She clutched my arm as she went rigid, her eyes roving frantically around the room. Dr Fleming stepped up to her left and rested a reassuring arm on her shoulder. An ancient language I hardly understood fell from his lips, appearing to put the woman at ease.
She slumped onto the bed, her grip on my arm loosening. As he stroked matted hair from her face, I gave him a confused look. His Adam’s apple bobbed rigidly as he swallowed hard. “An old adage from my pack.”
“Is she part of your pack?”
He shook his head. “No, but she recognized it. We were likely neighboring families for a while.”
“What happened to your pack, Dr Fleming?”
“She’s stable. Let’s get her to the shifter wing.”
I blinked. “Dr Fleming?”
His eyes had glossed over and he was already heading to the door. I placed the wolfsbane back on the private shelf, locked it up tight, and wheeled the woman after him, the strangest sensation washing over me.
Nathaniel, I thought. Something must be wrong.
I was helpless to what I felt. Regardless of the chaotic whirlwind erupting around me, all I could think about was Nathaniel, his safety, and his health. Was he drinking water? Was he resting? Had he taken another shower?
Once the wolf-woman was secured in the shifter wing, Dr Fleming caught my wrist just outside the door, his eyes wide with what I assumed were dark memories.
“They’re all dead,” he replied. “I couldn’t save them.”
Shock registered on his features when I took his hand. “You’re an asshole and I hate you. I’m also sorry to hear about that.” I squeezed his hand once and then released it.
As I walked away, the strange feeling settled deeper into my bones, a hollow sensation that forced me into the nearest restroom and into a stall. I leaned over the toilet as nausea swept over me.
Nathaniel, I thought. Is this you? Why are you feeling like this?
Something struck me then like a semi smacking into an animal on the highway—loss. This was loss. Through all the destruction and chaos around me, I was feeling loss from Nathaniel.
What had he lost?
Why did it cause him so much pain?