Chapter 2. Clear...

Dominic’s story

Even though I tried my best to explain things to Declan, I was still anxious about whether he was comprehending what I was saying.

“Oh, slow down a little, Dominic. What is wrong?” And just then I sent him the location by phone.

“Declan, come quickly to the address I just sent you. I’ve got a woman badly hurt. I hope she makes it...” I admitted to him worriedly. Declan was my only doctor friend who, when my parents died, had discovered what they were and automatically found out about me. He kept my secret, so I kept him as my friend. He was a manager and a doctor at a private clinic, so it was the perfect cover for her injuries. I couldn’t expose myself too much.

With all my heart, I wished he would appear soon, as I feared that the woman's suffering would worsen if he did not arrive promptly. The feeling of belonging and the need to protect her had not dissipated, even now. Although the pain was worsening, I attempted to push it out of my mind in order to stay focused on doing whatever I could to save her life.

The length of time that elapsed between the moment I put down the phone and Declan's arrival felt like an eternity. It caught me up in my own anguish, with no way of escaping it. There was absolutely no chance that I could have taken her to the state hospital. The doctors would have posed an overwhelming number of questions if I gave them the chance. The intensity and ferocity of my emotions prevented me from exposing my true self. I had complete trust in Declan. His clinic was immaculate. Nothing was out of place, and it was perfect in every way. The medical professionals followed the doctor's orders without questioning his authority.

Just as I intended to call him again, I heard the ambulance sirens. He got off, but his face changed to concern when he saw her.

“Oh my God, man! This woman is in a really critical situation,” and he approached her. She stopped gasping, a sign that she must have fainted or gone into shock.

“Do something for her, save her!” I said in an imperative tone, retreating a few steps back to make room for him. Declan came closer but put his hands on his waist, looking helpless. At that moment, I snapped out of my temper. As if that woman had to live at all costs. “Don’t tell me there’s nothing you can do, or I...” but I stopped myself from saying something I would later regret. But his helplessness translated into my anger and denial that somehow, I couldn’t lose this woman.

Declan looked at me, lost, then at her.

“Dominic, this girl is bad. Her legs are badly broken. I can’t tell if she has any other injuries...”

“She doesn’t!” I interrupted him at once. “A pack of werewolves attacked her and another man that was with her. They killed him but didn’t touch her in any other way. I got there just as the bastards were tearing her legs off.”

“Oh God! You were right not to move her and call me. You’re going to help me get her on the stretcher and into the ambulance now.” He gave me instructions while heading for the ambulance. “You’re lucky there’s a path here or I don’t know how I’d have gotten in. Come on, help me, we’ll get her up on three, okay? Careful...1...2...3, go!”

Since the ambulance already had a driver, Declan sat in the back with me. He seemed to stabilize her. But I could clearly see she was in shock.

“Do you think she’ll be okay?” I asked him at one point near his clinic.

“It’s very serious, my friend. I will not lie to you...” I could see him getting anxious around her, trying to decide what he would do at the hospital. I knew I had put him through a difficult situation, but I had no choice. He will probably have some explaining to do too. I still didn’t know how his doctors would react. But it was either that or let her die. And the second option wasn’t even an alternative.

To my surprise, as soon as we arrived, even though her condition was delicate, the wolf in me quieted down. Declan kept urging me to do it so as not to raise suspicions. And not because I was what I was, but to avoid any of the doctors calling the police. So, they wouldn’t think that I actually assaulted her or anything. He also asked me to let him handle the doctors.

We rushed through the doors all the way to the operating room, where I could not gain access.

“That’s it, my friend! She’s in excellent hands, don’t worry!” Easy for him to say. I could still see through a small window everything that was going on inside. I lost my gaze on the woman’s face. She was nearly lifeless, lying on that table with all those doctors around her. It was a moment when my heart leapt in terror…

“We’re losing her, guys! Defibrillator, quick!” That was when I felt so powerless. She was giving up fighting for her life, but these doctors seemed to have the last word. I was afraid, afraid of losing her before I knew her. She had to fight.

That anxiety came back, as if she wasn’t supposed to die. She was somehow supposed to be part of my life and me part of hers.

“Clear...”

I was staring hard through the window at the monitor above her, hoping, praying for a sign of life. Nothing... Come on, angel! I kept saying to myself.

“Clear...”

The doctors seemed to not want to give up, and I was sure she didn’t either. After what seemed like an eternity, the screen started beeping. Her heart started pounding again. I felt so relieved and surprised when I suddenly realized I had tears in my eyes. They were tears of happiness because life had triumphed. This woman had embraced life, and I was sure she wanted to live.