to rationalize what was happening.

Why was she masked and how? Is it something she even is aware of? Does she know she’s a wolf? My thoughts were interrupted by Hunter’s voice again.

Ember.

What does that mean? I didn’t understand what you’re saying. I replied, annoyance evident in my tone.

Her wolf’s name is Ember. Without any more explanation, Hunter retreated to the back of my mind. Wait, what? She has a wolf?

Questions came flooding into my brain. How did he know this? Would she be able to shift? Does she know that she has a wolf? My heartrate accelerated as I considered these new revelations.

The door opened and Dr. Michaels entered the room.

“Ahh, good morning Alpha. I see you are awake. I came in earlier, but you were asleep and I figured after the encounter, you both could use some rest.” He looked at me expectantly.

“Good morning, Doc.” I said, thoughts still circling about my Luna. She was turning into quite the mystery. I realized what he had said about not wanting to wake me up. “In the future, please wake me if it is about my Luna’s condition.” My voice was laced with authority.

“Yes, Alpha,” he replied weakly, bowing his head in respect and bearing his neck. My authority as an alpha meant that the entire pack would have to submit to me. I did not like using my authoritative Alpha voice, but there are times when it’s necessary.

“What did you find out from the results?” I asked, shifting topics.

“I checked her levels and all her vitals are good, for a hybrid.”

“Is the fact that she’s a hybrid confirmed?” I asked. I wondered if he was still speculating or if there was validation.

“Well, I did send some blood out for a DNA test to verify, but those results won’t be back for a while yet. Probably a day or two.

However, werewolves have different levels than humans.” I nodded, so far following along. He continued, “So, Luna’s levels are in between werewolf and human levels. For example, you know how werewolves never get sick?”

“Uh huh,” I agreed, nodding my head again, trying to understand where he was going with this.

“Werewolves typically have strong immune systems due to the high white blood cell count to fight off infection. We also tend to have higher levels of iron as our bodies require us to make more blood for the levels of activity. Her levels for both of these indicate that she is very likely a hybrid because her levels are above a human, but below a werewolf.”

“Ahh, I understand,” I said. I remembered what Hunter told me. “Hunter said Jamie’s wolf’s name is Ember.”

“How did he know that? If her wolf was suppressed, how would they have communicated?” He asked.

I shrugged in response. “I’m really not sure. Hunter told me when I woke up.”

“Interesting,” he murmured, more to herself than me.

“Did you learn anything about the light situation?” I asked, still amazed by what happened there.

“I did some research and it points to witchcraft. You said it happened when you were bitten?” I nodded. He paused for a moment and continued, “I would say it was likely witchcraft. There was a spell that was binding her wolf, suppressing it from communicating, and when you were hurt, her wolf broke the spell.”

This answer made sense, but really, it opened up more questions than answers. As I became lost in my thoughts again, Dr. Michaels had finished checking on Jamie and retreated from the room.

After a moment, I heard a buzzing sound and realized it was Jamie’s phone. When the nurses had changed her, they left her clothes in a neat pile on the counter. I checked her pockets and found the phone. Oh crap. I held my breath for a moment before answering the phone apprehensively. The name on the caller id read Jillian.

“Hello?”

“Where is she?” the female voice yelled through the phone, concern and anger laced in her voice.

I fumbled on my words, not knowing what to say. It’s not like I can tell her that we were attacked by feral werewolves and her sister glowed, scared them off, then fainted and has been out ever since.

“She didn’t come home last night, so I’ll ask you again. Where. Is. She?” She annunciated each word.

“Jamie had a medical issue. I took her to the doctor. She is unconscious right now, but the doctor says she’ll be ok.”

“What do you mean medical issue? She is a healthy 22 year old! Did you have a car accident? Did you hurt her? What happened?” Damn, this woman was protective over her sister and it was scary.

“I don’t really know, unfortunately. I’m hoping she can tell me more when she wakes up.”

“Did you take her up somewhere high? Jamie has a fear of heights. Is that why she fainted?”

“Uhh, there may have been a hot air balloon as part of the date,” I sheepishly replied, internally facepalming. I wished she’d told me rather than keeping quiet, although it made a lot more sense now why she had asked if we were going somewhere. I omitted the fact that she fainted after we were already back on the ground.

“Tell me what doctor you’re at and I’ll come stay with her,” she said, annoyance in her voice. I knew she wasn’t annoyed at her sister, but at me for not knowing better. It’s not like we were at a regular hospital and if Jamie didn’t know she was a wolf, then Jillian probably didn’t either. However, Jillian had every right to see her sister.

“Uhh, I’m at a private clinic. I’ll send a car to the diner and you can follow them from there.” I suggested, holding my breath, and hoping that she’d accept.

“I’ll be there in 10,” she said, with no room for debate. s**t, she must be worried sick. I mindlinked Griffin to drive to the Kingston Diner and meet a girl named Jillian. I let him know that she was going to follow him back to the pack territory and to take her straight to the clinic.

I took a deep breath as I returned her phone to the pile of clothes. I went to check the time and saw 18 missed calls. I bet those were all from Jillian. I can’t believe I forgot to inform her sister. I begrudgingly sat back in the chair, staring at my mate.

I heard a soft groan come from her. I jumped up, quickly grabbing her hand out of reflex.

I saw her eyes flutter open. My beautiful mate’s green eyes were shining like emeralds. She blinked a few times, adjusting to the lights around her.

My mate was awake!

Jamie made eye contact with me and smiled briefly, before her heart rate started increasing as the memories from last night came flooding back to her. She threw my hand away from her, making hunter whimper in my mind.

Oh, s**t. She remembered. I mindlinked a nurse, who came running in to try to calm her down.

Jamie had her knees tucked into her body and visibly relaxed when she saw a female nurse near her. It allowed Jamie to ask me the question that had been on her mind.

“What are you?”

Where do I begin?