Chapter 13 5

The room reverberated with the rhythmic beeping of medical instruments, creating a somber ambiance. Ethan’s intense gaze fixated on Bella, lying frail on the bed, unconscious, a breathing tube delicately connected to her nose. Questions swirled in his mind – Derrick? How and why? Was Derrick alive? Did Derrick actually know her and send her?

“The other man brought in with her died on the spot. I assume it’s her brother; the two bear a striking resemblance,” the doctor informed Ethan, who absorbed the information with a silent nod.

“Ensure she doesn’t die. If she does, I’ll deal with you,” Ethan warned impassively, his words carrying a subtle threat that the doctor misinterpreted as genuine concern.

“Is she in pain?” Ethan inquired, seeking more details about Bella’s condition.

“She has a few broken bones, some concussion. We’ll make sure we treat her to the best of our abilities for a full recovery,” the doctor assured, attempting to offer solace.

“Recover?” Ethan questioned, his tone betraying a sense of amusement.

“Yes. Once she regains consciousness, she would be in serious and almost unbearable pain. We’ll dose her heavily with painkillers,” the doctor explained, trying to reassure Ethan.

“No, no, no,” Ethan murmured, lightly placing an arm on the doctor’s shoulder. “We’re not in a hurry to see her recover. The anesthesia would be a waste. Just make sure she doesn’t die. Then when she’ll regain consciousness, facing a whole painful healing process ahead of her,” Ethan declared, a dark glint flickering in his eyes, setting the tone for what lay ahead.

“You want her…” The man stammered

“To suffer.” Came Ethan’s calm reply.

“Do you want to say something?” He questioned.

The man shook his head immediately.

After standing in contemplative silence, Ethan walked out, meeting Axel on his way in.

“You came back?” Ethan whispered upon seeing Axel.

“Of course, I did,” Axel sighed, then settled into a seat.

“We still haven’t found Liam, a friend is dead, I might lose another one, and the one

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Chapter 1 35

who has been dead for years is said to have taken this dying one’s kids,” Axel said exasperatedly.

“Dying?” Ethan questioned with a frown.

Axel sighed.

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“We found the things she’s been lacing you with; it was basically everywhere. You were absorbing it slowly. It was in your nightly beverage, added to your perfume, most times your drinking water, probably rubbed on your clothes-it was found in a whole lot of things. Those subtle doses you were absorbing over some time became something else, something quite toxic. It’s generally to weaken a wolf, but the long use had done more damage.”

“And I never knew,” Ethan mumbled h o ar sely.

“You couldn’t have; it’s colorless, scentless, almost undetectable. She was keeping your wolf subdued. If she hadn’t done that, you would have been clear-minded and rejected her a long time ago. So she had to continue using it.”

The two sat in silence in the corridor.

“How are you?” Ethan asked.

Axel didn’t reply to the question. Far from being alright, he had driven around the city all night, then stopped at the bridge and just stood there, contemplating for a while, tempted for a moment to dive in. But he held it in; he hadn’t seen the end of

everything yet.

hear from Rick?” Axel asked, gesturing to

Ethan shrugged.

part of him got broken, going almost numb. Then I met Bella that other night; Rick was practically howling. So I was sure it was

I wonder how she did that,” Axel

All Derrick, that’s what she said.” Ethan repeated her words. This was the second time Ethan was

Axel sighed.

believe her, one, bit,” he

“How’s Hazel?” Axel questioned.

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knows I know, that the kids are mine,”

“Finally,” Axel muttered.

I promised

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do that? You can’t, Ethan, not in your condition. The poison you were hit with last

“I know,” he replied.

changed; I wish we were like our ancestors with their raw sense and primal urges. Now we’re basically humans with a

what everyone thought and heard. Then how? He stayed alive? All this while?” Axel asked with a

Send Bella to do all of those things and then

factory that exploded, there were gas leaks,

in the report; Ethan knew about it. But the last bit of information came as

shock to him.

Ethan’s frown deepened.

this?” he

was in charge of that project. It was supposed to be one big job, a huge factory holding together

The day they died, what do you

him.

took a deep breath and

a day before the new factory launch; our families

some point; then I heard banging on a door on the last floor-it was Derrick. He’d gotten

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Chapter 13 5

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I couldn’t

know how, but the next moment my eyes are opening, I’m lying far away from the wreck of what was the factory. The place exploded before I could even get out. I don’t know how I turned up unscathed. My father was badly hurt; there were chemicals there, you know. Mr. Hale, Derrick’s dad also

sighed, taking

for that,” Axel

for years? Why didn’t he

make sense!”

while, and he never thought to reach

send Bella to ruin me?!” He had

won’t hurt Liam,” Ethan said, taking a calming

He wouldn’t hurt a child.” Ethan said. Although

hurting

a child is frightened or anxious, the parents

sense anything,” Axel pointed

And she’s calm. Liam is fine.” Ethan’s

met Bella, I was sure she was mine. Later on, I started having doubts. Then I started looking into her; I always came up with nothing, no information

probably covering her

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