Page 32 of Nightmare Island

“How long has she been bleeding?” she asks, her medic mask sliding into place.

“Too fucking long,” I growl. “Hurry.”

“Ghost.” Her voice is stern despite her obvious nervousness. “I need to know how long.”

“Twenty minutes. Maybe more.” I pace the small room like a caged animal. “She’s getting weaker, but she hasn’t passed out yet.”

Awa nods, shoving herbs and bandages into a bag. “The milk of rum,” she says, nodding to a shelf. “And the clear bottle beside it. For disinfectant.”

I snatch both bottles, already turning toward the door. “Move faster.”

“I know you’re worried?—”

“I’m not worried. I’m fucking terrified she’ll get an infection, and that her blood loss will lead to something more serious,” I snap.

“She’s that special?” Awa asks quietly, her knowing tone making my wolf bristle. She and I have always gotten along and respected one another, so I feel more comfortable sharing my emotions with her than with others.

I nod.

We rush back through the corridors, my longer strides forcing Awa to practically run to keep up. The Blood Moon’s light streams through the windows, bathing everything in a reddish hue.

“The Blood Moon… it might affect her healing. The magic is different tonight,” Awa explains.

I growl in response, pushing faster. We’re almost there, not wanting to hear excuses. Just a few more seconds and?—

A scream pierces the air. Hel’s scream.

I’m through the bedroom door before the sound fades, Awa forgotten behind me. Hel’s thrashing on the bed, her back arched in pain.

She’s managed to half drag a blanket over herself, yet she’s shivering violently despite the warmth of the room. Her skinglistens with sweat, her hair plastered to her forehead, and her breathing comes in short, painful gasps. The towels around her leg are soaked through with blood, the metallic scent thick in the air.

“I’m here.” I’m at her side instantly, catching her flailing hands. “I’m back.”

Her eyes find mine, glazed with pain and fear. “You came back,” she whispers as if she still can’t quite believe it.

“I promised, didn’t I?” My voice sounds rougher than I intended.

The corner of her mouth twitches. “You surprised me,” she mumbles, then her eyes roll back, and she fights to keep them open.

Awa’s there in the room in seconds, taking in the scene, her silver-streaked hair escaping its braid as she moves. Setting down her bag with a thud at the side of the bed near Hel’s feet, she glances at her with a smile.

“You certainly know how to make an entrance, don’t you, dear?”

Hel’s eyes flutter open wider at the new voice. “I like to keep things interesting,” she croaks.

“I’m Awa. Nice to meet you.” Her expression softens. “I can see why he likes you.” Then, she thrusts a small wooden bowl into my hands, the liquid inside a milky caramel color. Bits of herbs float on top, and the scent of rum and coconut rises with the steam.

“Make her drink all of it,” she orders, already laying out her supplies on the bed. Her weathered hands are then arranging a large needle and thread. “And don’t give me that look, Ghost. I don’t care if you’re the Alpha. In this room, when someone’s bleeding, I’m in charge.”

The corner of my mouth twitches despite the situation. Awa’s the only one who dares speak to me this way, and only whenshe’s healing someone. Any other time, she’s as respectful as the rest of the pack, but get her in her element, and she transforms.

“What’s in it?” Hel asks me weakly, eyeing the bowl.

“Rum, coconut cream, and herbs,” Awa answers, not looking up from where she’s starting to peel the towels off her leg. “My own special recipe. Works every time to ease the pain.” She pauses her work to wink at Hel, her dark eyes twinkling. “And if it doesn’t, well, at least you’ll be too drunk to care about my terrible stitching.”

A ghost of a smile touches Hel’s lips, but it’s quickly replaced by a grimace of pain.

I move to the bed, sitting carefully on the edge. The mattress dips under my weight, and Hel’s hand clutches at the blanket.

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