Riley inwardly cursed as the familiar scent fogged her nose and her stalker's companion thwarted the sunlight that had been streaming to her body. She closed her eyes as she timorously shifted her head, opening her eyes to take in the mutt's feet, his toned legs and stomach before her eyes took in the gigantic muscles of his arms and shoulders that would have put both Clayton and Antonio combined to shame. As the young werewolf studied her opponent she knew she was in serious trouble; this guy was possibly ten times her size and she could not help but let Jeremy's voice radiate around her mind.

"It's a good thing she's been able to meld her fighting technique with her size. I'd quite like to see Clayton deal with her petite size."

Right now, Jeremy had never been to wrong. She would take Clay over this guy any day.

"Hello." Riley breathed, still squatted and clinging to the wall as she took in the dark eyes of the wolf in front of her and forcing a smile to her features. The guy just growled at her and grabbed hold of the thick coat she had pulled on earlier that day and lifted her from her feet. Riley just clung onto his large hands and allowed herself to be carried, hoping to avoid a conflict that she was almost certain would occur.

"Yo! TJ! Fucking wonderful tracker, you walked straight passed her!" The mutt bellowed, causing Riley to grimace and shriek her ears away from his hollering voice. She slowly fluttered her eyes towards who she presumed was TJ and watched as the youngster spun to look at the pair of them, a look of frustration etched to his otherwise handsome features.

"Yeah well, I don't even like tracking." He grumbled causing his elder to smile up at him. "Well go on then, knock her out."

"Is this even the one we want? Ain't there a blonde one too?"

"Yeah, but he specifically asked for the red-head." Riley simply watched the conversation, her mind swimming with thoughts and ideas as she listened to them. Who was him? Why did they want her over Elena? Elena was older, stronger and more experienced when it came to the workings of the pack and how to deal with delicate situations; she knew she would be very little help. Still, she knew she needed to make a break for civilization to try and shake her attackers. She slowly lifted her leg, calling all her strength and shoved her thigh to the guy's groin, smiling as she heard his groan of pain and doubled over. Riley simply counteracted his movements by laying her palms to his shoulders, heaved her body over his back and rolled, making sure she landed with grace and spun to face the two dangerous mutts, trying to hide her emotions and ignore the sudden tingling of her jarred ankle.

"Don't even think about it." Riley growled, her eyes dark with authority as she spun to face her attackers, her mind purely focused to the sizeable blokes in front of her, unregistering her severe plight. They seemed to stay in their place. She wasn't about to initiate anything; besides it was better to stand here, refuse to play the game and hope TJ and the other guy would realize that capturing her would be far more difficult than they initially realized.

TJ took a step back and surveyed her, a grin trickling to the corners of his mouth. The mutt simply folded his arms across his chest, his shoulder leaning to the wall as he took in the humorous situation, knowing with first hand experience that his tactic of intimidation wouldn't work on her.

"Do you want her Gus?" TJ asked "You said you had met her before over in England. I'm letting you have her." He finished, his voice labored with exhaustion as he continued to fight with the animal inside him.

"TJ, I wouldn't bother trying to intimidate her." Gus called from his position. "It's been tried before under far more advantageous circumstances. Besides, you know what she'll do to you if you even try. Just look at my pathetic excuse for a hand. She was the one who messed it up mate."

"Really?" TJ's eyes widened and he looked around towards her. "You really did that? He just said he got it from a wolf scuffle." Riley just smiled as sweetly as she could as she continued to study the couple. It seemed that Riley had made a few too many friends during her difficult past in England. Her olfactory gland finally registering Gus's scent; She was indeed the one who had left his left palm permanently fixed in a handshake position while the rest of his forearm was gnarled and wasted. It was the result of too many breaks and insufficient resetting of the broken bones. He had challenged her a few years ago before she headed off to university, claiming something on the lines of 'You smell so good, lets have sex' Riley had quickly put a halt to his advances. Blimey, had her pack been here to see this they would be surprised. She was a very different person back then. She would go so far to say she had been feral.

"I guess it seems I'm willing to take that chance."

"Then lets get this over with shall we?" Riley didn't move. Werewolf fights were pretty much seventy percent bravado. Clay and even Antonio simply had to show up and most of the lower ranked wolves ran before they even landed their first blow; however for Riley it was a little more difficult and she had to set an example, even if the male wolves hesitated before they hit her. It seemed the age-old argument of 'boys don't hit girls' momentarily impaired their judgment. Now she knew she was up against two werewolves, one who could sit on her and she would break; Gus was watching and studying her and she knew she needed to act accordingly.

