Tangled Fates

Chapter 7 Rath

****edited 7/28/24****

As I wait for Nadia, I can't help but think about my mate. I know Zander has hurt her, but just how far did her injuries go? I tried to remember what the rogue said in the dungeon. That there was a woman that Zander kept, but maybe she wasn't the same woman. Maybe she was just captured, like the others we were informed of.

I strode through the halls, my boots thudded heavily on the chilled floor. My wolf was pacing just as much as I was. Running a hand through my braids, I tried to push away the hunting thoughts that were driving my wolf and me crazy. Nadia would come with news. I needed to preoccupy my thoughts with something else. 'She deaf, Alpha' Nadia's words came to my mind. Deaf. How was I going to tell my Mate I love her? How was I going to communicate with her? Then another fear rose in my chest.

"Taz."

"I'm here."

"When you tried to speak to her wolf, did it... was she?" I asked, worried about his answer.

"I don't know Rath. She needs to heal."

A new worry to add to the list that seemed to be growing at such a fast rate. But it was something I could work on, something for me to focus on that wasn't her pain.

"Alpha Rath," a voice called out, soft yet urgent, snapping me from my thoughts.

Whirling around, my gaze locked onto Nadia as she approached. Her presence usually radiated warmth, but now it seemed dimmed by the gravity of her message. Nadia's compassionate brown eyes met mine. Her long curls cascaded over her shoulders, framing her somber expression.

"How is she?" I said, hoping there wouldn't be more injuries and maybe some good news for the night.

Nadia met my gaze with a forced smile. "Rath," she began, her words cautiously chosen, "Your mate is strong beyond measure. Even in her human form, she is stronger than most. Her injuries... they run deep, and her pain threshold is extraordinary. She has found a way to mask the true severity of her wounds. Something that most warriors can only do for a short time. She has found a way to make it a part of her nature. It is a blessing, as it has helped her this far, but it is also a curse. If she refuses to let her body feel pain, she will never know if she needs aid or when she is in danger. I don't even know if she feels thirsty or hungry. I can only pray that those needs are also not repressed."

My jaw tightens. My mate was hiding pain, hiding her injuries from me. "Her ankle, Rath. Her ankle was fractured in a way that would cripple most wolves. Yet she has been walking on it, running on it, defying the crippling pain with every step. I truly don't even know if she realized how bad it was. Even with the brace I have put on it, she may never fully heal from it." A shudder ran through me at the mental image of my mate pushing through excruciating torment without complaint. At the thought that she may forever bear a limp or need a cane to get by.

"And her ribs..." Nadia's voice wavered slightly, "Three are broken," she said, her eyes reflecting both sorrow and admiration for my mate's endurance. "Running or even drawing breath must be agonizing for her and unfortunately, there isn't much I can do to help heal any of these wounds. I can mix some herbs that can ease her pain, but her healing will just need time."

I closed my eyes briefly, envisioning the sheer willpower it must have taken for her to move with such grievous injuries. The image of her fragile form navigating through the battlefield and through the woods to my territory.

"What about the wolfsbane? Is there anything you can do to rid her body of the poison?"

Nadia's smile brightened. "I have a few tricks for removing wolfsbane. It's nothing that is fast-acting, but it will help. Give me a day to get what I need and time to brew the potion. With what I just saw of her, she will need more than just one dose."

"Thank you, Nadia. I owe you. The pack owes you."

"Nadia nodded, "One more thing. Rath, I looked beyond just the surface of her injuries. I sensed old injuries and healed bones long since mended. More than what most warriors see in their lifetime. I thought you should know." Nadia's tone shifted to one of gentle instruction. "When she wakes, she may be disoriented. This may happen for months or even years before she gets used to her surroundings. Nightmares are common for people who are suffering from past horrors. Try to be patient. Her body is in a weakened state, but that will improve with time and healing. Offer her water and small portions of food. Too much could overwhelm her." I nodded, engraving her words into my heart, ready to become the caretaker my mate needed. "Start with broth, then soft foods. Her body has been through a lot. It needs to relearn how to accept nourishment without strain."

"Understood." The word was a whisper.

"Rath, she needs your strength now more than ever. But remember, gentleness will be your greatest ally in her healing," Nadia reminded me, her eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that bore straight into my soul.

"Thank you," I managed to say again, the simple expression of gratitude feeling wholly inadequate for the guidance she'd given me. My gaze returned to my mate's chamber door, my heart heavy with concern yet hopeful with the love that already bound me to her.

Nadia placed her soft hand on my shoulder and smiled. "Good night, Alpha." She said as she left me alone with my thoughts.

I placed my hand on the oak door that separated me from my mate. "Rest now, little mate," I murmured into the quiet, envisioning my words weaving through her slumber. "I will fix everything and keep you safe."

I wanted to remain at her side. I wanted to stay near her forever. But fate is cruel, and I had duties that needed my attention. One of those duties came through in the mind link.

"Alpha, we're approaching the castle. We'll be within the gates in a few hours before sunrise," Caleb's voice cut through.

"Good," I responded through the link.

"Rath." Caleb's tone was filled with concern. "Zander, he... he's still alive. He managed to escape."

"We will hunt him down, Alpha," Elijah declared with a fierce determination that resonated in his every word. His voice, steady and unwavering, cut through the charged atmosphere like a sharp blade through darkness. "His flight is but a brief delay."

Zander had once again evaded our reach, leaving me to deal with my mounting frustration. I rubbed my temples, feeling exhausted as I replied, "We can strategize when you arrive. What about the captives?" I asked, despite the anger boiling inside me.

"They are coming with us. Although they are not resisting, we will still need to place them in the dungeons to ensure they do not attempt to harm anyone. They seem to be in good spirits for people who just lost their Alpha and are in cuffs." Caleb said.

"Good, come home. We will rest and talk more."

"Understood, Alpha," said Elijah.

"Brothers, there's something you must know," I started, my voice a blend of turmoil as the image of my mate's battered form haunted my thoughts. "I've found her—my mate."

"Congratulations, Alpha," Elijah's tone was infused with cautious joy, his intuition likely sensing the shadows behind my words.

"I knew you would catch her." chimed Caleb.

"Your Luna is strong, but the things she has endured..." My fists clenched, the rage and sorrow warring within me. "Your Luna has suffered broken ribs, a fractured ankle, and..." I trailed off, the weight of her pain pressing down upon me.

"No need to worry, Alpha. With her wolf, she will recover and our Luna will be strong for the pack." Caleb's voice was full of reassuring.

My words were heavy and weighed down with emotion as I struggled to speak. "She has wolfsbane running through her veins. They have no idea how much or how long she's been exposed to the poison. Her wolf can't help her."

A long, heavy silence, thick with sadness and fear, settled between Caleb and Elijah.

Finally, it was Elijah's voice that shattered the stillness. "Our Luna is strong. She will overcome this challenge, with or without her wolf by her side."

As the connection faded, I stood alone amidst the vast halls. The silence echoed around me.

"Indeed," I murmured, my gaze drifting to the door that separated me from my mate. "She is strong, more than she knows."