Chapter 34: Chapter 6

NATALIE

“Shit,” Damon says under his breath, then presses the accelerator harder.

“What’s wrong?”

He clenches his jaw. “Two of my guards got into a fight with one of the elders. He’s not happy that I took over the pack and likes to voice his opinion.”

We go straight to the hospital.

“Natalie.” He stops me before I open the door. “I don’t want my pack to know about your ability. Those that know have been ordered to stay quiet about you. No matter what shape Stewart is in, you are not to heal him or let him know that you’re a natural healer, understood?”

I placate him with a nod, knowing how difficult it is to stay back. “Yes, of course. I might need a little help though. It’s hard not to rush in and heal everyone around me.”

I let out a breath as I see the state the older man is in. His head and most of his face are wrapped up in gauze, and he has a nasal cannula. The doctor is working over him, and I take a step forward.

Damon takes my hand and pulls me back to his side. He holds me tight to his body, and I inhale his calming scent. “How is he, Marlena?”

She looks between me and Damon. “He’s stable. He’ll heal, but it’s going to take some time.”

Damon nods, then leads me to the guards. He lets me go, and I wait for him to give me the okay to heal them. “June, what happened?”

The guard has short black hair, she’s tall and thin, and sporting a broken arm and a few scratches. “He was mouthing off again, saying that our pack is cursed and you’ll never be able to stop the Goddess. Same crap as always. I don’t know why you haven’t kicked him out yet, Alpha. Crazy old crotchety bastard.”

“For that very reason. He’s old and has nowhere else to go.” He tilts his head toward me. “This is Natalie. She’s going to see to your injuries.”

I step up to her and gently take hold of her arm. I close my eyes and sense where the break is. I release my power and feel the bone returning to normal.

“Whoa, what the fuck?” June looks at her arm in wonder.

“June. You are to tell no one about Natalie’s ability.”

She nods. “Yes, Alpha. What is her ability exactly?”

“I’m a natural healer, but I’m only sixteen,” I fill her in.

June’s mouth drops open. “I thought healers were a myth. Are you in our pack now?”

Damon answers before I can. “She’s only on loan for now. She’ll return to her pack before school starts back up.” He looks to the other bed. “Felix. You look like Stewart got some pretty good shots in. Did you have to nearly kill him?”

“The bastard wouldn’t surrender. He thought he could take me and threw the first punch.” June nods, agreeing with Felix.

Damon nods to me, and I walk to his side of the bed. Felix has the body type to be quick and agile. “Felix. You are to tell no one about Natalie’s ability.”

“Yes, Alpha.” I place my hands to his chest and head to locate his injuries. Once I find them, I move my hands to his abdomen and let my power go.

“That’s insane.”

I open my eyes and see that he’s fully healed. He stretches his body as if to test it out. I return to Damon’s side, and he, almost instinctively, places his arm around my shoulders. “You two will be helping in the pack house for the next two months as punishment for fighting. We are not savages. No matter what Stewart was saying, it does not condone this sort of behavior.”

They both reply with “Yes, Alpha.” Then we leave the hospital.

Damon opens my door and helps me up into the jeep. We pull up to a beautiful two-story house. Stone siding covers the bottom, and wood beams cover the top. All of the windows are large with dark brown shutters. “What is this place?”

We begin pulling the bags from the back seat. “It’s the alpha’s house.”

“This is your house?” I look up at it, taking in the beauty of the dwelling.

Damon shrugs his shoulder. “The Robertses lived here until I became alpha. It’s awkward living here, but this place has been home to the alphas since the beginning of this pack.”

We step inside, and everything is bare. He places his bags down against a wall, so I follow suit.

I look around at the potential this house hides. “Have you thought about making it your own?”

He looks around. “I’ve thought about it, but other than upgrading the kitchen I’ve never really come up with a plan.”

I run my hand over the outdated wooden banister.

“You’re welcome to look around.”

I find the kitchen first. Although I’m not much of a cook, I agree that it needs upgrading. Also on the ground floor is a bathroom and an office space that is just as bare. Damon leads me up the stairs to the four bedrooms. Three are similar in size and all empty, but the master is twice the size of the others and has an en suite. The shower is tall, but the tub is old and in need of an upgrade.

“What do you do for fun?” I ask on the way back down the stairs.

“I don’t really have much time for fun anymore, but I liked hanging out with my friends. You met them today. Cameron and Spencer have always been my friends, but my sister is my best friend. When she met Finn, we immediately clicked. Melissa came from another pack, they met at the mates ball last spring.”

“You should make this a place that you can entertain. With guest rooms, you wouldn’t have to worry about kicking anyone out if it gets too late. Also, with Bianca having a baby soon, you could have a playroom for your niece or nephew, that way she’ll feel welcome in your home. At least, that’s what I would do.”

He looks around at the empty white walls with his hands comfortably in his pockets. “Maybe.” He gives me his attractive half smile. “I should probably get you back to the pack house. We have training first thing in the morning. I promised Dec that you would participate. It’s pretty much the same setup as in your pack since Dec, Troy, and Bruno trained me.”

I grunt in disappointment. Damon chuckles. “Come on, youngster. It’s past your curfew.” He leads me out the door and to his jeep. He stays to visit his parents for a while, and we all chit-chat over brownies and hot cocoa that his mother made. Once I start yawning, he excuses himself to his office, and I make my way to bed.

“You’re mine now, little witch,” his raspy voice tells me as he gets an arm around my neck. He’s three times my size and effortlessly wrestles me to the leaf-covered forest floor. The cold damp earth chills my skin.

“Please don’t do this,” I beg, and he turns me onto my back. The look in his eyes tells me there’s no changing his mind. His tongue swipes up my face, and I struggle to push him off of me as he tears at my clothing. “No, please.” I force the air from my lungs into a single scream.

His hand covers my mouth. “So young and tasty. No one will save you.”

“Natalie!”

I open my eyes, and the sinister cloudy eyes of my nightmare are replaced with warm silvery green ones.

I sit up and fall panting into Damon’s chest.

“You’re all right. It was just a nightmare. You’re safe.”

No matter the comforting words he uses, my tears continue to fall freely. Damon pulls me from the bed to his lap, and I curl up into his warmth. “Shh. You’re safe.” His hand rubs my back until the tears finally come to an end.

My nightmare isn’t just a nightmare. It’s a memory that had faded over time. A very real memory.

I don’t know how long Damon has held me, but my tears have long stopped, and I’ve relaxed while still in his embrace. “How did you know I was having a nightmare?”

He rests his cheek to my head. “I heard you scream. Do you want to talk about it?”

I shake my head, and my fingers play with the two buttons of his white thermal shirt. “Are you able to go back to sleep?”

Again I shake my head. “How about a hot shower?”

“That sounds good.”

Damon nods, then holds me a little longer until I’m ready to get to my feet.

“Thank you, Damon.”

He gives me a soft smile. “I’ll make us some breakfast. It’s still pretty early. Training isn’t for a few more hours.”

I grunt, and he chuckles at my reaction.