My fair(y) wolf

Annes POV

The pack village is not large. Dad and I walk over the hill and past the pack house, which is on top of the hill. The pack house is a beautiful old building. The oldest parts are actually medieval and very similar to human castles. But it was in use the whole time ever since it was first built and the werewolves added parts through the ages. I love our pack house. Pat obviously has a suite in it as Beta, and I go to see him there quite frequently. The old rooms seem to tell me stories, sometimes I feel I can hear people talking from ages long past.

The pack hospital is right behind the pack house. Most of it is as ugly and modern and sterile-looking as any hospital, human or supernatural. Actually it is human-built, and so is most of the Equipment inside. The only original medieval part of the hospital is the building which now houses the hospital administration. Dad goes in there, I go to my ward.

I love our hospital, I thoroughly enjoy my medical training and look forward to being a doctor. And sometimes I think… I am pretty sure I am imagining it… I think patients I look after get better sooner, especially if I concentrate really really hard. I can‘t really explain it, and I never told anyone, and I guess I am flattering myself… I enter the hospital.

I love the hospital atmosphere, I like how everybody is focused and concentrating and working in concert mostly. I love to help people, I love learning. I even love the smell.

Thinking of the smell… It seems stronger today. Maybe a new cleaning spray? Or are they cooking? Delicious! I walk through the corridors and my nose seems to twitch.

In the office I change into my lab coat. The office is empty, so try to focus and do some paperwork and wait for Isabella to come in and assign me some work. There is still a faint smell lingering, that seenms to distract me. Is that even possible?

I don‘t have to wait long until the door opens and a flustered-looking Isabella comes in. She is the doctor I am assigned to. She is a tall, beautiful and strong she-wolf. Her hair is dark-brown and her skin is tan even in winter. Her Eyes are big and soft brown. She is generally serious and kind. I learn a lot with her.

But she looks really stressed.

„Oh, thank Moon goddess you are here already! I had hoped so. They are crazy. They used silver bullets. I can‘t believe it!“

I stare at her hopen-mouthed. Nobody uses silver bullets. Never ever.

It‘s banned between werewolves! This is insane!

So I go to work. In my ward there are only warriors of my own pack. I go with Isabella and dress wounds, check vitals and concentrate very hard on helping the warriors.

I can tell some are grievously wounded and will probably not make it. And obviously there are some who have not even made it here. The thought makes me queasy. There are so many young people here, males and females fought and were wounded and probably even killed. Werwolves don‘t cry often or easily, but there were tears, some mourning the loss of their boyfriend or girlfriend, others their friends.

This is bad. I can‘t remember so many losses ever. There are fights between the packs frequently, and there are obviously many wounded warriors every time and and occasional casualty. But thanks to werewolf healing the wounded are usually up an about in no time at all.

But werewolf healing does not apply to silver bullets. They are poisonous for our kind and need to be removed immediately. The inner wolf can‘t help heal those wounds so they don‘t heal quicker than ordinary human wounds and the danger of infection is present even when they are removed quickly and correctly. I don‘t think I remember a fight where silver bullets were used against the warriors. Is simply unheard-of.

The wounded warriors don‘t talk much, but they all look afraid. Well, I am afraid now too, so I guess it‘s understandable.

We work until noon, then we have a bit of a break. We have treated all of our wounded warriors. They will need to stay and some for a long time if they even make it, but all the bullets have been removed, their wounds are dressed and their vitals taken for the first time. We will need to repeat that for all of them. Tomorrow we will be able to discharge the first, the ones who were lucky. With lots of painkillers and instructions to take it easy and give themselves time to heal. The less lucky ones will have to stay far longer and even if they survive many of them will keep remainders, possibly for the rest of their lives!

Pat has not been wounded thankfully, but he is busy in the packhouse with Alpha. They are probably analyzing the battle and discussing strategies, but my guess is, they will soon come over. They have to talk to the wounded warriors. Shaken as I am I am still curious to hear about the battle.

Isabella is allowing family members to visit the wounded  now, so we give them privacy now and eat together with the nurses sandwiches and fruit we ordered at the packhouse. We are both so tired and shaken we hardly talk at all, even though I usually talk far more openly to Isabella than to anybody else except my family.

But before we have quite finished eating Dad comes over. The warriors of different packs are always on different wards, and on his are those of the other pack Pat mentioned, Manor Hills Pack.

„Anne, I wonder if I could have a word with you. Do you mind Isabella?“

„Of course, don‘t worry Gav. How long will you be?“

„Not too long I hope“

Without a word I follow Dad. I have never seen him look so worried and upset. Not just his eyes, even his face shows lines of worry. I don‘t really want to know what is the matter.