Chapter 259: The Path Ahead
I realized that while he would not continue to lecture me, that did not mean that he had forgiven me in the least. The only way I could make up for my actions was to learn more about Fangborne― to become the luna he wanted me to be.
I gulped, my hands were suddenly clammy.
"Are you leaving already?" I asked weakly.
Damon nodded. "I have said all that I needed to say. I’ve wasted enough time here; there are too many things to do. Blaise will be here shortly."
I could only nod as I watched Damon’s retreating back.
"Nicole... what am I going to do?" I asked blankly once he was gone, Damon’s words whirling in my head.
"You pick yourself up, silly," Nicole said, her voice instantly chirpier now that the Debbie Downer was gone. "What’s the use of moping around and whining about not being able to do something, rather than spend the time learning how to do it? Seems like an awful waste of energy."
Nicole’s gentle advice shamed me. It was simple― straightforward. I could’ve easily thought of it. I just didn’t have the guts to try.
"Have some rest for now," Nicole said, helping me adjust my pillows before pulling the blankets a little closer to my chin. "You need to get your energy back before you can attempt anything else."
I could only nod.
***
Over the next few days, Damon was busy having to oversee the multitude of pack affairs that cropped up. Notably, tallying and confirming the list of the dead, as well as the organization of many, many funerals for the pack members that had unfortunately passed away, a heavy duty he insisted on handling himself out of respect for the members that had willingly sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.
Not to mention the huge security breach he now had to patch up.
I would have liked to help Damon share his burden, but unfortunately, I had only done more harm than good so far. I picked at my bandages idly, wanting nothing more than to leave the infirmary.
Blaise had come to visit, along with Elijah. Both of them expressed their apologies for leaving me alone, particularly Elijah, who had been assigned to take care of me before leaving due to the second fire.
Of course, there was nothing he did wrong― the pack’s safety came first and if I were put in the same situation, I would’ve done what he did. It was only right. Yet, having nearly lost me once when I tried to escape Fangborne during my early days here, Elijah took this to heart.
He spent the next few days in the infirmary whenever Blaise wasn’t around. Damon, of course, hadn’t visited even once after that first time.
"The Alpha is just busy," Elijah said, carefully slicing the apple for me. I eyed the red fruit with caution, my mind constantly going back to the night of the vampire’s attack.
Since then, I hadn’t seen Kyle. He was supposed to be in the infirmary but his bed had been situated so far away from mine that we hadn’t crossed paths. He had also been discharged sometime when I was asleep. Surprisingly, he hadn’t spoken even a word to me after, not even an insulting jab of some sort.
It was oddly peaceful.
"I know," I said, gratefully smiling at Elijah as I took the sliced apple from his hand. "I heard from Blaise."
"It’s common for warriors to die in battle, honorable, even," Elijah continued, moving on to a different fruit. "You mustn’t think too much of it. Other than of old age, there is no better way for wolves to return to the forest and to the Goddess."
"I see that Damon already told you?" I wondered if being burnt to a crisp counted as an honorable death. For the sake of those werewolves whose bodies couldn’t be recovered, I sure hoped so.
Elijah’s smile was a little sheepish. "Kaine," he said, surprising me. I hadn’t expected to hear that name. "He heard it from Nicole."
My eyebrows shot to the top of my forehead. "I didn’t know he gossips."
"It’s..." Elijah shrugged, "Well, I guess it’s technically counted as work. He doesn’t speak much about anything else unless it’s to Nicole."
"Darn right," Nicole said, coming over. She had a box filled with salves and bandages by her side as she walked over to my injured arm. Carefully, she lifted it, unwrapping the old bandages before replacing it with new ones.
"He doesn’t need to talk to anyone else when he has me," she said as she worked, a bubbly smile on her face.
A low whistle escaped Elijah’s lips. He leaned closer to me, murmuring under his breath, "Possessive."
Needless to say, Nicole easily caught that and shot him a glare.
"All werewolves are of their mates," Nicole grumbled. "It’s only normal. Besides, look at me. Why would he want to talk to anyone else? I’m the best conversationalist in this pack!"
"If you say so. Besides, I wouldn’t know about mates," Elijah said with a shrug. He placed the peeled orange in my free hand before he leaned back in his seat. "Don’t have a mate, don’t want one. They’re more trouble than they’re worth."
"Not every apple in the basket is a bad apple," Nicole reminded gently. She neatly secured the bandage before keeping the rest of her supplies back in the box. "You’re never going to know unless you try."
"And get poisoned if I pick the wrong one?" Elijah said with a snort. "No thank you. I am not like Kyle. I would at least check the apple before biting into it."
It was Nicole’s turn to snort. She rolled her eyes in disbelief. "Suit yourself," Nicole said. "A wolf without a mate is incomplete. We’re not like humans. A fated bond is more than just love and emotion of the human mind― it is a connection of our wolves."
With that said, Nicole picked up her items and left, making sure to secure the curtains around my bed so that the other patients couldn’t peep in.
"By any chance, a fated mate would mean I am destined to take up the responsibilities of―"
"Yes," Elijah said before I could finish my question. "Disclaimer, I am bound by duty to say yes whenever you ask a question regarding your position as Fangborne’s luna. Alpha Damon made me swear an oath."
I sighed. "Kyle is not going to like that, and honestly, he is the least of my worries. There will be others like him."
"What about me?"
Elijah and I looked up, our eyes widening with surprise when the man of the hour stood right outside, his head peeping in. Speak of the devil and he shall arrive― Kyle stood there, just a few steps away, looking healthy as ever.
