Chapter 524: I Should've Been Faster
Benjamin’s POV:
As soon as I saw Hayley, a wave of relief washed over me. I pulled her into my arms without hesitation, holding her tightly. For a moment, I wished we could become one so I’d never lose her again.
“I’m here,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. I gently stroked her back, savoring the proof of her presence. The thought of nearly losing her was unbearable.
“I know,” she replied, her eyes brimming with tears. She smiled softly and traced her fingers along my face. “Thank you, Ben.”
I shook my head, a pang of guilt surging through me as I gently patted her head. “I should’ve been faster.”
As I touched Hayley’s hand, the sticky sensation made me pause. Looking down, I noticed her palm was marred by wounds and streaked with blood. The deep red served as a brutal reminder, piercing me like a blade.
“What happened? Are you hurt?” I asked, my voice trembling with concern, though I hesitated to touch her further for fear of worsening her pain.
Hayley dismissed it casually, smiling as though it was nothing. “Just a few small cuts. They’re not serious.”
But I knew better. As an Omega, her pain tolerance was low. How could she be fine with many injuries? She was clearly downplaying it to keep me from worrying.
Still, I couldn’t let it go. Whoever caused that—whether it was Irving or someone else—would pay. The room was tightly shut, leaving only Hayley and the other woman present. It was obvious where Hayley’s injuries had come from, and I silently vowed to uncover the truth.
An intense wave of anger surged within me, and I could tell Lawrence was equally eager to confront that woman. Resting my hand gently on Hayley’s shoulder, I said, “Stay here.” Without hesitation, I strode toward the woman called Lisa, who was in the living room.
Hayley’s POV:
As I watched Benjamin’s firm and determined steps, I immediately realized what he intended to do. Panicking, I rushed after him, grabbing his sleeve to stop him. “It wasn’t her fault,” I blurted out. “I hurt my hand myself.”
But Benjamin’s fury only grew stronger. He assumed I was trying to protect Lisa and refused to listen to a word I said. I could see the tension building in him, and it was clear he was on the verge of losing control. My heart was conflicted—I felt both worried and oddly reassured. Alphas like him could be ruthless when their wolves took over. I knew Lisa would face unimaginable consequences if Benjamin acted in his current state.
Even though Lisa wasn’t innocent, the real person responsible was Irving. She was merely a pawn in his schemes. In panic, I ignored the stinging pain in my hand and placed my own over Benjamin’s, where he held the knife. “It’s true. I injured myself and thought they’d take me to the hospital. I was hoping to use that chance to escape.”
Finally, his anger began to subside. His gaze softened as he cupped my face, his expression filled with love and worry.
“You don’t need to be afraid anymore. I’m here now, and that won’t happen again.”
He then turned and shot Lisa a cold, piercing glare before scooping me up and walking toward the door.
Lisa’s POV:
Even after Benjamin carried Hayley out of the room, fear still gripped me. As I glanced at the chaos scattered across the floor, only one thought consumed me—Irving would hold me responsible for failing to watch over Hayley. If he thought I was no longer useful, I might lose my place by his side. I couldn’t leave him!
Desperation took hold as I scrambled for a way to fix the problem. Soon, I noticed a fruit knife lying near the kitchen doorway, and a plan quickly formed in my mind. Acting without hesitation, I grabbed the knife and stabbed it into my left arm.