My Little Wolf

Etta’s POV I open my eyes and a sharp pain comes crashing through my head. My brain feels numb like I have pins and needles piercing through it. I have to immediately close them again, so try just opening one eye instead. This time it is easier. Right girl, it’s time to find out where the hell you are. Another sharp pain shoots round my head like it’s a gumball machine. Banging against every side of my head. Have I been hit in the head? I’ve felt this pain before but can’t quite be sure. Get a hold of yourself. I’m not sure where this inner strength is coming from, but my instinct is to trust it. I manage to open both eyes this time and push through the pounding pain that is still circulating around my head. I’ve found myself in, what looks like, a hospital room. The bed is small, but just big enough for me, and the mattress is lumpy. It squeaks every time you make a small movement and I feel like it could break at any minute. But it doesn’t smell the same as other hospitals. Although, I don’t remember being in a hospital before. Where has my memory gone? This place doesn’t smell like what I feel a hospital should smell like. To be honest, it doesn’t feel like a hospital to me, but I don’t know where else I’d be. The lights are quite dim, making it harder to see in the distance. All I can really see are the shadows darting around. There is an eery silence that makes me feel uncomfortable and a shudder runs through my body. I sense this place is dangerous. I feel like I am being watched. I look down at my wrist where I have a wrist band on. Wait, it has got a name written on it: Etta Millar. Reading that hospital wrist band sent electric shockwaves through my body. It starts from my eyes and travels all the way down to my toes. It makes me feel alive. Etta Millar? Is that really who I am? I’m desperately trying to remember how I’ve ended up in a place like this. How do they know who I am when I don’t even know? Who are they? As I slowly try to sit up, a wave of dizziness overtakes me, causing me to lie down again for it to pass before trying again. This time, I am able to sit up, but to start off with, I keep my eyes closed to prevent dizziness. Rest. You’ll need it. I will come rescue you. My eyes suddenly spring wide open and I look around the room. There is no one else in here with me. I can feel that my heart rate is now through the roof. A wave of panic comes crashing at me like a tidal wave. My breathing becomes short and sharp, and I feel like I’m gasping for breath. Please don’t have a panic attack right now. The fright is still coming in floods, and I can feel the tears in my eyes begin to form. This cannot be happening. I try to calm myself down with deep breaths and counting to five. It seems to start working and slowly my breathing rate starts to return to normal. That’s it my little wolf. Stay calm. I won’t let any more harm come to you again. This voice, I know it. Where is this voice coming from? Why is it so clear in my head? It doesn’t even sound like it has travelled through my ears. Am I going insane? Is this hospital a psychiatric one? Damn, I wish I could remember. I just have so many questions and have no idea where I’m going to get the answers from. I try to suppress the panic that is threatening to strike again. The pounding pain becomes too unbearable. I decide that it’s best to try to get some sleep in the hope that it relieves this pain. Surprisingly, I fall asleep quite quickly. That voice that I heard earlier was soothing. It sounded so familiar. I know that voice. I yearn to hear it again and the thought of that is comforting. I have a feeling that I will not only hear the voice again, but I will be able to see the person it belongs to. It felt safe. It felt like home. ******************************************************************************* Jaxon’s POV My inner wolf is pacing. He’s not happy. In fact, he’s angry. He wants revenge. He’s after blood. I’m doing everything I can to control him and not let him burst out. Otherwise, he’d run to find her and rip off the heads of those that have harmed her. Come on, keep it together. Revenge. Mate. The two words that my inner wolf keeps repeating. I try to calm him down by reassuring him that we will find her. He does listen. A little. But he still won’t stop pacing. How could I have been so stupid? So blind-sighted? How did this happen? Why did I not see this happen? I’m trying to search my brain for the answers that I seek but I feel that I’m just making it worse for myself. I need to think clearly, not have all these questions swirling around my mind. I suddenly become aware that I’m pacing around the office whilst my Beta, Conan, just nervously watches. He’s on edge and doesn’t want to say the wrong thing. He can see that my wolf is close to the surface and that I’m struggling to keep him back. I need to update him. But right now, the only sounds that come out of my mouth are growls. Angry growls. I can sense that everyone in the pack house is on tenterhooks. They’re nervous as they’re not sure why I’m like this. They don’t understand why I’m so angry. They all need to know but I need to calm down first. I’m the alpha of the Thunder Pack, notoriously well known for being organised and respected. We live and work harmoniously among humans. We have a peace agreement, and it has been this way for the past 75 years. No bloodshed. Just peace. Other packs have followed suit and now have peace treaties with the humans that live within their territories. How was I this stupid and naïve? Why did I think we were untouchable and that