Chapter 24

T he closer they drew to Wulfric's tent on the other side of the building, the heavier he leaned on her. When the Elder held the flap, Wulfric practically fell inside. Scarlet followed, the flap closing behind her.

The tent was round and made of some sort of canvas material. The sides of the tent were probably seven feet tall, then the roof arched in a type of dome. A hole in the top was open to the sky, and smoke from a fire in the center of the room curled toward it.

Wulfric swayed on his feet, muttering. "Stupid, fucking Brody. He's made a mess of everything."

The Elder clicked her tongue, then gently pushed him to the enormous bed on the opposite side of the fire. Furs covered it, strewn about in disarray. The Elder quickly tossed the dirty, sticky blankets to the floor, stripping it down to the stretched canvas on the frame. Wulfric swayed, and Scarlet stepped forward to hold him upright.

"Easy there, wolfie, you're alright now," she murmured while Elva grabbed folded, clean blankets and furs from the chest at the foot of the bed.

The floor was packed dirt, but several woven rugs overlapped here and there. Wulfric leaned on her, and she stumbled on one. "Fuck, you're heavy. Hold on, wolfie."

"Here, it's ready," Elva said breathlessly, flipping the last of the blankets onto the bed. Scarlet leaned forward, and Wulfric fell onto the now clean bed with a groan.

"Oh, stop your moaning. You're going to be fine," Elva said, poking his leg until he settled on his back. He held one hand over his side as the Elder pulled a blanket over his lap.

Scarlet looked around, biting her lip and trying not to breathe. The smell of musty, sweaty wet dog filled the room, competing with the smell of the wood burning in the fire and something else.

"What is that smell?" Scarlet asked, her sensitive rabbit nose wrinkling in disgust.

Wulfric grunted. "Fucking Brody."

The Elder walked to the side of the tent where dirty bowls and cups were stacked. "The bucket in the corner probably. Can you take it to the attendant outside and ask for a clean one?"

Scarlet jumped at the chance to do something. She wasn't the type to sit by the bed and hold his hand. She needed a purpose, and she didn't know how to help Wulfric recover, but this she could do.

She found the source of the smell and nearly gagged. She picked up the bucket half-full of piss and shit and kicked her way through the door flap, careful not to slosh it.

Three Growlers stood nearby around a communal fire in the center of the four largest tents in camp. As she drew closer, two of the Growlers saw her. Their amiable expressions shifted to wariness as they straightened. The third one with his back to her turned.

Relief surged through her, but the look in his eyes was unreadable. Todd nodded but otherwise didn't acknowledge that they knew each other. She nodded back and set the bucket on the ground.

"The Elder said you'd know where to find a clean bucket. We also need fresh water to clean his wounds."

One snarled. "We don't take orders from the likes of you."

The other elbowed him. "Shut it. The alpha said to respect her."

Todd dipped his head in a pseudo-bow. "Yes, we'll bring fresh water. Probably need fresh blankets and linens too. We'll take care of it, Luna druid."

Scarlet shook her head as unease slid up her spine. What was a Luna? "I'm not a full druid, so none of that. Call me Scarlet."

Todd made a fist and touched his chest with it. "Scarlet, let us know if you need anything else."

Scarlet squared her shoulders and took a deep breath of the fresh air. "Thank you."

She spun on her heel, but as she walked away, her ears picked up the whispers.

"She can't be his mate. Look at her."

"You heard the alpha," Todd replied. "Frigurd, go fetch clean water. Clancy, you take the bucket. Clean it and bring it back."

"What? Why do I have shit duty? Frigurd can take it, and I can get the water."

"No," Todd said firmly. "You insulted her, even though the alpha gave explicit instructions regarding her treatment. You get the shit."

Scarlet grinned as she opened the flap and stepped back inside. Somehow the male Elder had slipped in while she'd been dealing with shit. The man was imperious with his head in the air as he looked around the room disdainfully.

"Disgusting," he muttered, gripping his staff tightly.

"Then clean it," Elva said, slipping around him to sit next to Wulfric. She lifted his head and made him drink from a bowl.

"And get my hands dirty? I think not," the man sighed. "But I will get someone in here to air it out. Give me a few minutes, and I'll be back with reinforcements."

He turned and spied Scarlet. The firelight flickered over his face. Disgust was clear. He was repulsed by her and slightly afraid.

All of the feelings of unease amplified at his expression, reminding her of everywhere she'd ever tried to fit in. First as a kid in the villages, then with the Rangers, the Hunters, and the Robins. She tilted her chin up as her cheeks flushed. She knew her faults, knew she never measured up and wouldn't be welcomed.

But for Wulfric, she would try. Eventually he stepped closer, nodding curtly. "Maiden."

Then he slipped back through the flap and into the night.

"Does he always have a stick up his ass or is this special treatment?" Scarlet asked, striding over to the bed.

