Oath of the Hunter

21 - You & Me

(Mature content ahead! Read at your own discretion)
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I don't leave Rowan's side when we make it back to the pack house. I'm his second shadow, pressing my shoulder against his own, or else brushing my hand against his— whatever I can do to stay close and attentive. Panic clings to me, stealing my breath and turning my focus razor-edged. All I can do is stay close, as though those lycanthropes will dart out from the shadows and snatch him if I'm not careful.

My family are hurt badly. Those lycan's claws are lethal, and though the marks it — she? — left on us all are healing, it's taking a whole lot longer than I'd like. It only reminds me that the next time we fight, those wounds might be too deep to heal. I won't let that happen.

Rowan falls back on the instinct of caring for his own as easily as breathing, and I'm right by his side as he checks everyone over. Disregarding his own injuries — though, in all fairness, I'm acutely aware of them for the both of us — he asks Lachlan to fetch a blanket and tells Teo to set Kay's wolf down in the lounge. They whine softly, tail thumping, and he kneels down at their side to coax them into a shift. I don't miss the way he winces as he does so, and I make a mental note to check his wounds more thoroughly when I have the chance.

When, after a few minutes of gentle coaxing, Kay begins to shift, Rowan's form slumps with relief. "That's it," he praises as Matteo relaxes with similar solace. The life of a werewolf is still new to Kay, I suppose, since they were only turned a few years ago, and I guess this hesitance is as much due to fear as to pain.

"There's fucking two of them," they gasp at last from beneath the blanket Lach has draped over them.

A little laugh escapes Teo, brittle as cracking glass, and he manages, "I know."

Satisfied my family are alright — or at least as alright as they can be after the close call — I devote my focus towards security. My hand ghosts the hilt of my last knife as I kneel and angle myself between Rowan and the doorway. It's the only entry point, given the windows are locked and the curtains drawn, and though I know these lycanthropes are probably nursing their wounds and have no intention of opening the front door, I stare towards the quiet hallway fervently anyway, awaiting an ambush. I'm shivering, my Haze prowling just out of reach, and nerves fire in fits and starts as I lose myself to a blurry yet devoted defence.

The others start talking softly amongst themselves, and I let their words wash over me without paying much attention.

"...how it's even possible..."

"...don't know what to..."

"...guys be alright if I check on Riv...?"

"Yeah, yeah, we're all good. Go on."

Rowan rises from his crouch, tugging at my focus, and my gaze darts up towards him just as he offers me his hand. Lachlan and Matteo are frowning softly at me and even Kay has peeked out of the blanket to watch.

With one last wary glance towards the hall, I take his hand and let him pull me up, but he doesn't let go. Instead, he leads me from the room and down the maze of branching hallways.

I falter outside our door but Rowan doesn't, and I let myself be pulled further down the hall until we reach the bathroom we've been sharing with the others.

Rowan releases me to lock the door behind us and wanders towards the bath, shrugging off his top as he goes. As he messes with the tap, and as water gushes into the bath, I find myself wandering aimlessly, as though lost in a dream, only to falter when my absent gaze finds the mirror above the sink.