I curled up on the ground, grimacing softly in pain. It turned out it was a hunter after my kind that left the trap because now it felt like worms were eating inside my leg. Only wolf hunters add poisons in their traps so that it would stop us from healing fast and running away. I was already drained of strength and knew that if I didn't get home soon and have the poison detoxified, I would be too weak to fight off the hunter when he comes or even be dead, judging by how weak I felt now.
The drug's effect had worn out a long time ago, and I really wished I could go home, but if I should shape shift with how weak I was, the poison would spread faster, and if I didn't get treatment soon enough, I might die. Being in my human form helped to save some strength while I endured and waited for help to come. I tried using her mind link to reach home again, but like it had been doing since, it bounced back because of my stupid wound, and I was literally far from home. Our mind link getting blocked when a wolf is wounded is a way to let the alpha know that something was wrong.
Usually, if I was just far from home, I would just not be able to contact anyone, but I would be feeling anyone that left their mind link open, and if I kept trying hard, the wolf would get the feeling and then start looking for me by following the strange feeling till they got to the distance to hear what I had to say. But because of my silly wound, her mind link was blocked to alert the alpha, and only till he was close enough or any wolf from my pack was close enough can they feel her.
I tossed on the ground, searching for a better position to reduce the pain. My eyes were closed, and I could feel sweat beads dripping from my forehead and every part of my body. I moaned in pain and shut my eyes tightly, silently praying for help—anyone that would take pity on me.
'Rylee, can you hear me, Rylee?' I heard just as I was about to pass out.
"Cameron?" I whispered.
'I can feel her; she is close by.' I heard and gasped. 'Dad', I thought, he found me; he really noticed my absence. I smiled in relief. 'Rylee, can you hear me? Rylee?' His voice came in my mind loudly, showing how close he had gotten to me.
'I'm here,' I responded weakly, and with her last remaining strength, I changed into my wolf form. If my father was there, it means there was a search party, so there was no way I was going to let them find me naked.
'I have her,' Dad announced and followed the way my mind linked to him. 'Are you okay?'
'I stepped into a trap'
'Is it poisoned?'
'Yes.'
'Shit, we are coming.'
'Alright.' I closed my eyes with a weak smile, happy that finally, help came and came from home. It wasn't long; countless wolves surrendered to me, and the biggest brown one walked up to me. His brown eyes pierced into mine, and a cold worm of fear gnawed at my spine. I didn't need to be told that he was really, really angry with her. 'I'm sorry.'
'Let's go home,' Dad replied, swiftly carrying me on his back, and then turned to his wolves. He ordered, 'Keep your ears and eyes open; this is the human realm, and those blood suckers are often here. Let's move.'
'Yes, Alpha,' they all replied, and with a howl, they charged back home.
A shadow descended from the tallest tree and landed noiselessly on the ground. He watched them leave and sigh, glad that her people came for her; finally he could go home and then tackle his conscience. He wondered when he developed one. With a swift movement, the spot he stood on was empty as he ran home at lightning speed.
***
"Detoxify the poison and let her rest; tomorrow she serves her punishment," Alan ordered the healer, who was now checking the wound on the unconscious Rylee.
"I can't believe this," she whispered.
"What is it?" Alan asked.
"This poison was made from the Garuda flower and coated with wolfsbane; the hunter sure knows what he is doing."
"Garuda flower," Cameron said, "isn't that hard to detoxify?"
"It is, and how long it has stayed in her body before you found her and how long it's going to stay before I can detoxify it, I'm afraid..." She shook her head.
"Be out with it, Catherine," Alan growled.
"Calm down, Alan," a woman with deep brown hair and blue eyes touched his shoulder before taking her gaze to Catherine. "Tell us, Catherine, I'm sure we can handle it."
Catherine sighed and glanced at her. "Luna Scarlet, I'm afraid she won't be able to use the leg again."
"What? That means she would have deformity? How can she shape shift with that?" Cameron asked, paralyzed.
"She can transform, but she won't be as quick or stealthy as she used to be," Catherine said, "have you ever seen a fast wolf with three legs?"
Everyone stayed silent, and Alan sighed. "Can you do something about it?" he asked.
"I will try my best; who knows, I might be able to detoxify it in time," she smiled.
"Mm," Alan nodded and walked out of the room.
Aton sighed and followed him, leaving only Cameron, Scarlet, and Catherine with Rylee. "Alpha, with her state, can she take the punishment?"
"Before morning, every wolf will know that she went to the human realm; if I let her pass," he sighed. "What kind of Alpha would I be?"
Aton nodded. "Yes, considering every wolf that went there was punished. If she is let off, you will start creating doubts in everyone's mind."
Alan sighed, "Yes, and being an alpha means to be impartial, so tomorrow," he closed his eyes, "no matter how weak she would be, she would serve her punishment. That would teach her a lesson as well; rules are meant to be kept, not broken." He walked away immediately, and Aton watched him leave. He could sense the pain the man was going through, but a good alpha has to be impartial, and besides, he has been partial towards Rylee a lot. He has always known about her sneaking out at night, but because no one else knows but them, he always let her off, and he knew that if no one knew about this one, he would have let her off as well. However, like he said, by morning, every wolf would know because the wolves that joined in the search would tell their mates, and their mates would tell their friends.
Aton sighed. Rylee really went too far this time because the alpha's hands are tied. He turned to go back inside and saw Cameron standing behind him. He let out another sigh, "Cameron."
"This is my fault; if I had said no to her, if I had insisted she wasn't going anyway, maybe this wouldn't have happened, and she wouldn't be facing such heavy punishment tomorrow in such a weak state, and she won't be on the verge of losing her leg."
"Hey, Catherine is the best healer I know; wolves from other packs always come seeking her; I'm sure she can do something about her leg, but about the punishment," he shook his head. "There is nothing that can be done. If Alpha is partial and refuses to punish her, there is a high chance it would get to the High Howlers, and you know how it would be if it should get to the High Howlers. So it's better we settle it here and not get them involved."
Cameron nodded. "I understand."
Aton patted his shoulder. "I told you, son, but I guess experience will always be the best teacher."
"I'm sorry, dad."
Aton shook his head with a sad smile, "It's not entirely your fault. She can be very stubborn, just like her mother. She is a strong-headed wolf; now I'm actually looking forward to how she is going to react when she hears that she might lose her leg," he grinned, "that would teach her for being too stubborn."
"She challenged me to a fight when I said no," Cameron revealed.
Aton chuckled. "Ah, so stubborn," he sighed. "It's a good thing that a nightwalker wasn't passing by; I refuse to believe they wouldn't take advantage of her weak state and finish her off. So, thanks to the goddess, we only have a leg to worry about and are not mourning over her shredded skin."
Cameron nodded. "Yes, thanks to the goddess."
Aton licked his lips. "I'm going home; your mom is waiting for me."
"Alright, I will be home later; I will like to stay till she wakes up."
Aton nodded. "Sure, see you," he said, and walked out of the house. Cameron sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly before going back into the bedroom.