Chapter Three

 "Is he dead?" Isabel asked shakily with her eyes fixated on the unknown man's seemingly lifeless body. 

"Not yet but he'll soon be if I don't do something. He has lost way too much blood and his wound doesn't seem to be healing like it should," Amelia replied, trying her best to stop the bleeding from his stomach. 

"W...what should I do? How can I help?" Isabel asked. 

"First, we need to cover him up a bit more so the cold doesn't worsen his condition. Pass me the sack in the bag, that should be more than enough to keep him warm," Amelia instructed and Isabel quickly does as told. 

"But Amelia, what if he's a rogue or something? Wouldn't we be wrong for helping him out?" Isabel wondered, earning an annoyed glare from an unimpressed Amelia.

"The only thing we should think about now is saving his life, Isabel. Whatever he is, we'll go over that when we're sure he's not gonna die on us. Now, stop fidgeting and wait here with him while I go find anything we could use to help him," Amelia snapped back harshly. 

"Why me though?" Isabel protested. 

"You know nothing about herbs Isabel and I don't have time to waste here. If we don't do something soon, he's going to die and it would be both our faults for not saving his life. Now, stay here with him and hold onto the cloth on his stomach but don't press on it too hard cause that would only make things worse. I'll be back soon," Amelia assured before running off and walking deeper into the woods until she was out of Isabel's sight. 

Isabel desperately muttered prayers to the moon goddess as she pressed lightly on the unknown man's injury and prayed and hoped he didn't die. She could not believe that of all the ways her friend could have found her mate, it had to be this way where he's almost dead and she had to save his life. 

A soft whimper distracted her from her thoughts and when she looked down at him, she noticed the teardrops rolling down his cheeks. 

Whatever could have happened to this man to make him cry even when he's at death's door? She wondered to herself as she stared at him and watched as he whispered softly whilst sweating profusely. She quickly used her free hand to wipe his sweat and tears. She wondered what could have happened to him and she couldn't help but pity him. 

"Please hurry up Amelia," Isabel muttered to herself, hoping her friend would find whatever she was looking for so the poor guy doesn't end up dying. 

Amelia hurriedly gathered the few herbs she could find although she couldn't be too sure they'd be enough to save his life. As much as her heart felt heavy with fear, she couldn't allow herself to be slowed down by it as not just any man's life was at stake, it was her mate's life at stake. 

Lucky for her, her mother had taught her more than enough on how to save lives using herbs and ointments. She very well knew the herbs that would stop his bleeding and also close up his wound. As easy as it sounded, Amelia knew a person's life depended on her and since she had never really been in such a situation before, she couldn't help but be nervous and afraid of making things worse. 

"How's he doing?" Amelia asked Isabel as soon as she got back. 

"I'm no medical practitioner but I don't think he's gonna make it if you don't hurry up. He hasn't stopped whimpering and shivering since you left and his cut still hasn't healed at all," Isabel answered and Amelia let out a sigh. 

As far as she knew, an injury like this on a werewolf should be healing on its own right now since werewolves healed pretty fast but the fact that his wasn't healing at all really scared her. 

Pushing her negative thoughts away, Amelia picked the nearest stone next to her and quickly used it to beat the herbs into a mashed form. She removed the blood soaked cloth from his body and applied the mashed leaves on the injury carefully to stop the bleeding. 

"I really need water Isabel. There's a lake about ten minutes away from here, please, help me get some," Amelia requested and without wasting any time, Isabel sprints towards the direction of the lake with the water bottles they had come with in her hands.  

Amelia noticed the bleeding was slowly starting to stop and she quickly proceeded to apply the spicy plant ointment that her mother had given her just in case she ever got injured. According to her mother, the ointment would sting quite a bit but it would help any kind of wound heal faster and also help to prevent any further infection. 

She noticed the dried tears on his cheeks and she wondered why he cried. Could it be the pain of his injury or could it be something else? She wondered to herself as she carefully robbed the ointment on the wound surface. 

"I'm back," Isabel's familiar voice yelled as she ran towards Amelia with two water bottles with her. 

"Thank you," Amelia said as she collected the bottled water from her friend. 

"Could you feed him some water while I mix this? He lost way too much blood and he needs something to at least give him a little bit of energy," Amelia instructed and Isabel does as she's told. 

"Do you think he'll make it?" Isabel asked as Amelia applied the liquid herb on the wound. 

"I can't say for sure Isabel but I can only hope he does. For now, we need to find a way to get him out of here cause I heard this place is where rogues mostly lie in ambush and it could get dangerous for us if we stay for too long," Amelia replied and Isabel's stomach dropped in fear. 