Riley retained her position, her eyes staring straight at Gus as TJ moved behind her. She felt his fist curling around the long strands of her hair. She locked her jaw and still refused to move. He yanked her head back; she only glared up at him. Gus was chuckling to himself when he heard TJ growling at her, released her hair before he grabbed Riley's shoulders and shoved her forwards. Riley twisted, contorting her body so she angled herself towards the floor. With a perfectly maneuvered counterattack she curled her head within her body, and flipped herself over as she firmly spun her feet into position as she professionally turned to face him.

"Nice move." TJ said. "Very feminine."

"Well noticed." Riley muttered as she shot Gus a cautious glance. TJ just jumped towards Riley who gracefully protected herself. They seemed to trade volleys; Riley simply kept her movements to a minimal and concentrated. Sweat broke out across her forehead and before she could counteract his attack TJ had flung her onto her front and was standing menacingly over her and grinned.

"I hear you're one of the Alpha's bitches, are you as weak and pathetic in bed as you are in a fight?" Riley just shifted, pulling her weight off her arms. TJ shared a menacing laugh with his werewolf companion, Gus only smiling as if he knew what was about to happen. TJ leapt to his feet, lifted his large foot and stomped with such ferocity Riley couldn't stop the gasp from falling from her lips. She was loosing patience very quickly. Did these wolves just enjoy taunting and fighting poor defenseless woman? Okay, to be completely truthful she wasn't entirely unarmed and she was trying to partially shift her hands into her wolf form but it was proving to be a little more difficult in such a confined space. She was also struggling to concentrate on Jeremy's instructions concerning the partial shift.

She slowly pulled her feet underneath her and stood at her full small height. Before TJ could even understand her movements she bolted with every intention of colliding with him, unafraid of his sheer size due to her enhanced strength and ability in dealing with physical injuries and exhaustion. TJ was unable to defend himself when he felt Riley's dainty feet on his thighs, fighting with the mutt as she jumped on his legs and propelled him to the ground. He reacted too quickly for her liking and when she felt his own feet on her stomach she prepared herself to fly, feeling the air swirling around her as TJ flung her small body away from him. Again she twisted mid air and landed on her feet, making sure the soles of her converses allowed her to skid backwards, her eyes dark and full of fury as she snarled at him.

However, it was TJ's turn to dash at her, he lifted his arm, hand balled into a fist as he lunged at her. Riley elegantly flung her torso away from him, crumpled below his swinging fist before she shoved her knuckles into his side, hearing the air leaving his lungs as he rutted to his injured side, allowing Riley time to lift and propel her bent elbow to his nose, hearing the resounding crack and the resulting howl of agony and anguish.

It seemed Gus had grown tired of watching Riley beating his newfound friend and ally and took a step towards the squabbling pair to prevent Riley from damaging him further. Riley watched as TJ dropped to the floor at the same time as Gus grasped hold of her wrists. The woman whipped round, yanking her arms free from Gus's grasp. She aimed a fist at his stomach, but he twisted at the last moment and her knuckles only grazed his abs. His foot shot out and hooked with hers, flipping her to the floor. The young Doctor tried to regain her footing, to right her position, but as she felt her body colliding with the sharp protruding edges; while her limbs tumbled around her she knew she was hurtling down a set of metal stairs she had been unaware of. Had she been so wrapped up in her fight that she did not notice her sudden circumstance change?

She frantically clawed for the pathetic banister, the young wolf barely able to gain a firm hold on the glossy metal as her body continued to revolve down the steps. The silver panels that dominated the spokes of the stairway were unable to decrease her speed but as she scrabbled for a holding one of her nails hooked between the metal panels. White-hot agony speared up her arm, her eyes swimming with torture as hot blood swarmed from her fingertips. She was scarcely able to keep her head protected as the bones of her limbs bumped against the narrow walls, bruises bound to litter her skin as her elbow slammed into a sharp corner.

Her head struck the concrete floor, her vision sparkling with stars as her back arched with tormenting distress, her body quivered and ached. She could see TJ laughing as he shoved Gus to the side in delight. However, something momentarily took hold of her attention; her mind barely able to focus. Nick had finally found her, watching and hearing Riley being propelled down the narrow staircase. The young werewolf was struggling to hold her head, her stomach churning with unease as she awkwardly collapsed to her arms, trying to shake the fogginess from her brain. Nick was screaming her name, urging his pack mate to protect herself. But before Riley could even understand Nick's cries, Riley was dragged to her feet by the roots of her hair.

