Each one had one nauseating similarity. The blood that soaked down her left side, drenching her ratty shirt and sticking in her hair.

He took a breath and continued with caution, “I discovered an incomplete marking bite on her shoulder.”

Such a mark was never done lightly and it made his gut clench at the thought. Brad glanced to the pale woman, taking note of the bandages wrapped around her neck and disappearing below the clean shirt she had been given.

“I tried to take the best picture possible,” Brad returned his attention to Dr. Smith,” but there was little I could do. It's bandaged and should be healing with the rest of her injuries but I should point you to this area here. She must have been standing to be able to do this because she pulled herself down, almost out of his bite and then away causing his teeth to scrape down to her collarbone. On her back was just a regular bite from when she had been on the run.” He motioned to the pictures, using his finger to let them know what he was talking about.

“Scouts had said a wolf had gotten ahold of her shoulder but lost grip.” Luke piped up.

“That's exactly what the wounds show.” They both looked toward Brad but he said nothing, just stared at the mystery girl connected to tubes and wires.

His eyes darted from her face to the bandaged neck, to the photos, and then finally, returned to her sleeping face. The longer he stared, the more she appeared to be in a coma rather than just asleep.

More than devotion, a mating mark represented a sort of wedding ring, a symbol of trust and love. It acted like a ring, it told the world that that person had a significant other that they were (supposedly) devoted to. The difference is, there was no way to remove it.

By whatever power may be, perhaps it was their creator, the scar from the bite would disappear in a couple of days, practically overnight, and a beautiful tattoo would appear, identical and unique to the couple who bore it.

“Perhaps I should get to the ultimate point here?” Brad merely raised an eyebrow, prompting him to continue. “Aside from the bite marks, concussion, ribs, and bruising here and there. The majority of her wounds were done in self defense, Alpha.” Grinding his teeth, Brad grabbed a cracker from the tray and furiously munched on it, something a bit tamer than punching a wall.

Never before in his lifetime or another had he come across something so vicious. He had never heard of any account where a woman, the age of a college student, would be lying in their make-shift hospital, practically tortured.

Brad look over the charts again, taking note of Dr. Smith’s confusion at when the wounds occurred and how many times they may have occurred. So far, the only timeline they had gone back about 10 months prior.

“Alpha?” Smith sat at his desk worried as he inspected the man who paced the tiled floors.

“What does it feel like when you come across your Last Purpose?” He knew vaguely that you'd gravitate towards whatever it may be. That no matter what, you can't leave it behind or leave it unfinished. It could take years but in the end, you'll complete it, dying with the knowledge that your life had lead to that one moment.

Lilac’s words rang in his ears and only brought more confusion to the situation.

There had been many explanations and theories surrounding it and how it seemed to work, but no one knew. All they knew for certain, and special to their kind, was the sole fact that they would simply fade away, die peacefully in their sleep, with no real will to live. They weren’t created to just exist, they were created with a purpose. However, one failure of the system was that they could not form their own purpose. Not to say they don’t have free will, but the ability to produce a purpose for themselves was never given to them upon their creation and nothing could change that now.

“You think she may be your Last Purpose? You always said it would be to protect us, to keep the company supplying jobs for our members…” Smith trailed off looking at the array of emotions that passed over Brad’s face.

His anger stemmed from something much deeper than the generic rage of seeing someone hurt as such. His sorrow and helplessness wasn't something often seen from their leader. Smith considered Brad a man disciplined in self-control, leadership, and empathy. Always willing to help so long as it didn't jeopardize the safety of their pack.

Smith decided to try a different approach.

“Do you think, at this moment, that if she was to flatline-” He didn't need to finish as Brad’s head snapped up, baring teeth as a snarl came from low in his throat.

The quick anger passed, and a sudden grief overtook him, partially sorry for his attitude, partially already grieving at the thought of her sudden loss.

His reaction differed greatly from Luke’s horror filled expression at the thought of her dying. Luke became concerned by Brad’s reaction and a sudden realization befell him of what they now knew.

“Let me think.” Frustrated, he pulled at his wayward hair, dark strands occasionally falling from the rough treatment.

“We aren't going anywhere, brother.” The loud screeching of a chair sounded before Luke plopped himself down next to him.

It had been hours of silence. Her heartbeat beat steady and she breathed a little uneven but Smith said it was normal. Lindsey visited, wanting to see her. She hugged Brad before dragging Luke of out the room for him to deal with the rest of the pack members who continued to line the halls. Lilac also returned at one point to see if there was anything that needed to be done.

“Grab Luke, Lindsey, Meers, and Darz. You are to be part of this meeting as well.” Without a response, the teen left in a hurry to find said people. The hallways cleared, mostly as people went back to their jobs.

“You called, sir?” Meers and Darz were the first to arrive, followed up by the other three shortly.

“Yes, I called all of you because I need your help. Meers and Darz you are to be her bodyguards. Nobody in or out except for us in this room, unless she says so. Do not make any references or any movements that may lead to her thinking she’s trapped here. She’ll be rightfully scared and skittish around us and that’s to be understood and respected.” The two nodded.

Smith sat by his laptop, smiling at the recognition Brad gave to the situation. Whether or not the mystery girl held some critical future role to Brad’s own personal life, the fact of the matter remained. Someone kidnapped and beat this girl for months on end and that jeopardized the safety of not only the local communities but the pack as well.

If the media were to catch wind of something non-human happening, it could lead to a threatening situation.

“Good. Lindsey and Lilac, I want you to personally take care of her. Wash her hair and help Smith with whatever he needs done like rebandaging or redoing IV. The fewer people, the better. We don’t want her to be overwhelmed.”

“Are you sure?” Lilac spoke up. Her voice, so small and timid, it hurt him to hear her.

Walking up to her, Brad placed a hand on her head and leaned to place their foreheads together.

“Don’t let their mean words get to you, Lil. I’m sorry I can’t stop it no matter how hard I’ve tried but I would ask no other to do this. You and Lindsey are the two people I can definitely count on to take care of her.” He kissed the crown of her hair before he pulled back.

“No worries here, Brad. Lilac and I got this.” Lindsey gave a million dollar smile with a double thumbs up.

“Good. Luke, grab some trackers I want some sort of lead on this. They could be looking for another target and that could include one of our own. Let's go!” Clapping his hands once, everyone got set to work.

Lilac and Lindsey set out to get a bowl, washcloth, and shampoo to wash her hair. Meers and Darz would take turns guarding the door. Luke already sprinted out the door, steps ahead of Brad in getting to work.

“I’m counting on you, Doc.”

“When have I ever failed you, kid?” Grinning, Brad closed the door behind him before heading back to his paperwork.

First, he needed to deal with some pack issues then he’d spend the rest of his time beside his possible future and finding those bastards.