Chapter Seventy – The hesitant huntress

Lilith had stitched up Marie, the female wolf now resting on one of the medical beds. Another black wolf had been carried inside once the fighting had stopped, a blade still lodged in between its shoulders. The she wolf was breathing havily, body shaking, Lilith suspected the blade was made of more than just silver.

There weren’t many badly injured wolves, but several had needed stitching and bandages, silver slowing down their healing process. But all things considering, no one had died. None of theirs at least.

She’d caught the news about Adam being shot while treating Marie’s gunshot wound and was sure there would be more bad news coming. But then it didn’t. And the people who helped move the injured to the clinic all seemed to be in some sort of daze. A silver bullet to the chest and he came out just fine.

Lilith had to see for herself, but she also had to make sure that the others were taken care of, which they were. The Alpha was more important, everyone knew that, but when Devan came walking in with a human girl by his side Lilith couldn’t go. None of the other’s would help her, and one look on her chest told her she needed more than a band aid.

“Come with me” Lilith said once Devan laid his eyes on her, leading them into a nearby room. They could all sense the disapproving looks from the people waiting, but they didn’t care.

“What happened to you? Is Adam okay? Who did this?” Lilith started asking questions as she walked about the room, finding the equipment needed to care for her wounds.

“A wolf. Claw marks. Could have been worse.” Penny answered as Devan helped her sit down. “Who is Adam?”

“Our Alpha. The wolf you didn’t shoot. Thank you for that.” Devan answered her before turning to Lilith. “He looked to be fine, but they are bringing him here. Or Xavier is trying to convince Talia to let him go so they can. It’s a little complicated”

In fact, Devan could barely believe that his Alpha was still alive and breathing. Something had happened during the storm, when Talia was crying her heart out, the weather a true reflection on the shock and sadness they had all felt. Devan had felt it over the bond. Everyone was worried, broken. But then the rain stopped, and there was no more blood. It was magical, and absurd, and just a miracle all at once.

“Poor thing. Almost lost her mate twice.” Lilith shook her head before getting seated on a stool in front of Penny.

“I need to remove this now. You should lay down” Penny nodded, and with the help of Devan the belt was removed, and she could lay down on the hospital bed.

Her eyes focused on the ceiling as Lilith went to peel away the fabric, it was clinging to her wound in some places, making her clench her teeth and hiss out in pain. If it hadn’t been for a good reason, she would have cursed the wolf who had wounded her like this.

“This is going to hurt more” Lilith said as she found some wipes and doused them in alcohol to clean the wound.

Devan was still by her side, now holding her hand as Lilith gently pressed the wipes against her chest. Penny screamed out in pain, squeezing Devan’s hand as hard as she could, and continued to curse under her breath until the doctor was done.

“I hate you” Penny muttered to Lilith, who in turn just shrugged. She heard that every single time she cleaned someone’s wounds.

“I’ll give you a shot before I start stitching you up. And I won’t lie, it will scar”

Lilith walked out of the room to find the medication she needed, giving Devan and Penny some time alone.

“Could you maybe cover up?” Penny asked, she couldn’t look at him when he was standing there naked, flashing everything he’d been graced with from his maker.

“Sure” Devan found a gown hanging in a corner closet, tugging it on before going back to the bed, this time taking a seat in the chair next to it.

“I have to ask you something” Penny said once she was able to look at him. “Why did you save me?”

Devan mulled it over a couple of times, taking a time to link Dimitri to get an update on his Alpha and the others, before finding a good enough answer.

“You looked scared. Like you didn’t want to be here, like you had no other choice. I don’t think you like my kind, don’t get me wrong. But I also don’t think you find it easy to sit and watch as innocent get killed.”

Penny’s eyes widened a little, searching his eyes for something before looking back up at the ceiling.

“You can’t go against family, that’s wrong. But you don’t have to always agree with them. My parents, they died a long time ago, completely unrelated to anything supernatural. But my brother, who took me in. He hates everything supernatural, blames them for everything wrong in the world. And I believed him. For a while. But then I met someone who wasn’t like that, and I realized that the world isn’t black and white. They were going to help me out of my brother’s clutch, but the person died”

Tears welled up in her eyes. She didn’t want to be there, didn’t want to be a part of it. But she had no other choice, it was a role she had to play.

“Where is your brother now?” Devan asked, gently putting his hand on hers, offering her some support.

“Axel. I think he's the one who shot your Alpha. He died, didn’t he? My brother I mean”

Devan looked down; it was answer enough.

“Thank you. Do you know what happened to Johanna? She’s the one who chased after the red one” Penny had her suspicions, but she still asked.

Devan got a hazy gloss over his eyes, like he was there but the at the same time not. In the meantime, Lilith came back inside with a syringe and the anesthesia.

“This will hurt a little.” Lilith started, prepping the shot and giving Penny a reassuring look.

The sting from the needle was painful, but she managed to breathe through it, all the while focusing on Devan, on his eyes, waiting from them to get back to normal.

Lilith was mid stitching when he returned to them.

“She’s alive, a nasty hit in the head, but nothing severe. Nearby hunters, who don’t approve of the actions of your group for your information, have been contacted and are on their way. I’ll put in a good word for you, if you like. I don’t know how politics works among your ranks, but here we value a good word and judge by your own actions, not others. You weren’t part of the fight, I’ll let them know, if it will make it easier for you”

“Thanks – but I’d rather have to face the consequences. I helped, I’m an accessory. I should be treated as such.” Penny tried to smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“I can admire that. The offer still stands”

“And there you go” Lilith said, clipping the final thread and putting away the needle. “The stiches will have to be removed in a few weeks’ time, and you should change the dressing often. Don’t shower for the first few days, give the wound at least 48 hours to start healing.”

“Thank you” Penny said with a smile, sitting up so Lilith could add the gauze and dressing to keep them in place.

“You’re welcome. Now, Devan, where is my next patient?” Lilith turned to Devan as she wrapped the girl’s chest, making sure it wasn’t too tight or loose.

“Patient room upstairs. Thank you, Lilith.”

She flashed them both a smile before leaving them alone again, this time with no intentions of coming back.

“They won’t be here for a few hours. You can rest up, if you like. I have to check on my Alpha, and some other friends.” Devan scratched the back of his head, suddenly feeling awkward.

“Thanks, but no thanks. I should find Johanna, make sure she knows I’m okay. And who knows, maybe they will let me off with a warning for cooperating” Penny tried to joke, but it fell flat.

“I’ll help you get back then” He held out his hand, and she took it, letting him assist her out of the bed before letting go.

The rest had done her good, she no longer felt lightheaded, and could easily walk back out of the clinic again. Devan was still right behind her, ready to lend her support if needed, still wearing a hospital gown. It didn’t cover up much now that he was up and walking. It was a good thing he was behind her, that way she couldn’t look without being caught.

“Thank you again. For not letting the wolf kill me.” Penny said as they neared the rest of the hunters, all of them now gathered in groups, some getting medical care, other just sitting around waiting for their escort.

“Don’t make me regret it.” Devan gave her one last smile before one of the people standing guard came over, giving Devan a look before walking Penny over to where a woman sat, her head wrapped in thick bandages.

He lingered for a bit, making sure Penny got settled with her friend, before walking back to the clinic. He had to check on his Alpha.