Page 57 of Follow Your Instincts

“... came out of nowhere and pushed me into the street,” she was saying, sounding breathless and like she’d been crying. “I’m at the hospital here, Brookwood Medical Center. Can you guys come? Please?”

“What’s going on?” Ben said, rushing over to Soren.

“Maggie was attacked on her way back from a run,” Lucas said, his face lined with worry.

“Ben?” Maggie asked.

“Yeah, I’m here. Lachlan too. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine… I just don’t want to be alone right now,” she said and her voice wobbled.

“We’re on our way, baby,” Soren said, and I nodded, already going to grab the keys.

“We’ll be there as soon as possible,” Lucas said in his calm,slow voice. “Do you want us to talk to you on our way there?”

“No, they’re about to do X-rays, so I have to go,” Maggie said.

We piled into the Range Rover immediately, not speaking. Ben was vibrating with nerves as I sat in the backseat with him. The thought of Maggie, injured and scared, had cleared my mind of anything but the need to protect her. When he grabbed my hand, I gripped his and tried to steady us both. Our Omega was in danger, and I could put aside my baggage to keep her safe.

We arrived at the Brookwood Medical Center and parked as quickly as possible. Steffi was waiting for us in the lobby, looking distressed.

“Thank you so much for coming so quickly,” she said, ushering us down the hall and nodding to a nurse. “She’s down this way.”

I could smell her scent before we entered the room, sour with fear and stress. The five of us rushed in and found Maggie sitting on the bed, her hands bandaged. She was wearing a hospital gown, and there was a bandage on her knee as well.

Maggie saw us and sobbed. Lucas crossed the room faster than the rest of us and wrapped her in a soft embrace, curling around her protectively.

“I’m fine,” I heard her say, muffled by Lucas’ chest. “I’m just really, really glad to see you all.”

“Has anyone made a police report yet?” Soren asked Steffi, who shook her head.

“Maggie said she didn’t want to involve the police,” she said and quailed a little under Soren’s baleful look.

He opened his mouth to respond, but I laid a hand on his arm. “That can wait. Let’s focus on Maggie right now,” I said.

Ben was sitting on Maggie’s other side, stroking her hair. I ached to join them, but I stayed a few steps away.

“We’re really glad to see you too, sweetheart, even under the shitty circumstances,” he said.

After a few minutes, Maggie calmed down enough to stop crying and sit up straight. Her emerald eyes found mine, andshe took a deep breath.

“Are you alright?” I asked.

She nodded. “Other than being completely terrified? Yeah, I just have some road rash,” she said, waving her hands.

“But you needed X-rays?” I pressed.

“My ribs hurt from where I hit the ground, so they just want to make sure nothing’s broken,” she said. “The doctor should be back soon.”

I nodded and sat abruptly in the chair next to the bed to contain my need to pull her into my arms.

“It was Phillips,” she said, looking at Soren. “He was wearing descenter, but I still recognized his scent.”

Soren clenched his fists and his jaw. “We need to report this, Maggie.”

She shook her head. “It won’t make a difference.”

“Damn it, yes it will!” Soren yelled. “Sorry, I’m sorry… I’m just… really worried about you, baby.”

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