A Werewolf's Heart Part 1.1

Rita growled and shook her head. She did still love him, but could she forgive him for hurting her baby boy?

Ed and Nick fought ferociously, still tumbling in the life-or-death battle.

Howard sighed. 'I'm sorrry... I'll take whatever punishment you give me.'

Rika growled at him. 'I'll let your youngest son decide what to do with you,' she snapped.

Nick finally got the upper hand [paw?] and pinned his eldest brother to the ground, biting his neck. 'This is for Ilane. Goodbye, brother,' he said bitterly and snapped his jaws together, breaking his neck. He looked up at the man he knew was his father and growled. Furious beyond words, he just stormed back inside to Ilane.

Sam was in her human form, Ilane's head in her lap. Her face was sad as she smoothed her hair.

Nick shifted into his human form, kneeling down next to them. He ignored his injuries. "Is she okay? Has she moved or woken up," he asked, stroking Ilane's cheek gently.

"She moved softly when I moved her." Sam said softly. "Nick I'm so sorry..."

"What are you going to do about Dad?" Al asked.

Nick bent down and kissed his mate's lips softly. "Ilane, baby, can you hear me? You're gonna be okay, honey, I'm gonna take care of you," he told her, stroking her cheek gently.

Brados stayed with Rika, making sure Howard didn't get away.

Ilane didn't move, her breathing stayed the same, just barley there.

"Nick, what are you going to do about Dad? I think we should kill him." Al said.

"I don't care," Nick said, glancing at his brother.

'You're a good healer, Howard. Heal Ilane. Heal her for our son,' she told him.

'I can't do anything... What we did to her she should be dead by now... she must really love Nick or something.' Howard said.

Nick looked up at Sam. "Let's wash the blood off of her. Can you get water and a rag," he asked her.

She nodded, slowly getting up. "Yeah." She said, rushing out of the cave and to the river.

"We're gonna get you cleaned up, sweetheart," Nick told Ilane, brushing her hair out of her face. "And maybe get some water down in you. I'm not gonna leave you, baby, not for a second," he told her quietly, kissing her forehead.

"Nick... She may not live... look around, she's lost a lot of blood." Al said, taking a step closer.

"It doesn't mean I can't try," Nick told him, stroking Ilane's cheek still. "I won't give up on her. Not ever."

Sam came back with the water then rushed back out, going over to Brados. She hugged him tightly. "Baby, I need you shirt. We need rags." she said softly.

Brados shifted into his human form and took off his shirt, handing it to her. "Is she alright," he asked softly.

Nick put some water on his hand and wiped down her forehead to start cleaning off her face. He kept dipping his hand in the water and wiping off her face gently, then started with her neck. He was doing this to see if she had any broken bones.

Sam was shaking slightly because she was so scared. Her and Ilane had really bonded and she was a true friend. "I don't know. She isn't waking up. We made need you to carry her out..." she said, kissing his cheek then going back into the cave, ripping the shirt and helping nick.

the only things really broken on Ilane was her wrist. That was crushed pretty badly and even when she was a wolf, it would take a while to heal. Her breathing got shallower and her face got paler.

"Nick she isn't going to make it..." Al said, shaking his head.

Nick shook his head. "Ilane, come on, baby, stay with me, please," he begged, not knowing what else to do. He looked up at Al, desperation and pain written all over his face, then back down at Ilane. "Come on, baby, don't leave me."

"We need to get her out of here." Sam said, wiping the blood off her stomach and legs. "Brados can carry her, He's strong. He wont move her to much." She said, trying to get Nick's attention.

Nick nodded hesitantly, not wanting to risk hurting her and it killing her.

Brados heard Sam say his name from inside the den and went inside. "You need me to carry her," he asked quietly. He thought of Ilane as his little sister; he was worried about her, too.

"We'll do what we can Nick, you know we will." Sam said, standing up and looking at Brados. "Try not to jolt her to much. We don't know how bad she is."

Brados nodded. "I'll be really careful," he promised them and very, very gingerly lifted Ilane and cradled her to his chest, moving very slowly.

Nick watched, feeling totally helpless. He hated seeing her so pale and weak.

"Let's get her home," Brados said and very slowly walked out of the den with her. It was odd, but Brados didn't bounce on his heels like most large, muscled men did. His step was smooth and graceful as he carried Ilane towards their own den.

Howard watched, as Ilane was carried away. 'Does your mate live, son?' He asked Nick.

Al growled and turned into his wolf for, snapping at his father. 'You don't deserve to talk to him, you don't deserve to talk to any of us!'

"Barely," Nick answered him quietly, his eyes not leaving his love as he followed Brados. "She might not. If she doesn't, I will kill you," he forewarned him.