Eventually, I came to a village or settlement. I was crazy with drugs, rage, and pain. I'd been so drugged during the whole thing that I hadn't even really processed my immortality, or every time someone tried to kill me. I didn't even think about it.
The settlement was a small village; there were houses in a few places, a shop, and some sort of post office. This was spring; there was no more snow on the ground, but the trees still didn't have many leaves on them, and I felt almost cold.
I stopped in front of the shop and looked at my reflection in the shop window: a skeletal, skinny, bloody creature in a hospital gown, rage clearly visible. The shop door opened, and someone asked me where I was going and took me inside. I went inside the shop, into the back room, and these people gave me clothes. They were too big, and people let me wash up; miraculously, they were not afraid of me. I didn't smell any human fear, just a desire to help.
Someone asked me if I had been in an institution where they do evil; I nodded and said, "I killed everything I could catch. I mutilated them alive, I destroyed computers, everything. They killed me too many times."
They asked me who to contact.
I said, "The leader of my pack is Adam Hauptmann, Chicago. But I don't know his phone number. He's a security consultant."
Someone looked up Adam's number on the computer, and they called Adam. Adam promised to come with Bran as soon as possible. Adam was in Montana with Bran, trying to find and track me down, and apparently, Mr. Hauptmann was having a difficult time because Bran had demanded to see him. Well, knowing Adam's temperament, I wasn't surprised. I'd been in the institution for seven weeks, and no matter how hard Adam had looked, he hadn't found me.
I was in Montreal, Canada. I was sitting in the back of a shop, drinking coffee. My hands were shaking. It hurt, and the pain was only getting worse by the hour. My rage didn't hold the pain so well anymore, and I got tired, but I didn't sleep. I didn't want to sleep.
I had also learned one other characteristic of mine, and it wasn't good; I had a photographic memory, and a fucking powerful one, all the memories; every time I was killed, everything was in my mind, and the emotions were there.
The facility had been operating for a long time, and people knew the place. Nobody came out alive, but these were just ordinary people. The police and the authorities hadn't shown any interest because there was no evidence, and there were no human beings who were killed there.
Supernatural beings were not protected by law like humans, and few police or officials wanted to go out and rescue the beasts. That was how most people saw werewolves as beasts. Although Adam and Bran had done a lot of reputation-building, Adam had even been a celebrity once. I was talking to people. I realized what a great injustice it was.
These people knew werewolves, vampires, and other supernatural beings and considered them their friends, and then these institutions kidnap them just because they're different, study them, and kill them, and nobody cares; nobody wants to help. I was thinking about how to right this wrong, but then again, there are always wrongs in the world; there is always evil, and the innocent suffer.
Just like I had suffered, but I was no longer innocent. I literally had blood on my hands, and I remembered everything. A big black SUV pulled up fourteen hours later, and Adam exited the car. I dashed out of the shop, hung on to Adam, my safety, and squeezed as hard as possible. I didn't want to let go.
I was still messed up with the drugs and their metabolites. Shock, horror, and rage were just beneath the surface. Somehow, I could now relinquish my self-control, this forced need to cope no more, as Adam was now here. I was safe again.
Adam hugged me and murmured something in a low, soothing voice. I let him pick me up in his arms and carry me to the car. Bran was sitting in the back seat of the vehicle. A blond surfer. He had seen me once earlier after my rescue. While I slept in the incubator, he had stopped by to check on me briefly, but I was too sedated to react. He looked at me, his expression cold, calculating even.
Adam lowered me into the car seat across from Bran. I wrapped my arms around myself and waited for Adam to sit beside me. Adam came over and checked his phone. The car started to move. Something in Bran's expression was so purely predatory that I almost started shaking again.
The drive took quite a while, and I tried to stay calm, not to climb into Adam's lap or even get into his arms. He was clearly busy with his phone, typing messages, frowning, and lost in his own thoughts. Instead, Bran was watching me all the time, watching, observing, analyzing, and somehow, I got the impression that he could see directly how I had ravaged all the people, and he might not want to understand.
