12. Maya

12

Maya

Everyone's wolf rose to the surface, including mine, and I struggled to push her back. The whole situation was strange, but that didn't mean we needed to attack right away. I opened my mouth to say something, but the woman just raised her eyebrows. "Obviously our witches knew that you were coming. They have names, but they couldn't see why you were here, only that you would need some guidance. Shift if it makes you feel safer."

He didn't. "You have seers among you. I've heard of them, but I've never met one."

"I suspect you'll be meeting this one, but not today and perhaps not on this particular journey. She does not live among us, just pops in from time to time, although I suspect she has more information than she provides. She finds us…intriguing."

"As do I," he said flatly.

"My name is Sera. Does that make you feel better?"

Rhyson studied her for a moment and then relaxed. "To be honest, nothing about this place makes me feel better."

"You would not be the first to say that. Charles says that you may have run into trouble. He smelled blood. Are you hurt?"

"A group of wolves left the mountain and isolated our vehicles while a second group hunted us. They were a bit more organized than we were expecting. We thought rogues couldn't leave the mountain," Duke said carefully.

They knew we were from around here, but Duke just told them that we weren't from the mountain. I studied their faces to look for surprise, but found none. "You will find many surprises on our mountain," Sera said with a mischievous grin. "There are many rogues and room for them to live as they would like, and since they go unchecked, I imagine they leave and return to the mountain as often as they would like, although I doubt they go far. They are mindful of the ignorant human communities nestled in the mountains and leave them alone. There are also wolves here who would not consider themselves rogue."

"A wolf without a pack is a rogue," Dante pointed out. "Wouldn't they all be rogues here?"

"The rules are different here. I hope you'll be mindful of that." Her eyes moved to me, and she cocked her head with interest. "You travel with a human?"

"She is none of your concern," Rhyson growled.

I ignored him. "I'm not a human. Charles has already seen my wolf."

"Indeed, I have. A beautiful wolf," he said with a nod.

Sera's frown deepened. "I apologize. I hope I didn't offend you. I'd gotten a sense of werewolves, but you seemed different."

"Not different," I muttered as I tried to keep the hurt from my face. It was one thing to know that I couldn't connect to my wolf, but another thing entirely for a complete stranger, a human for that matter, to point it out. Aware that everyone was staring at me, I turned to Charles. "You said that I could see someone about my knee."

"Yes, please follow me."

"Duke," Rhyson barked. Duke immediately rose, but Rhyson shook his head. "I'll go with her. Stay here."

Kill if needed. He didn't need to verbalize it for us all to know what he was thinking. If our hosts understood, they didn't let on.

It was insane that Rhyson accompanied me rather than staying with his wolves, but I just rolled my eyes as he fell into step behind me. I walked behind Charles, so we were this weird little line wandering through the village.

The community was impressive, much bigger than I originally thought, although not well protected. I didn't see anyone I thought might be a soldier or a guard. Most of them were elderly, some friendly enough to smile and wave, and some who stared at us with blank faces.

One thing I did notice. "There don't seem to be any children here," I blurted out. Charles didn't even break his stride, and I grimaced behind him. "I'm sorry. That was rude."

"An observation and one not made with malice," Charles said kindly, although he didn't turn around. "It's true that we do not have children here."

I wanted to ask where they were, but that seemed even more rude, since the information wasn't offered.

Charles walked us to a small building. "Hofter, there's a patient here to see you," he said as he opened the door. "And an outside guest."

He gestured me in, and Rhyson immediately tried to follow me. Charles blocked his path, a bold move for someone who claimed to know about wolves. "I'm sorry," he said in a gentle tone. "But patients are given privacy here."

"I do not know you," Rhyson said just as evenly. "And I do not know Hofter. I go in with her, or she doesn't go in at all. I have a healer with me. She can treat Maya."

A large black man filled the doorway, and he frowned. "What is this? You are letting the flies in, Charles."

"I'm sorry to have roused you," Charles said. "It appears you won't be seeing to her today."

My knee did hurt, and the pain would only increase the more we walked. Since the secret was out, there was no point in hiding it. "I would prefer if Rhyson came with me," I lied finally to keep from wasting more time. "Since I'm okay with it, it won't be a problem, right?"

Rhyson's jaw clenched, and I felt a small victory. I had most of the power here. I was also not stupid. Even if he hadn't said anything, there was little chance I was going into a darkened building with a stranger alone.

"I don't care," Hofter said gruffly. "Don't break anything. In fact, don't touch anything at all. My potions and salves are a delicate process."

Most wolf healers I knew had a delicate and gentle touch, but not Hofter. His grunt was the only welcome we had as he turned his back and stomped back in.

Charles winked. "He's soft on the inside, don't worry. Do you think you can find your way back when you're done, or would you prefer that I wait?"

"We do not need an escort," Rhyson said stiffly, but Charles was looking at me. I shook my head and followed Hofter inside.

Strange that he would leave us unaccompanied. Either he didn't have any secrets or their secrets were well-guarded to the point that he'd allow strangers to roam around. I could see Rhyson was thinking the same thing.

Hofter was waiting for us. "What's the problem?"

Wonderful bedside manner. I cleared my throat. "My knee hurts a little when I walk long distances."

"Define a little."

"Um. It swells up."

"So it hurts a lot," he said. He reached for me, and Rhyson unexpectedly snarled. Pausing, he looked up. "Problem, wolf?"

"No, he's fine. Please, continue." I glared at Rhyson. I might have to do what he said, but he couldn't get pissed just because a freaking doctor wanted to touch my injury.

His hands were warm and gentle as they probed my knee. "Strange. You wolves tend to heal when you shift, but this is a dislocation that never healed properly. When did this happen?"

"Two years ago."

"It was dislocated when you were human. Why didn't you shift and heal?"

"Is that relevant to you helping me?"

His gaze lifted to Rhyson, and his whole expression changed. "Wait outside," he growled.

"No."

"This is why I do not let patients come accompanied. You've broken her kneecap and then not let her heal, and now you stand over her like her protector so you can bully her into keeping quiet. I am not here to fix her if you are just going to break her again. I will not allow her to leave with you, wolf. I don't care how powerful you are."

"How fucking dare you," Rhyson roared.

I cleared my throat and tapped Hofter on the shoulder. "It wasn't him," I assured him. "And I'm not lying to protect him. This happened before I even met him."

Hofter studied me and then relaxed. "The broken come here to claim sanctuary. I am sorry to assume."

"Someone did this to you?" Rhyson demanded.

I ignored him. "Charles says you might have a salve?"

"I do, but it is temporary. The best solution is to simply let me re-dislocate it and set it. You will shift and heal."

My head swam as I remembered the pain of the first time. "I don't know if I can handle that," I whispered.

"And she's pregnant," Rhyson interjected.

"It will not hurt the babe, but it will be painful. I understand if you are not ready. I will give you enough salve to last a month. Return when you are ready, and I will fix this for you, as painlessly as I can."

"Thank you."

"The one who hurt you. Do you travel with them? Say the word, and they will not leave our community."

I saw the truth in his eyes, and I suspected this was not the first time they'd made this promise or made good on it. It seemed so peaceful here, but there was an ease to the violent promise in his voice.

"No. My tormentors are pretty far away," I told him. "Thank you for your help. Maybe I'll find the courage to return."

"Courage is not what you lack," he said gently. "While you are here, I will also give you something for the vomiting. Morning sickness is something that not even your wolf can make go away."

When he stepped out of the room, I turned to see Rhyson glaring down at me. "Just what the fuck was he talking about? Who the hell broke your goddamn knee?"