Gavin opened his eyes slowly. All he could see was a blurry mess of faint shapes and lines. God, why does my head hurt so much, he wondered. He could hear the faint noises of machines to his left as he looked around blinking his eyes.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
He tried to move his hand to rub his eyes and felt the sting of needles embedded in the soft fleshy part of the back of his hand. He winced as he lifted his sore and hand, careful to avoid pulling the needles out, to rub his eyes while ignoring the discomfort in his hand as he did so. His head was throbbing as his vision began to clear.
He felt lost, confused and disoriented as he lay in the soft sterile bed. He glanced around the room as his vision soon became clear. It was a simple, basic hospital room. Posters of different insurance companies, procedures and basic sales services hung on the walls.
The soft beeping he heard was his heart rate, a steady staccato among the otherwise quiet room. He tried to remember why he was in the hospital to begin with, and it took a few minutes before everything came flooding back to him. The pain in his head felt like it intensified as the memories came flooding back.
The war, the battle at the academy. His friends, all excited for the inter-academy competition between the academies of Allario and Daedalus. His battle against the alpha were-lion shifter Erick Lyons. His exhaustion after the battle, laid up in the infirmary, being yelled at by Erza for his reckless behavior.
His cheeks flushed red. There was something important she told me. Her words and admission. She was pregnant with his child. Joy filled his heart as he recalled that hushed conversation moments before their battle for survival began. Then the nightmare memories started. The depths he had to go to ensure their survival. Using necromancy. Summoning spirits into all the dead bodies to fight for him and protect the academy.
I remember during the final battle, I used a forbidden spell; "Super nova". He unlocked the spell from Veronica, and caused catastrophic damage to the arena to kill the enemy leader and the bulk of his forces. The utter exhaustion his body felt once the Alpha Overdrive skill ended. The last thing he remembered was seeing his grandfather rushing to his side as he collapsed on the ground.
Then a sudden chill ran down his spine. That isn't the last thing I remember.
He was dragged away by Koray again. The god wanted another conversation with him. But the memory of what they talked about seemed to fade away. He sat there, in the bed and struggled to concentrate. His mind was still foggy as he forced himself to replay the event and conversation with the golden god. I have to remember.
As he struggled to recall the exact conversation the beeping of his monitor began to speed up. Beating a rapid rhythm faster and faster as bits of the conversation played out in his mind.
"Your mate has been taken."
That was the last thing that Gavin could recall the god saying. "Get with your grandfather, he will have found a way to track her down," he was told by the ancient god.
His blood ran both cold and hot at the memory. His blood burned through his veins as a cold spike sent shivers down his spine. His heart rate climbed even higher. He felt a tightness in his chest at the thought that Erza was now with their enemies. That thought alone brought a multitude of other questions to his mind. How long was I out of it? How many days have passed since she was taken? Was it the same blonde-haired man that I fought against with my grandfather? How did that bastard survive if that's the case?
As he asked himself these questions; questions that he had no answers to, he began to feel his anger building as his thoughts ran in circles. Someone dared to take what was his. Someone dared to commit the worst crime imaginable to Gavin. She was a living human being. Not some trash. She was his mate and the mother of his unborn child.
He felt his aura surging through his body. It was wild, chaotic, dangerous, and explosive. Days of rest had fully replenished his body and mana. No longer was he torn apart and exhausted from hours of fighting on all burners, struggling for every ounce of mana and power. Now he was nearly fully rested and his mana showed it.
Gavin felt that all too familiar burn as his blood burned from the mana. It flowed through his body, through his veins and gave him an intoxicating sense of strength. His body was trembling as he struggled to control his warring emotions.
I can't lash out, not here and not now. Gavin was focusing every ounce of control he could muster to maintain his sense of sanity. If he lost control of his power now, too many people would be caught in the crossfire.
It was surging out of control as a result. He tried to focus, to keep it in and was unable to do so. Grief racked his body as he refused to imagine the worst-case scenario. I will find her in time. I will rescue her. She will not die. Not like that. Gavin struggled to keep his thoughts in check. Too quickly did his fears give way to the worst-case scenario. Something he would do everything within his power to prevent.
