Rhydian stood against the caravan head turned up to the sky breathing deeply from exhaustion which was a hard state to reach as a Wolfbood. It had been a long day with Jana, not a terrible day but, he definitely would have preferred spending the day with Maddy. First Jana's confession left him feeling slighted and betrayed to a point though he did his best not to let it show. Then the ominous feeling which set in about mid-way had only worsened. Still, no word from Maddy, Tom, or Shannon either which was abnormal. Scrubbing his face in frustration he tried to quiet the anxiety in his mind. Surely everything is alright Emma and Dan had insisted he reunite and integrate back into the Vaughn's home today, which he suspected had to do more with how close he and Maddy had become as of late. He could easily see them forcing them to leave him in silence for today. He wanted to blame them and be angry about it but everything Maddy's mum and dad did came from a place of love, right or wrong they always attempted to act in what they perceived to be her best interest.
"Are you alright, Rhydian you got quiet," Jana said from beside him tilting her head slightly.
"Yeah, just getting late and I am exhausted." He replied as the sound of someone nearby crashing through the woods caught his attention. Faintly he could scent Tom, Shan, and Maddy but that couldn't be possible, they were off on a trip. Reaching down he connected with the earth using Eolas. He found that it was Tom and Shannon but, Maddy was nowhere in sight. They looked frantic and their clothes disheveled, and it caused his stomach to drop drastically. Standing he took off in their direction, Jana following closely behind. In no time they stood before him in a clearing nearby. Shocked they stumbled to a stop quickly Sending their scent in a wave. It nearly overwhelmed him but, Maddy's scent even though she was not there seemed to calm his nerves slightly.
"What happened where's Maddy?" He demanded eyes turning slightly as he caught the fear, and anxiety in their scent. Something bad happened he was sure.
"Is that blood?" Jana asked drawing Rhydian's eyes to Shannon and Tom's shirts. Suddenly facts fell into place in Rhydian's sharp mind. Both Shannon and Tom smelled strongly, abnormally strongly in fact of Maddy. They each looked horrible and smelled of fear and distress. Listening closely, he took in their accelerated heartbeats and his legs felt weak. Looking back at their face he saw a confirmation of his worst fears as Tom's eyes glistened with tears and Shannon began to sob. Without another word he took off running to Maddy as fast as he could. Half boy, half-wolf.
In record time he stood at the farmhouse he saw as a second home but, it felt anything but welcoming to him now. He took in the car's state doors wide opened, parked at an angle at the doorway they so often used. Like someone was panicked and needed to act fast tire marks were clear in the dirt. As he neared, he found that again there were strong scents of Maddy coming from the back. Moving to close the doors he spotted red stains on the backs flooring and Maddy's phone discarded under the seat. Taking a deep breath to calm his shaking hands only seemed to heighten his nerves making his vision blurry.
It was Maddy's weak whine from upstairs which caused his vision to finally clear. She could sense him she was calling to him. Blinking back the tears which burned in his eyes he reached in pocketing her phone and shutting the doors. Instantly, Dan poked his head out the door looking much older than he had when they left. "Rhydian, they found you?" He said seeming relieved, "We need you upstairs now. I need you to hold Maddy still." He said wringing his hands. "I would but, I am weak from the poison they gave me to get into the cage."
Though none of Dan's words really made sense he understood by his tone this was a grave situation. He could ask questions later about what Dan meant. Nodding he moved forward. "It's bad Rhydian but, I need you to hold her still no matter what. It's vital." Dan said wringing his hands before him and shaking his head. "There's just no other way. The doctor is too far." Again, Rhydian nodded. Taking the stairs behind Dan, Rhydian was suddenly desperate to get to Maddy. It burned in his core. He had to see her like he had to breathe.
Entering first Dan spoke to Emma. "They found him." Rhydian's eyes immediately went to where Maddy lay in a sports bra on the bed. She was pale and bleeding significantly from the front right of her stomach. The smell of her blood and medical supplies so strong he didn't scent Emma though she sat at her daughter's side a medical tray nearby. Rhydian's stomach flipped and he felt nausea attempting to take control but, he pushed it down when his eyes locked on her chocolate ones. For reasons he may never understand she appeared relieved to see him. Her eyes beckoned him forward, begging him to help her.
