Mary and Charlene went first followed by me, Grey, Gregory and the rest of the pack. Ash, the newest member, did not enter. Likely he wanted to stay behind to recruit potential members. I hoped his bleeding neck made his followers rethink his plan to shake the pack apart.
With the loyal members of my pack inside to protect Charlene and Mary, I trotted to the bathroom. A moment later, Charlene carried in a pot of boiling water and poured it into the plugged tub. She and Mary made several trips, slowly filling it.
Grey and Gregory stood nearby, a precaution.
How bad is it? Grey sent me.
More annoying than uncomfortable. Ash is trying to pull back. If this is as hard as he can resist, he won’t be a problem.
I moved to the door. There was enough water in the tub to clean the blood off. When Charlene returned, I nudged the door closed and started to shift. Stretching and reshaping the cuts and bruises hurt.
“I’ll just go help Mary,” Charlene said, quickly averting her eyes and setting the pot she carried near the tub.
I didn’t want her to leave. I wanted her gentle touch and concerned gaze like before.
“Help me,” I said.
Her gaze lifted, sweeping over my face and neck. When it swept to my legs and she blushed, I moved to the tub and stepped in with a grunt. The water was hot, and I’d somehow managed to hurt a toe during the fight. Easing myself into the water, I withheld my hiss of pain.
Charlene tossed a cloth to me.
“Cover up first,” she said.
I chuckled and sank lower in the water. Human modesty amused me. It wouldn’t ease her mind if I pointed out the water already covered the area of her concern. She wouldn’t look at me until I used the cloth. I set it over my genitals and leaned back.
“You can look now.”
She glanced at me then looked at the door.
“I really would rather someone else help you,” she said with her hands clasped before her. She looked shy and lovely, and I wasn’t ready for her to leave.
“Mary put the sewing kit in here. I’d rather you help me.”
She looked at me again, her gaze lingering longest on my ear.
“Fine,” she said. She grabbed the bowl from the washstand and dipped it into the tub between my legs. I hoped she didn’t notice the cloth move.
“Lean forward.” Her hand settled on my shoulder and pushed me toward the water.
I sat up and rested my arms on my knees while she slowly poured the water over my head. The water felt good, but the blood tinted it pink too quickly.
Is there more hot water? I sent to Mary.
It’s warming.
I would need it to rinse when I finished.
“Can you have Mary heat more water?” Charlene asked, setting the bowl aside.
“She already is,” I said as I wiped a hand across my face. I leaned back, and she reached for my arm. Her hold was gentle as she lifted it to the edge of the tub. I rested the other arm on the other side and watched her look at the bruises that covered my ribs and chest. When her gaze drifted back to my ear, I knew she was going to try to leave again.
“I can’t stitch you,” she said, sitting back on her heels. “I’m horrible at regular sewing, and the thought of poking a needle through skin…” She shuddered. “Please let Mary help you.”
I sighed, sank lower in the tub, and laid my head back. “Not Mary.”
Grey, I’ll need you to sew my ear.
He knocked on the door a moment before it opened.
“Hello, Charlene,” he said, stepping in.
“Hi, Grey.” She stood, moved away from the tub, and stared at the door for a moment.
“Stay, Charlene,” I said. “I don’t trust you out there alone.”
Gregory and the rest of the pack are out there. The good ones. Grey grabbed the sewing kit.
I know. I still don’t want her out there.
“All right.” She hovered indecisively near the tub.
You still make her nervous, Grey’s humor drifted over our link. He squatted near the tub and looked over my ear and the deeper cut on my thigh.
She wasn’t nervous until I shifted to my skin. She’s nervous because she’s feeling the pull.
He chuckled at the square of cloth in my lap.
“Just the ear, I think,” he said.
“Are you sure?” Charlene asked, leaning forward. “He has a large cut on his thigh, and his neck has several holes.”
Her concern is touching, Grey sent me before answering her.
“Those will knit together quickly. Barely a scar. The ear is different. The cartilage makes healing more difficult.” Grey threaded the needle and used alcohol on everything.
Why are you making it worse with that?
She looked worried. And it’s fun.
