Chapter 101
Chapter 10
EMMA.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before. It’s almost like a miracle.” Doctor lan and the Alpha stand outside of the room, leaving the door open so I can hear their hushed voices, though I’m not intentionally trying to eavesdrop.
“Never!”
“A sprained knee can’t just snap into place, Alpha. Especially for someone who doesn’t have her wolf yet, Doctor lan says, and my hand goes to touch my knee. Indeed, I feel no pain coming from there anymore despite being unable to stand on my feet just hours ago.
“Maybe her abilities are developing!“:
“That could also be the case, since you said she’s close to the age of transformation, right?”
Still, this ability right now to heal so fast–maybe even faster than some fully developed wolves–is quite fascinating The doctor continues, wonder in his voice. “Luna Selene was one of the strongest wolves in existence, so it shouldn’t be a surprise her pup has extraordinary abilities. I guess.”
Selene. That name belongs to my mother. My breath hitches at the mention of the woman I’ve never known and their voices fade as my mind becomes occupied with the thought of her. I’ve never heard anyone mention that name since my birth. It was like a written rule made by my father and known by all: you wouldn’t find anyone speaking her name–her accomplishments as a brave and powerful Lana, maybe. But never her name. Not even himself. I had only found out her name the day I secretly followed Dad to her graveyard.
The creak of the door brings me out of my thoughts and I lift my head to see the Doctor walk in followed by the Alpha.
Doctor lan smiles as he stands by my side and examines my left leg. He twists the knee a few times before he asks, “How are you feeling?”
“Good,” I respond. “Almost like it didn’t happen.” He glances at the Alpha after my words before he looks back at my leg. After a few more touches, he lets go and moves back. “You’re completely healed.”
“Completely?”
“Good as new” He chuckles. “You’re a miracle, Emma. An intriguing one.” He throws me a warm smile before he turns his body to the Alpha Td be leaving now, Alpha. My services are no longer needed.”
“Thank you, lan
“Always a pleasure, Alpha.” He leaves a bow of his head before he walks out of the room and I’m left in the presence of Will alone
His eyes are on my previously injured knee, and I swallow at nothing. “It’s good.”
He lifts his head and nods. “You truly feel no pain?”
“Nothing, “I confirm, and he sighs. “It’s a good thing you heal fast, considering how much you seem to get into trouble. Has this always been the case?”
His words make me think back to my time at the BlueStone pack and though I’m punished in more ways than one–my injuries were never beyond muscle soreness, bruises here and there, and psychological damage. Perhaps that’s why I never noticed.
Tdon’t know,” I respond truthfully to Will and he nods, staring back at the leg. I lick my bottom lip before sitting against the headboard of the bed. “You said you know who it was?”
Will’s gaze shifts to my face, but he doesn’t say a word, so I continue. “The attacker, I mean. Would they be back?”
“Never again” His voice is firm and I lift a brow. “What did you
udos
“What needed to be done? I sent a coherent message.”
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Chapter 10
He doesn’t seem like he’d reveal whoever was behind it, so I ask something else. Something I shouldn’t have questioned maybe, because I instantly feel the atmosphere changes as the words leave my mouth. “Do you do this for all of your pack members?”
There’s a hovering silence between us and I start to contemplate apologizing and taking back my words when Will says, “Td do. this for anyone in need of my help. His face is back to its usual masked state; the curiosity I found in those eyes vanished.
I look away from him and muse, “You can’t protect me forever, though. I need to learn to protect myself. You won’t always be
there
n’t what
“Are you asking me to train you?” My head snaps in his direction and I stagger in my words. “I didn’t–I don’t that wasn‘ I meant
Just like before, the delusion of what might have been a smile appears, but it’s gone within a blink of an eye and Will steps closer to the side of my bed, “You’ve never trained before, right?”
“You should, then. You’d need a lot of training. You should start as soon as you can. For now, rest. He jerks his head, referring to the bed, and I hum. He watches me for a second longer before he walks away. I wait for him to reach for the door before I Call out. “Alpha?”
