Single Mother of a Werewolf Baby novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1 - Tragedy

A sharp gasp tore through Eleanor Whitmore's throat as she jolted awake, her body wracked with pain.

"Who are you? Why are you doing this? Leave me alone!" Her voice rang out into the oppressive darkness, her words swallowed by the void. No response came... only silence, thick and suffocating.

Her breathing came in ragged bursts. She tugged at her arms, but resistance bit into her wrists. Rope. The rough fibers scraped against her skin as she twisted. Her legs, too, were bound, rendering her completely vulnerable. The cold air against her bare skin sent shivers of fear through her already trembling frame.

Panic clawed at her chest. The scent of blood hung in the air, metallic and sickening. A dull, throbbing pain radiated from every inch of her body, like she had been trampled beneath something unrelenting. She swallowed hard, tasting the coppery tang on her tongue.

Her mind spun, desperately grasping for clarity. What happened? How did she get here?

Despite being the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in the city, she had never harmed anyone. She was never arrogant, disrespectful, or the type to provoke others.

Then, it hit her like a crashing wave.

She had left the office early that day to meet her sister at a party. As she stepped out of the elevator into the dimly lit underground parking lot, a shadow loomed behind her. Before she could react, a cloth was pressed against her face.

She struggled, her heart pounding in terror, but within moments, darkness consumed her.

A sob bubbled up in her throat, but she forced it down. Now was not the time to break. She had to think. She had to get out. Her fingers twitched against the bindings, searching for any weakness in the knots.

Sweat trickled down her forehead. She had to focus. If she panicked, she would lose the small reserves of strength she had left. Her body was weak, hunger gnawed at her stomach, throat burned with thirst, exhaustion pulling at her limbs, but she refused to let it win.

"I have to get out of here," she whispered to herself, voice hoarse and barely audible. Her breathing grew steady as she tried again, twisting her wrists, searching for slack in the knots. The fibers rubbed against raw skin, sending sharp stings through her nerves.

She clenched her jaw. Pain meant she was still alive. Pain meant she could still fight.

Her vision swam, her strength waning, but she kept pulling. Hours could have passed... or maybe only minutes. She didn't know. Her body threatened to shut down. But she couldn't afford to give in.

She let her head fall against the cold ground, breathing heavily. Her fingers ached, but the rope had loosened... just a little. It wasn't enough.

Not yet.

Darkness crept at the edges of her vision, her body betraying her. She fought to stay awake, to keep trying, but her strength failed her. Her breathing slowed, her mind clouded, and before she could fight it, she slipped into unconsciousness once again.

***

"Who is this patient? Why are police guarding this area?" asked a female voice.

"Didn't you read the news? Eleanor Whitmore. Second daughter of William Whitmore. She was kidnapped and raped. Police found her after two days in an abandoned factory in the suburbs," replied another.

The first voice gasped. "Oh! Now I remember. I read she was admitted to our hospital. I was off duty, I just joined today. Hey... poor child. Kidnapped from her own family's building, raped in their own warehouse. Did you check social media? Everybody is saying that it is an act of revenge. Someone from the family must be in cahoots with the culprits. Otherwise, how could the chairman's daughter be kidnapped from his own company despite having several security guards?"

The second voice sighed. "I read today's news. Police identified three culprits out of five. But they all went abroad after the incident. I also think something is fishy here. The three faces police published all look poor. How could they afford to flee abroad? Someone must have paid a big amount of money to cover this up."

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