Not waiting for an answer, Tynan winked at Donal and Margery and simply walked out the door.
After a moment to get his brain into gear, Norman followed.
“Whew, wasn’t that fun,” Margery muttered and pulled in a breath. “Healer, Darcy has a fractured wrist. The side window broke and gashed Emma’s head and shoulder. She might have a bit of a concussion, too—she thinks it was her head that broke the window.”
She’d stepped back to stand between the two women who were seated on the bench. Both women leaned against her, like she was their pillar of strength.
But their pillar was shaking, too.
Donal stepped close and touched Margery’s cheek with his fingertips. Evaluating. Pale face, skin too cold, heart racing. “He scared you.”
“Some.” She drew herself up and nodded at the two females. “He scared them worse.”
Aye, and Norman’s yelling would certainly frighten the already shaken females. Especially these two who, like Margery, had experienced violence in their pasts.
“Darcy, let’s get that wrist taken care of.” He could see Margery had done quick patch jobs on both female’s wounds and splinted the fractured wrist. He gave her a nod of gratitude. “Nice work. Thank you, banfasa.”
With Donal’s help, Darcy rose. One step into the healing room, and she was trying to back away. “I can’t. Just can’t—it’s too much…”
Gnome-guts, he should have expected this. She’d had a similar reaction before. Another Dogwood female. Her friends and family had died on the laboratory tables that apparently looked too much like his.
“Shhh, it’s all right.” Margery put an arm around Darcy’s waist. “I’ll be with you.”
Stilling, Darcy leaned on her, breathing hard.
Emma made a tiny whining sound.
Donal realized she didn’t want to be left alone out here. She’d had her own trauma in the past—and males yelling would trigger those memories. “Emma—”
Before he could say more, the banfasa, who had set aside her fears to protect these females, arranged matters for him.
“We’ll all go in so Donal can get you healed. I’ll sit with you both.” Margery gave him a look that said he’d better go along with her plan, then grinned at the other females. “I kind of like outnumbering the lonely male, don’t you?”
With a weak laugh at the joke, Emma rose, staggered one step, and then Margery tucked her arm around the bard.
Donal waved them all into his healing room. He had quiet, cooperative patients and an extra set of hands. There was no way he’d complain.
On the contrary, he planned to thank the Gods later for the gift of this banfasa.
Chapter Thirteen
Cold Creek, North Cascades Territory - full moon
The next night, Margery smiled at herself in the mirror, filled with the joy of wearing the first new clothing she’d ever bought on her own. With her very own wages.
The top’s jade color brought out the green in her hazel eyes and set off her light tan. Best of all, the shirt had breast support built in. No messing around with a bra during the Gathering.
She’d left her hair loose, and wasn’t it awesome that it now reached past her shoulders. She batted her eyelashes and tossed her hair back in the flirty way other females used. Maybe she’d missed learning how to be a female during her teen years, but she was catching up now.
Tonight, Tynan would be at the Gathering.
So would Donal.
The female parts between her legs tingled in anticipation even before the rising of the moon. Because she was pretty sure she’d be with Tynan tonight—no, she knew that would happen. She couldn’t wait. Finally, she’d be able to kiss and touch all of him. Feel his weight on her. Have him kiss her and take her and…
The room had certainly gotten warmer.
And maybe…Donal. Would he want her? There were times he looked at her like he saw her as more than a banfasa. As a female. Like his concern for her last night. How he’d touched her cheek. And when she’d said goodbye to return home, he’d thanked her, given her a wicked, very masculine smile, and said he’d see her tonight.
But maybe that was simply hopeful thinking on her part. He was probably mobbed by females at the Gatherings.
Just like that, her stomach tightened because…females probably mobbed both Donal and Tynan, and really, she wasn’t what males looked for in a female. She wasn’t muscular or particularly fit. Not beautiful.
But that didn’t seem to bother Tynan. When he looked at her, she felt beautiful. And Donal made her feel the same way. Her hopes rose again. And jumped higher because sometimes littermates shared a female. She’d never done that before, had never even thought it would be something she’d like, but…Donal and Tynan together?
Yes, please.
The knocking on the front door startled her, and she ran to answer it.
“Heather!” She drew the redhead into a hug.
Heather hugged back. “Don’t look so surprised. I told you I’d be back for this Gathering.”
“It’s great to see you. Come on in.”
Stopping in the living room, Heather pursed her lips. “Small but really cozy. Angie said you’ve done a ton of work. Are you going to stay here?”
Margery half-laughed. “A waitress’s salary doesn’t go far enough for a house. I only have the place rent free for two months in exchange for making it sellable.” In fact, she needed to start thinking about her next step. “Did you want to hang out here before the Gathering? I have iced tea.”
“Hang out, yes. Here, no.” Heather ran her fingers through her thick hair. “Angie realized you might not know there’s usually a clan meeting before moonrise. Vicki is commandeering the fireplace seats for a bunch of us—and said one of the seats is yours.”
Vicki was so nice. But would she be intruding? “Well…”
Heather nudged her shoulder. “C’mon, you. I need another unmated female there.”
Heather needed her. “Sure, I’d love to join you.”
“Perfect. If we leave now, we’ll be right on time.”
A few minutes later, they hurried up to the tavern’s front door where the Murphy brothers stood guard to shoo away any humans.
“Heather.” Kevin waggled his eyebrows at her. “Save me ‘n’ Cody some time if you can.”
“We’ll see.” Heather patted his arm. “Have you two met Margery?”
“Our favorite waitress,” Cody said with a smile. “We’re at the diner a lot.”
Heather arched an eyebrow at Margery. “I hadn’t thought of that. You picked a fine way to meet everyone in town.”
“I did.” Margery smiled at the brothers as Kevin held the door open.
Inside, shifters filled the tavern, sitting at tables and the bar, standing against the walls. And this time, the experience was so different from the Gathering last month. This time, Heather—and Margery received cheerful greetings. From packmates, diner customers, the shifters she’d tended as a banfasa.
The glow of belonging had her smiling as they crossed the room to the fireplace.