The Lone Wolf

Under her spell

Naiyah found herself in the fog between the realm of unconscious and conscious. As she moved through the fog and into a swirling mist, she first became aware of a powerful scent. She took in huge lung fulls of it, her finely tuned wolf senses detected notes of cinnamon, freshly baked bread, firewood, just cut grass and an overall muskiness that made her skin tingle in the most delicious way. It was as if a fire was being lit within her and the scent was a match.

As the mist began to clear and she grew nearer to consciousness, she felt a heavy warmth on one side of her body and a chill on the other. She shifted subconsciously towards the warmth to try and increase it. Then she became aware of pain, unlike any other she had experienced, in her right ankle. The warmth she had felt had gone, and the pain brought her swimming upwards through the mist into full awareness.

Naiyah's eyes opened wide, and her breathing increased in pace as she struggled to take in her surroundings. The last thing she remembered was running, then walking, then stumbling through the cold terrain until she lost her footing and blacked out. Now she seemed to be indoors in some sort of cabin, her clothes were gone, and she was wearing a man’s flannel shirt and was covered in blankets. She panicked, there was no reason to expect anything other than the worst, they had found her and were taking her back to that place, the one with stale air that sucked the life out of you. Not like this place, with that smell she had scented in her dream still permeating the atmosphere, and with another just as tempting she detected - food! Naiyah couldn't remember the last time she'd had a decent meal. She shivered and tried to move, but the pain in her ankle was too much. She tried to stifle her cries, but a strangled moan escaped her lips. Gently does it, she thought as she eased off the couch. She tried to stand but lost her balance and landed with a thud and a cry on the floor.

Brennan

“It’s alright, I mean you no harm,” Brennan said quickly to try and reassure the frightened girl. Her eyes remained wide, and she was poised in flight, but she had at least stopped trying to move.

Brennan spoke in a hushed and gentle tone, and crouched down so his height was not so opposing.

“I need to tend to your ankle now you’re warmed up. I have some basic medical supplies to help set it and some painkillers if you want them, but I won’t hurt you or tell anyone you’re here unless you want me to.” He felt it was important to her that she was safe and hidden.

“We’re snowed in for a few days at least.” He continued, “But after that when you’re able, you’re free to go, and I can help you whilst you’re here. You can have the couch or the bed if you prefer.”

Naiyah

Naiyah’s dark blue eyes wavered with confusion, hurt, and pain. Who was this man, this Alpha by the looks and smell of him, and why was he being so gentle and seemingly kind, offering her his home and bed with nothing in return? She appeared to be stuck here for the near future at least, and at present, she didn’t seem to have a lot of choices but to trust him.

When she still didn’t say a word, Brennan tried again, keeping his distance between them.

“Do you speak English?”

At last, she nodded. She didn’t trust her voice right now but looked down at his hands which were holding the medical kit he had promised.

“Alright then, let’s get you more comfortable if that’s OK, and then I’ll set your ankle. Would you like some water?”

Naiyah nodded again and he produced a cup of fresh water for her. She gulped it down greedily, snow was a poor comparison to fresh water, and who knows how long she’d been out for.

“Can I help you get back on the couch and see to your ankle? I will need to touch you is that alright?” Brennan knew she was running scared so he had to tread very carefully.

A terse nod from her and he leaned down to where she lay awkwardly in a crumpled heap and lifted her gently and easily onto the couch. Naiyah held back a cry but a whimper slipped out and she went pale as he set her injured leg on top of a pillow. Brennan gathered the supplies he would need from the medical kit and set to work. He offered her some simple painkillers but she shook her head and set her jaw to take the pain.

“Brandy?” He counteroffered, seeing if that was a better option for her. When she didn’t immediately decline he went to get his flask from the well-stocked kitchen area and poured her a healthy measure. She took it and sniffed it carefully, followed by the smallest of sips. She wrinkled her nose in disgust and gave it back to him. Brennan chuckled softly and the air seemed to shift slightly, the tension easing somewhat.

He turned himself back to the task at hand. He had some limited medical knowledge, based on survival training from his military days and he knew what to do. He had to set the bone straight with a splint and bandage it, taking care to allow for swelling, then he would need to check on it regularly in case the splint or bandage damaged her skin or circulation.

“I’m going to have to cut your sock off, it will be less painful than trying to get it off your swollen foot, is that alright?” She nodded, amazed at how he kept asking her consent before he did anything. She couldn’t remember the last time anyone had done her that simple courtesy. If she tried hard, maybe her parents were when she was tiny, but those memories were hard to come by.

With the damp sock now removed he grabbed the leg splint he had fashioned, which was basically a padded, elongated U-shaped splint that fitted around the leg and kept the ankle in its normal position whilst it healed. He looked up at her as he explained that he needed to straighten the break and set it in place. It looked to be a clean break and it hadn’t broken the skin, so it should heal well once it set. Moving it was going to be the painful part though.

Naiyah understood and laid her head back on the pillows. With all she had been through she could get through this. As he moved her ankle with gentle but precise movements, she began to sweat and her breathing increased, but she remained stoic and quiet.

Once the splint was in place and Brennan was satisfied with the ankle placement, he wound round soft lint and bandages to hold it in place. He was impressed with her control, he had known grown men on the battlefield with far less stoicism than her. As he secured the last bit of the bandage in place, her features began to soften and her eyes opened. She gestured toward the brandy glass again and braved another sip. In doing so, her face had moved closer to his. He caught her scent which burned strong in his lungs, and their eyes met, wide dark blue meeting his ice blue. His lips twitched and his tongue swept his lower lip as he fought for control. Naiyah’s stomach decided then was a good moment to elicit a large growl and the spell was broken.

“Let me get you something to eat,” Brennan uttered and gathered up his supplies. “You must be starving.”