I saw a familiar look flash across his face. I thought for a moment and remembered seeing that look just before he tried to kill me there on the boat that day. I controlled myself until the car stopped. Adam opened the door and stepped out. We had driven through the woods and came to a village of some sort. I didn't even know how long the drive had taken.
I followed Adam out of the car. My body still felt sore, stiffer, and more tired than before, but at least I got out of the vehicle. Bran came out behind me, and I managed to calm myself down enough to walk to the other side of Adam, looking normal and not darting behind Adam like a rabbit to safety.
Bran said to Adam telepathically. "Did you know Mimi can't die? But if she could, I'd probably have broken her neck by now if she could die. Mimi is too skinny. In that state, her wolf will eat anything, even children. Rage on, not in control at all; I can smell the drugs, pain, agony, and weakness all the way here, and the poor thing is so messed up and in such bad shape that the most merciful thing would have been to euthanize her, and now that is no longer an option."
His voice was emotionless. There was no real want to help there.
"That girl is going to suffer for a long time. I don't know what Samuel has to do to fix that skeleton. I know what she did. She shredded everyone to death in there, rage on full display. It was an evil institution, but still. You know we must always control ourselves, no matter what is done to us. It's a matter of reputation; that girl is now a loaded gun," he continued to speak to Adam via packbonds.
"But all right. Mimi can be my guest as long as she's adequately controlled. Samuel will get the medication right. He can keep Mimi asleep, or at least drugged enough to keep her from letting her rage get the better of her. And as long as I'm sure that Mimi is not a threat to anyone here, we can negotiate the terms under which she can stay with you, Adam."
He did not look at Adam but more of Mimi. She was female, of course. They were sorely needed.
" I want Mimi to show loyalty to me, to show that she can handle herself in her wolf form, and to meet Mimosa, too. And then it's heat time. I guess it's up to me because it can be discreet and tricky at that weight. Don't worry, I'm gentle. It might be best if Mimi had a little experience with it before the heat starts. I can see that Mimi almost thinks of you as her father, so it probably wouldn't even work between you. I'm experienced with women, so I can seduce Mimi and teach her the proper relationship between a woman and a man, teach her how to offer her body to me so I can give her pleasure when she deserves it. Teach her to understand the female role in the werewolf pack, in the alpha's bed, under the alpha with her legs spread and ready to be a good girl."
Adam gave Bran a murderous look as he replied, "Don't worry, Bran, and we won't be here long. I will drive to Chicago with Mimi as soon as Samuel says it's okay. Mimi doesn't need your care in heat or otherwise. She won't be one of your sex dolls; yes, I've heard stories about how you treat women."
His voice told quite clearly that he was about to lose it.
"Mimi is skinny, but Samuel's treatments worked, and she's already put on weight. She can sleep in an incubator for a couple of weeks and get stronger. Mimi needs gentle, loving care now, not a paranoid old werewolf who sees everything as a threat. And women as sex toys. Yes, I am aware of your obsession with lust and how you always want to be the first carer of lust. Not gonna happen with Mimi."
His voice almost whispered in Bran's mind as Adam was furious.
"Do you want to drug Mimi? You might want to talk to the woman and remember who Mimi really is. You're always happy to use that mercy killing. Whoever needs it. Remember Asil, Bran, remember Asil. Last I heard, he was back in Spain. You should have killed Asil when he had the nerve to ask you to. Asil is the one who kills children, human children, and I know you've tried to cover up even Asil's tracks because you have a soft spot for old werewolves. You don't kill them easily, just like you don't kill females, not until you've used them as sex toys enough."
He was tired. He was worried about Mimi and Bran being again Bran made his temper flare up.
