Chapter 24
Hunter's POV
It's been a wonderful week. Bayley and I have grown close, and I knew it was time to head to my wife's grave. Bayley knew what I was doing. I asked her if she wanted to come with me, but she insisted that I should go alone. At the last minute, however, she decided she wanted to go. I wondered if she thought I would do something else. I don't think she was the type to think of anything like that.
We got into the car and drove to the cemetery. We parked the car and got out. At first, I didn't scent anything, but I knew we were being watched. I'm not sure by what, but they were too close for my comfort. Walking over to her grave, I kneeled down, placed flowers on her stone, and then I told her,
"I'm sorry, my love, but I had to move on, or it would have driven me crazy. Just know you will forever be in my heart, and I will always love you," Then I got up and left. I didn't like the feeling I was having at all. We hurried to the car and left. When we got home, everyone was yelling and screaming. "What the hell is going on here?" We got out of the car and walked over to the crowd to see what was happening. On the ground was my daughter, Jessica. She had been shot with a silver bullet in her chest. A hunter – that's what I was smelling. I hadn't seen a hunter for a long time, but they were still alive. I grabbed her and hurried her to the hospital. There was still time. I could feel her breathing; I could feel life in her. The nurse laid her on the table and wheeled her into the operating room. We sat in the waiting room, and nobody said a word. I was pacing back and forth when Bayley spoke up,
"They did this to get to me. They did this so you would throw me out. Listen, Hunter, I need to leave here just for a little while." I was pissed. Not only had my daughter been shot, but my mate wanted to leave because of them. I reached for her, holding her arms.
"You listen to me. You are not leaving this pack or me. Let them come because I know they will sooner or later. We will destroy them. But you are not leaving us." I hoped I got through to her, but she then said,
"Listen, if I leave, I can protect you and this pack. I can hunt them down one by one. I can get them, Hunter." Oh hell no. She is not going to do this on her own. We were arguing back and forth, and I didn't know for how long when the doctor came out. He was taking off the mask that doctors use during surgery. He came out too quickly. I started to panic. I had just found my kid. I can't lose her again. The doctor walked over with a worried look and told us,
"Alpha, she's out of surgery. The bullet didn't touch anything. It was like they weren't aiming. I believe this was a warning to someone." A vicious growl escaped me. The whole hospital shook. Those motherfuckers.
"Can I go see her?"
"Yes, you can, but be quiet. She is resting. She's healing quickly, so she should be fine in a few hours." I nodded and rushed to the recovery room. No one is allowed back there when they are recovering, but who is going to tell an alpha no. Rushing to her side, I held her hand carefully. I didn't want the IVs to come out. She slowly opened her eyes.
‘Daddy?”
“Yes, honey, I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
“They told me to tell you, either you make her leave or someone else will get hurt. They won't stop until she’s dead.”
“Honey, how many were there? Did they do anything else to you?” I was thinking to myself, please say no, please say no, please say no.
“No, daddy, I was coming out of the pack house to go for a run. I was right at the border when they came out. There were ten of them. They ordered me to shift back. But I’m an alpha; you can't order me to shift if I don't want to. But then they held a gun to my head, so I had to. That’s when they gave me the message, and that's when a female shot me. She made sure it wouldn't cause any damage, but damn, it still hurt.” I was so thankful they didn't do anything else to her. I knew there might be more than just ten. I swear I will kill all of them.
“Daddy, where is Bayley? Why isn't she here?” Wait, what? I turned; I thought she was following me. “Honey, close your eyes and get some rest. The doctor said you will be healed in a few hours. I’m going to go get Bayley. She might have thought that only I was allowed back here. I'll be back with her, okay? Just get some sleep, sweet girl. We will check up on you and then take you home." I got up, kissed her cheek, and left the room. I ran out of the hospital to our home. I knew what she had done. She was just waiting for me to leave her side. Running up to our room, I stopped at the door, took a deep breath; she could just be inside waiting for me to come home to take her there. Slowly opening the door, walking into the room, she was not here. All her things were still in their places, all but one thing, a note. Son of a b***h. I didn't want to touch it; I didn’t want to read it because I knew, I knew, I just f*****g knew. Slowly walking over to the table beside my bed, lifting the note up, my wolf was howling, he was angry, but he was also trying to stay in control. If he loses it, so will I. It didn't need to be open; it was already that way. So, I read it.
"I’m sorry, Hunter, but I had to leave. I will finish this. They killed my whole pack; they killed my family and burnt my home to the ground. I have my memories back; I am going to hunt them down one by one. Once they are dead, I will be back. I know you’re angry because I can feel it. But if I stay, they will do the same to you. Please forgive me, my love. I will return after this mission is done.
Love forever yours, Bayley."
I sighed as I crumbled the letter in my hand and threw it across the room. I lost it, flipped everything over, trashing our very own bedroom. I didn't care; she left me, just like my wife did. She said she’s going to return. Yeah, right. There are too many hunters, way too many. She will never return. Feeling a hand on my shoulder, I thought it was Bayley; she returned to me, she changed her mind, and hurried back to me. I quickly turned around; it wasn't her; it was Jessica, my daughter. I hurried to hold her up; the way I turned around almost knocked her over.
"Where is she, father?” I walked over to the note I threw, fixed it so she could read it, and then handed it to her.