“Fifteen,” the other replies. “The most we’ve seen so far in one day.”
“This is really bad. It’s like the disease is suddenly getting worse.”
“Curse. It’s a curse, not a disease. A disease, we could treat.”
“And damn witches like Trina are supposed to be helping the situation. When is our alpha going to get a hold of this situation?”
I stay behind the tree, completely frozen by what I just heard. They have to be from Owen’s pack, and they’re talking about the sickness. Even though I knew about it, it didn’t feel real to me until now.
The two people start to walk away, and I follow them. After a short hike, we come to a clearing that leads to a nearby road. At the clearing is a big building that looks like a storage warehouse.
I watch the two people I’ve been following go up to the building. I follow at some distance, beginning to feel awkward, like maybe I shouldn’t be here.
Then I see Owen appear at the door. The sight of him shocks me, and I stop, almost rooted to the spot as I watch him come out and talk to the people anxiously. They all hurry back inside.
I don’t give myself time to think. I just chase after them.
When I get to the doors, I can’t believe what I’m seeing. There are rows of at least a hundred sick people in the small space on narrow bunks. Only a few people are tending to them, and one of them is Owen.
He moves around swiftly, giving orders and personally tending to the sick people. I’m struck by how commanding he is, the way everyone listens to him, but I’m also touched by his clear compassion. Even though everyone is rushed off their feet, he takes his time with each patient, talking to them directly and listening carefully when they reply. He goes to every effort to make them comfortable, and as he continues on his rounds, his face darkens with worry and fear.
Slowly, I back away from the doors. My heart feels stuck in my chest, like it’s forgotten how to beat. My throat closes until I almost can’t breathe.
I’ve been acting like a spoiled little child, making a fuss about living with Owen while people are dying!
Tears burn my eyes as I think about how I attributed all of his moods to my behavior. Now, I can see the full scope of things.
He’s been trying to save his pack this whole time. When I thought he was hostile or distant, it had nothing to do with me—he was scared half to death for these people. Maybe even burying his friends!
The idea makes me feel so bad; hot tears pour down my cheeks. I turn and run into the woods as fast as I can. I’ve neverfelt so guilty in my whole entire life, and I honestly feel I deserve to wear the shame.
Chapter 11 - Owen
The faint, far-off sound of my phone buzzing cuts through the comforting darkness. All I can feel is the soft, warm cocoon around me, a place of serenity and calm I never want to wake from.
Even though the buzzing of my phone is very faint, I can’t ignore it. Eventually, I open my eyes, looking around the dim living room with some surprise. That’s when I realize the softness around me is Trina in my arms, cuddled against my chest, and the two of us are wrapped together in the thick couch cushions.
I’m so amazed that I can barely breathe, and everything that occurred between us last night comes back to me in a rush that makes my head spin. The last thing I want to do is disturb her, but I can tell from the way my phone is buzzing that something urgent is going down, and I can’t ignore it.
Carefully, I untangle myself from Trina’s embrace, leaving her curled up among the cushions as I fumble around on the floor for my phone. I look down at her with regret before I pick up my phone, flick it open, and hurry down the hall.
Missed calls and texts have piled up, with increasing frequency over the last hour. Late last night, the infirmary took on a sudden influx of patients, and now the place is almost overflowing with new cases. Guilt settles in my stomach like a heavy, cold stone as I realize my people were in need while I was fooling around with Trina.
But connecting with her is the right thing to do, isn’t it? Our bond will break the curse, so spending time with her is worth it… right?
It sounds too much like an excuse, and it makes me feel even worse for neglecting my people. I hurry down the hall and freshen myself up, jogging out the back door and heading for the infirmary as quickly as I can.
Dawn is just breaking as I arrive, and my heart twists in my chest when I see a small group of people standing by the side doors, waiting to get in. One of the men is holding someone in his arms, and I can’t tell if the person is alive or dead.
“Can I help?” I ask, hurrying towards them.
“Alpha Jameson,” the man replies. “I’m surprised to see you in person. We’re waiting for a place in the infirmary—my daughter fell ill last night.”
“I must apologize,” I say. “For not being here sooner. Let me find you a bed, right now.”
I stride into the warehouse, seeing it’s now full of people, where the day before we only had need of a few beds. The nurses and other carers look so relieved to see me, it makes another hard lump of guilt form in my chest.
Don’t worry about that now. Just get a move on and help these people.