He walked toward her giving her a smile and pushing his fears and concerns far down to deal with later. If the system taught him anything it was to compartmentalize his emotions, filing them away to deal with later, or never. Once within reach, she reached for his hand with her own clammy cold ones. He squeezed slightly trying to silently support her. She had tears burning in her eyes already and it gutted him.
"What am I to do?" He asked not looking away from Maddy's gaze.
"Right. I will need you to hold her tight. She can't move the silver is too close to her kidney. I can hold her leg's you will need to hold her upper half. Get behind her. She'll cross her arms over her chest, and you press on them hard Rhydian. She absolutely needs to be still. I will go quickly but, it is already poisoning her it has to go." Emma said taking charge again quickly. Looking to Maddy a tear escaped. "If there was another way pet, I would take it but, this can not wait, or you may not make it to when the doctor arrives."
"I know mam just do it." She said bravely though her voice faltered slightly.
"I got you Mads," Rhydian said carefully getting behind her ready to do what was needed though he knew it would haunt him for the rest of his life. Never had he seen her so weak, or so much in pain.
"I know. We...I trust you Rhydian, with my life." She replied looking up to meet his gaze from where she had looked at her mom. So many emotions passed between them. Silently she crossed her arms over her chest biting her lip in anticipation. He mirrored her actions with his own ready to press down upon her. He would make sure she wouldn't move no matter what. He watched Maddy as she looked toward her mum. Her eyes followed every motion as Emma got into the position needed to remove the silver. He watched her eyes shift and listened when a low whine escaped a whine of anguish from his own chest met it in response.
"Look at me." He whispered catching her attention his voice strong and commanding despite the deep emotion lacing his words. "Look only at me, Mads."
Emma and Dan watched the exchange closely though they remained silent. The bond between the two wolves was abnormally strong for their age and it was clear they were bonded on another level. Though it was not what they wanted so early for her in life, right now it was a small blessing. Him simply being there had calmed Maddy significantly.
"Here we go," Emma said setting to work to get the silver out of her daughters' side. Every yelp or scream that fell from her lips was a new dagger in his heart but, he did what was asked and held her still as though his life depended on it.
"Shh. Maddy. It'll be over soon." He said tears falling down his face and mixing with her own as his thumb rubbed the back of her hand over and over in circles. Still, he held her gaze strongly the alpha in him calling out to the alpha deep in her.
"Got it," Emma announced dropping It into the nearby medical bin. "I will clean and wrap it now." She said in warning as she prepared the material needed. "It'll burn pet, but we are almost finished." Once more Rhydian held Maddy as she howled in agony alerting the entire world to her pain.
Finally, Emma had the wound covered by a bandage. Rhydian immediately let Maddy free of his stronghold collapsing to the bed in a sitting position beside her his legs stretching out. Limply her arms fell to her sides sending waves of pain through her again summoning more whimpers from within. With shaky hands, he reached to touch her, to comfort her but then retracted out of fear he could harm her accidentally. She noticed despite her miserable state and reached for him instead of pulling his arm over her as she turned on her good side away from her parents forcing him to follow suit.
She needed comfort from Rhydian right now no one else. Sensing this her parents took the cue leaving silently and shutting the door. As they did Maddy slid closer into Rhydian's body still sobbing silently to herself and he tightened his grip around her placing his nose to her hair and listening to her heart rate as slowly it began to decline.
"Mads your alright it's over whatever happened you're here and your safe with me no one can get to you." He assured her,
"I was so scared Rhydian, so scared." She muttered between inhales. "I… I was sure we would die."
"Shh, it's okay your okay Mad. I have you." He said rubbing her hand again. "we are together and that's what matters right now. Focus on my breathing try to match it." He said trying to summon all his knowledge on trauma. "Nothing but breathing." Inside he was just as upset and conflicted. He had a feeling something was very wrong and ignored it running around with Jana instead and that felt like a betrayal of an entirely different kind, and one he could not fix. His grip stayed on her as her whines died down and her breathing settled.
"Rhydian, I am tired." She finally muttered. As he lessened his grip he moved slightly away. He didn't want to leave but, he knew she needed rest and he would do anything for her. Anything. "No, I don't want you to leave. Stay with us." She added strengthening her grip on his arm. "Please." Her words were a balm to him right now. Even her soft plea.
