Mae POV
Sofia takes Raven's hand and they walk slowly out of the forest. Sofia doesn't seem to be at all shocked by Raven's naked body. It is like it is something that is completely natural. I, on the other hand, am trying to look anywhere but Raven's naked back as I follow them.
I can hear Sofia chatting away as she and Raven break through the trees. She is telling Raven about how I tried to save her and take on two werewolves by myself. I personally think she is embellishing the story a little. I did what I needed to do to keep her safe.
As soon as we make our way back to the canopy, Leo is at Raven's side, pulling an oversized shirt over her head. Clearly, he isn't as okay with her nudity as she is. He spins Raven around, looking for injuries, and when he doesn't find any, he kisses her deeply.
Oliver is there to pick up where Leo left off. He tugs at Raven and presses his lips to hers. I can't help but watch them curiously. I wonder how it works with two mates. Kieran is so possessive. I can't imagine him sharing me with anyone.
Sofia giggles loudly at my side as she takes my hand. Her eyes are glued to Raven and her mates.
Suddenly, I hear Sofia's name being screamed loudly from behind us.
I turn to see a woman who is probably my age running toward Sofia. I assume she is Sofia's mother because she looks just like her. She is wearing nothing but a T-shirt, and there is a massive bruise across her cheek. Her dark hair is covered in blood and mud, and her brown eyes are full of tears.
Sofia drops my hand and runs into the woman's arms. "Mommy," she squeals with excitement as her mother checks her over.
Wiggling to get out of her mother's hold, Sofia begins to tell her mother, the same tale that she told Raven. My face heats with embarrassment as she continues to say how brave I was not to shift into my wolf. Sofia is probably too young to realize that I do not have a wolf.
Sofia's mother scoops her into her arms and begins to walk in my direction. There is an unreadable look on her face. I notice that Sofia has deep bruises on her neck from where the man held her tightly. I suck in a sharp breath and wait for the verbal beating from Sofia's mother.
She stops right in front of me, and I don't know what to say. Her daughter was injured because of me. Before I can come up with some sort of excuse for my actions, Sofia's mother wraps her spare arm around me and hugs me tightly.
I am too stunned to hug her back, and suddenly, she lets go and steps back. "I am so sorry for touching you, Luna," she says through her tears. "Thank you for keeping Sofia safe."
"You don't have to apologize," I say as tears spring to my eyes. "I would do anything to keep a child safe."
"But you stood up to rogues, and you are a human," Sofia's mother sobs. "You could have died."
I don't know how to respond. It never occurred to me that my life was in danger. I only worried about Sofia's safety.
"It is the Luna Queen that deserves your thanks," I whisper. "She is the one that saved us in the end."
"Mommy," Sofia yawns. "Can I visit the Luna at the pack house?"
Sofia's mother shuffles from side to side. She is unsure how to answer.
"Of course you can," I say as I tug on one of her little dark curls. "I would be happy to see you again."
Sofia smiles as she lays her head against her mother's shoulder, and she is instantly asleep.
"I am Mae," I say as Sofia's mother stands awkwardly in front of me.
"I am Lucy," she replies. "I guess I should take Sofia home and put her to bed. Thank you for keeping her safe."
"I meant what I said. She can come to see me at any time," I reply as Lucy walks away with Sofia.
I let out a sigh and turn back to the canopy. Shock freezes me on the spot. I don't know how I missed it before. I guess I was too focused on Raven and Sofia. But the party area is in chaos. People are lying on the ground, blood is splattered all over the white tablecloths, and emergency personnel are trying to help those who are injured.
I spring into action. I don't know how to provide aid to a wounded werewolf, but I am assuming that it cannot be too different from a human.
Running into the middle of the canopy, I look around, trying to assess where I am needed. Someone grabs a hold of my ankle, and I look down. It is a young man whose bottom half of his leg is mangled. Blood is pouring from his leg, and I know if I don't stop the bleeding, he won't survive.
I know a tourniquet is a long shot, but I don't have another choice. A broken piece of the canopy railing is on the ground, I pick it up and rip a strip of fabric from my dress.
"This is going to hurt," I warn him, but he is already screaming in pain.
I quickly wrap the fabric around his leg and twist it around the railing. I press my knee on his upper leg to hold him down while I twist.
As I tighten the fabric around his leg, the bleeding slows, but it doesn't stop. I twist the railing one last time before tying it off. The young man is writhing in pain, but at least the bleeding has slowed.
I quickly get to my feet and look around. An EMT is running past me with a first aid kit. I grab it from his hands and point to the man on the ground. "He needs to go to the hospital now," I command with authority in my voice.
The EMT looks at my tattered ball gown that is now covered in blood and at the man lying on the ground. He nods to me and yells for someone with a stretcher to come over.
I don't wait for them to load the man before I move on to the next person. I help person after person and direct the EMTs on who needs to be taken care of first. They follow all of my commands blindly.
My arm is starting to ache badly, but I don't have time to worry about myself when there are so many others that need help.
I finish bandaging an injured woman's arm, and when I am finished, I try to stand. It feels like the world is shaking under my feet, and I begin to sway back and forth.
I try to take a step forward, but my knees buckle underneath me, and I fall to the ground. I brace myself for the impact, but someone wraps their arms around my waist and holds me upright.
"I have been looking all over for you," Kieran's voice is panicked.
I try to look him in the eyes, but my vision is blurry. He is looking over my body, and his eyes keep getting wider.
"What happened to you?" He asks.
"I have been helping," I mutter.
"You are injured," Kieran snarls as he looks at my arm. "You were attacked by a rogue."
"More people need my help," I say as I try to break away from him, but he doesn't let go.
My head falls forward, and I am encompassed by darkness.