Chapter 24
TESSA’S POV
A wave of relief and hope washed over me the person I could rely on was back. He didn’t abandon me.
“Gabe?!” I repeated, his name a strangled cry erupting from my Eps.
I know I said I had no more tears to cry but as soon as he spoke to me, I felt hot, fresh tears stream down my face as I clung to him for dear life. How I missed his scent of pine and earth. I just realized how much he meant to me over the years we had known each other.
After a few seconds that felt like an eternity, I pulled away and wiped my tears-stained cheeks, my voice thick with emotion. “Gabe… I failed….he died…I couldn’t save him”.
Gabe was silent urging me to continue and for a breathless 4 minutes, I narrated everything that happened that day.
Gabe ruffled my hair as though I were a child and nodded after listening. I rested my head on his shoulder again. He said nothing and stroked my hair. He didn’t offer empty platitudes or false reassurances, he simply let me relax in his arms.
I pulled away again and sniffled. He was staring intently at me.
“Tessa..” he began, his voice clear and still. “Never blame yourself for a patient’s death. You played your part, you gave him a chance to live and the rest wasn’t in your hands, sometimes the best medics can’t win against cruel fate.”
His words were true but I still felt that strange pang of guilt. His words had however offered a sliver of comfort in the darkness that engulfed me.
“But I should’ve been there. I shouldn’t have left him” I choked out. “I left the med bay unattended-”
“Hey!” he said placing a hand on my lips to silence me.” Don’t blame yourself, Tessa. It wasn’t in your control” He advised.
His words resonated with an air of truth that I couldn’t deny however I simply couldn’t deny the fact that perhaps, maybe nothing would have happened to him if I had been there.
“C’mon get up” I heard Will say standing up.
I looked up at him and forced myself up – I stumbled and almost fell due to the formed cramps in my legs.
Running a hand through my hair, I ran my hand through my scatt red hair.
“By the way, Gabe. I was beginning to think you wouldn’t come said peering at him.
He let out a small smile.
“And miss seeing your face for so long? Of course not, Tessa” He assured.
I gave a small hmm and stretched my aching body
“I’m guessing you didn’t come empty-handed. Where are your things?” I asked looking at his empty hands.
He equally raised his hands to look at them as though he wasn’t aware that he was empty-handed.
“Oh, I actually came with nothing but a satchel. I came straight from Nightshade pack. I wanted to make sure you were alright” He said.
I felt
my heart give out to this man who could have ignored my lying body years ago but rather, he took me in, cared for me, and treated me like his younger sister and sometimes, I felt like his daughter by the way he treated me like a child.
“Thank you, Gabe. For staying with me” I said with a childish expression on my face,
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Chapter 24
I’m not leaving your side again. We’ll face this together, alright? He said
Gratitude welled up within me at those words, a warm counterpoint to the chilling grip of despair. Gabe’s unwavering support was a lifeline I desperately needed to cling to.
“Where are the children?” he asked curiously looking about him.
“Oh, they’re in the care of a nanny and they’ll probably be until it’s time for them to be tucked into bed” I replied.
He smiled and nodded.
50%
“Why don’t you go check on the patients in the med bay? I don’t think you’d want to leave them alone again” He noted.
I placed a hand on my forehead.
“You’re right. I shouldn’t leave the patients alone. What about you?” I asked.
Gabe pretended to think before answering.
“I’m fine. I want to get my stuff from someone I left it with and find out something before I find my way to you.”
I nodded stillly and walked off, with Gabe staring at me I always knew when Gabe was staring at me and 90% of the time, it was because he was thinking of crucial matters and the remaining 10% was because he had zoned off, and just happened to be staring at me and this time, I knew that it wasn’t the latter.
As 1
I got to the med bay, I hesitated at the door, I knew Gia wouldn’t judge me but then….the new medics may start spreading rumors. Would they accept me or… I quelled the thought and pushed the door open revealing a freckle-faced young lady and a middle-aged male wolf, Gia was speaking to them when I walked in.
Gia first noticed me.
“Medic Tessa, you’re back!” she exclaimed. If only I felt the hope she was feeling and knew what kept her happy and calm…
The other two medics greeted simultaneously.
“I’m Eva” The lady introduced herself.
“I’m Zed,” The man said with so much vigor and willingness to work. Something I was grateful for.
The next 2 hours were spent with the three of them with me telling them the rules and duties they would have to know if they were to work with me. It was standard rules and protocols but I just added a bit of my own rules, the most important being to keep Will out at all costs.
This brought me back to the question, what was Will doing in the med bay shortly before Thomas passed away? Thomas… I felt bile rise in my throat again as I stared at the ward where he once lay.
Will had a lot of explaining to do, I didn’t have enough evidence against him but I knew he wasn’t there to drink coffee when I caught him. He seemed pretty nervous and in a hurry to leave my presence.
