el

. The wound was a deep, ragged gash acros

sentence. Infection would set in, then f

the faintest dregs of my body's energy. This time, I wasn't trying to reb

into existence before my eyes, visible only to me. Vital signs scrolled across it

base was

knowledge, tactical schematics, and black-ops data was at m

rauma. Debridement, sutures, infection control

ectant. The fireplace poker, which could be sterilized in the embers. For sutures, I ripped a

rusted pin I'd found on the floorb

aged voice announced. "The Alph

ext. Healers were revered. They used herbs and

healing would have minimal effect on my human soul and zero eff

ily on a wooden staff, blinked at me with kind,

said, reaching a wrink

s reach. "Thank you, but I do

ion shifted from pity to disbelief. In his long lif

is brow furrowed. "Without treatment,

d, gesturing to the pathetic c

horror. "You intend to torture yourself with these...

the guards Alphonso had posted. I could feel

d to en

If I die, it is my choice. It will not be on your consci

hen shook his head, a deep sigh rattling his old frame. He tu

eady reporting this via their mind-link. The wolfless one

the Alpha thin

zed the pin and the threads in the glowing embers of the f

h of the pin to my raw flesh sent a bol

cuses the senses. My hands, though trembling from weakness

, hissing as it burned. Then, taking a de

cuticular technique, closing the layers of tissue from

es. My vision blurred. The world narrowed to the point of

he last kn

. A wave of nausea washed over me, but through

And I had d