<b>Chapter </b><b>417 </b>
I force my right hand to work as I cut and tie my coat in various ces to form a backpack around the small pup.
“Hopefully you don’t need to use the bathroom because I don’t think I could do this again<b>.</b><b>” </b>
She shakes her head no as I turn my back to her. I slip my arms through the loops as Madilyn wraps her arms and legs around me. I groan and yelp in pain as I stand but neither girl says a word. They clearly understand the situation and they know I’m not okay.
me as
d arm to
I take the straps I left hanging loose and tie them tight across my chest and ahe much support for Madilyn as I can without holding her as I’m going to need my ui help navigate through the dense woods. I start slowly toward the mouth of the case, testing my body’s ability to handle the sudden thirty pound load on top of the broken arm and bashed head.
Even though alpha has been building me up over thest four months I’m nowhere close to my best condition and with my father using the link to verbally assault mest month I’ve been on a steady back slide with my eating. My moods have gone bipr as well making it that much harder to eat
while I’m here.
I’m trying hard not to go into another depressive episode but I know my time here hase to an end now that I’m injured and can not be a part of what little training I’ve been able to receive so far.
A gentle, tiny hand touches mine bringing me back again to the critical task at hand. I look down at Madisyn, patiently standing beside me, waiting for my next move.
“As much as I’d rather stay in the safety of this cave until the storm passes, your sister and I really
need a doctor and all of us a warm bath.”
She nods her head silently as I step towards the mouth of the cave desperately trying to figure out how to get all of us out of this.
It takes a huge effort to keep pushing the pain I’m in away. I guess a dip in the freezing river didn’t do my broken arm any favors. I take a moment to lean against the mouth of the cave. The rain ising down in sheets so hard that it’s as if a thick fog has enveloped thend, it’s nearly impossible to get any sense of direction like this.
“Cole?” Madisyn’s voice is tiny, easily portraying the fear she’s trying to hide. “I can’t smell daddy.”
Blindly <b>I </b><b>let </b>go over her hand and ce it on her head pulling her against my leg. <b>She </b><b>wraps </b><b>her </b>arms around me, shaking from cold and fear.
“I know sweet pea. It’s okay. <b>I </b>just need a minute.”
<b>Chapter </b><b>417 </b>
She <b>keeps </b>a tight hold on me without another word. She has no choice but to trust the decisions <b>that </b>I make. I will be the sole reason for these girls‘ survival today and I will not fail them.
‘Jamie?‘ I open up the link to the only person I have ever trusted enough to allow in my head.
‘Jamie, I need you. I’m in big trouble. I’m not in good shape.‘
I give him a moment to respond knowing the tremendous pain that it’s going to cause me.
‘What’s going on?‘ I copse against the cave with a loud whine as his voice echoes in my battered
head.
‘Damn, man. You weren’t kidding. What the hell happened?‘ His voice is now a tolerable he tries again.
‘Are you familiar with the outdoor sparring ring on the west side of the territory?‘
“There’s multiple outdoor sparring rings. Three on the west side. Can you be a bit more specific?”
I take a moment trying to remember theyout of thend as a lot has happened today and this concussion is not ying nice with me.
‘It’s between a small yground and the river.‘
‘Where everyone was brawling over a female in heat?‘
‘Yes.‘ I’ve started into some deep breathing exercises in an effort to deal with the growing pain.
‘Yes, I’m familiar with the location. Is that where you’re at?‘
‘No. That’s where we started. Alpha’s girls wanted to help him but they ended up tossed in the river. I jumped in after them and now we’re at the mouth of a cave south <b>of </b>where we started. The rain is too heavy for me to get a sense of direction and it’s washed alpha’s scent away.‘
“You have the girls?!<b>‘ </b>I whine as his voice raises in excitement.
‘Alpha and luna are pissed right now. He’s locked down all prospects but Mica and I are heading out. I think I know where you’re at. You know me<b>, </b>I love to explore and there’s only one cave remotely near the territory. Start walking straight. You will be in a clearing for about ten feet before <b>you </b>hit <b>the </b>tree line that starts alpha’s territory. Keep straight as much as possible. It’s quite a <b>hike </b>to <b>get </b>back here though. There’s about <b>five </b>miles of forest between Crimson Dawn’s border <b>and </b><b>the </b>dorms<b>. </b><b>As </b><b>I </b>said, Mica and areing after you.<b>‘ </b>
The <b>Son </b><b>of </b>Red Fang