Elva didn't look up as she inspected the oozing deep gouges on Wulfric's torso. His breathing was shallow but even. She looked closer and frowned as she realized he'd passed out. She couldn't stand there not helping, so she walked to the kitchen and stacked dishes, holding her breath against the smell.

"Barley? Oh don't mind him. He's always like that."

Frustration licked her stomach, or perhaps it was worry for Wulfric. There was a large, stone bowl with dirty water. She found a pitcher and tipped the dirty water into it before sitting it outside the tent flap.

Scarlet took a deep breath of fresh air and let the flap close, turning back to check on Wulfric. "Good to know. I wasn't sure if he didn't like the fact that I'm a cursed freak or that I'm supposedly Wulfric's mate. But if he's always like that—"

"Always," Elva chuckled. "Why is the mate bond not complete?

Before Scarlet could answer, two females and the two guards she'd given the bucket to came into the tent. Scarlet stepped to the wall of the tent as it became much too crowded too quickly.

Elva met her gaze over the activity and shook her head. She turned to the newcomers and gave orders for cleaning, taking a clean bucket of water from one of the guards.

Scarlet stood, legs wide and ready to bolt out of there as they cleaned the room. Elva woke Wulfric up, and the two guards helped him stand so they could inspect the injuries on his back.

Wulfric wavered on his feet, but his gaze found Scarlet along the wall. He smiled his wolfish, wide grin, and some of the anxiety in her stomach eased.

"There's my bunny. Come cuddle me and make it all better."

One man chuckled, but the two women gave her knowing smiles and grins. The Elder man came through the flap carrying three jars and two vials.

Scarlet shook her head, not taking her eyes off Wulfric. "Your tent is filthy. Let's get it and you cleaned up first."

Wulfric frowned but the one holding him eased him down to the clean bed. He groaned, holding his stomach.

Elva sighed, grabbing the two vials from the other Elder. Their voices were lost over the sounds of the men settling Wulfric onto the bed, someone clanging the bowls as they cleaned and another hauling the dirty blankets out the door.

Scarlet felt helpless just watching and observing. She'd done this countless times in taverns and villages across Busparia. She'd sat and watched, gathering information and making a plan.

But this was so different. She didn't have a plan, didn't know what would happen after tomorrow. And underneath it all was worry over Wulfric.

Worry? Hells, she was terrified he'd die and leave her in the middle of the Growlers' tribe alone. It wasn't just the thought of being alone that scared her. She genuinely didn't want him to die. Ever.

Logically, she knew his wounds weren't that bad. She knew the biggest threat would be internal injuries, the way they'd pummeled each other.

She'd been helpless to stop it, and it made her angry that she'd had to watch and do nothing.

She frowned and crossed her arms. Fucking Growler, making her care for him. The urge to protect him, hell, even the urge to gather him into her arms and just hold him, was unnerving. It made her feel raw, vulnerable, and weak, and she hated feeling like that.

Finally, the others gave that little nod bow and left, leaving only her, Wulfric, and the two Elders.

The man assisted Elva but turned in the silence and met Scarlet's gaze. "If he survives the night, then he'll be fine. There's no internal bleeding that we can see, but there's a rattle in his chest that I don't like."

Elva settled her hand on his chest and muttered under her breath. Green magic spread from her hand over his skin, making the soft, short fur ripple with the wave.

When it faded, she looked up and smiled at Scarlet. "He should sleep fine. I'll stand watch, Barley. You get some sleep and come relieve me in a few hours?"

The man frowned, still looking at Scarlet, but nodded. "Very well. I'll check on Nomani and Brody first. Maiden."

He gave the nod bow and slipped through the door.

"Come, child. Let's sit by the fire. We have much to discuss," Elva said as she leaned her staff against the bed frame and sank onto a cushion close to the fire. She crossed her legs, the slit up the sides parting for her knees.

Scarlet sat next to her on another cushion as the woman smiled into the fire. "Now, tell me your story."

Scarlet took a deep breath and forced her shoulders to relax as she crossed her legs too. She put her chin in her palm, resting her elbow on her knee.

"I'm not sure where to begin. Maybe it started thirty years ago when Growlers killed my mother at my grandmother's cottage?"

Elva nodded, "Hm, I see. And what do you know of those events?"

Scarlet shook her head as an icy chill ran down her spine. "What do you mean? It was a simple attack of opportunity. Mother was at the cottage alone, unprotected, and slaughtered."

Elva sighed and lumbered to her feet. "Actually, there's more to it than that. Let me put on a pot of tea, as this may take a while."

Scarlet's heart raced for new reasons now. She took a shaky breath, trying to regulate her emotions. She was so tired and shaking from hunger, but at least she wasn't cold anymore. At least they were safe… but some sixth sense told her she'd not like what the Elder had to say. Dread spread through her stomach, twisting it like a vise.