"Not sure your mum and dad will like that Mads." He said despite returning to his previous position if not closer burying his nose in her hair. The room smelled so wrong to him. He didn't like it at all.
"I don't care. Stay with me." She said again voice heavy with sleep. "Promise me."
"Alright, Mad's I'll stay. Just rest okay. You have to for your body." He replied nuzzling her as he would in wolf form. Though he felt drained his mind would not quiet. How had this happened to her? Had she tried to contact him for help? Suddenly he remembered her phone in his pocket. Carefully unwrapping his arm, he reached for it. Pulling it out he unlocked it. The screen populating the text messages instantly as it had been opened last. The top showed his name in bold print a wolf emoji following. He scrolled to the top of the ones he hadn't responded to taking a deep breath. He knew he would not like what they contained but, he needed to know. For the second time today, his blood ran cold as he read through messages he'd never received.
Maddy: Rhydian something about this doesn't seem right, I have a bad feeling.
Maddy: What are you doing you can't respond? This is serious, Shannon thinks they are Wolfblood hunters. I am not so sure she's wrong anymore. They hid a wolf rug and the paintings have wolves with red eyes hidden in them.
Maddy: I need you right now. We can't find me, Dad or Tom, he's not in the car. I'm worried.
Maddy: Fine then. Don't respond. You're with Jana? In my den? Eating me food but, you can't reply to me messages? I thought we meant more to you, but I guess I should have seen this coming. I will work it out meself. Don't bother coming for lunch tomorrow either. Mum wants your key back also.
Maddy: They have us in a cellar. Even if your mad we need help. Please Rhydian.
And that's where they ended. He didn't know how she knew where he and Jana had been or what they had been doing but, it also didn't really matter. She had needed him desperately. So much so she pushed away her alpha nature to plead for help but, he hadn't been there. He had been running through the woods with a girl who she disliked and distrusted without a care in the world. A glutton for the punishment he closed the screen pulling up the call log, 17 missed calls to him. Again, his eyes burned with tears bubbling over.
Even after all of that and the missed messages when he arrived, she was relieved. Happy even. He couldn't understand it at all. Had the situation been reversed he wasn't sure he would react the same. Pocketing her phone again he wiped at his eyes trying to control himself.
"Rhydian, are you crying?" Maddy asked attempting to shift towards him but failing.
"I didn't mean to wake you. You need to sleep." He replied in a rough voice. "Stop trying to turn over."
"Then you come over here." She huffed patting the spot near the wall, "or I won't stop, and you can't make me." Even as tired and weak as she was, she still had enough energy to be bullheaded he noted shaking his head with a small smile on his lips.
"Alright. Alright. "He conceded moving carefully around her body so as not to shift her in a way which caused her more pain. As they came face to face, he went quiet. In a situation like this, he would normally run. Unwilling to have a hard conversation, one that made him vulnerable. Yet, here he was pushing all of that away. With Maddy, he never had a desire to run.
"What's this all about? I am not dead or dying anymore." She said her eyes still half-closed from sleep and exhaustion. She spoke way too casually about the entire situation in his eyes like she didn't understand how close she had been to do just that. He could have lied but, he owed her the truth, so he pulled her phone from his pocket.
"I brought your phone in from the car." He said slipping it in her hand. Carelessly she tossed it behind her.
"Thanks." She said without opening her eyes anymore or attempting to check the screen.
"Earlier my phone fell in the creek it is rubbish. I saw your messages to me." He said voice breaking. At this, her eyes opened fully her look a mix of sadness and stress.
"I was angry I am sorry; I knew you had a reason Rhydian. I really did underneath. I just got so mad when I saw you and her in me den eating me food. Well jealous I guess." She ranted eyes flashing yellow as she looked away, "Shannon's camera in there was already a betrayal that just made it worse." She explained.
"Mads I am the sorry one. If I would have come, I could have done something. You needed me and I was showing Jana about tame life instead. You had every reason to be angry." He replied looking down unable to meet her eyes. Shannon's camera topic was a question he'd ask about later right now he had to make things right. "I was never trying to make you jealous I thought if she understood you better you might get along better."
