The Wannabe Warrior
Chapter 96

Zane POV

I shifted and ran out of the packhouse, heading straight for my mate. I was worried for her and for my dad. Mum, I hoped she was dead, she was a traitor to dad and in the name of being a mate, how could you cheat on your mate? I have no idea how that could happen, but dad has to live through it, he can’t leave me. I need him more than ever now, what with all the chaos going on at the moment, I need him to get us through this.

My wolf raced over logs and through a stream. I did not even know a stream was there. He ran the most direct route he could replace, and got me to the cave entrance in record time, and a warrior stepped out from the treeline and handed me a shirt and pants.

‘Zane, Sir, follow me.’ The warrior bowed and then escorted me to the tunnel the hospital was in.

‘Zane. Sir, if you walk down this tunnel to the fork junction, then take the left tunnel, the hospital is not too much further down in that direction.’ He bowed again and turned back the way he had come, disappearing into the treeline.

Graham was sitting outside a closed door, his head in his hands and looking a little lost. I could hear him mumbling something, but it was too garbled to understand.

‘Graham.’ I called him, and his head whipped up fast and looked at me in dismay.

‘Wow, you were quick. Did you run all the way here?’ He asked, amazed at my speedy arrival.

‘Yep, how is Madison?’ I enquired, trying to be calm, when inside I was falling apart and just wanted to see her and hold her to me.

‘Better, now she is out of surgery, but still unconscious. I suggest you go in; I can’t sit in there any longer, I feel so responsible for what happened.’ His head dropped back down to look at the ground.

‘Why would you feel responsible? You did not attack her?’ I growled at him, confused.

‘If I had waited with her, or just stayed close by just to be doubly sure she was okay, as we knew that Samuel and Higgin were out there somewhere.’ He complained, feeling so guilty.

‘Hey, you cannot second guess yourself like this, you made a decision, end of story, you can’t have known. With all the men screaming in pain, it would be logical to believe they might be in the same condition, somewhere out in the woods, how could you know they still had strength enough to attack anyone?’ I argued with him. Knowing I would most likely feel the same way he did, blaming myself for things I had no control over and beating myself up for not considering the chance he could still be close by.

‘Can’t help feeling I had let her down somehow, when she had mind linked me that Alpha was there and needed my help, I raced over to her as fast as I could, but she had already downed both men and was lying on the ground in pain. I will never forget seeing her there all bloodied on the floor. If I had stayed, if I had just….’

‘Stop, right there, buddy, no more of this, she is alive and will recover, nothing you can do about what has happened, now, so stop making it all your fault. You were not the only one out there at the fire, were you?’ I growled at him, trying to get him to see reason.

‘No, Alpha Alex and I walked back to the cave entrance together, neither of us thinking any danger was close by.’ he replied in defeat.

‘There you go, even Alex left, so it is not your fault. I bet even the Blue River warriors had all left her standing at the fire too.’ I was getting frustrated, as I tried to let Graham know it was not his fault.

‘Thanks, Zane. I hope Madison feels the same way when she wakes up.’ He says sadly.

‘She is your twin; how long do you think she would be upset with you, when she replaces out you have been blaming yourself?’

His eyes widened and then he gave me a sad smile.

‘You are right, she would most likely kick my butt and tell me how foolish I am, and reassure me that it was no one’s fault, but Alpha Sameul and beta Higgin.’ He chuckled a sad chuckle, but he at least was now seeing. You can’t change it, so stop hurting yourself over it. Madison would not allow anyone to wallow over things you had no control over, and work on things that you could.

‘Get in there, man, your mate’s touch will help her heal.’ Graham encouraged me.

I nod and head to the door, and wrap the door softly.

A petite lady opens the door and steps back, beckoning me in with a sympathetic gaze.

The smell of antiseptic and the sound of the heart monitor both made it real. Then I saw her, up until that moment, I had stupidly hoped she would be sitting up and not as bad as I was told, now that I saw the pale broken body of my mate on the bed, her chest covered in bandages, it made my stomach plummet and my heart ache for my beautiful mate.

‘Zane, climb on the bed and hold her, your wolf bond will speed up her healing in no time at all.’ The doctor encouraged.

Not needing anymore encouragement, I climbed onto the bed, wide enough for me to put my arms around her lower waist away from the bandages and rest my head on hers, breathing in her scent and calming my frantic wolf.

While I calmed down, glad to have my mate in my arms, I thought of my dad, and hoped Jonathon and Daniel could pull him through the loss. If anyone could help him, it would be those two.

For the first time in a very long time, I prayed to the goddess to save my dad and give him a better life, one he deserves, than the deceitful witch of a mate. She was no real mate at all, and I am still confused at how all this could come about.