No.
That wouldn't happen. He would find her. He would rescue her and protect her at all costs. He would burn this city to the ground if that's what it took. He wasn't some mythical hero. He was an eighteen-year-old with the love of his life missing. He will do whatever it takes to bring her home.
If that means I have to become the villain, then so be it. He thought as his eyes glowed a vibrant shade of red.
He let his anger fuel his sore body. He was no longer on death's door from the battles. The effects of the Alpha Overdrive skill and Necromancy magic were long gone. His body was rested, fueled, and ready for war.
He allowed his mana to surge through the room and beyond. The normally invisible waves of mana became a vibrant dark red as it lashed out around him. The impact of the mana cut deeply into the walls and doors in the hospital. He was not some weak, helpless human anymore. His mana was lashing out, tearing apart the hospital room. The machines tore in half and crumpled to the ground. Electrical sparks erupted from the crashed equipment. He ripped his I.V. out of his hand; small drops of blood dripped to the ground.
I am done with sitting around being helpless.
No, far from helpless.
I am an Alpha Were-Wolf. I received the blessing of the god Koray. I have the AI system Veronica by my side. I've been trained in magic and shifting. I have access to forbidden spells and magic. I am not a helpless human. I am a powerful predator on the hunt. Gavin centered his thoughts on his identity, using that to keep himself in check and control.
He let his blood fill every step as he forced his body to stand, pushing himself off from the hospital bed.
He saw red as he stood for the first time since he passed out. His rage was palpable; all-consuming as he focused on the one objective. Finding the key to his heart, and his sanity. He could feel his reasoning, his logic slipping away in his anger and madness. His grief was threatening to overtake him as the feral animalistic personality of the wolf came surging to the surface. His inner wolf was hungry, starving even, for blood, retribution and vengeance.
He allowed his mana to fill his body, flowing through his veins and shifted into his large, imposing were-wolf form.
Fur black as midnight manifested over his body as his limbs elongated. He felt the familiar burn fill his blood as his body responded to the command, the need to shift and rip heads off bodies until he found his mate and unborn child. He grew in height as he shifted. His body was now long, lean and well-muscled. Razor sharp claws extended from his fingers as his mouth grew into the familiar shape of a wolf's snout. To anyone that might have happened to pass by and catch a glimpse of him through the window, he would appear to be the most fearsome, horrifying demon summoned from the depths of hell.
He stood there in the hospital room, filled with rage and hatred for the True Lords Army. They would not get away with this. They wanted a war? They would get a bloodbath instead. He threw his head back, his mana spinning out of control as he unleashed a haunting howl to the sky.
He poured his rage, his grief and his horror into that one howl. His waves of mana, already visible and a physical, tangible manifestation sliced through the walls and into the hallway beyond causing unknown levels of destruction to the hospital in response. Where would I start? How would I find her? Grief choked him as his mind, barely coherent, was searching for some kind of plan and a place to start.
Desperation mixed with fear, gripped his heart like a vice as he began to think and plan. His ears picked up voices calling from the hallway as he continued through the rapid fire thoughts in his mind.
"Gavin, buddy. You must calm down. We are with you!" I know that voice, but who is it?
The door to his hospital room opened and two figures stepped inside, covered in sweat as they struggled to enter the room. The female gasped in horror as she witnessed Gavin's truly feral side. This isn't good, he's lost all sense of control! Helena thought in horror as she took stock of Gavin's situation.
"I know man," Jackson called out, his voice strained from the effort. "She's gone for the moment. But you have to calm down. You are hurting everyone in this hospital!" Jackson screamed out as he struggled to reach his friend and alpha. "You are hurting innocent people, this isn't like you!"
I swear he's grown even larger, how is that possible? Jackson wondered as he watched the beast in front of him. He didn't know if that was possible, but it was the impression he got as he witnessed Gavin's rage and fury exploding out from around him. This was a thousand times worse than when he went after Bradley. I have to calm his raging ass down, or others will end up getting hurt.
