~Maya’s POV~
My head felt like a drum someone was pounding relentlessly. It wasn’t a sharp pain, more like a persistent, insistent pressure. A force pushing me to consciousness. My wolf, restless and agitated, paced behind my eyelids, a caged animal desperate to break free. Then, with a violent surge, she lunged forward, and I jolted upright, gasping for air.
My heart hammered in my chest as I scanned the room, my vision still blurry. The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast elongated shadows, creating an eerie atmosphere. My eyes landed on the coffee cup on the side table, and a wave of nausea washed over me.
Alex. That bastard. He actually drugged me!
Anger, a hot, consuming fire, ignited within me. I kicked off the covers and swung my legs over the side of the bed. My feet hit the cold hardwood floor with a thud, grounding me in the harsh reality of the situation. I stumbled to the living room, my movements jerky and unsteady.
Natalia was the first to notice me. Her eyes widened in surprise, her jaw dropping slightly. "Amaya, you weren’t supposed to be up by now.”
I glanced at Sarah and Riley, their expressions carefully neutral. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. They knew. All of them. They knew Alex was going to drug me, and they did nothing to stop it. Betrayal burned in my chest, a bitter taste in my mouth.
"You knew," I accused, my voice low and dangerous. "All of you knew." My eyes narrowed, scanning their faces, “I can’t believe the three of you right now. You knew he was going to drug me and you went with it? None of you stopped him or tried to warn me?”
Natalia cleared her throat, taking a step forward. "Amaya, we know you're upset, but… We all know how you are. We thought it would be best if you couldn’t go after him. We didn’t do it to hurt you and you should still be out.”
That was why I had felt the banging. My wolf had been fighting the effect of the drug and had kicked in my conciousness but still I couldn’t believe my friends.
"Don't 'Amaya' me," I interrupted, my voice rising.
"We thought it was the best course of action," Riley said softly, her voice filled with regret. "You would have gone after him, no matter what."
"And you think that's okay?" I demanded, my anger escalating. "You think it's okay to treat me like a child?"
"It's not about treating you like a child," Sarah said, his voice steady. "It's about protecting you."
I tried to move towards the door, but Natalia and Riley blocked my path. Their bodies formed an impenetrable wall.
"You're not going anywhere," Natalia said firmly.
"Get out of my way," I growled, my patience wearing thin.
"Amaya, please," Riley pleaded. "Alex asked that you didn’t come after him.Be sensible and stay put.”
The scene was a bloodbath. Wolves were locked in brutal combat, their howls echoing through the night. Bodies littered the ground, some still twitching, while others lay motionless. I weaved through the chaos, my senses heightened, my wolf guiding me. I could smell the iron in the air, the tang of fear and adrenaline.
The building loomed before me, a dark and imposing structure. I could feel Alex's presence inside, his aura calling out to me even from a distance. I moved cautiously, my senses on high alert. The interior of the building was as chaotic as the outside, with bodies scattered across the floor. The stench of fear and blood hung heavy in the air. I navigated the chaos with cautious strides, my senses on high alert. Every shadow seemed to hold a threat, every sound a potential danger.
I was desperate to find Alex. His scent, faint but persistent, pulled me forward. The air grew thick with the acrid tang of ozone, and the distant crackle of electricity hinted at an ongoing battle. I pressed on, my muscles straining, my heart pounding.
Suddenly, a sharp pain lanced across my jaw. I staggered, my vision blurring for a moment. My attacker was unseen, but I knew instinctively that Alex was the target and because I could feel his pain, he was hurt. Rage ignited within me, a white-hot fury that eclipsed the pain. I stumbled forward, my determination increasing.
Then, I was hit with a force that sent me flying. The world spun, and for a terrifying second, everything went black. When my vision cleared, I was sprawled on the cold, hard floor, my body aching. I pushed myself to my feet, my senses reeling. A large, reddish-brown wolf stood over me, its eyes glinting with malice and I knew instantly.
Miranda.
The name formed in my mind like a venomous snake. This was the bitch who had orchestrated the kidnapping of my children, who had tried to kill me, who had almost succeded in killing Alex and who was now a threat to me.
A low growl rumbled in my chest, a challenge. This was definitely a fight I was looking forward to.
With a powerful growl that echoed off the walls, I launched myself at her.
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