16

G E O R G I E

✿

About an hour ago, Blair and I had been moved to the medical wing, which consisted of a long row of hospital beds. First we went through several health checks. Although I had pointed out more than once that we were all right, as I had helped heal Blair's chest and my own puny cut on my cheek was almost invisible. But well, the old - and if you asked me, a little grumpy - Healer wouldn't know anything of the sort, and we kept our mouths shut. Until the royal couple showed up and asked us to report exactly what had happened. Which we did. We told them everything. Well, almost everything.

Blair sat right next to me on her assigned bed and silently listened to what the two had to share with us. Soldiers had gone to shore as soon as we arrived to face any pirates who might still be on the ship. But their ship was already gone.

I dangled my feet off the bed and turned my attention, which had previously been on the opposite tall window, to Arya. "What, the ship's gone?"

"Salia and Arrow have found nothing but the footprints and scent of the two pirates who attacked you," Arya informed us, toying with her arrow at the same time.

"That doesn't mean they're gone, though," Xenos, who was standing next to her, objected. "No, in fact I'm pretty sure they'll come back again."

I smoothed out the creases in the paint. “Why should they? Nobody noticed anything from my eyes. And those who have it are dead. So why shouldn't the rest just assume the islander died?”

"You may leave your own crew members behind, but certainly not the prospect of gold." Arya spun the arrow in the air and caught it expertly. "They will come back."

"Who's coming back?"

Xenos turned and faced the officer who, with a determined expression, trudged down the aisle along the empty hospital beds. "Beau, how is she?"

“She's delirious again. We haven't found anything. It's critical that she survive.” Beau gave a curt nod to Xenos and Arya as he joined them. Then he inspected the situation. "What happened here?"

“Blair and Georgie have ventured into forbidden territory. Near the coast.” Xenos informed him, and I could shake him for telling Beau exactly that part of the story. Xenos? What's gotten into you? God knows I've been in enough trouble.

"Y'all what?" His head snapped toward us. And his eyes stay on me. He was angry. My stomach clenched. Oh yes, he was so angry.

Instinctively, I ducked back a little from him. "Erm.. well, well..." I faltered awkwardly, then bit my lip to stop my stupid words. Man Georgie, really? Can't get a single decent sentence out? I looked to Blair for help, but she wouldn't even look at Beau, let alone answer his questions.

Leaning slightly toward Blair, I hissed behind my hand, "Back here, please!"

She shrugged and her lips formed, "Sorry."

My mouth opened silently. Really?

'Pirate attack. Blair and Georgie expertly distracted and brought them down. You defended the pack.” Arya said proudly and I could have kissed her. Thank you, at least someone who realized that Blair and I weren't complete chumps.

"Hawkings and Joy were there, too," I murmured.

But Beau still looked just as scowling as before. "Why did you break the rules? Again, if I may say so."

"And let the pirates straight into our territory?" I clutched my lacquer in my hands. "How can you blame us now?"

He slowly approached me. His eyes held me captivated, like a wolf staring at his prey and not wanting to let go. He walked over to my bedside and stared down at me. He says nothing, lifted my chin. His jaw twitched. "And how did you get that scar?"

I looked up at him. His broad shoulders shielded me from the orange evening light filtering through the tapered windows. He looked like an angel. Like a dark very angry angel.

I touched the already healing cut. "The...? That's nothing."

He laughed softly and his eyes blazed with angry sparks. "Nothing?" His grip tightened on my chin. "What happened?" he hissed.

I was well aware of the looks of the others. They literally stared at us.

“We hunted them down. They're dead. And no one else was hurt.”

He growled at my last words. "Nobody, huh?" Then he let go of me and looked at Xenos. 'They will come back. Although there is only a glimmer of hope that her missing healer werewolf is still alive."

Xenos shared Beau's opinion. "I feel the same way. Each of the Healer Werewolves will be assigned a Guardian from now on. You too Georgie.”

"I'm sorry, what? I'm a prospective soldier.' I defended myself. I could protect myself. I could do it.

Beau laughed dryly. “The focus is on prospective.”

I glared at him but waited for the king's decisive words.

“That's not up for debate, Georgie. You need protection just like the others.' Xenos determined.

"And what does she need to be protected from?" Beau interjected.

“They are being hunted. And then sold it.” Arya revealed, leaning against Xenos. “We don't yet know where exactly and to whom. We assume that they are transported to Selva via the Veshari, in order to then sell them on the big market. You know the rumors of the Selvian slave trade."

