Chapter 43

Today was sodifferent from yesterday. I was no longer alone. I enjoyed chatting with my friends. I'd missed them.

"You are pale." Bredon took my hand in his. "You should rest."

I didn't argue. I was tired. However, I didn't want this moment to end. I wasn't sure how many more there would be. For all the hopeful talk at the table about the healers helping me, deep in my gut, I knew I was too far gone.

Bredon would try to save me. I would see the healers so that he would feel better.

After pushing back my chair, I smiled at Talia and Sig. "Thank you for breakfast."

"Take a nap. I'll wake you in plenty of time to prepare for the healer," Talia promised.

My eyes closed the second I climbed into bed. I told myself that it was because I was full and safe.

I sat in the living room, dressed in clean clothes and waiting for the healers to arrive. I was nervous because I didn't know what to expect.

"I will be with you," Bredon said, patting my hand.

"Okay." I wiped my damp palms on my thighs.

"Why are you so nervous?"

"How can you tell I'm nervous?" I thought I'd masked my feelings well.

"Your scent changed. It is bitter." Sig inhaled twice loudly.

"You can smell me?" I asked. The thought that he could tell my moods by my scent freaked me out.

"Yes." Bredon nodded as if this wasn't a huge… I don't know what… Invasion of privacy?

Dear God, had he known how turned on I was when I'd first met him? When I'd sat across the dinner table, watching him, listening? My cheeks heated, and I looked away. When my curiosity could not be contained, I asked, "What else can you do?"

Nobody answered.

I let out a huff of breath. "Read minds? Run faster than a locomotive? Jump tall buildings in a single bound?" Okay, maybe I sounded hysterical.

Sig sent Bredon a puzzled look.

Talia sat at the other end of the sofa from Sig. "Compared to humans, we can see better, especially at night. Our hearing is more acute. Bredon told you about scenting. We are physically faster and stronger."

"So, you're bionic," I mumbled.

"What is bionic?" Sig asked.

"Super-charged," I explained, not knowing the actual definition. "I think it started with a TV show, and the idea grew from there."

"Super-charged," Sig repeated slowly. "I find that fitting." He nodded approvingly.

"What makes a healer?" I knew that Miriam hadn't gone to medical school. She had traveled to Vancouver several times to study with a witch and a homeopath.

"Some packs choose to use witches," Bredon began. "A familial line will serve a Pack for centuries. With other packs, they use a member with an affinity for herbs or identifying the body's signals."

"The Pack we visited in Nebraska, Novus," Sig paused to make sure I was following, "they have members who have attended human medical school."

Talia lightly cleared her throat. "You should tell her that Novus accepts humans. They also accept changed wolves."

"What is a changed wolf?"

Talia continued, "A human who is changed into a Lycan."

"But you can't be changed from a bite." I wanted to show that I was learning.

"It depends on who is doing the biting," Sig told me.

"Bredon didn't change me," I looked from Sig to Bredon.

"There is a ceremony, Sage," Talia told me quietly. "The Lady is involved."

It seemed that their Goddess was involved in many facets of their lives.

Sig's cell phone rang, and he answered immediately. "Yes. Send them up." He ended the call. "The healers have arrived." He headed to the front door.

I wondered if I should stand. From what I'd learned, Lycans liked ceremony. I watched Bredon, hoping he would tell me what I needed to do.

Sig opened the door wider, and four people entered. "Welcome."

Bredon and Talia stood, so I did, too. Bredon held out his hand to me and led me to the visitors. "I am Bredon Redd. This is my intended mate, Sage." His palm rested on the small of my back. "Sig and Talia." He looked at each as he named them.

"I am Cedric Chavez," the man with silver hair stated. "Our healer, Simon Castor. His assistant, Theresa." His attention turned to the tallest of the group. "Frederico."

"Thank you for coming," Bredon told the group. "How do you wish to proceed?" He directed the question to Mr. Chavez.

"Simon?"

The man studied me, and I did the same. He was slender, with pale skin and light blue eyes. He was not a sun worshipper, and his hair was light blond. "I have a few questions to get through, and then, with Theresa's help, the examination."

Again, I looked to Bredon for guidance.

"Cedric, why don't you and your guard make yourselves comfortable in the living room? The rest can use the kitchen." Bredon took my hand, "This way."

The four of us sat at the kitchen table.

Theresa pulled a tablet from her bag and began to type.

"Ms. Isaacs, I'm told that you are new to our world," Simon's voice carried a note of warmth. "I will try to explain what I am doing before I act. If you have questions or reservations, speak up."

"Okay." I nodded.

"You will find a portion of this to be much like seeing any medical doctor," Theresa told me. "We start with basic questions."

"Those, I should be able to answer." I tried to smile, but it felt forced.

Theresa ran through the list. I admitted that I'd stopped taking the pill because I'd been traveling. I couldn't recall the names of the different ointments I'd used on the bite.

"We will assume that they were standard protocols," Simon said. "Your health before the event?"

"Good."

He turned his body toward me. "I know this will be unpleasant and make you feel uncomfortable. I need to know everything that happened that night."

Bredon rose and got me a bottle of water.

