Big Bad Wolfie novel Chapter 63

"No! Maria you can't!"

"Brandon! Rose!" I just kept screaming as he dragged me farther and farther away from my friends. As we went deeper and deeper back into these terrible woods.

"Maria! You can't go back there. There might be more delayed explosions." Jason said in my ear while struggling to hold me back.

The others have just been leaving him to deal with me after all their efforts have been ineffective. Part of me understands why we can't go back.

But the majority of me doesn't give a f*ck.

I kicked and thrashed and fought and Wolfie just held strong.

"Please, Maria," he whispered in my ear.

I let out a strangled sound in frustration. He's not gonna listen to me.

I felt the tears burn the backs of my eyes as I started to go limp.

"Lemme go," I mumbled to him, my eyes shut tight to block out the world.

"Maria —" he sighed.

Stop saying my name like that!

"Let me go Jason!" I yelled again.

He slowly released my waist after I stayed still and silent, but kept a steady grip on my arm. I turned around to glare at him with teary eyes.

He looked so hurt and tired, just like me.

But how could he feel the same way I do? He didn't even like them.

"You're not gonna go running off again are you?" He asked, his eyes tired but pleading.

I took a shaking breath in, smelling the saltiness of my own tears. I swallowed the sobs trying to crawl up my throat and shook my head, falling to my knees.

Wolfie's heart seemed to break even further.

I looked up at everyone staring at me. "Why can't we go back for them?" I cried.

Everyone looked tense and uncomfortable. Happy and Stephan seemed solum, while Cali just looked awkward and lost.

Wolfie seemed almost as wrecked as me. But I suppose that's to be expected, considering he's my mate.

Happy went to respond to the question I already knew the answer to. He sighed, "Maria, if they survived the blast and the building collapse, then the hybrids did too."

"Exactly the reason we should be going back to help them." I punched the ground and watched my tears hit the dirt.

"No, that's the reason it's too dangerous to go anywhere near there," Stephan contradicted.

"But our comrades are there. My family is there! Do none of you believe in no man left behind?!" I hollered, not caring at the moment if hybrids heard me and came after us. It would take their attention away from Rose and Brandon, "Especially when there's a chance they're still alive."

Everyone looked away from me, refusing to meet my eyes.

I'm sure if Rose was here she'd be able to feel all their remorse.

But she's f*cking not.

And Brandon isn't here to talk sense into everyone in his idiotic and hilarious way that only he can be convincing with.

And I'm all alone.

Again.

Just like I was last time I was here, seven years ago.

Happy spoke up solemnly, "Not when the chances are higher that we all get killed by pissed off hybrids," he asserted sadly.

I yelled again and hit the ground with my fist, so upset with the world.

I'm sure I resemble a child throwing a tantrum, but I can't even bring myself to care.

I don't care about the risks.

They're my family. Some of the only people left that have always had my back.

I can't and won't leave them to either suffocate under debris or be killed by hybrids. I don't care if no one wants to help me.

"I'll go after them alone," I said after a moment of silence.

"The h3ll you will," Wolfie bellowed instantly.

"I will," I said, not daring to look up at him. I can't risk his tired eyes changing my mind.

I know how it feels to be the kind of tired a million nights of sleep can't even heal.

I wouldn't wish it on anyone, let alone my mate, but I can't let the possibility of it sway me in saving my family.

"No, Maria," he shot back immediately, "you're too weak, you can probably hardly walk," he growled.

What is he talking about?

I looked down to see the gashes on my chest reopened, along with plenty new wounds that leak dark red blood.

Hm, the cost of fighting hybrids, I suppose.

That also explains why I couldn't wiggle out if Wolfie's grasp, no matter how hard I tried.

I looked up to find everyone else with their fair share of injuries as well. "Wolfie, everyone was hurt."

Even you, love. My chest constricted at the title I subconsciously gave him along with the thought of his bleeding wounds.

"I'm not any different," I finished.

I put my hands on the ground to stand, but something stopped me. My body or my subconscious? I'm not sure.

Hm, weird.

My body does hurt quite a lot though doesn't it?

I shook my head and swallowed the pain, moving to stand again.

. . . And I'm very tired.

Very, very, very tired.

I looked down at the dark blood pouring out of me.

Hm.

That's not good is it?

I blinked.

Oh no, now the fuzziness.

No, I can't do this right now, Brandon and Rose could be dying.

I need to move.

I tried to look up in determination, but my head suddenly became so heavy that I couldn't raise it.

No! Why right now?!

I was just stuck gazing at my bleeding stomach and chest and arms and legs and and and. . .

Hm, my head is so fuzzy.

I was just left trying to strain my neck to move my head, but even that because too hard.

That sure is a lot of blood.

Don't I need that?

"Maria?" Wolfie spoke softly, probably noticing my lack of movement.

I love his voice.

"Mari?" He repeated.

Why are you saying my name? Brandon and Rose. . . Um. . .

. . . They Need help.

"Sh*t," I heard his voice say, but now it was fuzzy too.

Aw man.

"Maria!" He yelled, closer to me now.

"Rose. . . Brandon. . ." Was all I could think to say before everything went dark.

I couldn't see but there was still some muffled sound.

A voice. His voice. The only voice I can even think about hearing at the moment.

What is he saying?