She dazedly lifted her arms, her elbow connecting with stomach muscles causing the grip on her hair to relax and giving her enough time to turn around. TJ was running at her, unaware of her balance issues she lifted her leg and landed a strong kick to the young werewolf's head sending him away stumbling. She could hear Nick's echoing footsteps as he bolted towards her, screaming for his father as Riley grasped hold of Gus. Her small hand curled around Gus's wrist, calling up on her failing strength and curled her way around his shoulders, her legs wrapping around his waist as she located his subclavian artery, hoping to block blood and nerve responses from reaching his brain. Within moments Gus's domineering body collapsed to the ground as a heap on the ground. Riley simply rolled from his body, noticing his heavy breathing as she tried to settle her queasy stomach.

The young Doctor gave a cautious look behind her, noticing how Nick was gaining ever closer to her position, her heart palpitating within her chest as her eyes took in the tumbling form of TJ from the corner of her eye. It seemed her animal instincts knew what was happening before her foggy mind could comprehend the seriousness of the situation. TJ had curled his hand to the back waistband of his jeans. He removed his handgun and aimed towards Nick whose sole focus was trained on her.

She clumsily stumbled to her footing, her body trembling with excursion as she staggered to her attacker and flung her body to TJ's body, hearing the reverberating echo of a bullet resonating from the walls of the alley. She did not fail to notice Nick flinging his body behind a dumpster as he protected himself against TJ's fury. It seemed she was not so lucky; he was lying on top of her in seconds, his weapon in hand which she struggled to keep from her skin. She grimaced, her eyes barely able to focus on his movements and before she knew it blinding hot pain engulfed her body as she felt hot blood sticking to her stomach and her thigh. She did not register his body falling limply over her as Nick heaved at his neck before shoving his lanky form from hers, nothing but deep concern and panic etched to his features.

"Riley, I got you." Nick counseled as he dropped his large figure to her side, gently placing his arm to support her neck as she withered in agony.

"Where the hell have you been!" She cursed fervently, her eyes dark with pain as she tried to comprehend the state of her wounds.

"Easy, just take it easy!" Nick admonished, as he brushed the hair from her shoulder just for their attention to be drawn to the Mercedes that was hurtling towards them. Antonio wasn't hanging around as he forced the car down the alleyway, dust and dirt spiraling around the vehicle before he shoved the car to a stop and flung open the door. Nick all the while began to unhook the buttons of Riley's coat, pulling the lapels away from Riley's stomach as he prepared himself to get a better look at her stomach. Antonio was at her other side in seconds.

"How bad is it?" Riley asked as she motioned towards her shirt, watching as Nick's eyes travelled over the wet and clotted blood that was absorbing nearly every square inch of her once figure hugging t-shirt. "I need you to look for me." She pressured, her authority as a doctor shining in her voice as she urged Nick to move his long fingers to the hem of her shirt and gently peel back the material so he could observe her stomach wound, not failing to notice her heavy breathing and the grinding of her teeth as she struggled to reign in her pain.

"It looks pretty bad." He managed to stammer; his eyes fluttering back to hers as he took in her trembling body, her left thigh doubtfully throbbing with tormenting agony as she felt the blood quickly soaking her jeans while she felt the blood clinging to the skin of her stomach before trickling down the curves of her side.

"Yeah, feels pretty bad." She mumbled sarcastically as she struggled to lift her torso so her eyes could study her grievous wounds.

"No shit!" Antonio stated his eyes were trailed over her petite frame. "Riley, you're going to need to guide us, you're loosing too much blood." Antonio insisted as he gently placed his hand to her shoulder, taking in her pale expression and the strong grip she held to his son's hand. "We need to get you back to Stonehaven."

"No!" Riley snapped, shoving her body towards him and regretting it almost immediately as her body screeched at her in protest, a heart-wrenching cry tumbling from her lips as she tried to close her eyes, control her breathing as so not to hyperventilate from the pain. Nick clung onto her hand for comfort, squeezing it as if to aid in her venting. "You can't move me. Not yet." She managed to breathe, her head forced back into Nick's arms as she altered her position to try and lesson the pain. "Not until I'm stabilized." She blew, her body withering with torment as her grey eyes sparkled with age-old torment and her grip on Nick's hand only tightened again.