"Can't you see Mimi is afraid of you? She's very close to not climbing into my arms. As for Mimi's wolf form, she's evolving on her own, and Mimosa is, well, Mimosa is, shall we say, the most unique wolf I've ever met. Mimi handles herself just fine, and it could be Bran that if you had experienced what Mimi did, you too could have butchered it all much sooner. Now, if you'll excuse me, I will take Mimi inside, see how she's doing, and give her the food and shower she needs. As for Mimi's distant lust, Bran, you don't interfere with that. I've heard enough stories about your treatments for lust."
Adam took my hand and asked, "Can you walk, or shall I carry you? I think I think I'll carry you. You look like you're collapsing from exhaustion. And I think you're pretty sore and stiff too, you must not be feeling very stable, come here, everything will be alright. You're safe now. We won't be here long; we'll drive back to Chicago as soon as possible."
Adam took me in his arms and started carrying me towards the big brown log house. There were people in the yard, obviously wolves, and they waved hello to Adam. He nodded back, holding me tightly in his arms. I felt Adam's tension and relief again when I was in his arms. I was so tired and finally safe that I fell completely asleep in Adam's arms as he carried me inside.
I woke up when he put me to bed, but only briefly. I said in a muffled voice, not even controlling myself when I asked. I just wanted to be safe. "Don't abandon me; I don't know if I can sleep without nightmares; I'm still pretty damn confused and unsure about everything; you're my safety."
I told Adam, and he came over to my bed and held me against him, and I fell asleep. I must have slept for a couple of hours.
When I woke up, Adam was gone. I got into a better position in bed and realized how much it hurt everywhere, and it was hard to be in a little bit of every position. I was even stiffer and more sore now; it was like the dream had relaxed me, and then every place ached and hurt as the adrenaline and rage had completely given way.
I thought about going to the bathroom, but the door opened and Bran came in. I wrapped myself tighter in the blanket, and Bran came to sit on the edge of the bed. He looked at me calmly and spoke in a low, soothing voice, like I was some kind of crazy wild beast; I felt the power of Marrok in my mind, too.
It was somehow oppressive. It made the Mimosa wake up in my mind, do something, and then the pressure disappeared from my head. Bran smiled and almost grinned.
He said, "Good morning. You only slept for two hours. Don't worry. Adam is eating and showering. He'll be back soon. Would you like to tell me what they did to you at the facility? I know they killed a lot of werewolves and others, and you are the only survivor. What tests or experiments did they do, and how did you discover you couldn't die? Are you in pain, by the way? You seem a bit fragile and stiff. "
I was a little unsure, but I answered.
I said hopefully in my normal voice, trying to give the impression that I wasn't too traumatized. "I was killed 386 different ways. And yes, I hurt everywhere, and I'm sore as hell, but I should probably go to the bathroom soon. My bladder's pretty full, and I'm still moving pretty damn slow."
Bran frowned. "What do you mean, killed? I mean, you just died; how do you remember anything then? Are you sure you died, that you didn't just faint and get better? "
I sighed. " Shot, hanged, poisoned with lots of different poisons, blown up, put in acid to dissolve, burned, chopped up, frozen, and then crushed, as I said, 386 different ways over seven weeks; you can count for yourself how many ways it makes a day. I also learned that I have a nervous system that doesn't need a physical nervous system to feel pain, but, for example, when I was blown up, I knew that I was growing back and feeling every bit of pain."
I shifted in the bed, and Bran got out of bed to give me room to get out of bed. I staggered to the bathroom and took a giant piss. It felt good to relieve the pressure.
I looked under my clothes. There were bruises or contusions all over, and my ribs felt very sore. I suspected they were broken. Every part of me felt sore. I was stiff, sore, achy, and I knew it would be a while before I started to get better; I suspected that my body just didn't have the energy or ability to heal me as fast as normal. My healing ability was pretty much used up.
Bran came to the bathroom door as I was washing my hands. He came and wrapped his arms around my waist to support me, and I took a sharp intake of breath. Fucking ribs.