Xenos wrapped an arm around Arya's waist and pulled her to him. “We'll find out and stop them. Nobody touches our pack.”

A cold smile curled the corner of Beau's mouth. "Oh no, definitely not."

"Back to the protégé program," Xenos reminded us of the subject at hand. “Maeryn is assigned to Rowtag, Beau, you take over Jordan. And you Georgie get Salia as your guardian. The rest of the Healer Wolves have yet to be assigned.”

I felt everything tense up around Beau. He put his hand on the couch behind me and stepped close to me. His gaze fixed hard on Xenos. "I'll take Georgie."

His scent filled my nostrils, clouding my senses. I wanted to turn and bury my face in his chest. Inhaling his scent even deeper until I would forget everything around me. Bury me deep in his arms and feel safe. He wouldn't let anything happen to me again. This cut would not have happened to me if it had been with me. I got hot when his arm touched my back.

The dart's twirl broke between Arya's two fingers and she looked at Beau in annoyance. "We've already arranged everything."

"I will take Georgie," Beau repeated.

Arya raised an eyebrow and sighed. “As you wish, you protect Georgie. Salia will take over Jordan.”

I cleared my throat, crossed my arms, and leaned forward so I wasn't touching Beau. I wanted Beau's protection more than anything, but I also knew dominant wolves. And I also knew the reason why Beau wanted to be my keeper so badly. His wolf urged him. Only his wolf, and not the man. And I really wanted the man. “Maybe I have a say in something too? After all, this is about me.”

Beau leaned closer to me and his arm touched my back again. "You want someone else's protection?"

I gave up avoiding him. I looked back at him over my shoulder. "I just said I want to make my own decisions."

"And so may you," Arya said, giving Beau a meaningful look.

One corner of his mouth turned up. "Naturally. The decision is entirely yours, little Georgie.”

I ignored his teasing tone and stupid nickname. "Good, if that's the case." I smiled sweetly back. "I choose Isaac."

He feigned indifference and scoffed, "Isaac is not a soldier."

"Then Hawkings."

His answer came lightning fast. "No."

I squinted my eyes. "Arrow."

He bared his teeth. "Keep trying, maybe you'll guess the right officer."

I was already starting to suggest a new one when I stopped with a growl.

“Little one, I'll be damn responsible for your protection. Finally get it. No one else will own you."

We hadn't spoken of possession. It was a protégé program. But his wolf lurked so much on the surface that he could not think logically and analytically. Someone wanted to protect his female. And that in turn meant that this female belonged to that one.

I saw the brown fur on his neck, the flash of his sharp teeth. How close to the transformation was he? And how angry does he have to be to almost lose control?

His hand traveled up my back and wrapped around my neck. He whispered to me softly: "If we were alone now, I would bite you as punishment."

Arya's eyes stayed on the grip around my neck. "Georgie, if you'd prefer Hawkings, we'll organize it that way."

"It's okay. Beau's fine.” I relented. His touch vibrated throughout my body. And it felt good. Too good. I couldn't get enough of him. He was like a drug. Like my very own personal drug. “But what exactly does this protégé program entail?”

'You will be with him, of course, or he with you. 24 hours a day unless you are in the packhouse. Oh, and get all the things you need from your hut this week.” Arya said casually, putting her free hand on Xeno's arm.

My legs stopped swinging. "Why that?"

"Because you can't stay there anymore," she said as if that were crystal clear. “It would be unsafe to house all the healer werewolves in one location. You'll be staying with Beau from now on. Temporarily, of course.”

I had to look at her like one of those gooey fish. "What?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "This is the best solution. Unless you want to stay at Hawkings?'

Beau let out a dangerous growl. "She'll give a shit."

I slid off the end of the bed and stood up. "No, it's okay," I answered Arya. “I'll get my things later then. Blair, are we going to eat?” I asked my friend, who had been sitting quietly on her bed listening to the conversation the whole time.

She nodded quickly and jumped up. "Sure." Then she grabbed my arm and pulled me with her, Beau's glowing gaze catching me as we passed him.

"I'll get you later."

I nodded and then let Blair carry me away. As soon as we left the health wing and reached the stairs, she hissed, "Now please tell me everything that happened between you. And don't you dare leave anything out. It's bad enough you haven't told me yet!"