"This isn't your fault Rhydian we were tricked. I have heard of hunters but never seen them." She said voice haunted and eyes seeing something he could not. "I saw them aim at Tom and I just reacted. You couldn't have stopped it even if you had been there."
Softly he caressed her face pulling her back to him and away from remembering. When their eyes met it was electric and consuming. She leaned into the touch and he knew they would be okay. He also knew he could never forgive himself for letting this happen to her. If he could take the pain and the injury from him, he would without a second thought. Sliding so they were nearly flush against each other he rested his forehead against her taking her scent in deeply.
"But you know if you want to make it up to us you can be me, slave, till, I heal up." She added a mischievous tone to her voice and a cunning smile on her lips as she turned tilting up to place a small kiss on his cheek an act she hadn't done since his return and Jana's appearance. One he didn't realize he missed so much and meant so much. Without thinking over it he turned to capture her lips as she moved to turn away. It was shocking to them both in a way but, she recovered quickly placing her hand on his face as well as holding him close so he couldn't pull away. She returned the kiss bursting with all her deep emotions for him and everything she had not dared to share Rhydian deepened the kiss pressing his tongue to her bottom lip for entrance. She opened her mouth letting him instantly tilting her head to the side as they found a rhythm. Reluctantly he pulled away first smiling at her so brightly it warmed her soul.
"I already am Mads; I love you." He said in a whisper only meant for her before kissing her head softly in an action of pure affection.
"I love you to Rhydian. I have since before my first change. I always will." She replied meeting his eyes as he pulled away from the loving gesture. He saw the truth in her eyes and knew she meant it. He could feel it of course in her actions, and words but to hear it was everything. His heart swelled and he kissed her again with more grace than the first time. It wasn't until a hiss of pain escaped from her mouth to his he pulled away again eyes wide. "Maddy, I am sorry. Are you alright?" He asked quickly pulling further back than necessary and looking at her with eyes filled in concern.
"No, you didn't. I am okay just moved the wrong way, come back." She said sounding annoyed with herself and having disrupted the moment. Despite being blissfully happy she felt the same as him he knew this wasn't the best time for a make-out session. She needed to heal to really heal more so than she needed him kissing her.
"You have been through a lot of stress Maddy, why don't you rest more. I will still be here when you wake." He said still slightly unsure of his actions before in her state. She didn't like that at all, and her eyes expressed as much as she looked at him. He laughed in response, unable to do anything else. "Please Maddy."
"How about we both rest then." She grumbled, "If I am to sleep then so are you. Here beside me where you belong." She clarified quickly ruining any plan of escape he may have been plotting. As he opened his mouth to respond she grinned again mischievously, "Slave remember. You have to do what I say I am wounded." Quickly he shut it again forming a response. Rhydian wouldn't sleep he couldn't he needed to watch her. Make sure she was alright but, he didn't want her to know that either.
"Alright, Mads, rest, and I will try to do the same." He replied carefully with his words as not to lie either.
Satisfied she gripped his shirt lightly pulling him closer as he reached to pull the blanket up over them both. Her room smelled too much like a hospital, she needed something more familiar and calming nearby tugging him closer still, she buried her nose in his neck. He mirrored the action burying him in her hair. He was unsure of the safest place for his hand holding it awkwardly high still. Sensing this she released his shirt grabbing his hand in her own and placing it between the two near her chest allowing him to feel the warmth of her skin and the beat of her heart on the back. Eyes closed he listened for her breathing to deepen and slow as it did when she slept. He kept up with the feeling of her heart rate needing the confirmation she was healing; all be it slowly. He could already tell a small difference as her color improved and skin warmed from icy to luke-warm.
Again his mind raced between the information she'd given and the things he had seen. The events of tonight would forever haunt him he had known that the moment he stepped into the room. He would never take her presence for granted again a lesson he should have learned when he was away so long but was now ingrained forever with the image of her on the verge of death in his heart and his mind. Today he nearly lost her to someone so full of hate for what they were born as while he ran without a care in the woods. Never again he vowed to hold her tighter. Even now the events played through his mind again over and over. Every sound of pain, every tear, every time her lip quivered as she tried to stay the strong alpha he loved so much. It would be his life goal to ensure it never happened again.
