Knox's POV:
After the news reached me, I thought I could stay calm. But the moment I heard an omega had died in the same university as Bella, everything inside me shattered. Terror clawed through my chest. I called her again and again, a hundred times, but she never picked up. I drove straight to her house, the engine roaring, my heart pounding faster than the rain that began to fall. Then, halfway there, the car gave out. Dead. I tried calling Jack, but my phone died too. I stay there in the car opening the window for air. I stay thinking of what to do. Cursing under my breath, I exit the car and run the rest of the way, the storm soaking through my clothes.
By the time I reached her door, I was drenched, my breath coming out in white puffs in the cold air. My hands trembled as I rang the bell once, twice, then again and again. Nothing. The pounding in my chest grew unbearable, so I started banging on the door. Still nothing.
Then… silence.
The rain was the only sound left, heavy and merciless. A sick feeling twisted in my gut. I pressed my forehead against the door, whispering her name,
"Bella…"
i was going crazy. Its only been minutes since i knew and i am already losing my mind. Just as I turned to leave, the door swung open.
She stood there. Alive. Her eyes wide in shock, her face half-lit by the dim glow from inside. Relief crashed over me so hard my knees nearly buckled. Before I could stop myself, I lunged forward and pulled her into my arms, holding her as if she'd vanish the second I let go. Her warmth, her scent, sweet wine and something else, something purely her, wrapped around me.
For the first time that night, I felt safe. Then everything went black. My body went numb, heavy, cold. I'd stayed too long in the rain. The last thing I felt before falling was her hands catching me.
Bella's POV:
I struggled to carry Knox to bed. He was so heavy. I looked at his unconscious face—he looked… peaceful. His eyebrows were knotted, tension still written across his expression. I gently brushed my fingers over them, smoothing the lines away. My gaze fell to his drenched white shirt, clinging to his skin. Carefully, I unbuttoned it one by one.
His chest came into view, and I froze. He had a scar. It was a large, irregularly shaped mark on his upper chest and shoulder. The scar resembles branching lines or a pattern similar to tree branches or roots. It's not a clean, straight line but rather a series of interconnected marks that spread across his chest and up onto his shoulder, The color is a muted brownish-red, Suggesting healed tissue. The texture appears rough and uneven, implying a deep injury. The scar's size and shape suggest it was caused by a significant trauma, possibly a severe burn or a large, deep laceration , The scar is prominent, a noticeable feature on his torso, and its irregular shape suggests a complex wound. The effect is one of significant injury and lasting physical damage.
My finger hovered over it, afraid to touch, afraid to hurt him. Then I noticed. My breath hitched. The red mark on my own shoulder… it looked just like his.
I couldn't help but wonder what happened to him. If I asked, would he even tell me the truth? No… we weren't that close anyway. I tried to brush off the thought, but deep inside, I longed for something I couldn't name. Something I wasn't supposed to feel. I sighed and tossed his damp shirt to the floor, my gaze hesitating on his pants. Heat rushed to my cheeks. No, absolutely not. I turned away quickly, pulling the covers over him instead. He looked calmer now, his breathing steady. I switched off the AC and quietly closed the door behind me. The house was silent, save for the rain tapping against the windows. I made my way to the kitchen to fix him some hot soup. It was the least I could do to help him warm up.