AN ALPHA'S OBSCURED VENGEANCE

3

Lyall sighed with relief. The rain was falling heavier by the minute. Though he wasn’t getting wet because of the raincoat he was wearing, he was still glad that he didn’t have to stand out for long. He ignored Ty’s gaze that followed him into the cave. It was a bit annoying. It wasn’t as if he would fight them all even in the state they were in. Besides, he really didn’t care about them.

Inside the cave was practically crowded and nearly damp. Everyone was in their wolf forms. The scent of blood lingered heavily in there. Just like Ty, their furs were matted with blood.

“Thanks.” He said to Ty who stepped aside to let him in, ignoring how the burly male sniffed him.

“Take care of her first,” Ty commanded, pointing to a gray wolf laying on her paws with her eyes closed at the very back of the cave. He curiously raised his brows at the sight. The other wolves surrounded her as she lay at the center.

Lyall’s eyes widened. Large hazel eyes met his. There was a tinge of curiosity and indifference in those eyes that looked at him. Still, he couldn’t help the novel feelings that surged when their eyes met. He felt a bit bothered and frustrated looking at her. However, his poker face did wonders in hiding those feelings.

Lyall took off his raincoat leaving him in his jeans and hoody. He set his backpack down, getting on one knee to open it.

“How long have they been injured?” He glanced at Ty. He frowned, clearly displeased at the sudden question thrown at him. There was no way that he was going to trust a stranger out of the blue.

A soft growl came from the grey wolf making Ty frown harder before answering with a sigh, “Probably three to four hours ago.”

Lyall nodded at that, keeping in mind that the grey wolf was probably leading the group. He picked up his bag and then walked closer to the wolf.

A girl then. He thought to himself as he knelt down with the bag beside him.

“Can you change back?” He asked as politely as he could.

“Can’t you treat her without her changing back?” Ty growled. He was overbearing and completely unreasonable and he knew it.

Lyall swallowed his annoyance and then said after taking a deep breath, “Her fur is in the way. I’d have to shave it away to get to the wound. Besides, I don’t have anything here for that process.” He calmly answered without looking at Ty.

Due switched back before Ty could complain again.

“What are you doing?” Ty almost exclaimed. It was a common occurrence to turn up naked after shifting. And no one would look at her out of respect, but it still upset him that a stranger would look at his friend. He was acting like an overbearing brother and he knew it.

“That’s enough, Ty.” Due sighed, having no strength to reprimand her friend. They were lucky enough that Lyall was willing to help them.

“You can put this on.” Lyall ignored their conversation and then handed one of his shirts to her with his jeans. He was careful not to look at her. But he couldn’t help the slight frown at her voice. That reaction wasn’t because her voice was scratchy. In fact, her voice was soft and pleasing to hear. But he found it bothersome.

“Thank you.” Due took the clothes without complaining.

“Should I help you?” Tyler attempted to approach her but only earned a playful glare before she said, “Sometimes I wonder if you were meant to be born by my parents. Besides, I was wounded not paralyzed.

Due huffed and put on the clothes she was given, ignoring the scent they carried. She laid on her back on the ground.

“This might sting a little.” Lyall, lifted the top to expose her sides. Four wounds from claws continued to bleed. The wound was deep enough that he frowned with worry.

“I’ll need to stitch the injury but I don’t have anything to numb the place so you’ll have to endure it.” He said, tying the shirt so that it doesn’t touch the wound.

“Is there anything we can do to help?” Due asked, and Lya glanced at her. She looked pale and had clearly lost a lot of blood, there was nothing they could do to help with their condition. Still, her desire to help was admirable, unlike the guy who stood over his shoulders as if he was going to do something unspeakable.

“I need some space.” He answered, hinting at Ty hovering over him, “And water.” Then added.

Due nodded then said to her friend, “Do you think you can get him some water?”

Due wanted Ty to stop fuzing over her so that Lyall could hurry up and help the others. Despite his unwillingness, Ty left the cave to see if he could fetch some of the rainwater.

The cave turned quiet as Lyall focused on getting his tools ready.

“Sorry to trouble you, but can I get something for my friend to wear?” Due asked after Ashina nudged her with her snout.

Lyall restricted himself to a nod and took a large shirt from his backpack for her. “I don’t have any more pants here so this should do.”

“Thanks,” Ashina said after she put the shirt on and then sat beside Due.

It was more than awkward between them as they waited for Ty to come back with the water and Lyall inspected Due’s wounds. He could see a bite and scratch marks on Ashina’s thighs but they didn’t seem as serious.

“Where are you from?” Ashina asked when she felt that the awkwardness was nearly enough to suffocate her.

Lyall resorted to glancing at her before giving his attention back to Due’s wound.

“Far from here.” He simply replied. He wasn’t trying to be arrogant or mysterious, he simply didn’t know how to act in front of them.

“Then what are you doing in these lands? What pack are you from?” Ashina continued with her questions. Her desire to get past the awkwardness turned into genuine curiosity.

“I don’t come from any pack. I’ve lived in the human society for as long as I can remember.” He answered, not minding the questions thrown at him.

“I’m looking for a pack to join.” He added. His last statement drew Due’s attention. She had been indifferent to his presence but even she found herself curious.

“Do you have a specific one in mind?” Ashina continued to probe as DAue listened in on the conversation. She had to admit that he was quite the specimen.

“Not really. I haven’t come across any pack.” He answered. Lyall was clear in his answers since he had nothing to hide, apart from the small surges of interest in Due.

“I’m Ashina, by the way.”

Lyall lifted his gaze to Ashina. Her lips had a smile that reflected in her blue eyes. There were blood stains on her cheeks and her hair was in a messy braid, but she appeared to be genuinely pleased to meet him.

“Lyall,” Lyall said with a smile. The sudden gesture surprised her and she felt her cheeks light up. Still, she cleared her throat and nudged her friend to introduce herself.

“Due.” Due said after glaring at her friend. The blush on Ashina’s cheeks caused her to turn to Lyall out of curiosity only to catch a glimpse of the smile that made her friend turn red. Due couldn’t help the blush that spread on her cheeks. She knew Lyall was handsome, but his smile proved that he was more than that.

“The rain probably won’t stop anytime soon.”

The three looked behind them as Ty came back with a tree bark filled with water. He set it beside Lyall who wordlessly started to clean Due’s wounds to get the blood off. She’d occasionally wince and flinch but she didn’t complain.

“We might end up staying the night here then?” Ashina asked. Their pack was a bit far from where they were but no one could move whilst wounded. And they couldn’t protect themselves if they ended up meeting the rogue pack again.

“Yh,” Ty replied with a frown his eyes stuck on Lyall as he continued to disinfect Due’s wound before getting ready to stitch the wound.

“Can’t you do anything about the pain?” He asked when he saw the sweat and evidence of pain on his friend’s face.

“I’m fine. I can endure this much. Lyall is helping us already.” Due replied to her friend. He was clearly worried, but she also didn’t want to impose on someone who was already helping them.

“I don’t have much with me. And the medicines I have won’t help her.” Lyall replied after listening to them talk. His name from her lips caused an unfamiliar reaction that made his heart throb and annoyed him at the same time, yet he paid it no mind. Minutes went by filled with Due’s groans and whimpers as her face grew pale. But Lyall finally finished stitching her wound and putting medicines and a bandaid on it. Due fainted as soon as he was done.