“Who is—”
“I have no idea. Fix this artery, then Tynan. If you start on her, I’ll get help for the others.”
He looked shocked, but he knelt and closed his hands around the wolf’s leg. “I’ve got this. Tend the rest.”
She rose and intercepted Joe. Slapping dressing packets into his hands, she pointed to the woman and child lying on the ground. “Help them until Donal can.”
The old werecat growled his agreement.
“Sheriff.”
Alec turned at her call.
She handed him supplies and motioned to the woman with a ripped-up arm who still stood but seemed in shock. “Help her and corral the cubs before they run away.”
“That’s smart.” Alec patted her arm and headed toward the climbing web.
Finally, finally, she could run to where her heart had been pulling her from the first moment. Her ankle burned like fire as she dropped onto her knees. “Oh, Tynan, what did you do?”
“Done went and saved a bunch of lives.” The bass voice held a Texas drawl. A huge male knelt down beside Tynan. “The bear mucked him up good.”
“Yeah.” She winced at the sight of the broken leg but left it alone. Instead, she worked on the area where the bear’s claws had torn away muscle and skin, exposing Tynan’s ribs. Slow the bleeding.
She took the big man’s hand and set it on the dressings. “Press here while I check his head.”
Pupils normal, breathing slow and even, pulse fast but steady. As she ran her fingers over the soft fur of his head and found a nasty lump, the wolf whined.
“Easy, easy,” she whispered.
Whining again, he tried to roll. Bending her head, she shared her breath and her calm. “It’s over. All okay. Everyone’s alive and safe. They’re all safe, Tynan. Shhh.”
Yes, that was what the big protector was concerned about. Gaze starting to focus, he looked at her, then past her at the giant male who’d been the grizzly.
“She got it right, Ty. The feral’s dead. Donal’s here and fixin’ people. You might want to trawsfur before we get curious humans.” The male glanced at her and said, “I’m Ben, by the way.”
“Margery. It’s—”
A little girl slammed into Ben’s side. “Da, you came.”
“Darlin’.” Freeing one hand, he wrapped a huge arm around her. His brows drew together. “How did I not see you here, Minette?”
“I took Lucas to hide in the bushes.” She motioned to a cubling about her age standing behind her. Looking terrified.
Margery silently held out one arm. Offering.
A second later, the pup was burrowing into her side as if to find a cave to hide in. After giving him a quick squeeze, she settled him beside her so her hands were free. She hummed a calming note, pleased when both cubs and both males relaxed.
Before she could resume her work on Tynan’s injuries, he trawsfurred to human, growling in pain.
Blinking at the naked male under her hand, Margery remembered Ben’s advice. Humans. Right. She pulled off her jacket and draped it over Tynan’s groin.
His lips curled into a slight smile. “Not the usual reaction I have from females.”
Even as she turned her attention to the ripped-up flesh over his ribs, a startled laugh escaped her.
Donal knelt and scowled at her. “What’s funny about injuries like these?”
“What the fuck, Donal.” The big male shot Donal a displeased look. “If you don’t want laughter, then tell your littermate not to make jokes.”
Tynan’s frown at his brother was equally displeased.
To her surprise, Donal gave her an apologetic look. “Sorry, Margery. I have trouble seeing him hurt.”
“Me, too,” she whispered. Tears prickled her eyes at the rush of relief. The healer was here, and her wolf would be all right.
Tynan’s hand closed around hers. Bending her head, she kissed his fingers. Wonderful warm fingers—he was alive.
When he lifted his hand to touch her cheek, she realized he was wiping the tears from her face.
His lips curved. “You were worried about me?”
More tears fell.
Donal stared at the little female who was silently crying. Not wailing to attract attention, but turning her face away, trying to hide her tears. To hide her emotions.
She really did care for Tynan; it was obvious. Even so, she’d ignored those feelings and done what was best for everyone. Had sent him to tend to Bonnie who would have died otherwise. Who had taken long enough to arrange for the others to be cared for.
And who was upset enough about Tynan that she was visibly trembling.
By Herne’s horny hooves, these weren’t the actions of a banfasa who tended her friends first.