Chapter 39: Chapter 39
Music Suggestion; Arcade by Duncan Laurence and Fletcher.
Three weeks ago.
Chris's POV
I glanced at the time smiling. Belle should still be at the photo studio. Imagine the look on her face when she sees me.
We flagged down a cab and Antonio walked to the cab to check it out whilst the old man, the driver, loaded our luggage into the back of the boot.
Since it was a surprise, we decided to take a cab instead of calling for someone in the pack to come with my car and drive us home.
Violet? The bitch hadn't even realized we're out of her stupid pack.
'All clear.' Antonio said into the mind link and I nodded at him.
I slipped into the back seat and he followed. The old man closed it after us and entered the driver's seat.
"Where to?" He asked turning the key in the ignition.
"Do you know Maple Leaf studio?" I asked.
"Oh yes. The largest building on that street. Who doesn't? It's very famous for the rich people that come and go everyday." The man said as he drove out of the parking space.
I pursed my lips at him. Goddess, did he like to talk?
"You're going there to take a picture? Eh, it's a very good studio. You'll definitely love the pictures they'll take for you. I can also bring you back to the airport when you're done." He said.
I didn't reply him neither did Antonio.
"Rich models, eh." He said and I almost killed him. Could he shut up?
I pulled out my wallet and flashed a thousand dollar bill.
"I just want a peaceful and quiet ride." I said stretching it to him.
"Oh of course. Of course." He said collecting it.
I smiled at him and he smiled back. The ride back there was as quiet as a graveyard. I returned my wallet to it's former place.
I pulled out my phone went to my WhatsApp to see Isabelle's last seen. It was the time she talked to me last. I grinned at the picture she sent making it my home screen wallpaper before I slid it into my pocket.
I turned my head to see Antonio looking at a picture of both him and Elena.
"Aw, you look so cute in the picture." I said poking his cheek.
"I know right? She looks so peaceful and beautiful." He said.
"So does Belle." I said showing him the picture.
"Her face isn't even showing." He said taking one glance at it before he returned his eyes to Elena's picture.
"So? It still looks more beautiful than yours." I said rolling my eyes.
"Yeah, keep believing what you want to." He replied chuckling.
I wanted to retort but the man beat me to it.
"Young people... Just because she doesn't look beautiful in your eyes doesn't make her less beautiful. She might be the most prettiest girl on earth in your eyes and yet to you your own girl is the most prettiest girl." He said and I looked at Antonio.
"That's true though." He said and I smirked at him.
"We're here." He said and I glanced out recognizing the car at once.
"That's my car. She's still here!" I said and pulled the door open at once.
I almost ran past the car when I saw two familiar figures running towards us making me pause.
One with a slightly big belly and the other holding her hand as they ran without looking back. Dolores and Elena.
"What are you guys doing here?" I asked.
"Chris!" Dolores called in surprise.
"Lores, why are you guys running? Where is Belle?" I asked.
"She- You have to save her! We came to ask for help from Lincoln and Kennedy. Where are they?" Elena asked glancing at the car.
"Save who? Where's Belle?!" I yelled and they flinched.
"She was kidnapped. By some guys. They looked big and had this nonsensic gruff voice." Dolores described.
"Which way did they go?" I asked clenching and unclenching my hand. My claws came out and retracted. I ran my tongue over my fangs. My gum now itching to tear skins apart.
"That way." Dolores said pointing behind her and I glanced at Antonio who was standing beside me. With a nod to his mate, we sprinted off the way Dolores pointed at.
I felt bad for Antonio. He had only just arrived and hadn't even had the chance to greet his mate and child properly.
I shifted on our way there and a brown wolf was now beside me. I felt a presence beside me and I turned my head to Dolores deep brown eyes that reminded me so much of Isabelle. Her wolf was auburn color but she hadn't changed into it just yet.
To her left was an blonde coloured wolf. Elena. Her wolf was slightly bigger than Dolores own since her rank was higher in the pack.
My nose caught a whiff of Isabelle's scent and I immediately stopped.
I saw a white sandals on the floor and Dolores went ahead to pick it up. With a growl from Xerxes, she dropped it. I took it in the middle of my teeth.
