Wolves of the new dawn

A doctor

*Raze*

I stand frozen, staring at the woman, my mate, who has just walked into the room. The realisation tumbles through my mind like a whisper on the wind, reverberating with a significance that feels both foreign and familiar. Her features are striking… an untamed beauty marked by determination, and it stirs something deep within me. But before I can process the rush of emotions, she turns her focus away from me, glancing at the girl in the bed.

“Jo?” My mate exclaims, her voice carrying a note of urgency that instantly seizes my attention. Torren must have told her. She rushes over, her expression shifting from awe to concern in an instant. I watch as she kneels beside the bed, her fingers brushing against Jo’s forehead, feeling for heat that radiates like a warning flare.

Torren steps forward, his eyes flitting between me and my mate, as if gauging the weight of the moment. “Raze, this is Freesia. She’s a doctor,” he says, his tone measured, as if the gravity of her skills could shift the tide of our struggles.

Freesia’s focus is still on Jo. “What’s wrong with her?”

I take a breath, trying to ground myself in the present. “Jo was injured by one of the exposed nearly a year ago,” I explain, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. “She was left to starve and freeze for days before we found her in the fields. Since then, she’s had spells of fever, each one worse than the last. This one… it seems to linger.”

Freesia’s brow furrows, and her eyes soften with compassion as she examines Jo. “What injuries did she sustain?”

“She took a deep wound to her side,” I say, my voice tinged with frustration at the memory. “We patched her up, but the infection…”

“An infection?” Freesia’s gaze sharpens with focus, and I can see the wheels turning in her mind. “It’s possible she has developed a chronic condition. We need to see if the infection has returned. Torren, did you bring the bag with the medicine in here?”

Torren nods, his expression shifting from uncertainty to determination. “I’ll fetch them,” he says, disappearing through the door.

As Freesia leans closer to Jo, brushing damp hair from my little girl’s forehead, I can’t shake the feeling of being an outsider in my own space. I want to reach out, to explain my connection to Jo, to be part of this moment, but instead, I remain rooted to the spot, watching her work with a skill that is both mesmerizing and intimidating.

“Jo,” Freesia murmurs softly, almost as if trying to summon her back from the depths of fever-induced dreams. “Can you hear me?”

Jo stirs slightly, her eyelids fluttering, but she doesn’t awaken. The fragility of her state tugs at my heart, and I take a tentative step forward. “She’s been through so much,” I say, the words spilling out before I can stop them. “Her spirit is strong, but I fear it’s fading.”

Freesia glances up at me, her eyes meeting mine with a fierce intensity. “Then we’ll have to fight for her,” she replies, her voice steady and resolute. “You’re right to be worried, but we can’t give up. Not now.”

A surge of admiration wells within me. There’s a fire in her that I recognize, a shared determination to protect those we love, and it ignites a sense of hope in my own chest. I take a deep breath, allowing myself to feel the warmth of that connection, but it’s short-lived as Torren returns, arms laden with medicine.

He lays them on the bedside table, and Freesia shifts her focus to the supplies. “We’ll need to prepare a potent cocktail to beat down the infection,” she instructs, her voice brisk and professional. “Torren, can you help me find a syringe?”

As he rushes to comply, I can’t help but feel a strange helplessness. This isn’t just about Jo anymore; it’s about the pack, what we’re trying to build, the lives we’re fighting for. I want to be part of this, to contribute in a way that matters.

“Raze,” Torren calls from the other side of the room, breaking my reverie. “Can you hold Jo’s head while Freesia examines her?”

I step forward, positioning myself behind Jo and gently lifting her head, cradling it in my hands. Freesia moves with a practiced grace, her fingers deftly applying the poultice to Jo’s side. My daughter stirs again, a soft whimper escaping her lips, and I feel my heart constrict.

“Shh, sweetheart, you’re safe,” I murmur, my voice a mere whisper. “I am here.”

Freesia works quickly, her expression both full of concentration and empathy. “We need to keep her hydrated,” she says, glancing back at me. “Can you fetch some fresh water?”

“Of course,” I reply, moving toward the door. As I step outside, the air feels charged with urgency, and I can’t help but notice how the vibrant life around the compound seems to contrast sharply with the fragility within the room.

I fill a pitcher with water from the well, my mind racing. I did not want a new mate, I am not ready for a new mate… yet here she is, and she is helping my little girl.

As I return to the room, I can already hear the hushed tones of Freesia and Torren discussing Jo’s condition. “We need to keep a close eye on her,” Freesia says. “If her fever doesn’t break soon, we may have to consider more drastic measures.”

I enter, placing the pitcher on the table, and my eyes fall on Jo’s pale face. I can’t shake the feeling of helplessness that gnaws at my insides. But Freesia’s presence offers a flicker of hope, a promise that maybe, just maybe, we can turn the tide.

“Here,” I say, pouring a cup of water. “Jo, can you take a sip for us?”

Freesia gently tilts Jo’s head back, and I bring the cup to her lips, my heart racing. “Come on, sweat pea. We’re fighting for you.”

Jo’s lips part slightly, and to my relief, she manages a feeble swallow. It’s a small victory, but it feels monumental in this moment.

Freesia smiles, a flicker of hope igniting in her eyes. “That’s it, Jo. You’re doing great.”

I look at Torren, he is standing with a young woman. She kinda looks like a younger, fairer version of Freesia… and she is pregnant, not that she shows much, but I can smell it. The way Torren looks at her tell me everything I need to know… he found his mate too.