Feral Bonds

Chapter 42

"Whatever you choose to do, you need a pack Natania," Rolf said, while he gently removed the bandages so he could apply fresh ones.

Natania raised an eyebrow. "And where will I find one of those?" Her voice was still raspy and she coughed. She had only shifted to human a few hours ago, so Rolf could monitor the healing on her human skin as well, but the shift had reopened wounds that were now bleeding freely.

"Why does she need a pack?" Gretchen asked at the same time. Natania wrinkled her nose at Gretchen, she had already told her why before.

Rolf glanced between them. "You will have to take some of the wolves here. You need a pack to share the burden of your demon. It's gotten too strong for you to cope alone."

"I won't condemn any wolves to my inevitable insanity. And Rig won't let them go anyway." Natania winced as he peeled more soaked bandages off her damaged skin. Her human body didn't look as bad as her wolf form, not having the large patches of missing fur, but she was still in pain.

Rolf sighed. "If you have a pack you won't go insane, girl. Just four or five will do. Rig doesn't get to decide if they leave. Only if they may stay."

"No one will want to," Natania argued.

"You still have family here," he snapped, slapping a fresh dressing on with more force than necessary.

Natania growled, "I won't ask them to abandon pack life." She shuddered as another coughing fit racked her body.

"Sara is an omega. I don't think she will mind," Rolf growled back at her.

"She won't leave Bran," Natania insisted.

"Stop arguing with your doctor, you stupid girl," Rolf said, with mock exasperation. "You saw them the other day, same as I did. Bran will go, because he no longer trusts Rigaldo, and Sara will leave because she loves you and him, more than she cares about being omega in a pack."

"That's still only two," Natania grumbled. "Nadien is too young, and Thomas is human."

"Then I guess you will have to see if you have any friends left. Ask Sara, she will know the wolves that are discontent in this pack." Rolf wrapped the final bandages and fixed her with a heavy stare. "I will bring her. Now, this time, do not leave this fucking bed," he said, with a snarl.

Natania rolled her eyes, but nodded once. "Yes, doctor," she muttered.

Rolf narrowed his eyes. "I mean it. I don't care if Rig comes to take a bite out of your witch. I don't care if the gods above come and order you out. I don't even care if a tiny bleeding child comes screaming for help. You sit your ass there and don't move. Let someone else handle it." Rolf held her gaze until Natania dipped her head submissively.

Once he was gone, Gretchen said, "You made it sound like he was a nice guy."

Natania snorted. "He is, but he takes his patients very seriously."

"He doesn't like me much," Gretchen remarked.

Natania reached out, and Gretchen took her outstretched hand. "Wolves don't trust witches, and you didn't exactly make a good first impression," Natania said, with a soft smile.

Gretchen shuddered. "I will never be able to apologize enough for this."

"You didn't mean for this to happen," Natania replied.

Gretchen shook her head. "How can you be so calm and forgiving? Have you seen yourself?"

Natania rolled onto her side so she was facing Gretchen. "What do you want me to do? Kick you out? After almost dying to protect you? So this can all have been for nothing? What's done is done. I'm angry you didn't tell me, but we can't change the past. And I love you, more than I'm angry to be left in the dark. Though I am curious, what happened in the Hall of Fates to give you this idea? I'm assuming that's where you got the idea."