Page 63 of The Wolf's Prince
Finding the nearest town and the residing doctor turned out to be easier and faster than Nikolai had expected.
Before evening, Andrey was already being seen.
He was glad to have made the choice too because the doctor thoroughly cleaned the wound, cut the hanging bits of flesh away, and stitched what he could so cleanly closed that it barely looked like the bite of a rabid animal at all by the end.
The images of his brother being attacked like that were seared in Nikolai's mind. He was glad he had put Andrey first, but as they lay next to each other on a rickety bed in the local inn that night, he almost wanted to return to the pack first thing in the morning.
He couldn't though.
Nikolai wouldn't rest until Andrey was nice and cozy in his own bed, not moaning in pain next to him despite the painkillers he had been given.
He felt so guilty dragging him into this in such a dreadful way. They had been so happy being included with the White Water Pack, but they hadn't considered that they might also be included in the pack’s politics.
Nothing was ever as good as it seemed, he supposed. Even Soren had disappointed him far more deeply than he thought was possible. There he was, after two days, more in love with someone than he'd ever thought possible, blissfully thinking about their futures together. Then,boom! The fact that Soren wouldn't come with him for this journey, carting around his half-conscious brother who had been injured because of them, was like being hit in the back of the head when he least expected it.
The sound of Soren's voice, saying that he was in need too, wrang in Nikolai's ears.
He didn't have it in him to be mad at Soren, but he was so very,verysad.
In the morning, having barely slept at all, Nikolai helped an equally worn-out Andrey back into the cart to continue their journey home.
They only stopped to eat and let the horse rest. Andrey leaned against his shoulder the whole way home, much the way Nikolai had on the way there.
Somehow, they made remarkable time, reaching the castle grounds by the evening.
The moment they were spotted, there was a great commotion. Servants rushed forward to help. Others went to announce their arrival.
Clearly, no one had expected Andrey to be the one returning in an incapacitated state, and it caused quite a bit of havoc for a few minutes while his room was prepared and other arrangements made.
“He hasn't eaten yet,” Nikolai told the valet and servants helping Andrey to walk. “Neither of us have.”
Nikolai dismissed his valet and all the other servants too, who seemed insistent on helping him. After their short time in the mountains with complete autonomy, it felt strangely overbearing. Although, he supposed he would get used to it again.
Nikolai made it to his bedroom in relative peace, relieved to see the empty and welcoming room where he could rest.
It wasn't until he collapsed on top of the covers in exhaustion that he remembered the last time he'd been in this very bed, trying over and over to satisfy himself the way that only Soren could.
Sighing, he squeezed his eyes shut.
Why did itstillfeel like a shock that Soren hadn't come with him? Yes, he'd been worried about Alpha Jin, but the man had seemed fine the night before. Unless... could he have taken a turn for the worse...?
The moment that sneaking thought entered his brain, Nikolai could not shake it.
‘If it was any other time, I would leave with you...’
Soren's words rang with meaning now. He could hear the emotion in his voice all over again and realized it washelplessness.
No. That couldn't be right. Soren had wanted to stay close because his pack was important to him. That did not mean that his grandfather was on the verge of death.
There was a knock on the door, pulling him from his somber thoughts.
“Come in.”
The door opened and a servant entered.
“The king would like to see you, sir,” he said.
Nikolai nodded and climbed out of bed.