He jabbed my ear with the needle, and I gritted my teeth.
Charlene took a cloth, dipped it in the cold rinse water, and gently started to clean away the red from my knuckles. Her touch helped distract me from what Grey was doing to my ear. I turned my hand and caught hers to brush my thumb over the top of her fingers. She didn’t look up, but I knew it was because of the stitching.
She let me touch her until Grey tied off the last knot.
“I’ll leave you to finish,” he said. The door closed behind him.
It’s clear out here if she still wants to leave. I’ll stay inside with her if you want.
I’d prefer her company but could smell her unease.
“I can finish on my own,” I said, still touching her hand. “The room is clear of everyone but Mary and Grey. Go eat.”
She nodded and stood. Her fingers gently slipped from mine.
“Save me some food if there’s enough,” I said as she walked toward the door.
I reached up and touched my ear to make sure Grey had sewn it straight. Would the stitches just fall out the next time I shifted? I hoped not. I didn’t want him to stitch it a second time. He had too much fun doing it the first time.
Before she closed the door, Charlene promised to set some food aside.
Alone, I stood and picked up the bowl of cold rinse water, not bothering to wait for the warm stuff. It felt good on my bruised ribs and cuts, but nowhere else. Resisting the urge to shake off, I stepped from the tub and grabbed a towel. Then I took a new pair of pants from the pile stacked in the corner.
When I stepped out, Charlene was at the pump. I went to fetch the bucket for emptying the tub, but she told me they’d do that after they finished the dishes. Then she nodded toward the single plate on the table, and I dutifully sat and ate.
They are lining up out here, Gregory sent me.
How many?
Six so far.
Sighing, I finished my last bite and brought my plate to the sink. Grey watched me closely.
It’s time we go back out, I sent him. I want you to guard the door.
You’re not seriously going to accept more, are you? he silently asked me.
I think I am. I hold eight willing and loyal members. My link to each of you is solid and steady. The link to Ash is solid enough and his resistance like a vibration. It’s annoying, but nothing I can’t handle.
I started for the door and he followed.
But the more you –
This is the best way, Grey. As I add members, everyone will see my steady control. Those who are only following Ash’s lead to join will give up his cause and ask to leave. If I do not except them, they will find another more aggressive way to tear Charlene from this place. I do not want a pack war.
Stepping through the door, I was met with the sight of over fifteen males. Six stood apart from the rest, right beside Ash who smirked at me.
“Thomas,” he said. “I’ve found a few more who would like to make your pack stronger.”
By protecting us, you endanger yourself.
That is the way of a leader, I silently said to Grey.
I knew better than to welcome all of them at once. Yet, any hesitation on my part would make me look weak and give them more cause to resist. Walking up to the first one, I asked his name and why he thought he would be a good addition to my pack. I didn’t care about his answer. I only wanted to spend a few minutes with him before I accepted him.
“I welcome you to the pack,” I said formally. As his link settled into place, I turned to the next and asked the same type of questions. With the first link firmly in my hold, I welcomed the second and moved to the third.
Ash’s impatience grew visibly. When I moved to stand in front of the forth, he stepped forward.
“Why are you wasting time?” he demanded.
I turned to him, very willing to give the last link an extra moment to settle into place.
“What is a pack?” I asked.
He stared at me for a moment, angry and puzzled by my question.
“A group of wolves holding a territory.”
I shook my head.
“Traditionally, a pack is family. Family knows where you’ve been and where you’re headed. Family knows what you’re capable of and how much they can depend on you. And, family knows your name. This pack may not be family by blood, but we still need to know each other.”
By the time I finished speaking, the link had settled into place. With four of them tugging, it took more concentration, but it wasn’t unmanageable.
Ash didn’t question me again as I continued to speak with the remaining members. Before I accepted the last, another stepped forward. Ash watched me closely, waiting for any sign I was close to my limit. I kept myself still and steady, giving him nothing. However, my head felt tight and achy when I finished. They pulled back on the links, resisting my hold on them.
The squeal of the pump from inside the building echoed in the clearing.
“Tonight, we can eat as a pack,” Ash said with a grin.