Part 7
1544 Words
Staring at her body lying on the floor Carter staggered back. His eyes rolled back and the breath caught in his throat. It was happening to him. He clutched his head, feeling it heavy and dizzy, trying to grasp at the reality. The harsh lighting flashed in front of his eyes and he tried to blink. Why was it happening to him again?
"I can control it. I can" He mumbled to himself trying to keep his eyes open. The nurse told him he was cured and nothing like that would ever happen again. Was she lying?
His sharp canines dug into the side of his lips, his nails growing longer and he knew that his wolf was threatening to come out. He cannot do that, he cannot let that happen. There was an omega injured in front of him and if he transformed fully he would lose control of his surrounding. Carter's wolf may try to run away to save from the pain.
"Go back!" Carter yelled, throwing his head back, his voice throaty and loud. How he wished that he could just snap out of it and help her as soon as he can. It took him a while to stop seeing the bright light in front of his eyes.
When his breathing returned to normal he rushed towards Amelia. The sweet omega. Fighting against the pounding in his head he leaned down and examined her face. She was unconscious, blood spurting out of her palm, staining the side of her dress. His eyes roamed around trying to find something to control the bleeding. There might be something in that knife because of the way she suddenly fell unconscious. When he couldn't find anything around he gripped at her hand and tore a piece of his shirt.
"You'll be fine" He mumbled under his breath as he tied the cloth around her palm. It was stained with her blood immediately.
He knew that he needed to get her medical help as soon as he called. It was midnight and there was no way that the pack doctor would be awake. Thinking against it he stood up and cautiously picked her up. She shifted in his arms, her head resting against his chest and he looked down at her. What was so special about her? Why can't he ignore her like she was just some other Omega? Why did he feel heaviness in his heart and the pain in his body as if he was hurt? What if Zaid was correct and she was truly his mate?
Shaking his head at those thoughts he focused on walking back to the packhouse. He didn't want to worry his mother so he quietly sneaked from behind, careful to avoid the patrolling guards. It was the route he found out with his cousins Evan and Erik. They use to sneak away late at night from the exact same route. At the mention of their names he perked. Maybe they can help him after all.
He securely placed her on his bed, pushing the sheets over her body and called the pack doctor. No one picked up. Rubbing his forehead he paced around the room while holding the phone against his ear. He should have directly taken her to the pack hospital but it was miles away.
Exhaling sharply he finally dialled his cousins. Fortunate for him they had managed to resolve the tension between them at Emily's party. He thought they were putting on a show but when they invited him for their mating ceremony he was touched. Carter was also asked to be the best man at their wedding.
"Hello?" A groggy voice answered from the other side. Carter noticed the huge clock above the wall and realised that it must be 3:00 a.m. in New York. They might be sleeping.
He cleared his throat, "Hello Evan, it's Carter"
"I got that from the caller ID. What happened?"
Carter scoffed at his tone. Even in the middle of the night, his cousin was mouthy. Then again he was living with Aniya, his mate. No one could blame him.
"The omega-Amelia I mean...we were walking to the packhouse when she got stabbed..."
Evan made a sound, "Stabbed? Are you hurt? What's going on?"
"Will you let me finish?" Carter huffed, "The knife was probably poisonous because she is unconscious and her palm is bleeding. I need a doctor Evan please...just someone here because the back doctor is not responding."
"Okay okay..." Evan hummed and there was some shuffling on his side. Carter assumed that he was getting out of the bed. The static made him flinch before a sound came through.
"It's Erik here. Are you okay?"
Carter sighed, looking over his shoulder a notice that there was no movement from the omega, "I'm fine. She's not. I don't know what I am going to do Erik"
"Take a breath and sit down first. Please"
"Erik..."
"Just listen to me this once"
"Okay" Carter sat on the nearby couch, his hands shaking. He hadn't realised it before.
"Is there something to hold nearby?"
"Er..." Carter looked around and noticed a remote nearby.
"There's a remote nearby"
"Okay hold it and focus on that alright? Just look at that and nothing else"
For few seconds Carter did that and noticed that he was finally able to breathe and stopped shaking. His head was still throbbing but it was better than before.
"I feel better," He said quietly, almost ashamed to admit it over the phone. That's the exact kind of thing he wants to get over.
Alphas in the camp are made fun of for having anxiety or panic attacks as if they are some sort of curse. He is aware of doing that sometimes too. Admitting having them makes him weak. Then he talked to Erik about it who was open to discussing how mental health is alike and there's nothing embarrassing to talk about it.
Erik breathed, "Good. Now nothing will happen to her. Evan is sending a doctor on your way, yeah?"
"Okay thank you"
"That's what brothers are for."
Carter hummed and he talked for a few minutes about the doctor and took her number. He was on his feet after the phonecall ended, hovering over the bed and checking upon her obsessively.
A few minutes later the doctor arrived through the back door and he was asked to wait outside while she checked upon on Amelia. The entire time he hoped that he would not wake anyone from the packhouse.
"She'll be fine." The doctor's voice startled him. He turned around.
"Huh?"
"It was a mild cut not too deep fortunately but because the knife was poisoned her body couldn't handle it." He took a peek at Amelia who was still lying on the bed with her eyes closed.
The doctor gave him a smile, "Don't worry she'll be up in a few hours. I gave her an injection which will kick in soon."
"Okay thank you. I really appreciate your help" He whispered softly. She blushed and walked back to the couch near the bed.
"I'll be here till she wakes up if you don't mind"
"No, I don't. Please if you need anything I'll wait outside" Carter said and walked out but not before taking one last look at Amelia
***
The next morning Zaid noticed him standing outside the room so Carter had no option but to tell him everything. His beta was shocked and enraged.
"Did they seem familiar?"
Carter shook his head, "That's the strange thing. I had never seen those rogues anywhere around here before. It felt like they were waiting to attack"
"Oh?"
Carter sighed, "I need a coffee"
Zaid stared at him from top to bottom and hummed, "You desperately do. Let's get something from the kitchen"
"But-"
Zaid pinned him with a look, "The doctor is there with her. Besides it's not like she would wake up the minute you move away from here"
"I know that but-"
"It's not your fault. Do you hear me? You could not have predicted that attack and besides you were there to save her. Just forget about it"
Only if that was easy. Carter had the entire night to think how he royally f****d up. It was because of him that she was lying on the bed. He had the tendency to overthink and blame himself. Maybe it he hadn't provoked them like that then they wouldn't have injured her. So many different scenarios ran through his mind.
"I'll try"
Zaid sighed, "Let's go"
As they sat down for the coffee Zaid was narrowing his eyes at Carter. Unable to take it anymore he asked, "Is there something on my face?"
"No, but I feel like you are not telling me everything"
Well, Carter did skip few details about how he was about to forcefully shift into wolf form and experienced a seizure sort of. He didn't want his beta to judge him.
"Maybe"
"The witch is in town you know"
Carter shifted in his seat, feigning innocence, "So?"
"She's coming to see you today."
"Whatever" Carter rolled his eyes even though he was relieved to know that. He will finally get answers about himself.
***
- Writer
