Chapter 18
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hen Nana steps into the packhouse, chaos greets her. The smell of metal and blood fills the air; screams of the injured merge with the sounds of running warriors, and medical personnel. Just the sight turns her stomach–men and women brought into the pack clinic, some groaning in agony, others deathly still.
She looks down and briskly pushes her way through the people, making sure not to make eye contact with anyone. The last thing she needs is Marco to turn his head in her direction and wonder where she’s been. Fear builds up as she moves through the small corridors evading the groups of individuals who move around erratically.
What the fuck happened here last night?
It does not take much of trying to connect the dots. Another invasion. The rogues have been aggressive in recent times; they were ever bordering and probing, ever waiting for the best time to strike.
Nana’s jaw tightens. She tries to care about the suffering of the pack, but it is so hard for her to do that, after how they treated her back. Yet, watching the chaos around her gives her the shiver down her spine. If the rogues continue with this kind of approach, then someone dear to her might be affected by the conflict.
Lastly, she gets to her room. She opens the door and stands still.
“Felisha!”
The older woman is lying on the floor, her severe face looks pale and she has sweat on her face. She has bloodstains on her clothes and is out of breath. Nana goes quickly to her side, and falls on her knees.
“What happened?!” Nana demands, her voice breaking.
Felisha tries to sit up but winces, her hand clutching her side. “It’s nothing, child,” she says, her voice weak. “Just a scratch.”
“A scratch? You’re bleeding all over the place!” Nana snaps, panic creeping into her tone.
She glances around the room, her mind racing. There’s no medic
supplies here, and she knows damn well no one from the pack clinic is going to help Felisha. The old woman has been branded an outcast just like Nana. If anything, they’d let her bleed out just to make a point.
“Stay still,” Nana says, her voice trembling. “I’ll get help.”
“No!” Felisha grabs her arm, her grip surprisingly strong for someone in her condition. “Don’t you dare. They’ll only make things worse for you.”
“Worse?” Nana lets out a bitter laugh. “How the fuck can it get worse? I’m already treated like shit around here.”
Felisha’s eyes soften. “You don’t understand. If they see you trying to help me, they’ll punish you. Let it be, Naga.”
“No” Nana’s voice is firm, her hands trembling as she presses them against the wound on Felisha’s side. “I’m not letting you die because of these assholes.”
The minutes crawl by as Nana tries to stop the bleeding with an old towel. Felisha groans in pain, her face contorted in agony. Nana feels helpless, her frustration bubbling over.
“This is bullshit,” she mutters under her breath. “Fucking bullshit.”
Felisha gives her a weak smile. “Language, child/
Nana lets out a dry laugh, tears stinging her eyes. “Now’s not the time to lecture me, Felisha.”
“I’m fine,” the older woman insists, but her voice is barely a whisper now.
“You’re not fine!” Nana snaps. “Stop lying to me.”
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The sight of Felisha that way, so helpless, on the edge of death, causes pain in Nana’s chest. This woman has been the only constant in her life and the only one who has ever cared whether she lived or died. The mere possibility of losing her is unimaginable.
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Suddenly the door groans open and Nana’s heart almost chokes her as it pounds like a wild thing in her chest. She turns around preparing to take it out on whoever it is when she suddenly realizes it is only one of the younger pack members; a boy not more than fourteen years old.
“What do you want?” Nana snaps, her voice louder than she’d ventured to make it a moment ago.
The boy wincing and his eyes shift to Felisha on the floor. “I–I just came to see if you needed anything,” he says nervously, using his hands to get it out.
Nana narrows her eyes. “Why? Since when does anyone in this pack give a shit about me?”
The boy looks down at his feet, his cheeks flushing. “I… I heard what happened to her. She used to help my mom when I was little. I thought maybe…”
Nana softens slightly, her anger giving way to suspicion. “You got a name, kid?”
“Eli,” he says quietly.
“Well, Eli, if you really want to help, get me some supplies from the clinic. Bandages, antiseptic, anything you can find.”
Eli hesitates, glancing over his shoulder. “I’ll try, but… if they catch me-
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“Then don’t get caught,” Nana snaps. “Just hurry the fuck up!”
The boy nods and takes off, leaving Nana alone with Felisha again.
“You shouldn’t have sent him,” Felisha murmurs.
“What choice do I have?” Nana retorts, her voice cracking, “I can’t do this alone.”
Felisha’s eyes close, her breathing shallow. “You’re stronger than you think, Nana.”
“Don’t start with that crap,” Nana mutters, her hands trembling as she presses harder against the wound. “Just save your energy, okay?”
Time seems too long; each moment is like a millennium. Nana’s mind is an angry and fearful storm. The hate of the pack has always been like a noose on her, but it is even worse now. It has become a death sentence – for her, as well as everyone else she loves.
When the door creaks open again, Nana nearly jumps out of her skjh. Eli steps inside, his arms full of supplies.
“I got what I could,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Good,” Nana says, snatching the items from him. “Now help me.”
Eli hesitates, his eyes darting between Nana and Felisha.
“Come on, kid!” Nana snaps. “We don’t have time for this!”
He nods quickly and kneels beside her, handing her bandages and antiseptic as she works to clean and dress the wound. Felisha groans in pain, her body trembling, but she doesn’t fight them.
Nana’s hands are steady now, her focus sharp. She refuses to let Felisha die–not like this, not because of the pack’s cruelty.
When the wound is finally dressed, Nana leans back, her body trembling with exhaustion. Eli watches her nervously, his wide eyes filled with questions he doesn’t dare ask.
“Thank you,” Nana says quietly, her voice softening for the first time.
The boy nods, standing awkwardly. “I should go before anyone notices I’m gone.”
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“Smart move,” Nana mutters, her tone dry. “And Eli… don’t tell anyone about this.”
“I won’t,” he promises before slipping out the door.
Nana turns back to Felisha, who is watching her with a faint smile.
“You’re a good girl, Nana,” Felisha says weakly.
“Don’t start with that,” Nana mutters, her throat tightening. “Just focus on getting better, okay?”
Felisha’s eyes close, her breathing evening out as she drifts into a restless sleep.
Nana sits beside her, her mind racing. “They can all go to hell.” She mumbles.
