Feral Bonds

Chapter 46: Bathing and Bonding

Cernunnos knelt beside Akecheta's limp form, his sharp gaze fixed on the omega's trembling body. Akecheta had remained in his human form as he slept. The injured wolf had been sleeping for the past seven hours. It was not a peaceful rest; his mind was still locked in the aftermath of panic, and he woke several times, unresponsive to the Wendigo's questions and seemingly dazed. His skin was pale, and his back, torn and bloodied, still struggled to heal from the gashes inflicted by the metal bed frame. He had hoped the wolf would have healed before fully waking again. 

Cernunnos sighed, his heart heavy with the weight of Akecheta's suffering. He couldn't leave him like this. The wolf was broken inside and out, and the feral panic that had consumed him was still lingering, threatening to overwhelm him again at any moment.

"Come on, omega," Cernunnos muttered softly, carefully lifting Akecheta's limp body into his arms. The wolf didn't resist, his body pliant and unresponsive as though his will to fight had been completely drained. His head lolled against the Wendigo's chest, and his fingers twitched slightly, clutching weakly at the torn fabric of Cernunnos's shirt.

Cernunnos carried him into the bathroom, moving slowly to avoid startling the frightened omega. The scent of blood was heavy in the air, and Akecheta's body was cold to the touch. Cernunnos laid him gently on the cool floor, the tiles making a soft scraping sound as Akecheta's trembling form shivered against the surface. His breath came in shallow gasps, and his hands moved to his hair, clawing at it as though trying to ground himself in the chaos of his mind.

Cernunnos knelt beside him, his brow furrowed as he watched the large gashes on Akecheta's back. They were still open, the wounds raw and sluggish, the healing process hindered by the dark magic running through the omega's veins. It wasn't just the physical damage—Akecheta's mind was unraveling, shutting down under the weight of fear and exhaustion.

"Easy, omega," Cernunnos murmured, his voice a low, soothing rumble as he reached out to touch Akecheta's shoulder. The wolf flinched at the contact, but didn't pull away. His body was too drained, too overwhelmed to resist. Slowly, Cernunnos shifted Akecheta into a sitting position, leaning him against the tiled wall of the shower. The omega's head hung low, his hair falling in messy strands across his face. He refused to look up, his eyes dull and vacant, staring blankly at the floor.

Cernunnos's heart clenched as he gently placed a hand under Akecheta's chin, tilting his head up to examine the deep cut along his ear where the tile had sliced him earlier. Akecheta winced, but still didn't meet Cernunnos's gaze, his eyes distant and glassy.

"Look at me," Cernunnos said, his voice firm but gentle as he turned Akecheta's head, forcing their eyes to meet. The red in Akecheta's eyes, the glowing mark of the nomadic alpha infusion, was intense—too intense. His pupils were blown wide, the wildness still lurking beneath the surface, but his expression was worryingly blank, as if the human part of him had shut down completely.

Cernunnos held the omega's gaze, his eyes glowing with the power of the Wendigo, an ancient force that pulsed with control and calm. "You're not alone," Cernunnos whispered, trying to push a sense of safety into Akecheta's chaotic mind, hoping to break through the wall of numbness that had overtaken him.

But the wolf didn't react. His body trembled, his breath uneven, and tears began to fall silently down his cheeks, his eyes staring numbly ahead. Akecheta let out a small, broken whimper, but he didn't move, didn't flinch. His mind was elsewhere, lost in the storm of his own fear.

Cernunnos cursed under his breath and, without breaking eye contact with Akecheta, called out for Vincent. "Vincent! I need you."

The vampire appeared quickly, stepping into the bathroom with his usual grace, though his expression was one of concern as he took in the sight of Akecheta's trembling form. He said nothing, waiting for Cernunnos to speak.

"He's shutting down," Cernunnos said, his voice edged with frustration. "The panic is too much. I can't get through to him. His body is barely holding on, and the wounds on his back aren't healing fast enough. The dark magic is interfering."

Vincent crouched beside them, his sharp eyes taking in the omega's condition. "The magic is keeping him in this state," he observed quietly. "You need to calm his mind before anything else. Otherwise, no amount of physical healing will matter."

"I'm trying," Cernunnos muttered, his hand still resting under Akecheta's chin. "But he's too far gone. He's... broken."

Vincent studied the omega for a moment longer before standing. "I can't do anything for him. Not like this. This is your territory, Cernunnos." With that, Vincent turned and left the room, his presence fading into the background as the door shut behind him. The tension in the air lessened, but Cernunnos knew Vincent's patience was thinning. Time was running out.

He sighed deeply and turned back to Akecheta. "It's just us now, omega," he said softly, his voice laced with exhaustion. "You're safe. I'm going to take care of you."

He stood and reached for the detachable showerhead, turning the water on to a gentle stream. The sound of the water seemed to stir something in Akecheta, and his trembling lessened slightly, though his eyes remained half-lidded, distant.

Cernunnos knelt beside him, gently lifting Akecheta's trembling body and pulling him against his chest. The omega's form was cold, and Cernunnos could feel every tremor that wracked his body. Slowly, he guided the warm water over Akecheta's blood-caked back, washing away the grime and blood that had crusted on his olive skin. The indents from the burnt runes were filled with coagulated blood that washed away in clumps. 

Akecheta let out a soft whimper, his body tense at first, but as the warmth of the water spread over him, he began to relax, the tension melting from his muscles. His eyes drooped further, becoming half-lidded crescents as he pressed himself closer to Cernunnos, seeking the warmth and comfort that the Wendigo's presence provided.

The wolf seemed almost drugged, his mind hazy as he let out soft, broken sounds of contentment, the warm water and gentle touch soothing the worst of his fears. He nuzzled into Cernunnos's chest, his nose pressing against the Wendigo's shirt, as though seeking further comfort. The sensation was foreign to him—this level of safety, this sense of being cared for. It was something he had never known, not even in his pack, where he had always been on guard, always afraid of being attacked.

Cernunnos's chest tightened as he continued to wash the blood from Akecheta's body, his hands gentle but firm as he worked. "It's okay," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the water. "I've got you. No one's going to hurt you anymore."

Akecheta's only response was a soft, almost pitiful whimper, his face pressed into Cernunnos's chest, his body going limp with relief. For the first time in a long while, the omega's mind began to quiet, the constant storm of fear and panic receding as the warmth of the water and the comfort of the Wendigo's presence finally reached him.

Cernunnos held him close, the weight of the broken wolf heavy in his arms, but he didn't mind. Akecheta had been through hell, but he was still here. And as long as he was in Cernunnos's care, he would never be alone again.