CLAIMED - Fated to Two-Chapter 41: Lost

TORRIN’S POV:

FIVE DAYS PRIOR...

Excruciating pain erupts from every inch of my body, blood oozing from my wounds, several of my bones broken. Not even the cold can numb the agony.

I crash into a large pile of snow. My breath is shallow, my heart barely beats. If I don’t receive medical attention immediately, I may die. The problem is... I can’t walk, let alone lift a finger to seek help.

As time drags on, my consciousness slips away. Eventually, my heartbeat fades completely while darkness takes over me.

I’m dead... or at least, I was.

Until,...

A man named Harry Ochoa - a lumberjack from no pack, finds me and brings me to his small but welcoming home, which is miles away from that snowy yet hellish place. His daughter, Andrea, is a healer. She stays by my side day and night, doing everything she can to pull me back from death.

They feed me, dress me, and care for me without questioning who I am, what happened to me, or demanding any favor in return.

Not that I could tell them much, even if they ask. My memories are hazy and disorganized. I do remember that I’m an Alpha named Torrin, and that there are werewolves who want me dead for my title.

And there’s a woman, too, with a beautiful face and big blue eyes. But I don’t remember her name or who she is to me. I only feel that she’s someone I need to return to. Maybe she’s the one who can answer all my questions? Or maybe there’s something more?

Inside, my wolf just watches me with a frustrated stare. Every time I ask him the same questions, he either howls or growls in response. Most of the time, he simply ignores me.

I know a werewolf’s wolf counterpart can’t speak, but he could at least be more cooperative and patient with me.

Part of me thinks I’d be safer if I don’t go back, and just simply move on with my life. I don’t wanna waste this second life the Moon Goddess has given me.

My wolf growls angrily, clearly disagreeing.

But I’m the one in charge of both our lives. So my decision is the one that must be followed no matter how fiercely and desperately he protests.

Over the next few days, once my injuries heal completely, I help Harry with his small lumberjack business, cutting wood through his machines. Sometimes I help Andrea clean the house. I don’t want them thinking I’m a parasite abusing their kindness.

"I’m going to help as a way of thanking you for saving me. I’d like to stay here a bit longer. I’ll leave once I find a new home. And once I find work, I’ll pay you every penny you spent on me and more," I say.

"Let’s not talk about payment... for now," Harry chuckles playfully. "Also, we don’t mind you staying with us for as long as you want." He glances at Andrea. "Right, sweetie?"

Andrea blushes and avoids my gaze as she nods. "I have several patients tomorrow. You can help me in my clinic. I-If you don’t mind."

"Sure," I reply without hesitation.

I’m blessed to have been found by such good-natured werewolves. But I can’t stay here long. If the Frostveil wolves find me, Harry and Andrea will be in danger too.

Later that night, once Andrea has gone to sleep upstairs, Harry invites me to share a cup of tea with him on the porch. There’s a hint of hesitation in his eyes as he studies me from head to toe.

"When I found you lifeless in the forest, I immediately thought what a shame it would be for someone so young and so fine to just die like that. I know my daughter is a great healer, but even a healer can’t bring someone dead back to life. The fact that you’re still alive means the Moon Goddess believes you have an unfulfilled purpose. I do. That’s why I still brought you to my daughter instead of just burying you even if the odds were against you. But, whatever that purpose is, it’s none of my business," he says.

"If you’re telling me to go back to where I came from and face my past, forget it," I reply.

"Oh, no. That’s not what I mean." He shakes his head. "Someone like you shouldn’t be stuck in a small, secluded place like this. What I want is... once you decide to leave, wherever you may go, take my daughter with you."

Confused, my eyes widen slightly.

He continues, "You see, I’m old and old-fashioned. I don’t wanna leave this house, not when it’s the home my late wife and I built. Because of that, my daughter refuses to explore life outside this place too. Her medical skills could do wonders if she travels and helps more in need. And besides, she’s at the right age to find a mate now. Maybe you can choose her to be your mate? She’s quite fond of you."

This must be the payment he said we’d discuss later. I can’t say no, not after everything they’ve done for me. But I can’t say yes either, because I don’t feel a special bond with Andrea.

Harry chuckles at my silence. "Don’t force it. I’ll respect whatever decision you make."

All through the night, while lying in bed, I keep thinking about Harry’s proposal.

Andrea is a quite pretty woman. Her bright golden hair perfectly matches her hazel eyes. Her voice is soft, always soothing to the ears. And her warmth can melt worries away. Maybe I could give her a chance, get to know her more and try to turn our platonic bond into so much more.

Inside, my wolf growls angrily again, but I ignore him.

But,...

What I can’t ignore is the sudden image of the brunette woman with blue eyes flashing in my mind, pushing Andrea’s face aside.

Who is she? I don’t feel a bond with her either, so why can’t I stop thinking about her?

My wolf’s growl softens, and so does his expression.

Are you trying to tell me she’s someone special to me? That I should return to her instead of trying to form a special bond with Andrea?

My wolf nods in a heartbeat.

I chuckle in disbelief. Why would I choose someone who watched me die over someone who did everything to bring me back to life?

My wolf sighs in defeat, slumps to the ground, and buries his face in his paws, refusing to look at me.

Even if he’s angry at me for dismissing that woman, there’s no way I’m going back. If she’s in danger like I was, then save herself. Why should I save her when she refused to save me when I begged her to?

Frustration creeps through me, making sleep impossible.

Morning comes painfully slow. I drag myself out of bed and take a quick shower.

I plan to help Andrea prepare breakfast, but by the time I descend into the kitchen, everything is already set on the dining table: bacon, eggs, sandwiches, and coffee too.

"Papa went to his factory early because of his new client. So it’ll be just us enjoying breakfast," she says delightfully, blushing like always.

I take her plate, place some food on it, then cut everything into bite-size pieces before handing it back to her.

She gawks at me. "T-Thank you. But you don’t have to do that." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Suddenly,...

A memory flashes before me: I was with the brunette woman with the blue eyes. I cut her steak so she could eat easily. Just like Andrea, she looked surprised yet appreciative.

"Are you okay?" Andrea asks, snapping me out of it.

"I am," I mumble. "Let’s eat."

Breakfast is awkwardly quiet. Andrea weighs every word she might say, while I don’t have much to say at all.

Once we’re done, we head to her clinic, which is just a block away from the house.

In the clinic, Andrea moves from patient to patient with gentle hands and steady focus. She treats wounds, checks pulses, and offers soothing words that calm them more than any medicine could.

What impresses me even more is that she never demands payment. Her patients give whatever they can, sometimes coins, sometimes food, sometimes nothing at all. And she never complains.

A small smile crosses my lips. She’s not hard to like at all.

My wolf growls angrily again, and I glare at him. This time he refuses to back down. Unfortunately, I’m the one who gives up our glaring match when Andrea suddenly snatches my attention.

"Ouch!" she hisses.

Her palm is bleeding from a small cut caused by her scalpel. So I rush toward her.

"It’s embarrassing that a doctor isn’t careful when holding a scalpel," she mutters.

I help her clean and dress the wound. For a moment, we stay still, long enough for me to realize I’m still holding her hand.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to," I say, finally letting go.

She chuckles, blushing again. "It’s okay. I’d love you to hold it as many times and as long as you can." She then takes my hand back to hers and intertwines our fingers. "I’ll let go once the next customer arrives."

Ignoring my wolf, who’s still grunting inside me, I reply with a smile. "Sure. Why not."