Chapter 6 Fighting for her
River
I can’t believe that I might lose her. My heart races as I scoop Dust into my arms, her fragile body cradled against my chest. The adrenaline from the fight fades, leaving a hollow ache in its wake. The rogue is dead, but my mind races with thoughts of Dust’s injuries. I can’t lose her… not now when I have just found her, not ever.
“Stay with me, Dust,” I murmur, pressing a kiss to her forehead as I begin to sprint through the forest. The moonlight guides my way, illuminating the path ahead, but my thoughts are consumed with her. I can feel the warmth of her blood seeping through my fingers, a stark reminder of the danger she faced.
The pack is gathering at the designated meeting point… a hidden clearing framed by ancient oaks, their branches swaying gently in the night breeze. As I burst into the clearing, I’m met with concerned faces, my pack members shifting uneasily. They can sense my distress, and I don’t have time to explain.
“Get the doctor!” I shout, my voice cracking under the weight of urgency. “Now!”
The pack springs into action, and I carefully lay Dust down on a bed of leaves, her face pale against the vibrant greens and browns of the forest floor. She’s breathing, but it’s shallow, and every second feels like an eternity. I brush her hair back from her face, desperate to see her eyes open again.
The pack doctor arrives, a tall man with a furrowed brow and hands that have seen countless injuries. He kneels beside Dust, his expression shifting from concern to horror as he examines her.
“River… it looks like someone literally tried to eat her,” he says, his voice grave.
I swallow hard, a knot forming in my stomach. The rogue’s madness had been palpable, but I hadn’t considered the extent of what he might do. “Can you help her?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper, as if saying it too loudly might shatter the fragile hope I’m clinging to.
“I’ll do my best,” the doctor replies, pulling out a small medical kit. “But we need to get her to the clinic at the pack house. I can’t do everything I need here.”
I nod, my heart racing. “Then let’s move.” The urgency in his tone ignites a flame within me, and I carefully lift Dust again, her body feeling so small and delicate in my arms.
The pack forms around us, a protective barrier, as we begin the trek back to our territory. I can feel the tension in the air, the unspoken worry that hangs over us like a dark cloud. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, sends my heart into overdrive.
“Keep an eye out,” I say to the nearest pack member, my voice low but firm. “We don’t know if there are more rogues out there.”
They nod, shifting into a protective formation around us. The forest seems alive, shadows shifting and dancing in the moonlight, but I push those fears aside. All that matters is getting Dust to safety.
As we run, I can’t help but glance down at her. She’s so beautiful, even in this vulnerable state. The moonlight kisses her skin, highlighting the delicate curve of her jaw, the soft flutter of her lashes. I remember the way she smiled at me, the light in her eyes as she looked at me with that fierce determination. I can’t let this be how our story ends.
The pack house looms ahead, a sanctuary nestled in the heart of the forest. It’s a sprawling structure, built from the very trees that surround it, and it feels like home. As we approach, I can see the lights flickering in the windows, casting a warm glow that beckons us closer.
I burst through the front door, my heart pounding in my chest. “Doctor! We need to move fast!”
The doctor is quick to follow, directing me to a room just off the main hall. It’s a makeshift clinic, stocked with supplies and equipment that I hope can save her. I carefully lay Dust down on the examination table, the cool surface contrasting sharply with her warmth.
“Stay with her, River,” the doctor instructs, as he begins to work, his hands moving with practiced precision.
I nod, my eyes glued to Dust’s face, willing her to wake up. “I’m right here,” I whisper, my voice steady despite the chaos swirling inside me. “You’re safe now. We’re home, you new home.”
The doctor’s hands deftly clean the wounds, his brow furrowed in concentration. “She’s lost a lot of blood,” he murmurs, more to himself than to me. “I need to stitch these up and stop the bleeding. Keep talking to her. It might help.”
“Dust,” I say, my voice soft but firm. “You have to fight. I need you to come back to me. We have so much left to do together.”
As the doctor works, I recount every memory I have of her: her laughter, the way her eyes sparkled with mischief, the comfort of her presence beside me. I tell her about the pack, about the future we can build together.
Time stretches, the world outside fading away as I focus solely on her. I can feel the weight of every second, the urgency clawing at my insides.
Finally, the doctor leans back, a sigh of relief escaping his lips. “It’s done for now. She’ll need time to heal, but she’s stable.”
“Thank you,” I breathe, my heart swelling with gratitude.
He nods, wiping his brow. “I’ll check on her in a bit, but for now, just keep talking to her. She can hear you, I’m sure of it.”
As the doctor leaves, I sit beside Dust, taking her hand in mine. The warmth of her skin calms me, a tether to reality.
“Dust,” I whisper, leaning closer. “Please come back to me. I can’t imagine my life without you. I need you.”
I cradle her hand against my cheek, my heart full of hope and fear, the weight of our bond anchoring me in this storm. The moonlight spills into the room, a silver glow surrounding us, and I know that whatever happens, I will fight for her, as fiercely as the wolf within me fought for her tonight.
And as I sit there, breathing in the scent of her, I feel a flicker of warmth. A promise that our story isn’t over yet.