Gypsy Moon

Chapter Thirty-six: Aiden

. . . . . . (mid July)

Sinah had shifted back and was wearing my shirt. I noticed as I shifted back, and Rhys separated from me. I grabbed my jeans and yanked them on as Bryce carried the teen into the camper. Lilian touched my arm to get my attention and she and Kyle pointed towards the truck stop.

"We'll run and get the food. You go help Sinah." I nodded and swung up into the camper. Bryce had put the kid on the couch and Sinah was kneeling at his head, her eyes closed. She muttered so softly I couldn't pick up what she was saying, even with my hearing focused on her. The teen was frail and clearly malnourished, he was barely more than the skin holding his bones in place.

"I think I broke one of his ribs when I kicked him." Sinah nodded absently and I took a roll of gauze from Bryce. He lifted the teen as gently as he could, and I bound his ribs carefully.

"That's perfect, thank you."

Sinah's eyes didn't open with her murmur, she just moved one of her hands to rest on the bandage and resumed her soft muttering. Bryce and I watched her with open amazement. Healing is such a rare gift, few have had the chance to see it in action. The cuts on his body were closing and his scent shifted abruptly.

Sinah opened her eyes, a bright glow fading from her violet eyes as she sat back on her heels and sighed.

"Selene healed his illness and some of the physical damage, but his body is very weak, and she wants to let him rest and eat before she does more." I nodded and helped her to her feet. "I need food too."

"To the rescue!" Lilian hopped into the camper and tossed a protein shake to me. I caught it one handed and passed it gently to Sinah.

"Oo! Double fudge brownie!" She cracked open the can and chugged the cold liquid with a contented sigh. Lilian gingerly sat on the edge of the couch and checked on the sleeping boy.

"I think I can find something in our stuff he can wear for now, but it's going to be too big for him, even if we use Sinah's or my clothing." She sighed and adjusted the blanket over him before rising and going to the kitchenette to get a bowl of warm water and some rags. "Why would they treat him like this?" I glared out the camper window, spotting Kyle and one of the truck stop employees carrying a couple boxes towards us.

I noticed Kyle stopped several feet from the camper and I gave Bryce a sideways look. He hopped out of the camper and closed the distance to Kyle with a few long strides. The woman said something to Bryce, and he nodded, leading them into the camper.

"Wolf." Bryce's voice was bland, and he moved to help Lilian try to clean the teen without disturbing his rest. I looked at the she-wolf, a bit surprised to see tears in her eyes.

"Bless you. Moon Goddess bless you all." Her voice trembled and her hands were shaking as she reached towards me, her tears falling freely. "Please, please, please take him away from this horrid pack."

"What the f**k did they do to him? Why didn't you help him?" Kyle's voice was harsh, and the she-wolf flinched.

"I couldn't, I was submitted to that Alpha." A weak smile crept onto her lips. "But you killed the bastard, bless you. I don't know what pack they stole him from, but if he's going to have any hope of happiness, it will be far from here." She shook her head sadly. "He's been underfed his whole life, it killed me to watch him suffering." She turned and made to leave the camper, but Sinah stopped her with a touch.

"What's his name?" The tears in the she-wolf's eyes flowed freely again and she looked at the ground as she stepped out of the camper.

"I'm not sure he has one."

The door clicked closed and left us in total silence. Bryce stood very slowly and took a long, deep breath, letting it out in an irritated hiss.

"I am going to go for a walk. Shouldn't be gone more than a few hours. Aiden?" He turned towards the camper's back door, pulling his shirt off as he walked. I met Sinah's eyes, and she nodded with clenched teeth, her eyes dark with fury. I followed Bryce wordlessly.

About to go do a few more favors for the local pack.

. . . . . .