we didn’t have enemies? One thing for sure is that we definitely have an enemy now. I can feel the wolf coming to the surface again. Come on, calm down. Just a little. Please. I’ve never pleaded to my wolf before. A member of my pack has betrayed me. Just the thought of that sends my wolf into a spiral of rage again. I’m really struggling to control him and get him back. It’s starting to scare me a little. He’s never been this angry before and I’ve never had to fight this much to calm him down and keep him under control. I need to keep him below the surface. I try taking deep breathes to calm myself. Just like I know Etta did. Etta. Mate. Protect. Conan stands up to bring me over a glass of water. He doesn’t say a thing. I can tell he is worried about me. The last time Conan saw me like this was 5 years ago. I’m normally able to control the wolf in me. He’s a good Beta, one of the best I’d say. He’s always been there for me but will also always tell me the truth. I trust him. He is the only one that can talk to me like that and make me see reason. We grew up together, so he knows my past. I consider him like a brother. Fuck. My brother. “Where’s Luca?” I turn to look at Conan and from his eyes, I already know the answer, but I need to hear it out loud. Conan looks startled and I know I’ve caught him off guard. He just bows his head and just barely mutters so I can just about hear his words. “In the same place as Etta.” The red mist descends, and I find myself throwing the glass across the room. This is when I’m glad I have a punching bag in my office. Punch after punch, until my knuckles bleed. It’s only when I start to see the blood do I calm down slightly. I got tired of cleaning up smashed glass and broken furniture when I was angry, so I invested in a punch bag. But I’ve never been this enraged before. I would normally let my wolf go for a run through the woods to release the tension. But not this time. I can’t trust him not to run to them. I need to be clever about this. As I regain control, I turn to look at Conan. “Who else knew about Etta?” Conan takes a step back and lowers his head. “Just us but I’m sure he would have told Nova as well” I glare at him; my wolf is coming through. Now, it’s only my eyes that have changed to a bright amber colour. My wolf’s eyes. I’m still fighting the initial struggle to keep him under the surface. Right now, I’m winning, but I’m not sure for how long I can keep him at bay. He wants revenge. Slowly, my eyes turn back to their blue colour. “And where is my lovely wife now?” Conan is shifting uncomfortably in his chair, and I just glare at him. He tries to avoid eye contact, but he knows better than that. He knows the past and the reason behind me marrying Nova. He knows that I did all of this to protect Etta. Mate. True mate. Conan finally opens his mouth. Yet his eyes stayed glued to the floor. “I don’t know. No one has seen her since Luca’s disappearance.” Rage starts to fill my body again. I need to calm down. I need to do this the right way. I can’t put Luca and Etta in anymore danger. I need them safe. I try to mind link Etta to see if she’s okay. I know my wolf will only calm down entirely when she is back home safe, with us this time. He calms slightly when it’s obvious that she’s asleep and not hurt. Yet. But who knows what they’ll do? I don’t even know who took her, but I have a rather good idea who is responsible. Must find mate. Oh, don’t you worry. We will and they will pay. ********************************************************************************** Etta’s POV I’ve been here in the same room for what feels like forever, but it’s only been a week, I think. I can’t even remember if I’ve eaten or drunk anything. Why don’t I feel hungry or thirsty? Has anyone even checked on me in this time? I’m sure of one thing: I don’t like being here. Every night since I woke up here, I’ve had the same dream. I wake up with the same sinking feeling in my gut. In this dream, I always see three other figures and I feel warm and happy inside when I see them. One of them is a guy who is tall and muscular, but he has a calming aura around him. He makes me feel safe. He has scruffy ash blonde hair, but this adds to the charm. His eyes are the most memorable thing. They are blue in colour and look like the ocean. Even though it’s just a dream, his eyes make me feel relaxed. There’s another guy standing next to him with chestnut brown eyes and brown hair which looks like it’s immaculately kept in place with hair gel. He looks pristine and well-put together. He’s also tall and muscular, but not as much as the blue-eyed guy. The third person in the dream is a girl. She has long blonde hair, which is in two plaits on either side of her head. Her eyes are the same piercing blue, and you can tell she’s a feisty one. She is slender but you can tell that she’s no push over. We’re all sat around a bonfire, and it feels natural. Then a figure emerges from the woods and walks with purpose straight towards me. He is tall. Taller than the blue-eyed guy. He has an aura of danger about him which feels even worse as I can’t see his face. He has a hood up and a mask on. I get the feeling he really doesn’t want anyone to know who he is. He’s an alpha; there’s no denying that. The dominance is practically radiating from him in waves. I look behind him and there’s a small girl with bright silver eyes. I’ve never seen eyes like that before. They seem menacing. She’s grinning. The hooded figure grabs my arm. “You’re coming with me. An arrangement has been agreed and now you must leave.” The girl behind him