Note: the beginning of this chapter starts a little before the end of the last one, so you can see the incident in Tobias' point of view. This chapter also contains gore and violence.
Tobias
"Um, Tobias? My key is in my backpack..." Gill said, an apologetic look on his face.
"No spare?" He shook his head.
"Not yet. Neither me or my dad have had time to get one made." I groaned and set him gently on the step.
"Okay, I'll see if there's a window I can climb through or something. Stay here." He nodded and I smiled at him before walking around the house. All the front windows were shut, but I spotted one on the side of the house that was wide open, the curtains dancing in the breeze. Luckily, there was also a tall oak tree beside it with a short enough gap that I could easily jump from the tree to the window.
I jumped quickly, grabbing onto the lowest branch. It was small, and I knew it wouldn't hold my weight for long. However, thanks to my training back at home, I knew a few tricks. You never know when you gotta hide in a tree to sneak up on an enemy. I swung my body like a monkey before catching the next branch with my legs, just as the first one was snapping. The second branch was thicker, so I pulled up my body and managed to stand up and reach another higher branch. There was only one more before I could get into the house. I swung again, catching the branch with my hands this time before turning my body so it was facing the window. I carefully swung my body back and forth to gain momentum before finally releasing my grip and sailing right through and landing on my feet in the middle of Gill's room. I made my way back down to the main floor and unlocked the door, opening it to reveal my beautiful mate.
"How'd you get in?" He asked, stepping in the house and slipping off his shoes. I chuckled as he lifted the legs of the pants I gave him so he could walk without tripping over the ankles.
"You left your bedroom window open." He shot me a confused look.
"I haven't even opened any windows..." My eyes widened and my wolf suddenly got very tense. I pulled him closer to me. There was someone in the house. Considering I didn't smell them the second I pulled into the driveway, they must have used something to mask their scent, which means they knew I would be there, and they were most likely a werewolf as well. My wolf growled at the thought of an unknown wolf coming anywhere near Gill.
"Stay here, I'll be right back." I saw the fear appear on his face.
"D-do you think t-there's someone in my r-room?" He stammered. I took his face into my hands before replying.
"Hey, it's okay. I'm going to go check. Just please stay here."
"B-but what if h-he's dangerous?" I gave him a forced smile and gently stroked his cheek with my thumb. I could see him start to calm slightly as he took a shaky breath.
"I'll be careful, okay? I'll be back down here with you before you know it." He took another breath and nodded. I started to pull away from him when he suddenly launched his small body at me, hugging me tightly. His legs wrapped around my waist and I held him up by his thighs.
"Promise?" He asked nervously against my neck as he lifted a pinky. I chuckled at his adorableness and linked my pinky with his briefly.
"I promise, love." His eyes met mine fore a moment before I felt his feather soft lips on my cheek. He loosened his grip around me and settled onto the floor. I pulled away and took a breath before climbing the stairs as quietly as I could. I tried to listen for heartbeats, breaths, anything, but I couldn't hear anything other than Gill downstairs and myself. I had just reached his father's bedroom when I heard footsteps that weren't mine, and were too heavy to be Gill's. I rushed back down the stairs and growled when I saw my mate's body fall to the ground. I saw red as I felt my bones begin to crack, fur instantly sprouting from my skin. I leaped into the air and landed above Gill, snarling at the dark figure before me. Whoever it was, was dressed head to toe in black, and he held a metal baseball bat that was now sticky with Gill's blood.. All I could see were chilling grey eyes. I launched my body at him, knocking him to the ground. I easily overpowered him and bit down harshly at his neck until I felt his bones snap under my teeth. I drug his body away from Gill and let go before shifting back. I ripped the mask off his head and studied his face. I didn't recognize him, but I could tell by the small crescent tattoo on his neck, he was nothing but trouble. A hunter. I instantly linked Ajax and my father.
"There are hunter's in the area. Dad please come to 1432 Bentley St and call an ambulance. Jax, bring me a change of clothes so I don't show up at the hospital naked. Gill's been hurt."Â Â I could hear them both growling as they closed the link. I crawled toward my mate and whimpered as I pulled him into my lap. I lightly caressed his face and set my forehead against his as tears began pricking at my eyes. I couldn't lose him... Not after I just found him!
