Sequel: Streak of Black ›
Alpha
Chapter 17
Andre gestures for us to follow him, and I do.
Everyone except Ryder and Nox hesitate, not knowing that the large man really is helpful. Cannan refuses to leave Susanne's body.
I tell them that he helped me, and Nox does the same for his sister—I again feel that tickle in my mind as the message is translated. Finally, we convince them. Only Cannan holds back, still hovering protectively over her. Andre realizes that he won't leave her behind and walks over, scooping Susanne into his arms and carrying her lifeless body away, despite it being obvious that Ryder needs and deserves attention and care much more than Susanne does right now. We all follow him as he begins to leave, Cannan practically on his heels. Everyone feels numb after what just happened. Like me, they just don't know how to feel about the night's events. I think we're all just in shock.
Andre leads us down another flight of stairs and down a few corridors before taking us into a giant hall with a very tall ceiling. It's like those entry halls you see in mansions and castles in Disney movies. But he walks with purpose, and we all follow, matching his quick pace. He leads us out onto a gravel pathway that leads away from the giant house, no doubt built to minimize escapes such as this one. We walk down the path to the driveway with a large van sitting in the middle. Andre opens the back doors to the van and we all jump in. Cannan refuses to enter until Andre gently sets Susanne down on the van floor. He then leaps inside and curls up by her side. I do the same with Ryder who now sways on his feet from the injury.
We are driven down the road, and I doze in and out as we drive until we get to the road that goes straight to the house. But Andre keeps going until he gets to a hidden side road. We drive down that as it winds through the forest, coming out only a few yards from the house. How could we have never noticed this before?
The moon is still pretty high in the sky as Andre turns off the car. He opens the back doors to let us out again and picks up Susanne. Ryder continues to stumble as he stands, and he almost falls when we jump out. I stay by his side to catch him if he falls, and Lovett does the same, much to both Ryder and my surprise. Things really have changed.
Despite the fact that I'm still shocked from Susanne's betrayal and murder, I’m still terrified for Ryder. He’s slow and unsure in every slight movement he attempts to make, and it’s clear he’s in agony and barely holding on. I don’t know how much longer he may have, and I don’t want to find out. I want him to not be in all of this pain—I want him to be better. I want him to not die.
Cannan remains by Andre's side as we walk. Finally, we emerge into the clearing in which our home resides. I've never been so happy to see the crumbling brick blocks. As we enter, the wooden cabin appearance that surrounds me feels so much like home, and I can't take my relief.
And then I notice my best friend lying on the floor. He licks his shoulder wound in pain, moaning. Andre sets Susanne onto one of the couches and then returns to pick up Ryder. I lead him into Ryder's room, and he sets my friend down onto his bed. I climb up onto the bed beside Ryder and rest my head on his side, feeling his heartbeat. Too slow. It's too slow!
Andre, having left after setting Ryder down, returns with a knife, dental floss, a needle, and rubbing alcohol. He cuts Ryder's wound a little wider after rubbing the knife with the alcohol, ignoring his whimpering and flinching. I sit up and scoot back to stay out of the way. The others enter the room and watch in fascination. Everyone except for Cannan.
After cutting open the wound, Andre tenderly separates Ryder's fur, and I watch in horror as he reaches inside and pulls out the bullet from where it was lodged in his muscle. He then rubs the needle with alcohol, laces the floss through it, and seals the wound. It looks unprofessional, but the job is done. He rubs down the scar with the alcohol, picks up all of the equipment, and leaves. I hear him set everything down somewhere and let himself out of the house.
Ryder fell asleep sometime through the minor operation, and now breathes softly and steadily. Relieved, I leap down from the bed, pull back the covers with my teeth, and cover him with them. Everyone disperses to go take a nap, exhausted. Lovett also leaves, deciding to allow me and Ryder to be together, if only for this one night. The only ones who don't move are Nox and Nyx. I lead her into my room where she can rest in my bed, and take him to the Cannan and Susanne's room where Lovett is making himself cozy. Once they're settled. I return to Ryder's room and crawl under the covers beside him, curling up by his side as best as I can in my wolf form. He opens his eyes briefly, nuzzles me, and returns to his sleep. I close my eyes and allow my mind to go blank, relieved to have my Pack home with me once again, safe and sound and away from Damien's constant threat.