"Riley what do we do?" Antonio panicked, his eyes taking in her gaunt features, the sweat forming on her brow and the tension in her body as she tried to wade out the agony. "Riley, tell us what to do." The elder wolf voiced, his eyes hard with concern as he shared an anxious look with his son who was still clinging onto the woman.

"Nick, I need you…" She started to say before another cry of pain hissed from her lips, the two guys unable to hold back their grimaces of anguish as they looked down towards her, her knuckles white from the hold she had on Nicholas's hand as she continued to writher in his arms. "I need you too take off your jacket, and support my torso." She began, her other hand reaching for Antonio who quickly took it. She scowled as her muscles screamed out at her, her breathing momentarily stopped as her mind was perplexed by bone-wrenching agony as the skin on her stomach folded and burned to a whole new level of torture. Nick moved into position, his hand falling from hers as he curled his legs around her small frame, his arms going to either side of her quivering form before feeling her depleting heat trans versing through her shirt and into his. Riley's shaky hand moved to cup his, guiding his hands to her wound and strained her breathing. "We need to apply pressure here. Keep the pressure on okay. There is nothing I can do to stop the bleeding in my abdomen as I don't have the tools to remove the bullet." Riley managed to say, her whimpers echoing around the alleyway as Nick clung to her, applying the pressure she had begged from him. However, Nick shot his father an apprehensive glance as Riley faltered, her breathing erratic, her eyes clamped shut as she struggled to focus her mind.

"Come on Riley, next step sweetheart." Nick breathed gently, brushing the hair of her fringe from her forehead as he whispered into her ear, making sure her damp hair did not hinder her view. Riley just struggled to nod, grinding her teeth together as she looked towards his father.

"I need your scarf." Was the only words she said, the pair of them watching Antonio heaving at the knot of his garment before he gently and immediately wrapped the material around her wounded leg, tying a tight knot to try and lesson the blood flow to her limb. She just nodded her thanks as she guided her elder to the correct position. "Search TJ's body, he will probably have a knife." She grimaced, momentarily blinded by the throbbing of her leg and she collapsed her head over Nick's shoulder, unaware of how much emotional turmoil the guy was suffering as he watched the young woman conducting a surgery she had on many of her patients.

When Antonio passed her the small pocket knife he could only watch as she tore at her jeans, creating a bigger tear in the fabric so she was able to get a better look at her wound and she hesitated, her hands hovering over her thigh as if raking her mind for an idea.

"You're doing great Riley." Antonio encouraged with a smile, noting how her pallor had faded once again. Riley just gave a small shake of the head.

"My femoral artery has been severed, I need to stitch this to prevent loosing any more blood and to keep the blood flowing to my leg." Riley faltered, understanding the seriousness of the condition of her leg wound.

"We don't have a needle or thread." Nick voiced.

"There must be something else you can do? Something to keep it closed?" Antonio insisted, his hand resting on Riley's knees due to the Doctor's orders. However, Nick noticed the sudden change in her expression, her hands still curled around the top of her leg as she frantically raked her mind for ideas of another method of stabilizing her body. The panic took over her eyes, her body trembling as she struggled to focus her mind, struggled to remember her training as the loss of blood started to affect her fierce intellect.

"Hey," Nick breathed as he slowly brushed the back of his fingers across her smooth cheek. "Just relax, you have all the time in the world." He whispered, his voice full of admiration, loyalty and adoration as he tried to calm her shot nerves. She just closed her eyes, brought in a huge lungful of air to calm herself before she snapped her eyes towards Antonio.

"What? Tell me you have something." Antonio begged and smiled when she allowed her own small smile to engulf her features.

"My necklace." She stammered, moving her head from Nick to allow his father space to undo the clasp of the thin chain. "Just not the pendant, keep that safe." She panicked, her hand clinging onto Antonio's as she bore her eyes right into his. Antonio just frowned, nodding his head as he took in the elegant silver metal that had been curved into two beautiful birds that were sitting against another piece of silver that looped into a teardrop shape. He knew why she adored this pendant but he kept it to himself, especially since his son was holding a deep confused frown on his expression. Antonio placed the elegant piece of jewellery into his inside pocket before holding out the chain towards Riley. She took it before gripping onto the hilt of the knife in a stronger grip. "You're both going to have to hold me down." Riley whispered, her eyes moving to Nick's a deep sadness etched to her grey orbs as if some terrifying battle was raging within her. Nick only frowned, his eyes twinkling with emotion, trying to show her his deep emotions towards her; his admiration at her restraint visibly shining on his countenance as he gently kissed away the tear that was falling from the corner of her eye.