The front door burst open, Ajax rushing to my side. He had a T Shirt and my basketball shorts from my gym locker. My father arrived shortly after.
"What happened, Son? And who is this boy?" I didn't care about what my father thought anymore. I just wanted my mate to be okay.
"I was t-taking him h-home so he c-could change his c-clothes... The door was locked so climbed through his window. I thought he left it open but he said he didn't. I went upstairs to look for whoever was in the house and I was too late. I heard someone down here and came back as fast as I could b-but he hit Gill in the back of the head with a baseball bat and now he's bleeding and unconscious and I don't know what to do, Dad. I can't lose him..." I started hyperventilating and my father crouched down beside me.
"Hey, it's okay. The ambulance is on it's way. Where's the man now?"
"I killed him. His body is in the kitchen." Jax set my clothes gently beside me before making his way into the kitchen. My dad held my sobbing body tightly until we could hear the sirens in the distance. Jax returned shortly.
"The body is now in the woods, and I linked a couple warriors to take care of it and I mopped up all of the blood." I nodded and thanked him silently. I ran my fingers through Gill's wild red curls.
"You should go put those clothes on before the ambulance gets here." I nodded and reluctantly let my father hold my mate's head. I quickly slipped the clothes over my body before returning to Gill's side.
"Tobias, who is this boy?"
"His name is Gill. He just moved here with his father. And he is my mate." He gave me a sad smile and nodded. Before he could say anything, paramedics rushed into the house and took Gill away. I followed them outside before climbing into the ambulance after them. They didn't protest one bit. I could hear someone starting my truck and saw my dad pull out of the driveway. One of the paramedics shut the doors, but I could hear the familiar rumbling of the engine, and knew he was following us to the hospital.
"Can you tell us what happened to your friend, sir?" A tall woman asked as she began to take Gill's vitals as best as she could.
"I took him home so he could change his clothes and there was someone in the house. I thought I heard something upstairs, so I left him by the door when I went to go look, and when I came back down, he was on the floor with this big guy in black staring over him. He hit him in the back of the head with a bat. Is he okay? Please tell me he's gonna be okay?" She gave me a sad smile.
"We promise we will do everything we can to help him. Can you tell me his name?"
"Gill. Gilberto Mendoza. But he goes by Gill." She nodded and was silent for the rest of the way.
When we reached the hospital, I tried to follow them, but they wouldn't let me. I was screaming and crying out for Gill before I felt a strong pair of arms wrap around me. I collapsed into my father's hold.
"Jax went to get his dad, but he'll be back here soon. Your mother is on her way, and a few of the trackers are taking care of the hunter." I just nodded against his shoulder and continued to cry. At some point, he led me to sit on a small sofa in the hallway. A young nurse approached us.
"There is a private waiting room down the hall if you would rather wait there instead of out in the open..." I heard my father reply and soon I was back on my feet and walking down the hall.
"I'm going to go wait for Gill's father and your mother, alright? I'll be right back." I nodded and sat on another sofa, pulling my legs up and hugging my knees. I needed him to be okay. There were so many things we hadn't had the chance to do... We hadn't been on an official date, I hadn't kissed him on the lips, I hadn't told him how much he meant to me...I hadn't gotten to even tell him about what I was. I looked up at the ceiling and prayed quietly to the Moon Goddess. Moments later, a mass of bodies burst into the room. My mother cradled me to her chest and. My father introduced himself to Ivan while explaining to him what happened, minus the fact that I turned into a wolf and ripped the guy's throat out with my teeth of course. Ajax sat in the chair beside me and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder while my mother continued to coo comforting words into my ear. Eventually, Holly showed up as well and she clutched to Jax's side. Sure, they bickered a lot, but in the end we were all best friends and would always be there for each other.
It wasn't until that night while mostly everyone was asleep before we had any information. A lean man who appeared to be in his fifties, with graying hair and a pair of thin wire frames on his face, stepped into the room. I got up from my seat and shook Ivan's shoulder lightly.
