Chapter 20: A Shattered Calm (Cole's POV)

I watched her walk away, my wolf, Hawk, restless beneath the surface, growling in frustration. She was slipping through my fingers, and I hated the feeling. She was mine, and yet she fought me every step of the way. I knew she was scared. I could feel it, the confusion, the reluctance. But it didn't matter—she didn't understand yet. She didn't see how perfect we could be together.

I remained silent, waiting, watching her retreat into the woods. But then something changed. A rustle in the trees, a sharp snap of a branch.

I tensed, Hawk's instincts kicking in immediately. The scent was wrong. The air shifted, heavy with the acrid scent of a rogue wolf. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end as the rogue's presence became undeniable.

"Sabine!" I called, my voice filled with urgency.

But she didn't hear me. She was already too far gone. Too lost in her own turmoil.

I wasn't fast enough.

Before I could move, I heard a low growl—followed by a brutal snarl. A flash of fur. Sabine's form was yanked from the edge of my vision. I barely caught the sight of her before a rogue wolf lunged at her. The world seemed to slow in that moment, the air thickening, my blood pumping cold with rage.

Sabine's instincts kicked in before she could think, her body shifting in an instant. Her spine arched, and the change overtook her—her fur rippled into a striking golden-blond coat that gleamed in the dim light of the forest. With a growl, she lunged at the rogue wolf, teeth bared and claws extended. The rogue's attack was wild and desperate, but Sabine's movements were fluid and precise, her golden-blond fur flashing as she darted and slashed with lethal accuracy, determined to protect herself.

But the rogue was bigger. Stronger. I could see her struggling under the weight of the attack, her fangs clashing against the rogue's, her muscles straining. The rogue's claws tore into her side, and I could hear her yelp of pain. I couldn't let her be overwhelmed.

Without thinking, I shifted. The familiar crack of bones and the roar of my wolf were drowned by the sound of Sabine's pain. Hawk surged forward, all instinct, all rage, and I leapt into the fray, my massive body crashing into the rogue with the force of a freight train.

The rogue was knocked back, but he quickly recovered, spinning to face me with a snarl. His eyes locked onto me, and for a split second, I could see the madness in them—he was desperate, reckless. I didn't care. He was a threat to Sabine, and I would tear him apart.

I lunged, my jaws snapping shut around the rogue's throat, forcing him into the ground. My claws dug into his chest as I pinned him. Sabine lay on the ground behind me, struggling to regain her footing.

But I couldn't think about her yet. Not while the rogue still lived.

With one final, vicious snap, I tore the rogue's throat out. He went limp beneath me, his body twitching once before going still.

Panting heavily, I stood over the rogue's body, my mind racing. The danger was over for now, but I was painfully aware of the state Sabine was in.

I turned to find her, my eyes immediately locking onto her form. Her wolf body was lying motionless on the ground, blood seeping from her side, her breathing shallow. She was hurt—badly.

"No... no, no, no," I growled under my breath, my heart lurching in my chest.

I bounded over to her, shifting back into my human form with a single thought in mind: I had to get her help. I couldn't lose her—not like this.

"Sabine," I said, my voice strained, trembling with fear. Her name was a whisper on my lips as I crouched beside her, my hands shaking as I checked for signs of life. Her body was warm, but her breathing was weak. The gashes along her side were deep, blood staining the earth beneath her.

She stirred slightly, her eyes flickering open. There was a brief moment of recognition, and then the pain crept back into her gaze.

"I've got you," I promised her, my voice low and reassuring, though I wasn't sure if I believed it myself.

She winced, but nodded, her voice barely a whisper, "Take me to the pack... hospital."

Without a second thought, I gathered her up in my arms, cradling her gently but urgently. I had to get her back to the pack. She needed immediate medical attention.

My heart raced as I ran through the forest, my mind constantly flickering between her fragile state and the roaring anger that had taken over me. How could I have let this happen? Why hadn't I been there to protect her sooner?

Stay with me, Sabine. Stay with me. Hawk's voice was a growl, frustrated and anxious.

I didn't respond. My focus was entirely on getting her to safety.

As I reached the edge of the pack territory, I mind-linked Owen, my frustration and urgency spilling through.

Owen, it's Cole. Sabine's been attacked by a rogue. She's badly injured. I'm bringing her to the hospital now. Be ready.

There was no time for hesitation, no room for questions. I needed Owen to be prepared.

Understood. I'll meet you there, Owen replied, his voice steady but filled with the same urgency I was feeling.

I didn't slow down. My feet pounded the earth, carrying me as fast as I could go. Sabine's blood soaked into my arms, and I could feel the weight of the responsibility bearing down on me. She wasn't just a member of the pack—she was mine. And I couldn't fail her now.

I reached the hospital, the familiar scent of pack wolves and antiseptic filling the air as I rushed through the door. Owen was already waiting, his expression tight with worry.

He didn't say a word, but his eyes flickered to Sabine's bloodied form in my arms. He moved quickly, taking over the moment I entered the room.

"Get her on the table, Cole," Owen ordered, his voice calm, but there was a hardness to it that didn't match the softness in his eyes when he looked at Sabine.

I placed her on the table gently, stepping back as Owen immediately began assessing her injuries. I could see the concern in his movements, the way his eyes flicked to me with a silent plea.

I felt helpless standing there, but I couldn't bring myself to leave.

"I should have been there," I muttered, pacing the room. "I should have been faster."

Owen glanced at me, his expression stern. "You did what you could, Cole. It's not your fault."

I didn't respond, my gaze locked on Sabine's still form. The tension in the room was suffocating, and for a moment, all I could hear was the sound of Sabine's labored breathing as Owen worked to stabilize her.

"I'll make sure she's okay," Owen added quietly, his voice softer now, but still firm. "But she's going to need time to heal. And we'll be here every step of the way."

I nodded, the weight in my chest not easing. "I'll stay with her."

"I know," Owen replied, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of understanding in his eyes.

We were in this together. And we weren't going to let Sabine go. Not now, not ever.

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