She plunged the knife into her wound, whimpers of agony falling from her lips as both Nick's and Antonio's grip on her limbs tightened as her quaking hands tore at her flesh, the water flowing freely from her eyes as her pain blinded her causing her to falter as her vision swam with unease, the young werewolf struggling to focus her mind and prevent herself from passing out. The pressure on her stomach only increased as Nick squeezed her out of comfort.

"I gotta…" Riley tried, her breathing harsh as she struggled to compose herself. "I have to tie the necklace around my artery so I can stop the bleeding in my leg. To clamp the artery shut."

"We understand." Antonio admonished with an affectionate smile. Observing her impassive expression as she thrust her fingers into her wound, scavenging and plowing for the severed artery before clumsily angling the necklace into her leg before tying a knot and forcing the artery closed. Nicky could only watch her, terrified but also enthralled by her ability to distance herself from the situation, her emotions and pain. She went to tie another knot before Antonio's hands encased her own, a question in his eyes asking if he could help. She nodded her head and her body collapsed further into Nick's arms, her breathing heavy, deep purples shining under her eyes as the sweat that plastered her brow trickled down her skin to join with the tear stains.

"Do you remember that time when I took you to the dive bar when I surprised you over in England?" Nick asked, a joyful smile on his features as he tried to distract her from her agony, his father still working to secure the necklace as Riley wearily turned her attention to him, her body shivering against his hold.

"Seventeenth of July right? We took a walk by the Thames." Riley breathed, her voice quaking in exhaustion as the minutes of fighting and healing had taken its toll.

"We stayed up till two in the morning. I've never had so much fun in my whole life. You looked so beautiful under the lights of London."

"You… you think I'm beautiful?" She whispered, her body faltering, flinching at Antonio's touch while she gradually started to fade. The Doctor knew her blood pressure had dropped. They needed to move her. Now.

"I'm done, I've clamped the artery, and it should stop the blood flow to the leg." Antonio mustered and fluttered his eyes to the two of them, taking in Riley's deteriorating strength and heaved himself to his feet. "And not too soon either." He grumbled before nodding his head to Nicky and headed towards the bodies of the Mutt's, awestruck by Riley's ability to keep the ginormous mutt alive. Nick however, gently and effectively wrapped his arm around Riley's shoulders to support her torso, while his other wrapped around her knees. As soon as he lifted her he winced. The young Doctor cried out in anguish, the sudden jolting of her wounds rekindling a fire she thought she had controlled, Nick just looked down at her before gracefully moving into the back seat, nothing but apologies shinning within his eyes as he placed her on his lap before his father forced the boot closed and rushed to the driver's side. The tires spun underneath the Mercedes as Antonio frantically shoved the vehicle from the alleyway and continued to weave through the slow traffic of Bear Valley.

She could feel the artificial heat blowing across her face, Nick's warmth radiating though her skin as he continued to hold her. She could feel the vibrations of the motor, feeling the small bumps of a car moving over a smooth road. She smelled old leather, her eyes fluttering as if she was struggling to keep her eyes open. She could hear the ringing of a phone over the speaker grills and then a curse as the car took a sudden lurch to the left. Nick quickly adjusted his position so not to disturb her as much.

"Antonio." Jeremy voiced, a smile etched into words as if surprised at his oldest friend sudden call. "We weren't expecting you back until later this evening. I take it that the Library didn't hold any of the answers?"

"No, Jeremy listen to me, something's happened." Antonio snapped before the elder werewolf swore under his breath again, shoving the car onto the pavement as he forced his way passed the parked traffic before spinning the Mercedes onto the back road that led towards Stonehaven.

"Is everything alright? Are you Nick and Riley safe?"

"Me and Nicky are fine, but Riley got ambushed by a couple of Mutts and was separated. She's in a bad way."

"How long till you reach us."

"About fifteen minutes."

"Better make that five Dad." Nick implored as Nick continued to place as much pressure onto her stomach to try and rouse her from her dozing, it seemed to do the trick.

"I'll get us there as fast as I can." Antonio growled before ending the call and shoved his foot to the accelerator, the engine complaining at the sudden speed. The werewolf simply ignored it.