"That's the sandals she wore this morning." She confirmed and I growled. Dropping the white sandals, I kept running until I stopped.
Two men were holding her limp body while one walked in the front.
Without further ado, I jumped on the back of one of the men holding her. He let go and fell to the ground with a thud bleeding out.
"What's wrong with you?" The man in front said without looking back.
Once he heard the second thud, he whipped his head around.
"Get up." He said and once he saw the man made no move to stand, he moved back. I saw a man that had a large scar running down his face and I nodded at Dolores.
"Hello." She greeted Isabelle who made no move to look back.
"Duck!" She yelled but Belle still knelt there her head hanging low. I immediately pushed her head down just a little bit which led her to falling on her side. I immediately stuck my leg there so she fell on it instead of on the hard tarred road.
Dolores leaped and shifted into her auburn wolf completely shredding him apart in the blink of an eye.
I looked down at my mate that made to move to get up. I slowly pulled my leg from under her leg and nudged her with my snout.
I saw her turn her head and then she smiled weakly.
'Hey.' I greeted since it was the only way to communicate right now.
'Hi. Oh my God... You have...' She said and then stopped breathing heavily.
It felt like she couldn't form words anymore. As much as I would love to take her somewhere safe, these men weren't relenting at all.
'I'll get you safe. I promise. Now close your eyes and count to 100 for me.' I said and my eyes went to her finger that raised just a bit and I titled my head feeling fury in my chest.
I took a last glance at her closed eyes before I sprinted again taking a man from behind.
He struggled against my grip turning to Isabelle.
I plunged my teeth into his neck and I saw Isabelle looking at us with no emotion in her eyes.
I tore his jugular vein off and a scream ripped its way out of his throat before he fell to the ground.
I wanted to go near her with her safety only on my mind and her not thinking I was a monster. The next thing I knew, I was grabbed.
I thought it was just one man until I looked down since I was standing on my hind limbs. Soon, someone flew and I was held down. I couldn't move a muscle. I turned my head to Elena, Dolores, Mike surprisingly and Antonio to see they were also being held.
The man that seemed like he was the leader came near me. He reached for his pocket and pulled out a knife smirking at me.
"Seems like you're the leader eh?" He said waving the knife in front of me.
"Don't worry. Your pretty girlfriend will be fine. he said running his tongue on his yellow teeth.
"In heaven." He added.
A growl erupted through my throat as he brought the knife near me. The cut he was going to give me wasn't my deal, but the fact that the knife was silver.
He placed the tip of the knife on my chest and then started drawing it down with a sick psychotic smile on his face.
I felt Isabelle weep and I breathed heavily. The man moved back perhaps admiring his "work" I turned back to my human form with the huge gash still standing there.
My chest was now open and blood was dripping out of it. It was not healing fast because of one thing the fool in front of me doesn't know.
The damned silver.
I heard heavy breathing and I looked up to see Isabelle's eyes on my open wound. Her eyes flickered from the chocolate brown I knew them to be to blue and her hair was like they had poured red dye on it.
The ends of her hair was now red before it slowly spread to the rest of her head. I watched in amazement as she glared at the man still holding the knife.
She pushed herself up and I don't think she realized her eyes were now blue in colour. It wasn't flickering anymore. It stayed like that.
The man moved back and then smirked walking towards her with the knife still in hand. I glanced at him wide eyed and then to Isabelle who was looking at him with so much hate, anger and resentment.
She screamed out loud suddenly and the next thing I saw, the knife was now in her hand.
She stood up on her feet and away, she threw the knife. I followed it with my eyes as it embedded itself into his chest.
The man fell to the ground with a loud thud and I heard a crack. His skull or backbone was broken.
I saw Isabelle go back down on her knees and crawled over to man. She then smiled. Smiled. I blinked my eyes and I swear, I wasn't hallucinating. I turned to Dolores, Mike, Elena and Antonio who looked at me with the same expression on their face. Shock.
She pulled out the knife keeping her eyes on his.
