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Bell was struggling. Seeing Roman standing only inches away from her had sent her mind into a panic. She had been floating in the space between consciousness for what seemed like a very long time.

She opened her eyes and saw Ashleigh standing not far from her.

“Ashleigh?” she had called out, her voice sounding far away to her own ears.

Bell felt rather than saw Ashleigh come and hold her close. She felt her warmth and protection. Maybe now she would be able to break through the darkness that was surrounding her and find her way back into the light.

But it wasn’t easy. Her eyes fluttered open and closed, and her head lolled side to side, feeling heavy. The world around her was blurred and out of focus. It was difficult to find anything to hold onto.

Ashleigh whispered to her, telling her she would be ok.

There were other voices, a woman. Ashleigh sent her away. Bell only understood one word.

“Help.”

She felt tired, but the panic in her heart was settling.

And then everything changed.

Bell screamed in Ashleigh’s arms. Ashleigh did her best to hold her back and keep her from hurting herself. Bell’s hands shot up to her eye, grabbing at it aggressively.

“Bell!” Ashleigh cried out, pulling her hands away from her face. “Stop! Bell, you’ve gotta snap out of it!”

Bell thrashed and continued trying to reach her hand to her eye, screaming as she did so. Until she suddenly stopped. She sprung forward, sitting up with a gasp as though the wind had been knocked out of her.

Her eyes were wide and filled with panic.

Bell’s jaw shook as her frightened eyes looked down; with a shaky hand, she touched her belly. Then, she lifted her eyes to Ashleigh.

Ashleigh could only look on in horror at the familiar reaction. She remembered the way Corrine had dropped to her knees, the way she had clawed at her throat. And the scream that haunted Ashleigh for days after.

Bell’s eyes lost their shine and rolled back into her head as her body went limp. Luckily, Ashleigh already had her supported in her arms.

“Bell!” Ashleigh cried out, lifting her head to look at her.

But Bell was not responding.

“Ashleigh!” Penelope called, breaking through the trees. “I found some help! Luckily, he wasn’t too far— Oh Goddess!”

Ashleigh followed Penelope’s gaze to the snow beneath Bell and the bright red color that stained it.

Saul stepped out from behind Penelope. Then, without a word, he moved forward and picked Bell up.

“We need to get her to the hospital,” Saul said, looking at Ashleigh. He turned to Penelope. “You go ahead as fast as you can. Tell them that we are coming. She will need an emergency delivery as soon

as possible.”

Penelope swallowed and nodded, turning, and immediately shifting before running back into the trees.

‘Caleb, we are going to the hospital,’ Ashleigh whispered to their bond with a shaken voice. ‘I think Galen killed Roman… but Bell… she’s in trouble. The bond… I forgot about it….’

***

Ashleigh sat quietly in the corner of the waiting room, with her knees pulled to her chest. Caleb sat in the chair beside her, his hand resting gently on her back.

Axel sat in a chair by the window, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.

Saul had carried Bell all the way to the hospital. Once they arrived and the doctors had taken her back, he sat with Ashleigh until Caleb and Axel came. He then volunteered to find Corrine and let her know the situation.

They were grateful, as none of them wished to leave.

The doors of the waiting room burst open. They each lifted their heads to see Galen, bloodied and limping into the room.

“Where is she?!” he shouted, moving toward the treatment doors.

Axel and Caleb both stood up and grabbed him, supporting him as they led him to a chair.

“She’s with the doctors,” Axel said. “They had to take her into surgery.”

Galen’s eyes widened, and he lowered his head.

“They said it will like take some time,” Caleb added. “Why don’t we get you looked at while we wait.”

Galen shook his head.

“Not until I know she is all right, that they both are.”

Caleb sighed.

“I understand, bu—”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Galen stated, looking up at Caleb angrily. “I need to be here.”

“Do you think that Bell will be happy about that?” Axel asked. His tone was neutral. “Do you think she will appreciate that instead of getting your wounds checked, you chose to sit here, bleeding out all over the floor, waiting for news that won’t come for hours?”

Galen growled at Axel.

“When Bell wakes up from surgery, if she sees you like this, it will only cause her pain,” Axel continued. “She has had more than enough of that.”

Galen lowered his eyes.

“Come on, Galen,” Caleb said softly. “We’ll be right down the hall. If anything happens, Axel will let us know.”

Axel nodded.

Galen didn’t reply, but Caleb took his silence as acknowledgment and helped him to his feet. He nodded at Axel.

Axel nodded back and turned to join Ashleigh, taking Caleb’s place beside her.

Caleb guided Galen down the hallway.

They were directed into a room. Galen was uncomfortable with how far they had gone from the emergency room. So, Caleb agreed to leave and check in with Axel or Ashleigh every ten minutes while Galen was being treated.

The most significant issues were the gash on his thigh and the cuts on his shoulder. His leg was stitched up, but the wound was deep. He was told it would take at least a few days to heal properly.

His shoulder was cleaned and stitched and then placed in a sling.

Galen was barely listening to the doctor as he was given a description of his wounds and treatments. All he could think about was Bell and Ren and the possibility that they might die tonight because of his hasty decision and need for revenge.