Violet (The Silver Series Book 4) (9 page)

Rafe didn't move the whole trip home. We
landed in an empty parking lot about a block from Meg and Roger’s
as the sun was starting to rise. Jaze’s neighbors barely waited for
the skids to touch the ground before opening the door. The others
hurried around and carried Rafe straight to the house. I followed
them through a living room, down a hallway, and into a small
operating room that looked like it had once been a garage. They set
Rafe on a stainless steel table and two other men came from the
hallway.

“
Colleen, this is Charles
and Dr. Benjamin. Charles is a veterinarian who has treated
werewolves, and Dr. Benjamin helps us out on serious cases at the
hospital,” Jaze explained quickly.

Charles gave me a warm smile. “He's in good
hands,” he reassured me.

“
I don't know if I'll be of
any help here,” Dr. Benjamin said. He cast a quick glance Jet's way
and I know I didn't imagine the bone-chilling look the werewolf
threw him back. Dr. Benjamin turned to Jaze. “I didn't realize he'd
be in wolf form.”

“
We thought it best that he
stay that way so that he didn't do more harm to himself phasing,”
Taye put in before I could say anything. I threw her a grateful
smile and the doctor turned away grumbling about treating an
animal.

Meg lifted the backpack gently from Rafe's
stomach, then cut the clothes I had wrapped around him. She gasped
when the makeshift bandages parted to reveal his stomach organs
partially obscured by torn skin and blood-caked fur. Dr. Benjamin
quit complaining and began to work beside Charles. Roger gathered
the equipment they needed while Taye escorted us from the room.

“
Less chance of infection,
and they need the space,” she explained, her expression
apologetic.

“
I need to be in there,” I
protested. “He needs me if he wakes up.”

“
They're administering a
heavy sedative now. It would be detrimental if he moved during the
surgery. He'll be under at least until they're done,” Taye
explained gently. She led me to a couch in the living room. Kaynan
followed close behind, his hands out like he wanted to help, but
didn't know what to do.

I felt so helpless. “He should have healed
by now; how is surgery going to help?”

“
They’ve got to clean the
wounds and close them to give his body the chance to heal,” Taye
explained gently. Her blue-gray eyes were soft with understanding.
“He might need a transfusion, so Roger or Meg will be out to see if
anyone is a match. If his condition changes, I’ll let you know
right away.” I thanked her and she disappeared back down the hall
to help with the surgery.

I sank onto the couch and buried my face in
my hands. Soft fingers touched my shoulder and I looked up to see
Grace run her hand along the cushion next to me to make sure it was
empty before she sat down. Her sightless blue eyes stared vaguely
in my direction as she gave a reassuring smile. “He’s got the best
team in the country working on him,” she said. Kaynan stood behind
her and set a hand on her shoulder in a familiar gesture. She
smiled and tipped her head toward him. “Kaynan’s told me so much
about you. I’m sorry we have to meet under such horrible
circumstances.”

I nodded, realized she couldn’t see me, and
set a hand on hers. “Me, too,” I said as warmly as I could under
the circumstances. “It’s all my fault.”

Her smile deepened and a strand of her dark
brown hair brushed across her face. She pushed it back and squeezed
my hand reassuringly. “Kaynan said you would take everything on
yourself. He says you’re the selfless sibling.”

I glanced at my brother and couldn’t help
the small, teasing smile that came to my lips. “And what does that
make him?”

Grace laughed, a light sound that reminded
me of Dad’s wind chimes on the porch. “The selfish one, I
guess.”

“
Hey!” Kaynan replied, but
there was no offense on his face. Instead, he watched Grace with
the careful attention of one who has found a good thing and fears
losing it. I had never seen him so taken by anyone.

Roger came into the room and surveyed us all
with a quick glance. “We need a transfusion and the only matches
are Jaze or Mouse,” he said without beating around the bush.

My heart tightened. “He’s still losing
blood?”

Roger shook his head. “We’ve stopped it for
the most part, but we fear that he’s lost too much for the healing
process to be effective. A transfusion is his best chance at this
point.” He smiled to soften his words, but they still fell like
blows on my aching heart.