"You aren't the only one that cares for her and is afraid dude!" Helena snapped. Her own fury was now mounting as her eyes glowed red. Her own wolf was responding to Gavin's cry for vengeance and fury. She focused on her mana and allowed her body to shift. Beautiful silver fur manifested over her body as she stood facing Gavin. She refused to back down to her alpha, yet her body was trembling as she stood there. Gavin needed to be forced to see reason, even if it meant a fight broke out between them.
"You let her get taken!" he roared in fury as he charged at Helena. The floor cracked under his feet as he lunged. His mana was explosive in his rage as it swirled around them, like some chaotic storm. He threw out his hand and grabbed her by the throat, slamming her against the wall behind her. He let her feet dangle helplessly in the air. She punched his arm, barely able to breathe as she fought against his hold. She kicked his legs helplessly in her efforts to get him to release her. Her eyes glowed red as she struggled and she snarled in his face, refusing to back down to her alpha.
His hands were trembling; the sharpness of his claws easing away from the flesh of her neck. Though strong, his grip wasn't painful as she maintained eye contact with her alpha. Tears spilled from his glowing red eyes as he felt lost holding her there. She reached a clawed hand to gently place it against his chest. "We will find her Gavin, I promise this. You are not alone. She is not alone. We are wolves. We are pack," she tried to gently calm him down. He was in a very dangerous state of mind. The wrong word spoken, the wrong move made, and he could lash out in his grief and fury.
Tears fell down his cheeks as he looked at her. "I… I'm so sorry Helena," he gently placed her back on her feet. He took a few steps back and asked Veronica. Can you tell if she is still alive?
He held his breath as he awaited a response from his AI companion. It took only moments for the response, but it felt like a lifetime. The connection formed by the magical bond is still there and strong. She is indeed still alive Master Gavin; Veronica's cool words felt like a weight of comfort in his turbulent mind.
He exhaled sharply as his mana appeared to weaken in the room. Gone was the oppressive weight that kept everyone pinned to the floor except for Jackson and Helena. He wrapped his arms around himself as he took a few more steps back from Helena, ashamed of his actions. His body trembled violently as he wrestled with his warring emotions. He refused to meet either of their gazes as he retreated towards the bed.
The door opened before anyone could say anything and the Magi guards stormed in. Each of them had their arms raised defensively, palms glowing with unused magic as they searched for the source of the disturbance.
Jackson walked over to them as Gavin let go of his shifting ability and returned to normal. "Everything's fine. It was Gavin's magic that spun out of control for a moment there. He's deeply sorry for the trouble caused to the hospital and the panic caused to the staff and patients," Jackson said in apology as he looked between both the older Magi.
"He lashed out like a petulant child," one of them admonished as he glared at Gavin, tired and appearing weak as he leaned against the bed. Gavin had the forethought to bow low as he apologized.
"Please forgive me, I did not mean to cause that kind of chaos," Gavin apologized. He bowed his head low. He did feel a pang of guilt for causing that kind of panic and fear among the people. All he could think about at the moment was Erza. He had to find her and rescue her at all costs.
"Don't let it happen again boy," the man said as they both turned and left the hospital room. The other guard clicked his tongue at Gavin disapprovingly. Neither of them were amused by his little stunt as they realized they couldn't do anything to fight back against that display of brute power a moment ago. A nurse came hurrying to inspect Gavin's injuries.
"I can't believe you ripped the IV's out of your arm like it was nothing. Who does that?" she chastised him. She pushed him back onto the bed as she gathered the wires and attempted to hook him back to the machines, only to discover that the machines were no longer functioning. He kept trying to swat her hands away without hurting her in the process as he argued with her.
"I can't stay here. I'm sorry but I have to leave. I have important matters to attend to," Gavin protested as he struggled against his nurse.
She huffed at him as she narrowed her blue eyes. "Boy, you nearly died on us. Multiple times. You might want to think on that for a moment and let it sink in," she informed him. That seemed to take some of the bluster out of Gavin as he lay back in bed and allowed her to clean the old needle marks on his hand and arms.
"Boy, can you ever go someplace without causing trouble?" a gruff voice called out from the doorway.