Everyone except Ryder and Nox hesitate, not knowing that the large man really is helpful. Cannan refuses to leave Susanne's body.
I tell them that he helped me, and Nox does the same for his sister—I again feel that tickle in my mind as the message is translated. Finally, we convince them. Only Cannan holds back, still hovering protectively over her. Andre realizes that he won't leave her behind and walks over, scooping Susanne into his arms and carrying her lifeless body away, despite it being obvious that Ryder needs and deserves attention and care much more than Susanne does right now. We all follow him as he begins to leave, Cannan practically on his heels. Everyone feels numb after what just happened. Like me, they just don't know how to feel about the night's events. I think we're all just in shock.
Andre leads us down another flight of stairs and down a few corridors before taking us into a giant hall with a very tall ceiling. It's like those entry halls you see in mansions and castles in Disney movies. But he walks with purpose, and we all follow, matching his quick pace. He leads us out onto a gravel pathway that leads away from the giant house, no doubt built to minimize escapes such as this one. We walk down the path to the driveway with a large van sitting in the middle. Andre opens the back doors to the van and we all jump in. Cannan refuses to enter until Andre gently sets Susanne down on the van floor. He then leaps inside and curls up by her side. I do the same with Ryder who now sways on his feet from the injury.
We are driven down the road, and I doze in and out as we drive until we get to the road that goes straight to the house. But Andre keeps going until he gets to a hidden side road. We drive down that as it winds through the forest, coming out only a few yards from the house. How could we have never noticed this before?
The moon is still pretty high in the sky as Andre turns off the car. He opens the back doors to let us out again and picks up Susanne. Ryder continues to stumble as he stands, and he almost falls when we jump out. I stay by his side to catch him if he falls, and Lovett does the same, much to both Ryder and my surprise. Things really have changed.
Despite the fact that I'm still shocked from Susanne's betrayal and murder, I’m still terrified for Ryder. He’s slow and unsure in every slight movement he attempts to make, and it’s clear he’s in agony and barely holding on. I don’t know how much longer he may have, and I don’t want to find out. I want him to not be in all of this pain—I want him to be better. I want him to not die.
Cannan remains by Andre's side as we walk. Finally, we emerge into the clearing in which our home resides. I've never been so happy to see the crumbling brick blocks. As we enter, the wooden cabin appearance that surrounds me feels so much like home, and I can't take my relief.
And then I notice my best friend lying on the floor. He licks his shoulder wound in pain, moaning. Andre sets Susanne onto one of the couches and then returns to pick up Ryder. I lead him into Ryder's room, and he sets my friend down onto his bed. I climb up onto the bed beside Ryder and rest my head on his side, feeling his heartbeat. Too slow. It's too slow!
Andre, having left after setting Ryder down, returns with a knife, dental floss, a needle, and rubbing alcohol. He cuts Ryder's wound a little wider after rubbing the knife with the alcohol, ignoring his whimpering and flinching. I sit up and scoot back to stay out of the way. The others enter the room and watch in fascination. Everyone except for Cannan.
After cutting open the wound, Andre tenderly separates Ryder's fur, and I watch in horror as he reaches inside and pulls out the bullet from where it was lodged in his muscle. He then rubs the needle with alcohol, laces the floss through it, and seals the wound. It looks unprofessional, but the job is done. He rubs down the scar with the alcohol, picks up all of the equipment, and leaves. I hear him set everything down somewhere and let himself out of the house.
Ryder fell asleep sometime through the minor operation, and now breathes softly and steadily. Relieved, I leap down from the bed, pull back the covers with my teeth, and cover him with them. Everyone disperses to go take a nap, exhausted. Lovett also leaves, deciding to allow me and Ryder to be together, if only for this one night. The only ones who don't move are Nox and Nyx. I lead her into my room where she can rest in my bed, and take him to the Cannan and Susanne's room where Lovett is making himself cozy. Once they're settled. I return to Ryder's room and crawl under the covers beside him, curling up by his side as best as I can in my wolf form. He opens his eyes briefly, nuzzles me, and returns to his sleep. I close my eyes and allow my mind to go blank, relieved to have my Pack home with me once again, safe and sound and away from Damien's constant threat.