Chapter 228 - Violet Is Back 2

"Why are you afraid of me?" Graeme demanded.

Violet's eyes went wider in fear at the firm command of his voice, but she quickly shook her head.

"I-I'm not. I'm not afraid of you," she insisted. But her posture and scent and dilated pupils all said otherwise.

"Where else are you hurt?" he asked again.

Her eyebrows pinched together and she looked down, tears beginning to well.

"Has someone been in to look at you yet?"

"Yes. She is bringing me some things," she said vaguely.

"Do you have any clue as to why you aren't healing?"

She bit her lip, tears falling soundlessly. "I don't want to tell you."

"Why?"

"It's because… it's because I went against her. This is my fault. I deserve it," she said softly, beginning to rock back and forth with her knees tucked up into her chest.

"You went against who?"

Her eyes darted back up to his. "Your mate," she whispered. "He had the same eyes as her. He must have known what I did somehow, right? Or the Moon Goddess... she knows and is punishing me. He had the same eyes as her," she repeated, now overcome by the memory. "They were like... like flames. He bit me, and…" she tilted her head to the side as she said it as if she were protecting her neck.

The same eyes as August? And he bit her? An uneasy feeling rushed through Graeme's body like blood rushing to a wound.

"Let me see where he bit you," he said, easing toward her on the bed. She froze, avoiding his eyes. Everything she did was akin to a prey animal in the face of a predator.

As he leaned closer, reaching to lift the hair from her shoulder, she began trembling. Her eyes squeezed together when she felt Graeme lift her hair and place it behind her back. He didn't move or make a sound, but she kept her eyes closed tight, the trembles gradually becoming more violent. Because when she closed her eyes she could see him. The male who did this. The one with the flames in his eyes.

"He marked you?" the growl puttered low in his throat. "Then he will be coming here for you."

"No," Violet's eyes shot open. "Please don't let him. I don't think he meant to mark me, so maybe he won't."

"He didn't mean to?" Graeme's face was severe. What kind of monster would do something like this? There was a gaping wound of shredded muscle in Violet's neck right where her mark would be, should she get one.

"He wasn't one of us," she flinched, realizing that she could now put herself in that category as well. "And he said he was taking my wolf," the sob tore from her throat before she could stop it. How was it possible? How could he do that to her?

That sounded too familiar to be a coincidence. This wasn't good. Was there someone else out there like August?

"I'm going to talk to the healer who is helping you. I'll make sure you are taken care of," he said gently and rose from the bed.

Back in the hallway, Finn was still standing by the door as if he were standing guard. He had obviously overheard everything that was said.

"Did she tell you any of that on the way back?" Graeme asked.

"She wouldn't discuss it," Finn shook his head. "But it was obvious she was hurt badly. She just said she was sorry for everything she had done. That the only thing she wanted was to get back to the protection of our pack. That she should have never left. She kept repeating it over and over. And… and thanking me," Finn grimaced recalling how broken she sounded.

"You did good helping her back here, Finn. Well done. I'm going to find the healer who is preparing treatment for her," Graeme said and began walking from there. He paused and turned back to the young male who hadn't moved from his position. "You may go now and rest. You deserve it."

It was the eve of Samhain and surely Finn would want to spend it with his parents and older brothers. Or perhaps he would prefer joining those who were celebrating downstairs.

"I will stay guarding Miss Violet, if that is okay with you," Finn answered.

Graeme gave him a lingering gaze and nodded, impressed with the young male who was maturing before his eyes. This situation with Violet had obviously shaken him to such an extent that he preferred to stay by her side. Traumatic things often did that.

Graeme found the healer, an older female named Beth whom he recognized as having worked in the medical wing for many years. She was busy filling a cart with supplies to dress Violet's wounds. It appeared she also had clean clothes for her to wear and a pile of blankets.

"Oh, Graeme," she smiled as he rounded the corner. "What a surprise to see you here on the eve of Samhain."

"It was not my first choice," he chuckled, offering her a friendly smile before allowing his expression to turn serious again. "I spoke with Violet. She has severe wounds. Do you know why is she not healing?"

"I don't. It doesn't make any sense," her face twisted in concern. "Honestly, if I didn't know better, I would think I was tending to a human and not a lycan female I've seen grow from a pup."

"That is odd indeed," he replied in such a composed way that there was no hint as to the raging thoughts within. This was just like what happened when August bit Marius. What the hell was going on? Was this the vampire? Was it something else?

"What other injuries does she have?"

"There are similar gashes all over her body. Ligature marks on her wrists and ankles and throat," Beth grimaced. "She will need to stay here and recover for some time. It's not usually necessary, but I'm going to hook her up to some fluids as well and give her intravenous antibiotics."

Graeme nodded his approval. "Whatever she needs. If there is something we don't have that would help her heal better, send someone. Or call me directly."

"There is something else," the female added, although she seemed uneasy about revealing it.

"What is it?"

Beth wrung her hands together nervously. "She was… violated. I need to do a full exam, but if there is extensive damage and she is not healing, she may need help that we don't have here."

Graeme's eyes went hard, a muscle feathering in his jaw. Violet was not pure of heart by any means, but she didn't deserve this—even if she was looking to enter harm's way.

"There are surgeons off land who are from the pack. Call them if necessary," he ordered before departing to find an outlet for his rage.

******

Dear readers, I'm not sure we're going to make our goal of avg. power stones a day for the 8 chapter mass release at the end of the month. So I'm adding a second way to gain it!

For every 25 Golden Tickets the book gets between now and February 25th, 1 chapter will be added to the February 28th daily update (with a total of 10 chapters possible)! I'll also be adding privilege chapters next month, which makes it possible to read 20 brand new chapters within 2 days time. Say whaaat?

We're coming up fast on V2. Can't wait to share the next arc in this story with you all! <3