Aries: Book 2 in a Young Adult Paranormal Romance Series (The Zodiac Twin Flame Series) by Rachel Medhurst

pulled up beside me. A man in a black jumper blew a kiss out of the window before speeding off.
    People got out of their cars and rushed over to me. The van had finally halted next to the pavement.
    ‘Are you okay?’ one man asked, bending down to look me in the eye.
    My body screamed at me. I nodded anyway. My elbow throbbed where it had been ripped up, but other than a few bruises, I was unharmed.
    ‘Aries! Are you all right?’ Natalie cried.
    ‘I’ve rung the police,’ another man shouted, lifting my smashed up wheelchair and bringing it over.
    ‘I need to get to the hospital, Leo,’ I called as he got out and came over.
    His face was unusually pale as he pressed his hand to his stomach. ‘That could have been so bad. I’m so sorry.’
    ‘Look, I need that operation. If I have to go through all this…’ I gestured around me. ‘…I’m not going to get there in time!’
    Natalie crouched next to me and wiped the blood from my arm with a tissue that she pulled from her pocket.
    ‘You can’t go. You have to wait for the police,’ one man said.
    ‘Look!’ I picked up my empty trouser leg and waved it around. ‘I have an opportunity to have an operation that will attach metal rods to my thigh bones so that I can walk again. If I don’t have that operation tomorrow, I will have to wait another five months.’
    The two men looked me over. Obviously deciding to help, they bent to lift me. I put my arms around their shoulders as they took one thigh each.
    ‘I’ll take him in mine,’ one of them said.
    They carried me to the nearest car and put me inside.
    ‘Leo, deal with the police. Natalie, come with me. You need to speak to the doctor.’ My power flooded through me. It felt good to lead again. It had been a long time since I had been able to be my natural self.
    ‘I’ll stay and be a witness. I hope they get the arsehole that ran you off the road!’ The other driver patted my shoulder.
    ‘Thanks,’ I replied as Natalie climbed in next to me.
    Leo stood at the side of the road as we pulled off. Sirens sounded in the distance. It was a good job we got away in time. My body started to shake as my breathing calmed down.
    ‘I’m so glad the brakes are spot on in my car,’ the driver said. ‘When I saw you fall in front of me…’
    ‘Me, too!’ Natalie groaned, grabbing my hand when I looked at her.
    She was shaking, too. She let out a long breath and leant her head against the headrest. She had picked up my hospital bag. It rested between us. Reaching out, I squeezed her thigh. She looked at me and shook her head. There were no words. It had been a close call.
     

Chapter Eleven
     
    My heart thudded in my chest as consciousness pulled at me. I tried to remember where I was and why I felt like crap.
    ‘He’s waking up.’
    I didn’t recognise the voice as I managed to force my eyelids to lift.
    ‘Welcome back, Aries,’ a nurse said, offering me some water. She supported my head as I sipped the cool liquid.
    ‘Did it work?’
    The memory hit me as I clenched the covers in my hands. The doctor was standing on the other side of the bed. I was back in the hospital.
    ‘It was a great success. Your bones are nice and strong so we were able to attach the implant easily. The wound needs to be cared for religiously to prevent any infection. In six months’ time, you should be able to take your first walk.’
    I smiled at him. Six months to rehabilitate was a lot sooner than originally planned. I was determined to make sure that I did everything right.
    ‘The police have been in and informed us that you were involved in a traffic accident yesterday.’
    Raising my eyebrows, I shrugged. ‘When can I see it?’
    I was itching to know what my new implant looked like. They had explained that the prosthetic would be bolted to my skeleton through the implant, which meant I would be able to feel where it was. I couldn’t feel anything yet but I couldn’t wait to get a look at it.
    ‘We’ll be back