Sealed Mates

Chapter 10

Pain tore through my head and I sat up with a gasp, blinking at the person who was touching me. His brown hair was hanging in his eyes and his grey eyes were wide as he stared back at me.

“Who are you?” I asked him, my voice quiet in an effort to keep the pounding in my head from pulling me back into the darkness.

“Uh…” he said, eyes darting toward the entrance to the tent we were in. Tent? I looked around myself, realizing we had made camp, but not remembering how I got there. Which meant I had succumbed to the ache in my head. “I’m a healer. Well, in training. I was looking at your head? The Alpha said you hurt it?”

My hand went automatically to my head, and I winced at the contact. My heart sank, realizing I had probably made them stop before they wanted to. That was the last thing I had intended to do. The one thing I could do to make this trip easier, and I hadn’t managed to do it.

“You must have hit your head hard,” the healer said. “What happened?”

I stiffened, not willing to tell him it hadn’t been one hit, but three. “You’re a healer in training?”

He flushed, pulling his hand away, and I realized how those words could have been taken. I wanted to tell him that wasn’t what I meant, but he was already rubbing a hand through his hair. “My uncle would normally be on one of these trips, but my aunt is having a pup, and he refused to be away from her. I was the only one available. I can help, though, if you’ll let me.”

“Okay,” I said, wanting to make up for my lack of decorum in my earlier words. “I’m sure you’ll do well. What’s your name?”

The healer’s eyes flicked up to mine again, then he moved to look at my head, clearing his throat and obviously feeling uncomfortable. It occurred to me, he was alone in a tent with his Alpha’s new wife. I would tell him not to worry, but I didn’t think those words would help. Alpha Black had been more than clear how he felt about me and our marriage. The healer probably already knew he had nothing to worry about.

“Lorne,” he said, his voice a mumble as he studied my head. He made a noise. “Did you hit your head more than once?”

I was quiet for a moment, then let out a sigh. “Unfortunately, you will find that I am something of a clutz. You might have your hands full with me.”

Lorne was quiet as well, his hands stilling in my hair. I held my breath, waiting for his response. Praying he believed me. The fact that I rarely hurt myself and that would probably show throughout the trip wasn’t the point. If I could make it through some of my injuries healing, then I wouldn’t have to explain, and maybe this story would help when I eventually disappeared. If I ever got the chance.

Clearing his throat, Lorne pulled a jar out of his bag, and the scent of herbs hit me as he opened it. “Perhaps, since I have you here with an injury to your head, I should make sure you didn’t hurt yourself anywhere else?”

I winced as he started to spread the salve on my head. It made my hair instantly feel greasy and wrong, and I knew I was going to have to live with the feeling for a while. I could only hope I didn’t hold up the travel too long. I didn’t want my new husband to have yet another reason to resent me.

“No,” I said, my words coming too quick. “I fell, but I didn’t hurt anywhere else. I don’t need you to look at anything but my head. Besides, the Alpha won’t be pleased if we are delayed any longer, I think. He doesn’t seem like a patient man.”

Lorne’s hands slowed his motions, and he drew a breath, as if he was going to say something, but then he let out a sigh. “If that’s what you want. But, I am always here to help, if you need it.”

He knew something was wrong. I knew it. From the way his hands were suddenly more gentle, to the tone of his voice. And I had to swallow the lump that had appeared in my throat. He didn’t understand. It had been my entire life I had dealt with the way they had treated me. I understood, of course I did. I was born into an Alpha line with no wolf and worthless. I had been told over and over that even a pup from me would be worth nothing, with no wolf wanting to breed with me and risk having a wolfless child. My brother had done what he could to make me worthwhile to the pack. And, I knew I could be frustrating sometimes.

I understood it, I just didn’t think I would continue to survive it. I had to get away. And, maybe Lorne would understand that. Maybe he could help me find a time to get away safely. But, I didn’t know him well enough to trust him. If he told Alpha Black, all of my plans would be ruined. I would end up back with my brother and his pack, and something in me told me I wouldn’t survive there very much longer. Not with everything that had happened that last day.

“Thank you, but I’m sure my new husband will keep me safe,” I told him, settling back on the pallet once Lorne was done treating my head. “I appreciate everything you have done to help me already. If you don’t mind, though, my head is pounding. I would like to get some sleep. I’m sure you’ll agree that is the best thing for me right now.”

Lorne stared at me for another moment, looking for all the world like he wanted to say something else, but he instead gave a quick nod and grabbed his bag.

“I will leave you to it. But, don’t forget, I’m here if you need me.”