You are mine to protect

Trust

Chapter 3

Erica’s POV

The door was being pounded. I was afraid because it was dark outside. Has he located us? Mom looked terrible while she slept on the bed.

I was incredibly afraid. I held onto my plush wolf tightly, wishing that the person at the door would leave.

The door opened just in time to find me crawling behind the bed.

Mama, get out of bed. Help me...

Jasmine's POV

Once at the hotel, we changed and changed into our clothes. sprinting for the door with the number 13 on it. I knocked and yelled Susan's name. Open that f*****g door, Sue. Come on.

Aaron moved me aside with a gentle shove. He smashed the lock on the door by leaning his body against it and entered.

God, oh, my god.

Susan collapsed into the bed. She did, at least, resemble her. Beside the bed, on the floor, was the phone. After running over to her, the three males flipped her onto her back. I had to force myself not to cry out loud.

How could that scoundrel have hurt her? Her face was crimson and swollen. Her neck and shoulder were bandaged, and one arm was supported by a sling in a cast. Her breathing was faint but steady. It appears that he attempted to murder her.

The men were evaluating her wounds and conversing with Doc Matthew, who was still approximately twenty-five minutes away. I stood there, appreciating the suffering my poor friend had to go through. Her continued existence was astounding. In this state, how in the world did she make it all the way here? While the men carried out their examination, tears streamed down my cheeks.

Broken arm, dislocated shoulder, sprained ankle, forehead sutures, etc.

The list seemed endless. Doc Matthew took charge when the other members of the pack soon arrived. putting in an IV to deliver fluids and medication to her healthy arm. I began gathering their belongings while the men assisted the Doc. Beside the bed on the floor was a little black wolf. It was then that I saw the small girl's clothes on the chair. ERICA! Where in the world is Erica?

I hurried to look in the closet and bathroom in a panic. This was where she had to be. Erica would not be abandoned by Susan. Oh oh, what would happen if she was harmed? I was overcome with guilt.

"ERICA! Come on, my love; I know you're around somewhere. You must emerge. I'm Jasmine, and I'm your mom's friend. She called me on the phone to come amd take care of you. Erica, please, where are you?

Aaron heard me and started looking around the room. The bed was the only other area we failed to check. She dropped to the floor, pulled the bedding, and found Erica resting there. I'm grateful, Jesus.

"Go on, sweetie. I assure you that we are here to assist. Your mother called us.

Erica slid out from behind the bed very slowly. but avoided getting close to any of us. My mouth dropped open when I realized how much the little girl had been harmed. Growls echoed around the room as the males realized too. Shifters considered children to be extremely valuable, and it was unacceptable for anyone to even consider touching them. The fact that someone had mistreated a woman and a child equally did not sit well with the wolves.

Erica retreated to her back against the wall as her eyes widened in response to the noises. They momentarily drifted to her mother, and tears started to well up. My heart was broken by the poor child and everything she had to go through. I walked up to her and knelt so that our levels were equal.

"Don't be afraid, Erica. I'm Jasmine, and I used to be your mother's closest friend. You will now be alright. We'll keep you two safe. She instantly seized the plush wolf that was handed to her and snuggled it into her chest. When you were still a baby, I gave you this wolf. Not older than a few months. We gave him the name Sammy. The fact that he is still alive pleases me.

When Erica realized her wolf's name, she started to cry softly. I reached out, encircling her shoulders gently with my arm before pulling her to my chest. She tensed at first, but after a few minutes, she started to loosen up in my arms.

I stroked my hand through Erica's blond hair, soothing her. Susan was stabilized behind me by the men so that she could return to the pack hospital in the van.

We didn't want to take any chances, so before we returned to Pack Land, we searched every item for tracking devices because her husband was an FBI agent and a sick SOB. This SOB was not supposed to locate us.

"Erica, honey, please take off all of your clothes. You can wear some of my daughter's pajamas. We must ensure that your father did not conceal anything from you by hiding it in your clothing.

She nodded as I assisted her in changing in the restroom. Since we were unable to alter Susan's clothes at this time, Paul, one of the warriors, took the time to scan the wolf and Susan. When a tracking device was discovered in her shoe, it was destroyed right away.

We all loaded up and drove to pack land an hour later. Susan hasn't woken up yet, and I'm starting to worry. What the devil transpired with them?