They were all breathing hard, Beta Jakson approached the ditch looking down. The rogue was still there. Glancing back at them he barked and growled angrily showing his teeth. But that was all he could do. The other Beta shifted back, from a small bag he pulled out a gun with tranquilizer and gave it a shot. A hushed howl and then silence.
"It will take effect in five minutes" he announced and shifted back, it was cold. For the remaining minutes the wolves sniffled around and dragged two branches. Opal didn't move, she waited, curious how the action will look.
Beta Jakson looked inside the ditch again, the rogue was silent, the tranquilizer worked. Three of them shifted, Opal turned away, she was not about to look at their naked bodies. She felt awkward. She knew that within a pack that was normal and nobody made a fuss about it. However she wasn't a pack member, it was all new for her.
Two of them went into the ditch and with help of others pulled the rogue out. Out of the branches they made a kind of stretcher fastened to harasses of the remaining two wolves. The rogue was put on the branches and so they moved back. The way out was longer and more tiresome. The stretchers were dragged along and the ground was uneven. Opal led the way but had to take another rout to avoid obstacles on the way. Everything was going smoothly until the last part when one of the Alphas decided to move faster and overtook her. Opal barked a warning, she didn't have the pack link so there was no other way to tell him about the danger. The metal sound of clicking and then a painful scowl. Opal knew what it was, a round metal trap, a steal – jaw. She wouldn't place a trap like that, it was too cruel. It must have been someone from behind the border. They were moving along the border line and these were the dangerous routes. Two wolves shifted and forced the trap open. The grayish wolf limping moved back to the line without a single sound. Blood stained his left leg and dripped marking the snow red. Opal slowed down allowing the wounded one to keep the pace and save some face. As soon as they reached the hut Opal went in and shifted dressing quickly.
"Bring him in, I'll stop the bleeding." She boldly offered her help.
Beta Jakson and the school asshole helped the blond Alpha to the hut and placed him on the bed as Opal indicated and covered him with the blanket. Opal mixed a few drops with a bit of water and gave the mixture to the wounded Alpha, who looked at it suspiciously.
"Drink it, it will ease the pain"
"You know how to heal?" He asked, still not willing to drink it.
"Yes, just as I knew the safe routes, so maybe listen to my advice, just this once." She sat down next to him, took his leg and cleaned it with water, dried and gently applied some greenish ointment.
"This will stop the bleeding for the time being, it is also antiseptic. Your muscles are torn, you need to see a doctor."
"Who taught you all that?" The Alpha asked with genuine admiration in his voice.
"My grandmother and I also learned a lot from the books. I had to survive here." Opal closed the lid and stood up moving to the kitchen cabinets.
"This scar on your arm, did you treat it yourself?" Opal looked back, the school asshole asked her for the first time. There was no mockery in his voice and Opal tried to keep her focus on his face as he stood there all naked.
"Yes, I did. Get dressed and leave, he needs a doctor".
"Why didn't you go to the pack's doctor?" He inquired further.
"She's not allowed, she's not a pack member" Beta Jakson answered helping the wounded out of the bed - "Let's move"
As they were stepping out of the door, the pack's Beta turned around and said "Thank you"
Opal didn't respond. The door got shut again and the room became empty and almost lifeless. Sound of the engine and hushed voices soon silence filled her space.
Somehow the place became darker and more overwhelming than usual. Opal sat on the chair and looked out of the window everything went back to normal as if they had never been here. Opal cleaned her face undressed and slipped under her blanket which was still reeking a little bit with the blond Alpha's scent. Did he leave it on purpose? Opal breathes it in wandering, how would it be like to fall asleep and wake up with someone at her side. Her chest got tight. In two weeks time she will turn 18 and will be able to sense her future mate. Hopefully it will be nobody from this pack.