It all made sense now.
The herbs and the plants all over the place. It made sense that he was the Pack's doctor. It just hadn't made sense to me that such a person would want to talk to a slave in a kind manner.
The woman hadn't noticed me yet. Her head was still lowered. I could sense the amount of sorrow she was drowning in.
The child must be a special one or an only child. I thought.
"Let's go." I heard Nick say and turned sharply to stare at him.
I caught his eyes on me.
Had he been referring to me or the woman?
Already the woman was standing. But he was still looking at me.
"Is she coming with us?" I heard the woman ask; her question echoed my exact thoughts. But I could hear the skepticism in her voice. I knew then that I shouldn't be running rounds with a doctor.
"Yes, she is," Nick replied, and I balked. Was this man trying to put me in trouble?
Turning aside to look at the woman, I could see her reluctance in the drooping down of her shoulders, and in the scrutiny of her gaze all over me.
"I need her help with some things. Isn't that the reason you all signed into the Alpha's decree? Their help." Nick said after some beats, waiting for the woman's final reply, as it seemed that he wouldn't leave the house without me.
But why? Why was he so lenient with me? Had he known my parents or something? I thought as I couldn't lay my hands on why he would want to help a slave like me.
"Okay then." The woman finally said, before moving speedily towards the door, as the urgency of whatever matter that was plaguing her dawned on her that minute.
"Good," Nick said, walking after her. But he halted in his movements after some steps. He must have noticed that I wasn't following them.
"What are you doing, sitting there?" He asked, as his gaze landed on me, before shifting to the tray on the table.
"Don't worry about the food. You will eat it when you are back." He said, obviously thinking that the food had been the reason for my reluctance in following him.
And not finding it necessary to let him know that his leniency rather than his food, had been the core issue on my mind, I nodded and got up from the chair.
"Take this." He said, handing over his bag to him.
"Something to ease the questions that would be arising soonest." He added, before turning away and walking through the open door.
**
Well, Nick was right about something he had mentioned subtly. The questions that bombarded me in form of cursory glances were all over the place. Some were mild, but some were so thick and hostile that I squirmed under their gazes.
The experience got me happy that I didn't have a wolf. (for a second, mind you. For a second.) At least I didn't have to hear their mumblings and mutterings.
I also noticed that my fellow slaves were staring at me too, some were just harmless cursory glances, and others were on another level of contempt, and I couldn't help but be a bit scared.
I could understand their situation still. They were involved in hard labor: I saw some carry bags of grain on their shoulders to god-knows-where, and some were with heaps of clothes. But I was walking along with one of the most respected people in the pack with just a medical bag hanging from my shoulder.
Yes, I understood the reason for their instant contempt. I was a new slave who should be burdened with more duties, but I was 'enjoying'.
"Olivera, you should stop zoning out on me. If we are going to be of help to each other now, you need to stop zoning out. Put your mind in the game. Forget about whatever is seeking your attention in your mind, forget the hostile looks that you're receiving. If we are going to play this out well, you need to be focused and active as I give out instructions." I heard Nick say after he had tapped me twice on the arm.
"I'm sorry," I mumbled as I discovered that I had zoned out on the good doctor. He must have called me and hadn't gotten my attention. I thought, cursing my mind thereafter.
Stay focus. I kept on chanting inside my head, even though I wanted to ask him what he had meant by helping each other out. From what I can see, I was a lost cause. I am a slave, hated by the pack, and now, I am viewed in contempt by my fellow slaves. Way to go Olivera.
We halted as the woman stopped in front of a small whitewashed bungalow.
"Come in." She said, as she opened the door, and went inside.
Taking in a deep breath, I followed the doctor into the house, which had a beautiful interior décor.
I almost spurted 'nice place' but for the instant reminder (of which I was grateful) that I was a slave. The woman wouldn't need my appraisal.
"He is in here." The woman muttered as she led us into one of the rooms.
A boy wearing only shorts was lying on the bed, shivering and grunting at the same time in pain.
"What's wrong with him?" I asked in a whisper, as my eyes trailed over the body of the boy who couldn't be more than ten years old. His skin was covered with sores and rashes, I hadn't seen any of this before.
"We will talk about it later. For now, I need your utmost concentration." Nick stated, and I nodded.
"Let me have the bag." He demanded, stretching his hand towards me.
I nodded again before I could even stop myself, already sliding the bag off my shoulder.
I stretched the bag towards him, but before he could collect it.
A loud voice boomed across the room.
"Who let in a dirty slave near my son?!!"