Destiny

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Kris took two deep breaths, screamed for help, and started to run. She stumbled out of the tent, leaving a bloody hand print on the fabric. Blood was everywhere. She’d barely taken two steps before she slipped on the wet ground, one foot sliding through the mud, but she managed to keep her footing.

From inside the tent came another yell, bloodcurdling, painful, and desperate. Kris looked left and saw no one. She looked right, but there was no one there either. Right now, she was alone.

Steeling herself, Kris turned back into the tent, pushed the flap back open, and took a deep breath.

I can do this. I have to do this. It’s a matter of life and death.

Kris had been in many situations where the wrong move could mean death—more than she would have liked to admit anyway—but living with Shifters was often dangerous.

But I’ve never dealt with anything like this.

She called for help again, but there was no answer.

The inside of the tent looked like a m******e had taken place. Blood lined the carpets on the ground and was splashed on the tent walls, and glancing up, Kris even saw some on the ceiling.

Laid out in front of her on a long wooden table was a Shifter. And if she didn’t act fast, he was going to die.

“Hold on!” she yelled. “Help is on the way!”

But there wasn’t enough time. Shifters were tough, extremely hard to kill, but if she didn’t do something, he would bleed out in front of her within a matter of minutes. She’d sent for help, but help wouldn’t get here in time. It was up to Kris to save this man’s life.

He’d been brought into camp on horseback, half conscious. Kris hadn’t been sure of the specifics—some kind of accident while out cutting trees for the houses—but she’d heard enough. She’d sent the man’s partner out to look for the doctor, hoping he could get here in time to stop the bleeding.

The man’s leg was a ruined mess. Even if he lived and they could save the leg, he would never use it again. Kris wasn’t sure what that meant for Shifting, but that was something she would have to worry about later.

Kris grabbed the man’s leg, putting as much pressure as she could against his artery. Already, the flow of blood was decreasing. His leg was elevated, but it wasn’t enough. Kris was covered in blood from head to foot, hands slick. The man’s screams began to taper off.

“Stay with me!” she screamed. “Just a little longer!”

This was out of Kris’s realm of expertise, but she didn’t have a choice. She’d have to find the crushed artery, tie it off, and then repair it. Her father was the doctor of the family; he’d know exactly what to do.

Only he’s not here right now, Kris thought bitterly.

She heard the tent flap opening behind her then a man saying, “How bad is it?”

Kris glanced backward, telling him, “Tree accident. Crushed artery. He’s losing a lot of blood.”

The man strode up to her, pulling on gloves, and dropped his surgical bag onto the bloody table. He peered down, nodded, and then said, “Okay, let me take a look.”

“How bad is it, Dad?” she asked. “Is he going to die?”

Her father glanced at her for a split second, just enough for her to see that he looked serious. Then he shook his head and began digging through his bag.

“Watch out, I’m going to clamp it. This should stop the bleeding. Ready? Three, two, one,” he said, and Kris pulled her hands back in a spurt of blood. At least he’s here, now.

He started barking orders at Kris. She had never seen her father like this. He was sometimes a hard man and he pushed, but he’d always been kind to her.

Nothing like this. But she knew it was what he had to do to save this man’s life. Kris gritted her teeth, dealt with her father’s orders, and together, they got to work on keeping him alive.