Chapter Sixty
Willow
Beep. Beep. Beep .
The incessant noise yanks me from my dream. The one where I’m alive. My family’s alive. I’m still with my sisters, their love sustaining me. My hands are perfectly tapered and flexible. Everything is serene. Calm and reassuring, free from pain or fear.
But that beeping.
It keeps interrupting me, annoying me, forcing me from my slumber.
“Willow, it’s time to get up now. Can you hear me?” A familiar voice breaks into my happiness. “Wake up," the jerk demands.
My eyelids slowly part, their weight so heavy, it’s difficult. A bright light stabs them, and I let my lids flutter back closed. Trying to ask what’s going on, I open my mouth, but my throat is drier than the desert.
“What? Where?” My raspy words are barely more than a whisper.
“Don’t try to talk yet.” Calloway steps into view as I crack my lids open once more. The light is a little more bearable. A plastic straw touches my bottom lip, and I attempt to take a small sip. Cool water splashes on my tongue, trickling down my parched throat.
“Where?” I try again, searching my memories for why I’m not in my makeshift nest, waking up with my Alphas.
“Willow. You’re in a medical safe house,” Calloway explains. “You’re being treated for some severe bruising and smoke inhalation.” Nothing adds up. I wrack my brain trying to figure out what happened.
“You pushed your SOS button. There was a fire at the training center.” Calloway offers me another sip, and I take it greedily. At the mention of the fire, my memories come flooding back. The Black Plague. The beating… No wonder every part of my body is in agony.
An overwhelming rush of emotion hits me, and my hand comes down, searching frantically for my dog.
“Bruce,” I croak, and Calloway shakes his head sadly. My heart squeezes, then I remember he wasn’t there. Oh, thank goodness he was at home.
“Of course, you ask about your dog first. He’s fine, as far as I know, just not here.
With your life in danger, there wasn’t any time for a detour.
Dean and the other one are looking after him.
” At the mention of my Alphas, my eyes prickle.
Using my elbows, I leverage myself into a sitting position.
The simple move leaves me winded and gasping for breath.
“Willow, stop! You need to rest.” Calloway sticks his head out of the door and calls for the doctor.
“Calloway. I’m fine. I need my dog and my Alphas.
” A rubber band snaps in my chest, and I rub along my sternum.
There’s an IV and bandages on my arm, but otherwise, I’m untouched.
Still in my smoky clothing, which stinks to high heaven.
The scent penetrates my mind, and all I want is a shower.
But at the same time, I’m grateful, knowing no one undressed me without my consent.
Now fully alert, the golden bond in my chest comes to life. Love and fear and pain all pulsing within me. Cujo. My inner omega screams with a yearning for comfort from my bonded, howling at the top of her lungs.
“I want a shower, Bruce, Cujo, and Lincoln. Please.”
As expected, Calloway shakes his head, just as an elderly woman walks into the room. She spares me a quick glance before moving to the monitors and pushing some buttons.
“We can’t do that, Willow. This is a safe house. You’re going to rest, recover, and give your statement about Malachi before we reach out to those infernal bikers. If they’re good mates, I’m sure Bruce will be fine.” Calloway’s disdain for my men drips with every word.
“He will. But that doesn’t change anything.
You’re being spiteful because I chose them.
Even though you know they have nothing to do with my testimony.
I always intended to give that. Putting Malachi away for life is as important to me as you.
” But there’s no reasoning with him as his face turns to stone.
I want to argue, to jump out of this bed, but my body goes lax, and my eyes grow heavy.
“What did you do?”
“It’s for the best. You’re fine. We’ll keep you safe.”
I’m going to fucking…