All Chapters of Survivor of Nightshade: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

I kept my footsteps light and quiet as I moved around the side of the bus. I didn’t want to startle him or make him feel as though he was being followed, even though that was exactly what we were doing. As I rounded the back of the bus, the young man came into view. He was standing alone on the field with his back to us. His head was slightly tilted upward, and he seemed completely motionless as he stared at the forest line ahead.Colt and I paused briefly, exchanging a quick glance before continuing forward with long strides, trying to figure out what was going on. His shoulders drooped slightly, and anyone looking at him could tell he was dejected and needed help with something, even without him saying a word. He looked small standing there by himself, and something deep inside me tightened at the sight.I placed a hand on his left shoulder while Colt rested his on the right. We had only intended to get his attention and ask if he needed any help, but we weren't prepared for his uns

Walking into the barracks, I followed the others into the common area to distribute rooms and hand out keys to each of the trainees. I saw Colt walk away midway through the distribution and grab Matthew, one of the other instructors, before returning to the center of the room to start the final speech.“Listen up! After you get your room number and keys, make your way to your rooms to clean up and come back downstairs if you want dinner in the mess hall. It is not required, so if you’d rather stay in your rooms and get some rest, that is fine by us. If you do wish to come down for dinner, Alpha Matthew here will take you over.”Isabella White, the pack’s chef stationed at the canteen, always keeps it open a little longer on the first night new packs arrive for training. She has been working as our training camp chef for over thirty years now. Her cooking is excellent, and she treats all of us like her grandchildren. Her fifty-eighth birthday is coming up at the end of the year, and th

I leave the room and walk into Raymond’s just in time to hear him exclaim in surprise at the fully stocked bathroom, which makes both me and Colt chuckle deeply at his reaction, and I have to admit the cleaners in charge of the barracks really do get shit done around here; call me impressed.I walked up to Raymond and handed him the phone. “How do you like it? This room wasn’t originally meant to be used, but plans changed last minute. Oh, by the way, here’s your phone. I already put our numbers in it, and I also added our eldest brother, Alpha Draven Eldritch. He’s the pack leader, and he handles a lot of the bigger responsibilities in the pack. He’s busier than the rest of us, but if you reach out to him, he wouldn’t mind stepping away to help if needed.” “Thank you, Alpha Draegan! You as well, Alpha Colt!” Raymond says in a slightly higher voice. The smile that spread on his face was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life. A warm feeling spread through me, and honest

We hurried down the eastern corridor toward the medical wing, our footsteps striking hard on the polished hardwood floors. Beside me, Draven clicked his tongue softly, a nervous habit I hadn't heard in years. The medical room doors finally came into view, and I shoved through them without slowing down. Beta Monica Shae was already waiting for us, moving across the room with brisk strides as I carefully lowered Raymond onto the bed. Her long black hair was twisted into a neat braided bun, and her blue eyes sharp behind thin-framed glasses. The second Raymond hit the mattress, whatever softness might have been in her expression disappeared. She slipped a penlight from the pocket of her white coat and immediately went to work.She checked his pupils, pulled down his lower lip to examine the inside of his mouth, pressed two fingers against his pulse, and then reached for the digital thermometer. Nobody spoke, and the silence felt fucking suffocating.Several agonizing seconds passed be

Raymond lets out another strained wheeze, and my attention snaps back to him. His face is still flushed, and sweat beads along his temples despite the cool washcloth resting across his forehead. I moved closer and brushed a damp strand of soft raven-black hair away from his face, careful not to disturb the fresh dressing Monica placed over the cut near his hairline."So damn stubborn," I whispered, more to myself than anyone else. “You waited until you physically couldn't stand anymore before asking for help.”Why?Draven glanced over at me and pondered for a moment before speaking. "He was most likely scared that if we found out about his injuries and the state of his body, we would send him packing." He released a heavy sigh and shook his head before looking back at Raymond for another moment before continuing. “Our pack isn’t known for being the most…forgiving,” he let out a chuckle and turned his attention back to Raymond’s unconscious figure laying on the bed.I know he's right.