Chapter 16: We Share A Bedroom?
Dominic
The smell of antiseptic and blood filled my nostrils as I stood in the medical room of the Tempest Howlers Pack. Avery lay on the examination table, her small frame looking even more fragile under the harsh fluorescent lights. Rachel moved around her with practiced efficiency, her face a mask of professional
concern.
*Her condition is very poor,” Rachel said, glancing at me with worried eyes. ‘Don’t you have any self healing abilities?” she asked Avery directly.
Avery’s green eyes darted away, unable to hold Rachel’s gaze. “I don’t know… what is that?‘ she whispered, wincing slightly before quickly masking her pain with a neutral expression.
Rachel’s hands paused in their examination. “Self–healing is basic wolf physiology. When we’re injured, our bodies repair themselves much faster than humans. She gently touched Avery’s arm where a large bruise had formed. “May I check your other injuries? I need to cut away more of your clothing to properly assess the damage.”
Avery gave a tiny nod, her eyes flickering nervously to mine.
Rachel’s brow furrowed as she continued her examination. “Are you human? Only humans bruise like this and take a week to heal. Sometimes they even
scar.
“I don’t know,” Avery’s voice was barely audible. “My parents were Alpha wolves. My brother is an Alpha wolf too, so I should be a wolf, but I don’t know why… Her voice trailed off, filled with uncertainty.
Holy shit, what the fuck happened to her? Rachel’s voice echoed in my mind through our pack link.
I don’t know, I replied silently. Probably years of beatings. And there’s something else–she’s my mate. I can feel it.
Luca howled with rage inside me at the mention of the beatings. His anger was primal and raw, demanding retribution for our mate’s suffering.
Her condition is critical, Rachel continued through our mind link. Unless we can reactivate her wolf abilities somehow, healing will be difficult. If things get worse, she could die!
Both Luca and I recoiled at the thought. The possibility of losing her before we’d even truly found her was unbearable.
Rachel turned back to Avery. “I need to examine you more thoroughly now. Are you wearing a bra and underwear beneath this?”
Avery tensed visibly but nodded, her eyes darting to me with a pleading look, silently begging me to leave.
I leaned closer to her, my voice dropping to a low growl. “You don’t have a choice. You’re destined to be mine, and I fucking need to know your condition.” Her heart skipped a beat at my words. She nervously averted her gaze from mine, giving a small nod of consent.
Rachel carefully cut away what remained of the tattered maid uniform. Soon, Avery lay on the bed wearing only a worn–out bra and underwear. The metallic scent of blood grew stronger, assaulting my senses.
A four–inch gash across her chest was clearly infected, the edges red and swollen. “It’s nothing…” she whispered unconvincingly.
I had a bad feeling that there was even bruises around her nipples! Did they take off all her clothes when they beat her? Thinking of this, I’m really afraid that I can’t control my emotions!
My jaw clenched at the sight before me. Her bra was threadbare, barely functional. Bruises covered almost every inch of visible skin, with distinct whip marks crisscrossing her back. Her hip bones and ribs protruded sharply, testament to prolonged starvation. She awkwardly placed her hands flat on the bed, her embarrassed gaze fixed on nothing in particular.
The sight of her broken body triggered something primal in me. Luca was simultaneously enraged and aroused–furious at those who had hurt her, yet excited at seeing our mate’s body for the first time. I felt myself hardening despite the horrific context, and hated myself for it.
“I’ll wait outside,” I managed to say, noticing how Avery’s expression was crumbling, tears threatening to spill. She looked moments away from breaking down, and I couldn’t bear to add to her humiliation.
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Chapter 16: We Share A Bedroom?
As I stepped out, Luca fought for control. We need to claim her. Mark her. Make her ours, he growled.
She’s too fragile right now, I argued back. We’d only hurt her more. She needs healing, not claiming.
I paced outside the medical room for ten minutes, my mind conjuring increasingly violent scenarios of what I’d do to Trevor and his pack when I got my hands on them. The urge to rip out Trevor’s throat with my bare teeth was almost overwhelming.
When the door finally opened, Avery emerged wearing a light purple dress with long sleeves and a floor–length skirt–clearly chosen to hide the worst of her bruises and scars. Her hair had been hastily combed, but still hung in tangled waves around her pale face.
I stepped forward immediately, concern etched across my features. “Was it Trevor?” I asked through gritted teeth, gesturing to her body. “Did he do this to you?
She lowered her green eyes, refusing to answer.
“Your asshole ex–mate Kevin?” Still no response.
“Both of them?” At this, she wrapped the dress tighter around herself and gave a small nod. She raised a hand to her cheek, wiping away a tear that had escaped.
“Anyone else?‘ I pressed, feeling Luca’s rage building inside me.
“The pack… everyone,” she whispered, her voice breaking on the last word.
‘I’ll kill every last one of them,” Luca snarled through my lips. I could feel my face contorting with fury, my normally handsome features twisting into something feral and dangerous.
Avery remained silent, shrinking into herself as if trying to become invisible.
The tense moment was broken by a loud growl–not from me, but from Avery’s stomach. The sound seemed to embarrass her further as a faint blush colored her cheeks.
I took a deep breath, forcing Luca’s rage back down. “It’s almost noon. Would you like to take a shower before we get lunch?” I asked, trying to soften my
tone.
She gave a hesitant nod, and if I wasn’t mistaken, there was a flicker of longing in her eyes. It struck me then that she probably hadn’t been allowed a proper shower in who knows how long, judging by her matted hair.
“Come on,” I said, extending my hand but not touching her. “I’ll show you to our bedroom. You can clean up there.”
She froze at my words, her body going completely still.
“Our bedroom?” she repeated, the words barely audible.
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