"That's for the huge gash on my mate's chest and this..." She said and then raised her hand stabbing his stomach.
"Is for slapping me earlier." She completed. The man spluttered choking on his own blood before he gave out going limp in the matter of a few seconds.
Well, that was fun.
She stood up cracking her neck with the knife still in her hand. Blood dripped from the hilt of the knife to the edge dripping to the floor one drop after the other.
She looked at us and smirked. Suddenly she closed her eyes and something red started forming around her wrist. It seemed to go round the knife and then suddenly, she snapped her eyes open making me break contact with the knives.
I heard a gasp from my side before I looked back at her hand. About 20 of that same knife was now aligned on her hand.
She looked back down at her hand not slightly surprised as though she had done it. Like she knew what she was doing.
I looked back up at her and once our eyes met, she grinned at me and her blue eyes glowed. I was too shocked to process anything. Suddenly, the knives were coming towards us. But not towards us.
The men holding the four of us fell to the ground. I looked down to see one of the man holding me down with a knife stuck in his forehead. To my right, was a man with a knife stuck in his stomach, some their hearts some their legs.
The ones that had it in their legs hadn't died but they had passed out and without immediate medical attention, they would bleed to death.
I looked back at her as she released a sigh. Her knees shook as it buckled under her. She was going to fall.
"Belle!" I yelled and she looked up but her body went down. I immediately snapped out whatever reverie I was in as I ran and caught her body before she would hit the ground.
"Shit." I cursed out once I noticed her breath was weak, dragged, slow and shallow.
I changed into my wolf form and ran off with her safely on my back. Once I reached the pack, I ran straight for the hospital.
Malcolm was on standby and he immediately went to treating her. He said it was stress but why wasn't she waking up?!
It's been 20 days and still no sign of her waking up. I had little to no sleep. I wanted to be by her side when she wakes. I wanted to be the first person she would see.
"Who did this?" I growled at Antonio.
He looked at me and then sighed. He rubbed his face with his left hand and then released another frustrated sigh.
"Fucking answer me, Beta." I said and he stood upright since I had used my Alpha's voice.
"When did you have a shower last?" He asked.
I glared at him and returned my gaze to Isabelle taking her hand. She was pale with every color drained from her face. Her lips was dry, blue and chapped.
Her hair had red at the ends like it did when she started whatever it was and it won't go back. So now her hair was golden and red.
"Chris. I'll stay here... Go take a bath. When she wakes, I'll mind link you first." He said and placed his hand on my shoulder.
I said nothing and stood up not before placing a kiss on her knuckles.
"Call me first." I said and ran home. I immediately took a shower grabbing whatever clothes I could touch and threw it on.
I ran back to the hospital and took my seat back.
"Whatever you do, I'll totally understand." He started and I looked at him raising my brows.
"Don't look at me like that." He said turning his head away.
I would have teased him about this but I just dropped my brows and continued to stare at him.
"I found out who did it." He finally said after a long breath and a deep exhale.
"Who was it?" I asked.
He said nothing and only darted his eyes around.
"Was it Violet?" I asked and he shook his head.
He opened his mouth to talk but approaching feet made him shut up.
Elena and Dolores entered afterwards and I waved at them. Elena's stomach was more bigger than the last time I saw her. Dolores shoulders sagged and drooped.
Isabelle lying here without any sign of waking up was taking a toll on each and everyone of us.
I pursed my lips as we all sat in silence. My stomach grumbled and I paid it no mind like I always and have been doing for the past couple of Days- Weeks.
Malcolm came in soon after and checked her heart rate. Then he left. What and why he does it everyday, I don't actually understand.
"Ma is calling." Dolores said making me look away from Isabelle.
I collected the phone from her and placed it on my ear.
"Hey baby." She cooed.
"Ma." I said my voice breaking. I refused to let the tears fall. They won't.
"Are you okay?" She asked and I nodded my head feeling the tears coming to the brim of my eyes.
"You know, crying doesn't make you weak... It shows you're in pain and that you actually care." She said.
I nodded my head again sniffing.
"So come over and do whatever you want to do. I'm always here for you. Everyone is... Lores, Antonio, Elena, Mike... Everyone." She continued even though I wasn't saying anything.
