Penumbral Eclipse

Chapter One

Adrian P.O.V

 I watch frozen in my place as the doctor and a few nurses shuffle around the sterile white room in a haste. Medicine, sanitizer, and blood fill my senses. The fast pace of the heart monitor, my thoughts, and worry fill my ears. I see the hospital staff speaking, but I am unable to hear their words. My breathing becomes heavy and sweat is rolling down the back of my neck.

Hospitals are not my thing. I hate to be in them. The last time I came to one was after we found her. She was malnourished and badly beaten. Her face was sunken as if the life had been sucked from her body. Even still her wolf was fighting hard against the wolfsbane to keep them both alive.

That day I paced the halls after being dragged out by my mother and Destiny. I had almost killed the attending doctor at the time. He didn't understand the gravity of the situation when he told us that she would not make it. No one wants to hear the person, who took on the task of saving lives, say that it was time to let someone you love go. It's never that easy to just let go. Not when that person has so much life left to live. It was a reality that I didn't want to accept, let alone face. She has been my rock and my confidant. My best friend. No matter how much we fought and argue. No matter how annoying I may be to her, I would never want to lose her. It would be me losing myself. Losing my will to go on. That time never came though. Thank the Moon Goddess. 

'This time is no different. She will be fine,' Antonio huffs. 'This situation is not the same.'

'I know,' I sigh in reply. 'This is still stressful. I am too on edge. My nerves are on edge.'

'Just you wait. She ...'

Antonio's words are cut short by the blaring of the flatline on the heart monitor. My body tenses and my nails dig into the palms of my crossed hands. In an instant, fear engulfs my body, and my world starts to spin.

"What is going on?" I roar causing the room to become quiet. Everyone in the room jumps at my tone and turns to me eyes wide in fear. They bare their necks in submission as their bodies tremble in fear.

"Calm down son," William says placing a hand on my shoulder. " They are just exchanging the equipment that is malfunctioned. Everything is alright."

I nod my head and inhale deeply. Calming my body and my wolf.

"Continue," I wave to the staff after I am slightly less on the verge of killing these incompetent people.

'No one told you to get so worked up.' mom smirks at me. 'She is here and safe. If you kept calm you would have heard them explain this beforehand.'

She's right. I was so focused on getting her here, I forgot they were even in the room with me. I was experiencing severe tunnel vision.

"Alph..." Doctor Samuels stands before me. He clears his throat as I glare at him. "Beta. It is time. We can only allow two people besides you in the room at this time."

"My mother is the only one who will be in attendance. Everyone else is going to sit in the waiting room," I reply looking to my mom as she walks everyone to the door.

"We will let you know when you can reenter," mom says as she pushes a reluctant William and Destiny out slamming the door closed behind them. "Let's get this show on the road Doc."

Braydon's P.O.V

"Hey let's get moving," I yell at my brothers and parents. This is the third stop we have made in the past hour. "Couldn't this wait until we got there? We are only 20 minutes from their territory."

"No, it's better to come baring gifts. Let's her know we were thinking of her," Bryce smirks carrying 3 bags in each hand. "When she opens her eyes and sees what I brought, I will be her favorite."

"Not going to happen, brother," I roll my eyes at him.

"Okay dear, your father and I have a few things as well," Mom says carrying a small bag as Dad, Brandon, and our Beta Jonathan follow close behind with boxes in hand and at least five bags hanging from each arm.

"What did you buy the whole store?" Bryce frowns.

"Oh how I wish. Your father wouldn't let me," Mom says with a pout getting into the front seat.

"Honey can you at least open the trunk?" Dad asks with a struggle. the boxes piled so high in their arms neither of them can see the path in front of them. 

"What did you tell me in there? No? So do it yourself," Mom replies throwing Dad the middle finger when he twists his body to look at her.

"Dad the truck can be opened with your foot," Brandon grunts, before swipe his foot side to side under the car. Dad stands in awe for a moment before they dump everything into the boot.

"What did you buy Bran?" I asked.

"Nothing," he says in a huff. "Why would I?"

He marches to the Beta's car and hops into the front seat. I  roll my eyes at his irritation and get back into the car. He's been like this the past year. 

I remember being like this last year after China left. Always irritated and stuck in my thoughts that she would go back to Donald when she returned with her pups. I felt rejected without actually being rejected. My family sat me down in the sixth month of my mood change, to have an "intervention" with me. At the time I felt justified in my actions, but mom made me see how wrong I was. How could I blame China? All she wanted was to save her pups, which she was forced to forget. Fate has already bound us together, so until she verbally rejects me I am going to wait for her to be ready.

"Okay everyone. Let's head out," Dad announces. "We have twenty minutes until we reach Moonlight Eclipse pack. No more stops from now on."

We nod in agreement as we get back on the road to our mate's pack.