Chapter 2

• Emma
• His hand closes around my throat harder.
• “I own you,” Andrew leans towards me, and I feel his breath on my face. “Your family will never be able to repay me for everything I did for them. “
• I clench my teeth. A few years ago my family was in huge debt. My father was a successful businessman for years. And then, after one mistake he was on the verge of losing everything
• And he made the mistake many people make - he borrowed money from the mafia. Yes, Andrew Levin’s family is rich and famous. But they are also involved in illegal affairs. A number of them. My father took money from Andrew’s father. A lot of money. And it came with a deal.
• I had to marry his oldest son in exchange for the loan. I postponed the marriage with Andrew for as long as I could. At first, I used the fact that we were still young as an excuse, then my studies. But Andrew became impatient and we eventually married.
• “You would’ve never been able to call yourself ‘Doctor’ if it wasn't for me.” his tone is mocking. Andrew’s hand closes around me tighter. I can’t breathe.
• “Forget about the divorce, you will never get it. “
• “We… I will repay you. “
• “AHAHAHAHAA” Andrew starts laughing and lets go of me.
• “I don’t care about the f*ck*ng money. I can buy the whole state if I want. “
• He takes a step away but then turns to me and points a finger in my face. He looks like he is trying to stay in control and not hit me.
• I am not afraid. Andrew knows it.
• “You are an object. “ he says, “My object. And I won't wait for too long before I take what I want. What’s rightfully mine. I haven’t done it yet out of respect for your mother. But my patience is running out. “
• My blood freezes. I have avoided sleeping with him all these months but I also know it'll happen eventually.
• Unless I divorce him - which he refuses. And I can't run away because he will make my parents, friends and everyone I know regret ever talking to me.
• “You won’t say anything?” he asks, “No more throwing things at me? Calling me a f*ck*ng monster?”
• I clench my teeth. I won’t give him that - not now.
• “Fine then. Put something nice on for tonight, “he says. “We are going to attend Miss Jenkin’s party. “
• “I am working, I am really sorry. “I smile. “I have to be in the hospital. “
• “You and your f*ck*ng hospital.” he snarls, “I will burn it down to the ground one day. I swear.“
• Andrew slams the door shut so hard I'm afraid the hinges will break. Once he leaves, I sit heavily in the nearest armchair and try not to cry.
• ***
• I take a long, hot shower, then I have coffee because I won’t be able to sleep. I read a book but I can’t help glancing at my phone.
• I told myself I wouldn’t be checking the news but eventually, my curiosity got the better of me. However, as I go through the news, I discover there's nothing about a man brought to New York’s top hospital. Nothing. Then I search for the missing people's news. Still nothing.
• “Okay,” I mutter, “Maybe it’s a good thing. “
• Or not… I try not to overthink and get back to my book. I doze off in the afternoon and prepare to head back to the hospital. I arrived earlier, but it’s fine. I will have more time to check how Miss Mcdonald is. And I will check on the stranger who was shot.
• I go in, get changed and proceed to the nurse’s room. The two women I was on shift with last night work tonight too. Mary is still in the nurse’s room.
• “Hey, Mary,” I smile and begin from afar. “Who bought the man last night? “
• “I don’t know,” she shakes her head, “Maybe ask Janny? When she called me he was already there. And then I came to get you. “
• “Yeah. And by the way… is he in Wing B?”
• “Yes, we moved him there once we finished cleaning the wounds.”
• “Thank you. “
• I say and I almost run out of the room. I get to Wing B and to the room he is in. I open the door and see an old woman. Doctor Hastings is checking her vitals.
• “Doctor Levin!“ he exclaims, confused, “Can I help you? “
• “I.. .uh… where is the man who was in this room earlier?”
• He looks confused.
• “I don’t know what you are talking about. “ he says, “Is everything okay?“
• “Uh…yes. Maybe it’s the wrong room. I’m sorry I interrupted you. “
• I close back the door and just stay there in the corridor, confused before someone calls me for another emergency.
• ***
• Colter
• I wake up and find myself in a fancy hospital room. It’s much better than most I’ve seen. My body hurts and the place where the bullet was hurting like hell but luckily I heal faster than most wolves. I look at myself. That f*ck*r really got me good.
• “It was close.” my wolf mutters.
• “Yeah. “ Then I push the bed cover.
• “Someone operated on us to get the bullet out, “ my wolf observes.
• “Yeah, I will send them flowers next time. Now let’s get the f*ck out of here. “
• I get up and sneak out as quickly as possible. No one notices me. I consider shifting but getting out as a patient is much easier than like a giant black wolf.
• “I will kill for a cigarette, “ I think as I walk out of the room, still in the blue patient's gown. I could be going to the restroom for all I care. A few people glance at me but most look away quickly.
• My tattoos and stubble usually make everyone avoid me. As a human. If they knew I was a wolf they would be running miles away.
• I have no phone or documents on me, but for now, I need to get dressed. I sneak into the first changing room I find, put on whatever clothes I find and head out.
• I am bigger than most men so the clothes are too tight on me but it's better than nothing. Then I head to my meeting with Charles.
• He will be f*ck*ng p*ss*d. I hate meeting Charles when he is p*ss*d.
• But there is no other way.
• ***
• “You what?” he exclaimed, “Jesus, Colter is there a single mission that doesn’t end like this?”
• “Yeah,” I say casually, “Remember France?
• “You are f*ck*ng kidding me. “ he says evenly. “France was a nightmare. “
• “We still caught them. Like we did now.“ I say, “What we did in a month took your other agents years. “
• He puts his hands on his hips and looks away, shaking his head. Charles knows I am right so he just grunts and takes the cigarette I offered him.
• “What’s with the outfit?” he points at me.
• “I took it from the hospital. Who brought me there by the way?”
• “Miles. He said there was no other way because you were shot and bleeding all over, and he had no time to take you to our doctor. “
• “Okay,” I nod. Miles doesn’t know I am a wolf so maybe he did freak out.
• “And you didn't “take it”. “ Charles says, pointing at my clothes “You stole them. “
• “Do you want me to bring them back?”
• Charles gives me a poisonous look. My boss can be a grumpy old man like no one else. His grumpiness is special. It’s overwhelming.
• “I don’t know what I will do with you. “ he says.
• “Promote me?” I lift an eyebrow. “We caught the guys the police have been after for years.”
• I expect another mocking laughter but Charles nods.
• “Actually, I do have a task for you.”
• "A task? What kind of task?"
• "It's more like another mission. "