Raze {Wolf Rebellion II}

Chapter 23~Whatever It Takes~

I do whatever it takes, cause I love the adrenaline in my veins.

-Imagine Dragons, "Whatever It Takes"

Chapter 23~Whatever It Takes~

Two hours later I found myself pulling up a chair next to Kat. I'd finally managed to cool off from my earlier conversation with Carmine, though I still felt a lingering tenseness in my bones.

He knew how I felt now. If it hadn't been obvious before. I nearly snorted at that thought. How had he expected me to feel? Had he really expected to just be able to apologize and everything go back to how it was before?

I couldn't even think it without the anger returning. He'd hurt all of us, and somehow he'd thought words would repair that damage.

"Are you okay, Ruby?"

Kat's quiet voice startled me from my thoughts, and I turned to her. "Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?"

She laughed a little, and I turned my attention to her for a moment. It had been a little over an hour since the transfusion had finished, and already I could see improvement.

Her face finally had a little color again, and her breathing sounded stronger than it had earlier. She was sitting up, propped against numerous pillows curtesy of Shani. And maybe it was a trick of the light, but I swore her bruises were growing lighter already too.

Maybe this was the solution we'd been looking for. I'd gladly give more blood if it meant she'd recover.

"I do feel better, honestly, and I'm glad everyone is okay." She glanced around the room for a moment. "Is he-is he here?"

I shook my head. "He, Reid and Kitler went out to grab dinner. They'll be back soon though."

I gave her a questioning look, knowing she had something to say. Carmine was in the other room, along with Jasper who was using Kitler's computer. Shani was reading in the other corner. I knew she could hear our conversation, but she wouldn't acknowledge it.

"I just-" She paused, and I waited for her to find the words she wanted. "I know he's been worried about me, about what happened at the compound."

I nodded. "We all have. You've been really sick." Her eyes finally met mine, and I held her gaze. "You know you can tell us what happened, right? It would help them figure out how to get you healing faster too."

I saw the way her gaze darted down to her arms, and I could imagine the bruises under her sleeves. I remembered how she'd adamantly refused to talk to Cas about it, and that was where my fear settled. She and Cas were practically inseparable, so what was she hiding? "It's too much right now," she finally said. "It's like every time I close my eyes I'm back there."

Her words settled in my stomach like lead. But I nodded, unwilling to push her now that she was finally starting to heal. I knew what it was like to be trapped in a nightmare. I knew it wouldn't go away anytime soon for her. I resolved to give her time, and then get her to talk to someone, whoever that someone was.

"What's it like?" Her question was so quiet I barely heard it, and I opened my mouth to ask her to clarify.

"Being a wolf, I mean. I knew Cas was considering it from the moment he realized I was sick."

I shifted in my seat for a minute, wondering what to tell her. I'd barely seen her conscious since I'd been changed. Cas must have told her when we'd first escaped. I didn't want to tell her about my struggles, but she deserved to know, if Cas had been considering it for her.

"The biggest thing is the sensory overload. It's like," I paused, "Imagine being blind and deaf your entire life, then one day waking up able to see and hear everything. At first it was overwhelming, and sometimes it still is."