“
Can I donate blood?” I
asked.

Roger shook his head. “Sorry, but no. We
don’t know what changes have occurred to yours and Kaynan’s blood,
and we don’t have time to check it. We tested everyone else a while
back for Jet’s transfusion, and only Mouse and Jaze are
matches.”

Jaze stood up. “I’m ready.”

Mouse moved to protest, but Jaze shook his
head. “I’d rather it be me.”

The scrawny werewolf didn't argue and Jaze
patted his shoulder in passing. I wanted to follow him so badly,
but knew I would only be in the way in the small operating
room.

The others sat around me in silence for a
minute until Jet stood up from leaning against the hallway door
jamb and watched the front door expectantly. The door opened to
reveal an older woman with long dark blond hair and a hint of gray
at the temples. She smiled at us all warmly and gestured to the
crock pot she held in mittened hands. “Stew, anyone?”

The others rushed to help her and Nikki
introduced her to me as Jaze’s mother. “It's wonderful to meet you,
Colleen,” she said. “I'm sorry about your friend. He's in the best
possible care.”

I nodded and tried not to think about what I
would do if they couldn't save him. Mrs. Carso must have noticed me
blinking back tears because she gave me a warm hug. “This is a good
place. You'll both be safe and your mother will be happy to know
you're here.”

Kaynan came back from the kitchen in time to
hear her and shook his head. “They don't know Colleen's alive.”
Mrs. Carso's eyebrows rose and he sighed. “I know, I should have
told them, but Colleen couldn't control her phasing and we didn't
want them to know if. . . .”

“
If I couldn't ever get it
under control,” I concluded quietly.

Mrs. Carso nodded in understanding and gave
me another hug. “Well, we're glad you're here and I'll take care of
you like I promised your mother I would take care of Kaynan. And
that includes food,” she concluded.

The front door opened and a boy with spiky
brown hair walked in. “Did someone say food?”

Everyone laughed as though they shared a
joke. “Can't hide anything from you, can we Brock?” Mrs. Carso
asked with a chuckle.

Brock shook his head. “Not if it has to do
with food. That's serious.” He eyed the kitchen. “I smell stew. Is
Jet in there?” At Kaynan's nod, he hurried passed us muttering, “Be
lucky if there's anything left after that ravenous werewolf's got a
hold of it.”

“
Guess he figured if we
weren't at your house, we'd be at Nikki's,” Kaynan said to Mrs.
Carso.

She winked at me. “Human and werewolf
teenagers are like puppies or mice. Once you start feeding them,
they never stop coming around.”

“
Did you just compare your
son to a rodent?” Meg asked, coming from the hall. She wiped her
hands together with an antiseptic that stung my nose.

Mrs. Carso nodded and they hugged like old
friends. “They are unstoppable,” she said.

Meg laughed. “Tell me about it.” She gave me
a weary smile. “We've done what we can. I don't know what it is
that keeps that boy ticking. He shouldn't be here right now, that's
for certain; but he's strong and made it through the surgery, which
is more than I thought he would do when I saw him.”

At my pleading look, she gestured toward the
operating room. “He'll be asleep for a while, but you can go to
him.”

I ran down the hall and opened the door to
find the two doctors and Roger scrubbing off. The sink was coated
in the rust red of blood and the room smelled of iron and
sterilized equipment. Jaze smiled at me as he rolled his sleeve
back down. “The transfusion went well. It’s a waiting game now,” he
said. He paused at the door. “Nikki will bring you some food. You
look like you could use it.”

I thanked him quietly and turned to the
others.

“
He's strong,” Dr. Benjamin
said, barely meeting my eyes before turning away to gather his
supplies. “But don't get your hopes up. I've never seen anyone live
after being disemboweled, werewolf or not. He's lost a lot of
blood, and despite the transfusion, he's still in pretty bad shape.
We'll be lucky if he makes it through the night.”

He left the room with a curt goodnight to
the other two men and I stared after him down the hall.