She could feel her hair sticking to her exposed skin, her locks overwhelming her face as Nick tried to make her comfortable. Her chest was heaving, her pale and gaunt features enhancing the deep purple circles that were shining deeply under her eyes as she lifted her shaking hands once again to rest gently against the back of Nicky's warm one. Nick just turned to look at her.

"I had to protect you." Riley managed to say; her voiced cracking as she grew weak, her chest struggling to move as the bruising of her skin tightened her movements.

"You almost got yourself killed." Nick countered gently as he swallowed. Riley just shot him a weak smile.

"Had to keep you safe." Riley insisted. "For the sake of the Pack."

"For the Pack? Riley, Jeremy can't afford to lose another member, not after Pete and Logan's death." Nick blurted sensitively. He wanted to sound like his usual, laid back self but his voice cracked so badly that it made him appear more troubled and upset than anything else.

"Insignificant compared to others." She breathed; her eyelids drooping lower and lower, as she stared right into Nick's cobalt eyes.

"How can you say that? We need you Riley… I need you!" Nick implored, water falling from his eyes. Riley gave no reply and appeared not to have heard Nick's words. Her hold on consciousness was slipping away. Numbness spread limb by limb. In a matter of second she collapsed further into his arms the wet and clotted blood absorbing nearly every square inch of her clothing.

Before Antonio hit the breaks he could see the front door of Stonehaven flying from the doorway revealing the three bodies of the Danvers family, each holding a confused look on their features. He shoved his foot to the breaks, a cautious look being flung towards his son who was tending to the young woman, knowing his dilemma before he kicked open the door, breathing in the dust from the asphalt which had skidded and clunked underneath his slewing tires.

"What's going on?" Clay drawled as he tore after Elena who was bolting towards the car, moving to the rear passenger side door to see if she could help Nick evacuate the vehicle.

"Riley's in bad shape, we gotta get her inside." Antonio bellowed as he held the door, watching Elena supporting Riley's shoulders as Nick slowly fell from the vehicle before politely reaching around his pack mate and cradled Riley's cataleptic form close to his chest, and quickly rushed towards the house. Clay simply gazed towards Jeremy as they watched Nick rushing passed with the injured wolf.

"Clay, get Riley's medical supplies ready, I'm going to need both of you to help me. We have to act fast." Jeremy ordered before the three rushed behind Antonio and Nick who scrammed towards the kitchen with every intention of lying Riley onto the wooden surface. It seemed since her evacuation of the vehicle it had stirred her from her lethargy.

"You're going to be okay, hang in there Riley." Nick breathed as Elena repositioned the cloth against the table top as Antonio and Clay helped unload Riley's quivering body from Nick's arms and gently placed her to the counter.

"Easy, easy." Antonio voiced, observing Elena's gentle touches as she smiled towards her friend, placing a soft blanket under her head while Nick continued to cling onto her hand, brushing the hair from her face gently; his eyes never leaving her as Jeremy barked his orders from her bedside, his own hand engulfing Riley's forearm before turning his attention to her stomach.

"Clay I need gauze, tape and tweezers." The alpha ordered, his eyes hard with concentration as both Elena and Clay bustled around the kitchen collecting the equipment Jeremy had asked for. The alpha studied her stomach, a frown washing to his features as he grasped hold of a bowl of water, slowly washing the surface layer of blood, Riley wincing at the sudden stinging as the liquid trickled into and around the wound. Jeremy took the offered tweezers. "Everyone, hold her down, Clayton, watch her leg." Jeremy ordered, his pack swarming to Riley's withering body before he looked down towards the Doctor who returned his question with a nod. She knew what he needed to do. Jeremy shoved the tweezers into her stomach, the heart-wrenching scream that tumbled from Riley's mouth caused Nick to flash his eyes to Jeremy and then towards Riley whose body quivered and convulsed. The young Doctor struggled to move her limbs as she lifted her shoulders slightly, her head falling into the safety of Nick's chest as he clung to her hand and leant over her body. Within minutes Jeremy was pulling the bullet from her gunshot wound.