"I know." I said finally sniffing.
"Hm. I love you." She said.
"Love you too ma." I replied and dropped the phone from my ears to my side using that arm to cover my eyes.
The tears I've been keeping let loose immediately I did and it rolled down my face. I saw it drop down unto Isabelle's hand and then she shook her hand her brows fussing.
I let down my hand immediately looking at her eyes through my teary gaze. She shook her head and then stilled.
Dolores was by my side rubbing my back with her head on mine but I paid her no mind. I listened in on Belle heartbeat to hear it was turning normal little by little. Then it increased and her hand held mine.
I almost leaped for joy right there but I only sniffed. I cleaned my eyes removing any sign on me crying. Her heartbeat went back to normal and suddenly her eyes flew open with a gasp escaping her lips.
"Oh My God! She's awake!" Dolores yelled.
Isabelle's POV
"Oh my God! She's awake!" I heard someone yell making me close my eyes almost immediately
"Babe?" I heard. That voice. I opened my eyes as fast as I closed it and sat up wasting no time in pulling him into an embrace. God, I missed him
I heard someone sniff at the side and that set my tears loose. I pulled him in a more tighter hug before I pulled away
I cupped his face looking at it. I used my hand to trace his jaw which was now smiling at me. I looked up into his eyes not failing to realize how dull they were and the heavy bags beneath them
"Goodness, Chris." I voiced tilting my head
"Hey." He greeted
"Shut up." I said with a slight chuckle
He leaned down and kissed my lips. I delved my hand into his hair giggling against his lips
He pulled away and hugged me whispering "Goddess I missed you."
"I missed you too." I replied
Someone joined in our hug until it became a huge group hug
"Alright. Alright. Don't squeeze life out of her." Chris said and everyone pulled away
"Just say you want her all to yourself." Antonio grumbled and I chuckled when Chris said
"Exactly. Now that you know, bye.
I looked down at Elena's stomach and I smiled
"Hi there." I greeted
"Aw!" She said and threw herself with the belly unto me. I immediately caught her hugging her back
Dolores joined in the hug. Antonio came forward and opened his arm to hug me before a growl sounded from beside me
I hit Chris chest lightly and the growl turned into a whimper real quick. Then I hugged Antonio before I remembered
Antonio hadn't had the chance to hug me back when I pushed him away turning my face to Chris
He looked at me with a raised brow and I paid it no mind proceeding to look at his shirt. He was dressed in a black t shirt as I pulled it apart tearing the light fabric in no time
"Oh my God! PDA please... There's a child in here." Elena said shielding her baby
Still, I paid no attention to her. My eyes roamed his chest and I only sighed when I saw nothing
"What are you looking for?" he asked softly and I looked up
"Nothing. I'm just glad it's definitely nothing." I said and turned back to Antonio
He had one hand on his chest and the other just hanging idly beside him. His mouth was hung open as he feigned a hurt expression
I shook my head and opened my arms again. He grinned at Chris before hugging me
"You got us all worried." He said and I chuckled
"Right. Sorry." I said and he patted my back
Mike came forward and I settled for a handshake. I never talked to the guy that much. But instead of the handshake, he pulled me into a hug which made me freeze for a second before patting him lightly
Soon, they all left with smiles on their faces and promises to come back tomorrow
I turned to Chris who was looking at me with a smile
"Goodness, when last did you sleep?" I asked tracing his jaw
"Make that when last did he ever do anything." We heard and I turned my head to Antonio standing at the door with only his head visible
"Shut up. Go home." Chris replied glaring at him
Antonio chuckled and shook his head.
"I'm happy for you man." He said and walked away
"What did that mean?" I asked turning to Chris
"Umm, the test... I mean Malcolm ran a test on you while you were in coma and all that... He..." he paused and cleared his throat
"What's wrong?" I asked
"He said you're pregnant." He said with a smile
I only glanced at him and then down at my stomach. I placed my hand on it looking back up at him
A smile blossomed on my face and I jumped him. His laughter resonated in my ears and I joined in his laughter.