"The doctor is here," I whispered when he woke up. Ivan stood and we followed the doctor into the hallway.
"Are you two family?" He asked.
"I'm his father, this is his best friend." He nodded and began talking again.
"My name is Dr. Philip Montague, and I'm the one who has been watching over Gill. He is in a medically induced coma at the moment. We took multiple scans to see if there was any brain damage. There was a bit of swelling, but we managed to get it down a bit. We will operate in the morning to get it under control completely. We just don't want him to move a lot until we get the swelling down completely. As for the cuts on his knees, those were from a separate incident I assume since they were already bandaged?" Ivan looked at me and I nodded.
"He fell getting out of my truck. He landed on his knees. That's why I took him to get changed. His jeans we're torn and bloody and the pants I let him borrowed were way too big." They both nodded before the doctor continued.
"A couple of them needed stitching, so I cleaned them up and stitched them, and changed the bandages. About the surgery, it will take a few hours, and we even have a surgeon from a hospital in Seattle coming in, because she is the best around here. She will start at 8 am, and if everything goes according to plan, you will know everything by dinnertime. Any questions?" I felt slightly relieved knowing he was okay for the time being.
"Can we see him?" Ivan asked.
"Yes, but only two at a time. He is in on the next floor up, room 325. Just ask for the nurse at the desk and she will lead you to him. And I'm assuming you would like to spend the night, Mr. Mendoza. I can arrange for a cot to be placed in his room."
"Think you can squeeze two in?" He asked, looking over at me. I was beyond grateful, and also confused. I had just met him, and yet he knew I would want to stay with Gill as long as I could.
"Certainly. However, visiting hours ended at 10, so those who are not staying will have to leave. They can come back tomorrow." I looked up at the clock on the wall. It was almost one in the morning.
"Okay, thank you Doctor." The doctor left the two of us in the hallway and I released a breath.
"Thanks for letting me stay with him..." I said before we went back into the waiting room.
"Of course. I can see the way you look at him. Call me a sap, but I know love at first sight when I see it." He chuckled. "And I know he's gonna ask for you the second he wakes up anyway." I smiled.
"I really do care about him a lot. We just met, and I know I would do anything for him." He pat me on the back.
"Just know if you hurt him, I will skin you alive." He gave me one last smile and entered the room. I might be a badass werewolf, but never had I been so afraid of a human, even if I knew I would never hurt Gill.
We began waking everyone up and I laughed at Ajax's body sprawled out on the floor like a bearskin rug, or more accurately, a wolfskin rug. I nudged him with my foot and he sat up quickly.
"I'm gonna stay here with Ivan, but they're kicking everyone else out."
"How is the little Squirt?" He asked, rubbing his eyes.
"He's okay for now. He has surgery tomorrow. He's in a coma right now." He nodded sadly and stood, pulling me into a hug. I felt another pair of arms wrap around me from behind, and I recognized Holly's scent. Soon my mother and father joined, as well as Ivan. Everyone else left shortly after and I followed Ivan to the elevator down the hall. We made our way up and asked the nurse where Gill was and she led us down a long hallway. I felt more tears threaten to fall when I saw Gill, hooked up to several machines, his skin pale, and a thick bandage wrapped around his head.
"Oh, Mijo. You better wake up after your surgery tomorrow. We both know I can't cook to save my life. And loverboy is here too." I chuckled as sat in a chair beside the bed, the opposite side from Ivan. He leaned close to him and kissed his forehead. "Goodnight, Mijo." Ivan stretched and stood, making his way to one of the cots.
"I'm gonna stay up for a little bit before I go to bed." I said to Ivan.
"Alright, just make sure to get at least a little sleep. Goodnight, Tobias." I mumbled a quick goodnight and took Gill's hand in my own before kissing his knuckles. I heard Ivan snoring shortly after. I sighed and watched Gill silently for a while before I reluctantly stood and headed toward the empty cot. I set an alarm on my phone and lied down for what turned out to be a very restless sleep.