is laughing. Wickedly. The hooded figure whips his head round to face her. “Enough Nova.” She lowers her head and starts walking towards the woods dragging her feet. Huffing as she walks away. I try to struggle and fight my way out of his grip, but it doesn’t help. If anything, it only makes it worse. He tightens his grip on my upper arm and turns around to drag me away. I look up pleading with those sat around the bonfire as I’m dragged away. No one looks up. Apart from the boy with blue eyes. I can feel the hurt and pain he feels. There is also a tinge of anger and guilt. He mouths the words: I’m sorry. I will find you. He never breaks eye contact until I wake up. I always wake up sweating and fighting my bedsheets in a panic. My heartrate is through the roof and my breathing is laboured. My upper arm throbs as if it has just happened. And every time I hear the voice in my head. The voice that brings such serenity. It’s okay my little wolf. I will find you and will never let you go again. It soothes me. I know they intend to help me. I fall back to sleep instantly. This time, the only thing I dream about are those piercing blue eyes staring at me. His eyes are longing for something, and he seems to be pain. I also see guilt. It must mean something. Is this a dream or a memory? It feels real, so surely, it’s a memory. But that can’t be. I don’t have any memories that precede me waking up here. I was told that the day before my 21st birthday 3 weeks ago, I was in a car accident which resulted in a major head injury. This bang to the head caused me to have a seizure that lasted 30 minutes and resulted in me being in a coma. Apparently, the head injury, prolonged seizure and coma caused the memory loss. All I remember is waking up in hospital with an alpha sat next to me bed. He was the one that told me about the car accident. He also said his name is Troy and that he was my mate. He made me feel uneasy. Somethings not right here. I haven’t tried to stand yet; I barely manage to move. It hurts too much. I think it’s time to try to stand. Hopefully, I will be walking out of here soon enough so there’s no time like the present. My legs feel heavy as I try to lift them off the bed and swing my legs to put my feet on the floor. I feel a weight on each ankle. I look down to see what it is and can’t believe my eyes. There is a silver ring around each ankle. They are suppressing my wolf. But why? What do they want with me? She’s still there but really hidden. I can tell she’s hurt but she’s a strong one. But I need her. She is my strength, and she protects me. This is all starting to feel too similar. I have a sinking feeling in my gut again that I’ve gone through this before. I need to listen to my instincts. I hear footsteps coming down the corridor, so I quickly swing my legs back on the bed and try not to cry out in pain as I do so. I pull the covers over and close my eyes, so it looks like I’m still asleep. I need information about this place and about me. I feel two pairs of eyes burning a hole through the back of my head as if they’re trying to make sure that I’m asleep. I use all my energy to concentrate on this conversation that is happening outside of my room. I can make out there are two blokes outside the door, stood in the corridor. They are obviously having a heated discussion. I need to focus so I can hear what they say. I know one of the voices. It’s Troy’s. He’s the one who told me I was his mate. Troy spits out angrily; “This is the sixth time this year that we’ve had to wipe her memory and start again. I thought you said, if she was far enough from her mate, with no memory of him, then their bond would fade.” “Their bond seems to be getting stronger.” I can tell Troy is getting even angrier; “They’ve not seen or spoken to each other in 5 years! They didn’t even complete the mating ritual and the only mark on her neck is from me. So please tell me Asher, how their bond is getting stronger.” So now I know the name of the other bloke. Asher. I recognise that name, but why? He simply replies; “But this time, she spoke to Luca” A gasp escapes Troy’s lips and he simply demands to know where Luca is currently being kept. “He’s in room 61. Unconscious and tied up” Troy’s reply sends shivers down my spine; “Good, keep it that way. We can’t have him telling her who her true mate is, otherwise, it’ll mean trouble for us. If she finds him, our deal is off, and the Lotus Pack will crumble.” I can hear their footsteps walk back down the corridor and it all becomes quiet again. I slowly open my eyes and can see the shadow moving in the distance. They’ve gone. I roll on to my back to try to process all the information that I now have. A million questions run through my head. Who is Luca and what does he have to do with me? At least, I know I was right about Troy not being my mate and that I know a guy called Asher is involved. What was the deal and why am I involved in it? Who is my true mate? I need to help this Luca. Even though they are suppressing my wolf, I’ve still been able to get mind links from someone, so I must try. Maybe they can help. Right, come on girl, give it all you’ve got. I don’t know who you are, but I trust you. Luca is being kept in room 61. He’s unconscious and tied up. I don’t who Luca is, but you must help him. Please. Our wolves are being supressed by silver rings on our ankles. I close my eyes and fall back into sleep holding onto a glimmer of hope that whoever this mysterious voice belongs to will be able to help us. **********************************************************************************