Bran released his grip, and I staggered back onto the bed, panting and gasping, as I tried to find a comfortable position.
Bran said: "You're really sore all over. I'll go and see if Samuel or Adam are free. I'm sure you'd like to wash up, but I can tell by the way you're unsteady on your feet that you can't yet. Are you hungry? I'll go and see where Samuel and Adam are, and if Samuel will let me, I'll bring you some food. You look like you could do with several hearty meals, but rest easy in bed. I'll come, or Adam and Samuel will. "
I nodded. I was exhausted from my trip to the toilet. Apparently, it takes a lot of energy to get killed almost 400 ways. I waited maybe half an hour before Adam and Samuel entered the room. I just tried not to take out my rage, nothing but suffering, trying to find a position where it would hurt the least. They came closer. Samuel kept his expression neutral, yet Adam's charge was palpable. Adam sat on the edge of the bed.
He said in a caring, calm voice, but his body language revealed his charge. "Bran didn't bother you, did he?"
I snorted. " He didn't really dare touch, then when he did, he found a very sore set of ribs that made me gasp for breath. He was shocked by my experience and obviously scared of me. I went to the toilet, but my God, I'm exhausted. "
Adam brushed my hair from my forehead. Samuel was already busily opening his bag and took out a couple of medicine bottles, a needle, and a syringe. He was already in full doctor mode and had already seen at a glance what my situation was.
He looked at me and murmured reassuringly. "Don't worry, I won't drug you yet, but if you're as sore as you look, this is a pretty good painkiller. It is easier to examine and will probably help you rest better. If you were a normal wolf, I wouldn't give you anything other than to tell you to change your shape, but that's inappropriate for your situation. You're too skinny, too damaged, and you don't have the healing process to shape-shift like the rest of us; that's why you heal so fast normally. Adam takes you in his arms and you notice nothing. It's a thin little needle and you can't see it. Good, that you even feel it."
Adam gently took me in his arms, and I buried my head in Adam's chest. I felt his arms wrap around me, holding me still but also safe. We had practiced taking injections before the abduction using this very method. Adam took me in his arms. I felt safe, and at the same time, he had complete control over me. I felt the injection in my thigh. The substance went into my flesh, and it stung and burned. Samuel rubbed the spot for a moment.
"Soon it will help, 10-15 minutes, then we will take a good look at you, and if you are up to it, you will eat, and if not, I have intravenous nourishment available that I can give you. You need rest and nourishment now, then your healing ability may work a little better."
I was in Adam's arms, and he tried to be gentle and stroke me, but he noticed how sore I was all over. The medicine slowly helped, and I could tolerate the touch, even though it hurt. Adam laid me down on the bed on top of the blanket. Adam put me on my back.
Samuel had provided me with a clean nightdress, washbasin, warm water, and a sponge. They stripped me naked, and I could see from both their eyes that I was in pretty rough shape. They were very gentle, and I could still feel Adam's charge. Mr. Hauptmann was very well-tuned. Samuel gently brushed my ribs, feeling them. He frowned in displeasure, as if he didn't like what he found.
Adam gently washed me all over and then dried me. He even washed my hair and braided it. Then they helped me into my nightgown, and Adam lifted me into his arms for a moment while Samuel opened the bed better. They had changed the bedding at the same time.
Samuel said, as he looked at me carefully. "I think the young lady will go to bed now and take her meal intravenously. I don't think you'll even need much medication since you look like you're going to fall asleep in that place. But Adam will help you fall asleep, and I'll put the feeding in place once you're properly sedated. You poor thing have had a really rough time; rest is important now. A good night's sleep will help with the feeding, and your healing powers will kick in again."
I didn't start arguing back. Adam came and wrapped himself around me, and the painkiller started to stop working as it hurt everywhere, but I didn't even register the sting on my arm. I fell asleep in Adam's arms, as usual. I was warm, smelling Adam's pear, hearing his heartbeat, every sense telling me I was safe.