Free Web NovelChapter 20: Chapter 20 Between Two Worlds
Hugo’s POV
The agony etched across her face was almost unbearable to witness. Those stunning green eyes searched mine desperately, pleading for answers to what was ravaging her body from within.
When I explained this was her transformation beginning, terror flooded her features. Tears gathered in those emerald depths, threatening to spill over.
Every trace of fury I’d harbored toward her evaporated in that instant. Abandoning her wasn’t an option, not when she needed me this desperately. I lunged forward, wrapping my arms around her trembling form and lifting her against my chest.
Racing from her estate, I settled her into my vehicle while barking orders to my pack members through the phone. They needed to secure her property immediately. Those pathetic excuses for guards she’d hired couldn’t protect a butterfly, let alone a woman during her most vulnerable moment.
Each pained whimper that escaped her lips during our drive to the forest felt like claws raking across my soul. Her deception about finding her wolf years ago was now glaringly obvious. A true first shift would have occurred naturally in adolescence, not now in her adult years.
Deep in the woods, I carefully placed her on the forest floor. My experience with transition guidance would help, though her delayed transformation guaranteed significant pain. Her wolf had been suppressed for far too long.
"Listen to me, Bella. You have to redirect your thoughts away from the pain," I instructed, dropping to my knees before her writhing form.
"How the hell am I supposed to think about anything else when it feels like my skeleton is shattering?" she snarled, her voice raw with agony.
The venom in her tone made me recoil slightly. Throughout our childhood friendship, she’d never once raised her voice to me. Back then, her perpetual silence had driven me to distraction. I’d begged her to fight back, to show some fire, but she’d only ever responded with that heartbreaking wounded expression.
That look had shattered something inside me every single time. I’d sworn to shield her from everything that could hurt her. Somewhere along the way, I’d become the very thing she needed protection from.
"Damn it!" Her scream yanked me from my memories.
"You’re absolutely useless!" she spat, and I growled in response to her accusation.
"Focus on me," I commanded, snapping my fingers inches from her face. The pure hatred blazing in her stare nearly made me stumble backward.
"Stop looking at me like I’m your enemy," I shot back, matching her intensity.
"Let’s discuss something different. Your children."
The moment those words left my mouth, her features contorted with even greater anguish.
"I refuse to discuss my babies with you, especially not right now," she hissed through clenched teeth.
Clearly, that topic would only fuel her rage further. I needed a different approach.
"Then let’s talk about us. About what we used to have," I suggested quietly.
Her head snapped up at my words. Though she remained silent, the raw pain swimming in her eyes spoke volumes.
"That night when I claimed I knew someone who could handle the abortion, I was lying." The confession tumbled out before I could stop myself. Her brow furrowed as genuine curiosity began replacing some of her physical distress.
"You specifically said you had connections," she reminded me, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I did say that, but it wasn’t true. I never had any intention of helping you terminate those pregnancies," I admitted, unable to meet her gaze.
Her stare burned into my profile as I continued my revelation.
"We found your diary, the one where you wrote about having feelings for all three of us. What I need to understand is why all of us?" I pushed, studying her reaction carefully.
The question had achieved its purpose. Her transformation continued around us, canines extending, nails sharpening into claws, bones restructuring themselves audibly, yet she remained completely absorbed in our conversation. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
Even as her body betrayed its human limitations, her eyes never left my face, as if she were trying to decode some hidden meaning in my words.
Another scream tore from her throat before violent convulsions seized her entire frame. Alarm shot through me as I reached for her, pulling her against my chest protectively.
Something had gone wrong. Her wolf was emerging but then retreating repeatedly, trapping her in an agonizing limbo between human and beast. She couldn’t complete the shift in either direction.
Her body went limp in my arms.
I held her for what felt like hours, simply stroking her back while breathing in her intoxicating scent. Every instinct screamed at me to never let her go, but eventually, I had to.
Carrying her back to the car, I drove her home in heavy silence. As I lifted her toward her bedroom, her eyelids began to flutter open.
I quickly settled her onto the mattress and turned to leave, but her fingers wrapped around my wrist, stopping me cold.
Her eyes were open now, fixed on mine with startling intensity. She struggled to her feet, and before I could react, she crashed her mouth against mine.
Her wolf was in control now, driving her actions while her human consciousness remained foggy. Though the kiss sent fire racing through my veins, I couldn’t take advantage of her compromised state.
Gently, I placed my hands on her arms and created distance between us.
The moment her human awareness returned, horror washed over her features. She shoved me away violently.
"What the hell is wrong with you? Get out!" she screamed, pointing toward the door.
I recognized her embarrassment, her inability to acknowledge that she’d initiated our kiss. I’d stopped it because I knew she’d regret it later.
"Leave!" she shrieked again, prompting me to roll my eyes as I headed for the exit.
But something vicious inside me demanded one final strike. I paused at the threshold, meeting her gaze directly.
"Parker made it clear he wants nothing to do with those babies."
Her sharp intake of breath was audible across the room. Though she continued pointing at the door, a single tear traced down her cheek.
Whether telling her was right or wrong, I couldn’t say. But in that moment, it felt necessary.
I walked away, leaving her with that brutal truth.