Charles, the veterinarian, patted my
shoulder. “Don't mind him. He's a little rough around the edges,
not much of a werewolf fan. But he's a good surgeon and you can
rest assured that Rafe got the best possible care.”

The wolf on the table had thick bandages
wrapped all the way around his stomach and back. What showed of his
dark gray fur had been cleaned of blood. He looked skinny and worn,
a mere shade of the wolf who had welcomed me into his forest. His
chest rose and fell shallowly and his golden eyes were closed.
Leather bands had been placed around his chest, paws, and hind
quarters to hold him on his side. I touched one of the bands.

“
To keep him still in case
he awakens,” Roger explained gently. “We don't want him pulling his
stitches.”

I nodded, but couldn't speak past the lump
in my throat. Rafe had taken all of this for me. He could have
died, could still die, all to protect me from a cougar because I
wasn't careful. He told me that the forest could be dangerous and
would turn on me if I didn't stay on my toes, and he was right.

“
You can stay here,” Roger
offered. “We have a guest bedroom and you're more than
welcome.”

“
Could I rest on the
couch?” I forced out. “I've gotten some control, but I'm not so
good with small rooms.” The operating room we stood in was starting
to feel claustrophobic, but I didn't want to leave Rafe's
side.

Roger nodded with an understanding smile.
“Of course. Whatever you need. I'm amazed at how much control
you've gained since the rehab center.”

I gave him a weak smile. “The forest was
good for me.”

“
I can tell,” he said
generously. He turned his head toward the open door. “Meg's calling
us to eat. Smells like Mrs. Carso’s cooking!”

I looked at the door, surprised that I had
missed Meg's calls, but my mind was focused on Rafe's heartbeat and
the steady but shallow rise and fall of his chest. “I'm not
hungry,” I said softly.

“
We’ll bring you something
just in case,” Roger replied. He left the room and I was grateful
when he kept the door open. A shudder ran through my skin at the
thought of being behind walls again, but I forced it down and
pulled a chair close to Rafe's table. I set a hand on his side,
laid my head on my arm, and listened to the breath flow in and out
of his lungs.

The door opened behind me, but I didn't
move. Soft footsteps made their way to the other side of Rafe's
table.

“
I wonder if the forest
cured her insomnia, too,” Roger said quietly.

“
I don't know if it's as
much the forest as the werewolf that's doing the curing,” Meg
whispered back.

“
Who would've thought?” The
touch of awe in Roger's voice brought a flashback of a wild
werewolf in a silver cage, his face shielded and golden eyes
watching me, guarded and searching. A tear squeezed through my
closed eyelids and slid slowly down my cheek.

“
We should let her sleep,”
Meg said. She set something near my chair, then they both turned
away. They left the door open wide enough that fresh air trailed
into the room. I wiped the tear on my arm and closed my eyes
again.

Chapter 8

My bones ached from staying in one position
so long that I finally had to rise and walk around. My feet led me
to the kitchen and I was surprised to find Meg still up. She gave
me a tired smile and gestured with a cup of coffee, “Great for the
insomniac.” She peered at the coffee and chuckled, “Or it's the
reason I can't sleep, which is probably the case.” She shrugged.
“But either way, it’s a good companion on sleepless nights.”

She gestured to the bar stool next to her
and I sat down. We waited in amiable silence for a few minutes
until she said, “You know, I used to hate werewolves.”

I glanced at her. She studied the contents
of her cup, her brow creased. “I did, too,” I admitted.

She looked at me and a knowing smile touched
her lips. “He's a good guy, isn't he?”

I nodded, but couldn't find the words to say
how wonderful he truly was. They knew him as a wild werewolf and
that was all. There was so much more to him, but I didn't know
where to start. I took a shallow breath. “Roger told me a little
bit about your son before the attack at the rehab center. How did
you get over that?”

Pain showed in her eyes before she turned
back to her cup. She let out her breath in a rush and rose. “This
calls for more coffee.” She went to the pot by the stove and poured
another cup, then she glanced at me, grabbed a blue and yellow mug
from the cupboard, and poured me one as well. “Just in case,” she
said with a small smile and set it in front of me before taking her
seat again.