I smiled at the two new medics, Ria had taken the stained sheets to the laundry room so I was alone with the two medics.
So, feel free to ask me questions,” I said trying to make them feel comfortable with me. Eva raised her hand to indicate that she had a question and I felt my heart sk ip a weird beat – I was actually worried about what she wanted to ask, would she start questioning me on my return to the pack after so long? Would she ask about my children.?
“Medic Tessa” Her shrill voice sounded, interrupting my thoughts. “How did you learn medicine? I’m amazed by your vast knowledge.”
That was unexpected, no one had asked me that before.
“The person who taught me is my savior and the closest thing to a family after my children. You know what, he’s in the pack
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Chapter 24
can maybe gain some things from him.” I said.
for now, you can
Eva smiled, her eyes brightening up..
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“Really?! That would be…” She trailed off, her eyes shimmering in excitement. I smiled forgetting my sorrows for a second.
“Medic Tessa?” Zed said making me snap my head to look at him wondering what he wanted to ask.
“About sentinel’s Thomas death..” He began. I bit my lip hard wondering if he was going to blame it on my inexperience.
“I know how it feels to lose someone who you tried to save, we had a lot of deaths before you came to save you from it. I heard you cried when he died, I’m truly amazed by how you are, that’s the sign of a true medic who can’t bear to lose someone. I’m your number one fan” He said jokingly to which Eva and I laughed.
“But…” His voice turned serious? How do we effectively deal with deaths? I have a feeling that we’ll be seeing a lot
I licked my lips.
“Let’s hope and work hard so we don’t lose anyone anymore,” I said.
I stood up, looking at them
“You two are in charge. I need to go find someone,” I said leaving before they could get a word in.
I was leaving to find him-Will. I couldn’t sit around and not do anything but where was the old geezer? My steps led me into the vast training area which was empty because the village had been put on temporary lockdown the previous day due to a sp i ke in cases.
Then, I saw him. Will, his tall broad form leaning against a gnarled oak tree. I felt a sudden surge of anger as I approached
him
I stormed towards him, my voice heavily laced with accusation and pain.
“You!” I spat out
stopping mere inches away from him. “What did you do?”
He looked down at me, his face expressionless. “What do you mean?” He asked nonchalantly. He was calm – too calm.
“You were the last… I wanted to counter when I heard a voice behind me.
“Medic Tessa and Medic Will,” The sentinel said bowing. The Alpha has requested your presence immediately”.
I shot a look at Will, my words caught in my throat.
I calmed myself down and followed the sentinel along with Will as he led us to the meeting hall where Adrian, Giselle, and the elders were already present.
I curtsied and found a place to stand opposite Will
“Glad you could join us,” Adrian said addressing Will and me but his gaze was fixed on only me.
“We have reason to believe that Sentinel Thomas was poisoned and didn’t die of the plague so we will be conducting an investigation to bring the killer…if there is one to justice,” Adrian said
I shot a side look at Will who seemed unbothered.
Then, Giselle, ever the opportunist stood up and wasted no time in pointing her finger at me. “It wouldn’t have happened if “Tessa had been there,” she said, her voice dripping with indignation. “She shouldn’t have left them unattended…”
I was silent wondering what Adrian would say side with his Luna and speak ill of me?
However, Adrian shot a withering look to Giselle who was silenced immediately.
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“Enough. Giselle. Your words are unhelpful and disrespectful. Tessa has done everything in her power to save the lives of people and I will not tolerate any further accusations against her He growled.
Giselle sat back down, her eyes burning with a fire that I was all too familiar with.
One of the elders turned to me, a curious look in his eyes.
“Medic Tessa, perhaps you would like to explain what type of position might have been used against the deceased?” He
asked
I had no answer, I had never seen anything like it and I felt uncomfortable with everyone staring at me, waiting for me to
answer.
The doors were pushed open and someone walked in with determination and resolve in every step – Gabe.
Everyone turned to look at Gabe unsure of his identity.
“Apologies for the interruption. Alpha” Gabe said bowing to Adrian who was peering at him with curiosity.
“I believe I may be able to shed some light on the matter.” Gabe said, moving closer to me.
I saw Adrian’s eyes darken at Gabe’s close proximity to me was that jealousy?.
Adrian frowned deeply, looking at Gabe. Gabe had his hand in mine and I’m not sure how Adrian translated it but it was certainly not a friendly gaze that he was giving Gabe.
“Who are you and what is your relationship with Medic Tessa?” Adrian’s gruff voice boomed.
Gabe let go of my hand and bowed again.
“Me? My name is Gabe Heartwood and I’m Tessa’s mentor” He said, his voice loud and clear for all to hear.
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