"I should have just stayed home like mom suggested," Isabel drawled and Amelia frowned. 

"Instead of complaining like a child, how about you help me think of a way to carry him so all three of us don't end up getting killed by rogues?" Amelia snapped impatiently.

"It's not like we can carry Amelia. It's either we go get help or we stay here till he wakes up," Isabel replied.

"We don't know when he'll wake up and we can't possibly wait till he does," Amelia muttered to herself, contemplating on the best possible option. She knew there was a high chance he wouldn't be waking up anytime soon and she couldn't afford to leave him here in search of help, knowing very well that anything could happen in her absence. 

"Wait a second, I just remembered something!" Amelia exclaimed suddenly, confusing Isabel.

"What?" Isabel asked. 

"I think there's an abandoned house somewhere around here. I can't say exactly where it is but I'm almost sure it's around here somewhere and we just need to walk around for a bit," Amelia replied, trying to recall where it was she had come across the house. 

"Do you mean the shabby building that you can see at the far opposite end of the lake?" Isabel asked, hoping she was wrong. 

"Oh, that's where it is? I know I've seen an old house somewhere around here," Amelia said and Isabel scoffed. 

"You said it yourself that rogues literally parade this area Amelia so what makes you think they won't hide out in the house?" Isabel replied.

"Well, we can't exactly stay here either, Isabel. We need to find a proper place for him to lie down cause the bare floor is only going to make his condition much worse and I think we should try it out instead of assuming that rogues live there and I doubt they would be foolish enough to stay in such an opened space in broad daylight except they want to get caught," Amelia reasoned, dismissing Isabel's fear. 

"Okay, let's say you're right about that, how are we going to get him all the way there?" she asked. 

"How else Isabel, we'll have to carry him," Amelia drawled a reply. 

"Carry him? This guy? Are you seeing what I'm seeing Amelia? This dude is almost two times our size and you're talking about carrying him like it's the easiest thing in the world," Isabel protested, wondering how her small frame was supposed to carry a grown man like him. 

"Have you ever shifted before Isa?" Amelia asked suddenly, taking Isabel by surprise. 

"Why would you even ask that Amy? You better than anyone knows how secluded my life has been and I have never had a reason to shift before. My wolf and I barely even communicate without fighting," Isabel replied, hating the fact that Amelia even bothered to ask. 

"Okay then, you'll handle the bags and the medicine and I'll do it," Amelia said and Isabel furrowed her brows in confusion. 

"Do what? What are you thinking of doing, Amelia?" She questioned.

"Can't you tell, silly? I'm shifting," Amelia stated and Isabel gasped. 

"Are you insane Amelia? You've never even shifted before!" Isabel hissed, staring back at Amelia like she had lost her mind. 

"Who says I haven't? Why do you think I always agree to come here?" Amelia replied, mentally laughing at her friend's cluelessness.

"Are you for real Amelia? You've shifted before? How did you do it?" Isabel asked out of both curiosity and fear. 

"I'll explain all of that later Isabel. For now, we need to get him to a better place so here's what we'll do. I'll shift and put him on my back and you'll carry the bags and medicine along with my clothes and you'll come with me. Do you get it?" Amelia asks and Isabel immediately nods positive.

Amelia starts to peel off her clothes and Isabel watches in awe as her friend undresses before suddenly turning into a wolf almost three times. 

"Holy shit!" she yelled out of shock, staring back at the grey fur in front of her with wide eyes. 

"You're so pretty," she admired, touching her friend's fur and admiring how huge and pretty she was. 

"Uh, Isa, I don't mean to cut your moment short of anything but we need to get moving," Amelia reminded her friend through mindlink and Isabel quickly snapped out of her reverie, helping Amelia pick him up and place him on her back before picking up the bags and walking in the direction of the lake. 

"Are we not gonna talk about the fact that he's actually your mate? Like, of all the wonderful, peaceful and romantic scenarios in the world, you ended up meeting your own soulmate just when he's at death's door? Doesn't it scare you?" Isabel asked as they walked towards the lake. 

"I also got a chance to save his life before something happened to him. If that isn't romantic enough for you, then that's your problem. Also, I'd rather not talk about the fact that he's my mate yet. I still don't know how he really is and until I do, I won't be getting my hopes up," Amelia replied. 

"I envy you though. At least, one of us got to meet her soulmate and he's actually pretty good looking," Isabel teased.

"I'm pretty sure you'll meet yours soon Isabel so don't stress over it too much. Now, enough talking and let's get this man to safety quickly. He isn't exactly lightweight you know," Amelia replied and Isabel decided against teasing any further as she noticed how uncomfortable it made Amelia.