I began slowly. I knew he wanted to know how the injuries had been sustained. As I neared the end of my memory, I spoke faster, "He hit me so hard that I left my feet, and I hit the wall. I swear, I could hear the crack of impact of my head smacking the wall." I paused to take another drink. "The rest is very…cloudy. I'm not sure what was real and what I dreamed."

"That is understandable." Simon and Theresa were treating me kindly.

Bredon took over. He gave his version matter-of-factly—until he reached the part where he'd bitten me in front of the guests. Then, his voice shook with emotion.

"Thank you." Simon nodded. "Your Pack's healer helped with your recovery?"

"Yes. I stayed with her for over a week. She gave me teas to drink that were meant to help me heal. She also gave me a salve for the bite."

"Only a week?" Simon asked and then looked to Bredon.

"There was a safety issue. Sage returned to Chicago."

I knew Bredon didn't want to share what had happened. I continued the story. "After I left, I was running a temperature and felt like I had the flu. My arm and shoulder ached. So, I saw a doctor in Chicago. He prescribed an antibiotic pill and an ointment in a silver tube for the bite mark area."

Theresa asked, "Do you recall how long you took the pills?"

"Ten days." I waited to see if she had another question. "I had to leave. About two weeks after I finished the pills, I still felt like I had the flu, so I visited a neighborhood free clinic. There, the doctor gave me another ointment."

"Theresa will take your temperature. I will need to examine the bite. I can do that here or if you prefer a more private setting…" He looked at Bredon.

"Here is fine," I said quickly. I didn't like the idea of strangers being in Bredon's bedroom.

Theresa pulled a digital thermometer from her bag. She approached me. "Open."

I did and waited to hear the beep.

"One-oh-one," she said, looking at Simon.

"A fever is a human body's response to infection," he said. Then he stood. "Mr. Redd or Theresa can assist you with your shirt."

I looked to Bredon as I stood.

He used his body to block their view as I pulled the shirt over my head.

I pressed the cotton shirt to my bare chest.

"You can sit, perhaps sideways, on the chair," Simon told me.

I felt the bandage being removed gently.

"The gauze was stuck to the wound yesterday," Bredon told him.

I sensed Simon move closer. His gentle fingers were pressing the area around the wound.

My body shivered in response.

"Is it painful?"

"A little," I admitted. "I think I've gotten used to it." I had to use my arm even when it hurt.

"You may put your shirt on," Simon told me.

Once I was dressed and Bredon brought me another water, I tried to wait patiently for their determination.

Simon finally looked up from the tablet he was now holding. "I don't have complete answers."

"What does that mean?" Bredon asked sharply.

"Ms. Isaacs has a serious infection," Simon announced. "You are very strong to be sick for so long. Others would be dead."

I sat back in my chair. It was shocking to hear another speak of death.

"What can be done?" Bredon asked.

"That is the question." Simon ran his fingers over his tablet. "You have a mating that is unconsummated without The Lady's involvement. However, you two are tied to one another."

Bredon's eyes flared wide for a moment.

Theresa began typing on her tablet, her fingernails making little tapping sounds.

"Theresa?" Simon asked his assistant.

She held up one finger and continued working on her tablet. She frowned as she read something on the screen and then spoke, "I am descended from a line of witches. Four generations ago, we mixed with the Lycans. That gives me a unique opportunity to access records from both Lycans and witches."

I thought that sounded fascinating. I leaned forward to learn more.

"I know I've read an account of something similar. I'm trying to find it." She again frowned at her tablet. "I don't want to advise from memory. It will take a little time for me to find the information."

"But you know that this has happened before?" Suddenly, I felt hopeful.

"I don't want to say anything more until I can find the records," she told me firmly.

"We are grateful for your time," Bredon said, his tone formal.

"We have so much information but no organized system. If we could share our knowledge easily, more could be helped," Simon told Bredon.

"I can speak to the Second of the Novus Pack. He is mated to a changed wolf. She went to medical school and now works as a healer to their people." Bredon explained. "Novus has embraced technology. Conal might be interested in

"I know of Novus," Simon shared. "We've shared information about birthing and babes."

"Then you have a foothold. I am sure Conal and the Packleader would be interested in your ideas."

"Thank you, Mr. Redd." Simon dipped his chin respectfully. "Theresa will call in an order for an antibiotic that may lessen the infection."

"You will need to drink fluids and eat, even when you are not hungry," Theresa told me. "Change the dressing daily." She glanced at her tablet. "We have a relationship with a pharmacist. One of our Pack will deliver the medicine to you."

"That is most accommodating," Bredon stated.

"I will begin researching immediately," Theresa continued.

"When we know something, we will call." Simon stood.

I followed. At the door, I thanked Simon and Theresa.

Bredon handled what I figured was the more ceremonial show of gratitude to Mr. Chavez.

When the door closed, I went to the sofa and curled up in the corner. The visit had zapped my energy. "I don't know what to think."

"The female, she's heard of this. That is good," Bredon told the others.

"Chavez was gracious. He understands the importance of a mate," Sig said.

I was sleepy, and I listened while I closed my eyes. Maybe there was hope for me after all.