\[Rosco’s POV\]
I watch the scene unfold in front of me, from my men attacking the glowing nue to Elise shifting and instructing everyone to get back. It’s like some fucking war movie as the beast explodes, killing those closest and sending those not as close crashing to the side. And when the force of the explosion hits me, I find myself clawing at the ground to remain in place.
“DON’T BREATH IN THE SMOKE!”
Despite all the chaos that is going on and the sound of the explosion itself, Elise’s words ring out around me, spurring me to do as she says, while I find myself wondering whether or not she knows exactly what is happening.
That’s why, when everything settles, I shift back into my human form and immediately go looking for her, because if anyone had answers, it would be her. When I find her, she is hidden in William’s wolf, either hiding from me or keeping warm.
As I approach, I can see that she is talking, and when I reach, only a single sentence registers with me.
“I’ve got some explaining to do.”
That single fucking sentence spurs me forward so that I’m wrapping a hand around her neck and pulling her from the protection of William’s body while he lets out a growl, and she stares at me calmly.
“Go on then.” I urge her, wanting to know what the fuck she meant. “Tell me what it is that you have to explain.”
“How can she when you’re cutting off her airway?” William, now in his human form, demands. “Let her go!”
“Stay out of this!” I warn, letting my alpha aura explode from me. “This doesn’t involve you!”
At my words, I hear another growl escape William, or maybe it wasn’t because of my words but instead because I was using my alpha abilities against him when I wasn’t his alpha and he was an alpha too.
“I said!” He repeats, wrapping a hand around my wrist and twisting. “Let. Her. Go.”
Hissing in shock, I loosen my hold as pain shoots through me. This momentary lapse allows Elise to break free and drop to the ground while sucking in breaths of air.
Frowning, I shoot a glare at William, but he doesn’t budge. Instead, he stares back at me with that defiant gaze of his that I knew too well.
“Are you taking her side over mine?” I ask slowly.
“I’m taking the side of reason.” He snaps, attempting to steady Elise, but instead of allowing him to, she shakes him off.
“He has every right to be angry with me.” She says slowly. “I told you before, didn’t I?” I’m nothing more than a criminal with a sordid past that nobody knows.”
“Did that past happen to involve working with a nue?” I growl, trying to keep my anger in check. “Were you once aligned with those cloaked bastards who want my child? Is this all an elaborate rouse to get close and help them succeed in what it is they mean to do?”
With each question that leaves my lips, I feel my anger rising to the point where I want blood, but I know that I can’t attack without answers.
“Spill it!” I snarl when Elise remains silent. “HOW THE FUCK DID YOU KNOW WHAT THAT THING COULD DO?”
“Because I’ve ran into one before.” She snaps, giving me a defiant glare. “Do you truly believe that no one can run into trouble and learn from it?”
“Not just anyone,” I counter. “But when it comes to you, I don’t trust you any farther than I can throw you. Not after everything you did to help that bastard Alexander try to take my wife and mate away from me.”
I know that I’m being harsh, but now that I’ve started, I can’t stop. Since meeting Elise, my need to protect Denali has increased, especially since she was more than willing to let her sister get close. Even if she was willing, I sure as hell wasn’t. Not until she proved that she could turn over a new leaf, but so far she was failing gloriously at that.
“I know what I’ve done!” She snaps as William watches on silently. “Do you think I need you to remind me of something that haunts me every fucking day?”
To my surprise, as she speaks, her eyes begin to sparkle with unshed tears, but she doesn’t let them fall as she stares back at me.
“I fucked up. I made some piss-poor decisions, and because of that, I know that I don’t deserve a lick of kindness. But I’m actually trying to help you and your pack. Right now, instead of sitting here accusing me, you should get those who breathed in the smoke that the nue spewed to the infirmary for an examination.”
“An examination?” I repeat, frowning. “And why should I do that?”
“Because nue’s are capable of is bringing disease and misfortune.” She explains. “In the past, I formed some bonds with some traveling mercenaries, and during that time, we had a run-in with a nue. The damn thing did the same thing it did today. It went boom, and those who were closest and breathed in the smoke grew deathly ill.”
“And what came of them?” I ask slowly.
“I think you already know, don’t you?” She responds. “Only a few managed to survive the horrible sickness that it gave them, and I’m sure even now they aren’t back to the way they were before.”
At her words, I feel my heart drop and snap my gaze toward the warriors, who are still lying motionless on the ground.
“Dammit!” I snarl, beginning to move. “William, help me get these guys to the infirmary!”
Deciding to leave my questioning of Elise for later, I begin to move while reaching out to those who were left behind to protect the packhouse and Denali.
‘WE HAVE MEN DOWN! GET TO THE GROUNDS NOW!’
Once I’m sure that my message has been received, I stop at the warrior closest to me and begin to examine him. Aside from some scratches and scrapes, he seems fine, but there was no way of knowing if he breathed in the smoke.
As I lift him, Elise appears beside me, lifts another man over her shoulder, and begins to follow me into the packhouse.
While we move, I contemplate questioning her further about exactly what this illness the nue spread would do, but I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to know.
‘You need to know.’ Fabian reminds me. ‘We need to know what to look for and what to expect if what she said is true.’
Sighing, I push him aside while more men and women rush past, making their way out onto the grounds to help gather the rest of the injured and take note of the note.
When we reach the infirmary, Olga eyes me with a look that screams her exhaustion from all the trouble we were facing, but she doesn’t say anything.
“Lay them there.” She orders, nodding toward the beds along the wall. “I’ve already sent word to my apprentices and would like to have your permission to use a few of the empty rooms for overflow.”
“Do what you must.” I tell her, sitting down the man that I’m carrying. “Elise,” I continue, fixing my gaze on her. “What exactly do we need to look out for?”
“Sores that spread.” She says slowly. “I would suggest collecting as much spare blood as you can as well. These sores won’t close, and the one who is infected can easily bleed out.”
“Is there any way to stop it?” Olga asks, taking note of what she could possibly face.
“There is.” Elise responds, her gaze darkening. “Amputation so that the source of blood is eliminated.”
‘Amputation,’ Fabian hisses, his shock slamming into me. ‘Isn’t that extreme?’
‘We have to do whatever it takes to save as many as we can.’ I explain, feeling a wave of exhaustion. ‘Otherwise, we will face even more deaths than we already have.’