"Clay, keep pressure on this wound. Elena I need rubbing alcohol." Jeremy stated, his hands shoving Clay's to her flat stomach, Nick tenderly sweeping his hand through her hair as she whimpered. Elena passed Jeremy the bottle he asked for, uncapping the bottle and faced Riley. "This is going to sting. But then you already know that." He said down to her, she just nodded her head sadly. He poured the liquid on her wound, Antonio grasping hold of her shoulders as he tried to keep her still while her shrieks reverberated through the house. "I need homeostatic powder," he urged again, shoving his hands back to the gauze to cover her wounds. "I need more gauze." Jeremy ordered, flittering the powder to her skin before fluttering his eyes towards Nick who nodded is head in understanding. He prepared to cover the wound when his alpha was finished.

Jeremy was concerned about her breathing, her harsh breaths raspy as if she was struggling to breath, her eyes twinkling with torment as her body quivered, the normally impassive and professional young lady unable to hold back her shrieks of agony as they manhandled her. He wasn't the only one affected by her screams; Clay and Elena both held uncomfortable grimaces on their usually composed expression.

"Hang in there Riley." Nick whispered as he gave her a small smile, Jeremy doubted she even heard him.

"Nicky, listen to me, we're going to roll her and then wrap her back over, understand?" Jeremy asked, his eyes taking in Nick's nod before he gently placed his hands to Riley's side and softly lifted her, quickly binding her stomach with the help of Jeremy knowing that one stage of her treatment had been completed. "I need some scissors Clay!" Jeremy voiced, pushing passed Riley's screams of discomfort as his adoptive son bolted from his position before returning quickly and handed him the required instrument to his alpha and watched as his elder tied her bandages.

Jeremy nodded to Nick, allowing him the time to delicately lower her pain-ridden body back to the surface of the table. For what seemed like hours only a few minutes had passed but as Riley struggled to regulate her breathing, the others could only look down at her with worry, it seemed her hand automatically searched for Nicky's, which he chivalrously gave.

"Better?" He asked her soothingly, observing her uncomfortable coughing before she grimaced and laid back down. The wounded wolf noticing the shared concerned look that Nick and Jeremy offered the other.

"I'll be okay Nicky." She managed to say, the Doctor giving her wrist towards Jeremy who took it, placing his fingers to the inside of her wrist, making sure he took her pulse.

"That mutt in the back of the car has another thing coming to him if he thinks he's going to get away with this."

"That I do not doubt." She breathed, a small smirk falling onto his lips.

"Riley, I don't know how to treat your leg." Jeremy said to her gently, his face vacant of any emotion and expression as Riley turned her attention from Nick and towards her alpha. Her hand covered in her own blood as her missing fingernail or nails started to burn.

"My femoral artery has been severed," She grimaced, her words breathy and labored as she continued to hold onto Nick's palm. "You don't need to patch it as you can still connect the ends together with no tension. You need to complete an end-to-end anastomosis repair."

"Huh?" Clay drawled as his eyes flittered from her bloodied and bruised face and towards her mutilated thigh.

"You need to take the two ends, with branches if there is any at the wound and suture them back together. After that has been completed you need to stimulate the blood back to my leg, making sure that the tissues do not die from the lack of oxygen, you need to work quickly."

"Alright." Jeremy said with a nod, taking the needle that Elena had prepared and watched as Jeremy moved to her leg.

"Clay, I would advice holding my leg, if I flinch Jeremy can do more harm than good." Riley managed to say, her eyes gazing into his as the wolf nodded his head and the Doctor felt Clay curling his hands around her thigh muscles. Riley bit the inside of her mouth, her knuckles turning white under the pressure she had of Nick's hand. She groaned, feeling Jeremy's gentle fingers within the depths of her leg. Nick simply leant over her, resting his forehead to hers, rejoicing as he felt her relax a little at his touch.

For what seemed like hours Riley lay there, feeling the thumbing's of Jeremy's fingers deep inside the tissues of her leg, a needle and thread penetrating the surface layer of her artery as her alpha expertly sewed the surgical cord in place. However, from the trauma that her leg had received in the last hour or so, as Riley struggled to remain alert every now and then she could feel a small tug at her skin as Jeremy moved to the stitching of her leg. It was when she felt the final tug of Jeremy tying a knot did she finally begin to feel a warmth moving down her leg. She breathed a sigh of relief when she realized she was painfully able to move her toes. She thanked her pack; her chest heaving as she tried to push past the exhaustion that Jeremy could only reply with a smile.

"I'll hook you up to an IV and I'll give you blood." Jeremy voiced, knowing that was her next instruction. "Get some rest, ill get Nick to carry you to your room." He replied, smiling as she nodded her head and closed her eyes without uttering a word.