The Prophecy of the Red Wolf [WattpadPrize14]

Chapter 4

Ten minutes ago, I sent Blake to get a cab and Nate to get the healer. In that ten minutes, I stay squatting here holding her in my arms, not quite sure what to do. I’ve never carried an unconscious person before and I highly suspect if it were anyone else but my mate, I wouldn’t give two cents about whether their heads were lolling backwards or their hands flapping around and woke up with sore limbs the next day. But because I have a very strong inkling she’s my mate, I’m actually too afraid to move her for fear of causing her discomfort or jerking her awake. 

“Caleb, the healer’s on her way to our townhouse and Blake’s managed to get hold of a cab right outside The Mill, on Granta Place. Or do you want to get him to bring the cab round? It’ll be about a two minute ride around the block to here.” Nate asks, as he notes how I haven’t moved an inch in the last ten minutes.

It was a silent ten-minute ride home and I used that time to study the girl in my arms. She had gaunt cheeks, her collarbones and shoulder bones protruded angrily. Her elbows and knees were knobbed. Her fingers and toes covered with blood from cuts and bruises. The more I noticed, the more my heart clenched painfully. What had happened to her? Who did this to her? Why isn’t she healing? So many questions plaguing my mind.

The healer had just arrived when we got home. Nate helped me out of the cab and through the front door while Blake dealt with the cab fare. I carry her up two flights of stairs into my room on the top floor, leaving Nate trailing behind me with the healer, answering all her questions as best we know.

“Do you mind if I clean her for a bit, before you examine her?” I ask, pausing by my bed. I had this sudden thought that with the dirt and grime and blood on her body, it’ll be hard to see her wounds. Not to mention, they could cause the wounds to be infected. Turning around, I face the healer. “It’s best if I could examine her first to assess if there are any life threatening illnesses that we need to treat immediately” she says politely, holding my gaze.

We finally compromised on me sitting on the couch with the girl on my lap while the healer took her body temperature, check her pulse and blood pressure as well as her retina response. The healer, whom I just found out her name to be Miss Smith, then insisted that she could give the girl a bath. 

My arms feel empty without my…mate? I think she’s my mate. I mean, from what I’ve heard, step one is an irresistible scent and step two, at eye contact, your eyes glow in recognition. If you’re unmated and your mate is near, your body gives off a scent to attract your mate’s attention and vice versa. And then the moment you find each other, the first eye contact will seal the deal. Your irises will faintly glow gold for a couple of seconds signaling that you are each other’s mates.

With what happened earlier this evening, I definitely smelled her irresistible scent. I guess I just need to wait for her to wake up to see if our irises glow. But I’m fairly certain she’s my mate. I am already feeling the bond between us strengthening and while it’s not instantaneous love like so many fictional stories make it out to be, it is instantaneous protectiveness.

I can faintly hear the ripples of water and the sound of the bath sponge rubbing against skin from the bathroom.  Pushing myself off the couch, I make my way into my walk-in wardrobe and pull out my favorite long-sleeved fleece pullover and one long-sleeved shirt. Rummaging around, I try to find the bicycle shorts I accidentally shrunk the first time Nate and I tried to work the washing machine and dryer. Grabbing a new pair of football socks, I add it to the pile and place it on the side table outside the bathroom. Knocking lightly, I inform Miss Smith where I’ve left the clothes.

“Blake? I need your help” I call over our mind link, leaving it open to Nate as well. “What’s wrong? I’m on my way up!” I hear Blake’s panicky response. “No no no.. Nothing’s wrong. You don’t have to come up. I just need you to do some online shopping” I quickly respond, not wanting to waste his trip up. I can literally feel Blake relaxing, “Oh.. Okays. What do you need?” Oh.. this is so awkward, I groan inwardly.