He doesn’t turn, but he stills,
“Thank you.” He doesn’t say a word in acknowledgment of my gratitude, either All I get is a few more seconds of his company before he walks out
I breathe out a sigh as his presence lingers in the room even without his body here, and that envelops me in a warmth that steadies my heart as I fall to sleep.
THE NEXT DAY.
enter
I walk into the training grounds with a confidence I do not feel, but I try not to waver under the gazes that rest on me as I en the fields. The warriors are mostly men, but I see a few women amidst them, too, as I get closer
I ignore the whistles and chuckles that litter the air as I follow the sound of Ryan’s voice. He’s overseeing a few trainings and he must have scented me because he turns as I get behind him.
“Oh hey, beautiful” He grins like he always does, the sight of a smile loosening the harsh expression he had used with the trainers. “Heard you got hurt yesterday. You good?”
I nod. “Better. Thank you.”
“Yeah, try to avoid getting into much trouble, hmm? We don’t want you kicking the bucker before you even get your wolf, do we?” His words come out playful and the small smile that accompanies them makes me roll my eyes. Ryan chuckles, then his expression changes, his voice becoming serious when he says, “Be careful, Emma. I know you know there are a lot of eyes on
you
“I know,” I mumble, then tip my chin. “It’s why I’m here.”
“Uh?”
“I’m here to train,” I tell him, and Ryan tilts his head. “You mean you didn’t just come because you missed
my
face?”
“Beta.”
“I’m joking. I heard from the Alpha. Thought you’d take a few more days of rest.”
want to be prepared for anything else henceforth,” I say, my body surging with more energy than it had on my way here. Beta Ryan smiles and I’m surprised when he lifts his hand to rufile my hair. “That’s a spirit I like. Get to the end of the field; let’s see what you got. Blanca!”
I smoothen my hair with a hand before walking to the edge of the field as he instructs. A female I do not recognize steps forward, taking the other end. The sun shines against her red hair, the light hitting my eyes before I can make out her features.
“Bianca just had her transformation, and she’s fairly new to training. Think you can give it a shot?” Beta Ryan asks and I look
24
Chapter 10
back at Bianca. I can see the determination and the aura of confidence radiating off her. She throws me a smirk when our eyes meet and I know she thinks she can easily take me. Maylar I think that too, but I don’t let the thought get to me as I give a go-
“Alright. Bausea, this is not a light to the death, yeah? Try to control yourself and remember what you‘
I’ve learned”
“Yes, Betal” she moats, and iyan asks us to
I step back and try to measure her. I try to keep my eyes on her and her movements before I launch forward when she runs towards me. We meet in the middle and I go for her neck laut instead of colliding with me, she smoothly swerves to the side, and a kick in my back has me falling forward. I catch myself just before I reach the ground and a bunch of ‘ohs‘ and laughter
“Shut ut” Ryan growls, and I clench my lists as 1 balance back on my feet to see Bianca feeling rather cocky. I prepare for the next attack and maybe it’s the rage that binds me or I’m just that had because I go for her shoulders this time, but Bianca Twists in my hold anal she has me on my back in mere seconds.
I wince at the pain that shoots down my spine and my eyes widen when I see her coming towards me again as I lift my head. “That’s enough!” Ryan orders and Bianca stops in her tracks, There are cheers for her from her friends. I expect her to join in
Laugh at how easily she’s defeated me, but she surprises me by stalking forward. She hovers over me and offers her hand. 1 stare at the palm for a few seconds before I take it and she lifts me off the ground
“Emma, right? That wasn’t bad” She says and I laugh as I slap the dust off my butt. “You don’t have to lie, I know it was “Not really. You had good plans of attack, just had execution. That’d change once you receive training Name is Bianca” She leaves out her hand again, offering a handshake, and I’m taken aback by her friendliness.
“tum. yeah, Emma. Thank you.” I take her hand, still puzzled as to why she’s being so nice
Bianca smiles at me as she jerks my hand a few times before she lets go. “Friends?”
“Friends” I grin, that term enough to have me forget the embarrassment I just felt.
“I’ll see you around then.” She says, and I watch as she walks back to the rest of her gang. One guy throws his hand over her shoulder, pinning her head down in a joking manner as they walk away
“You okay?” Ryan appears by my side and I nos as I hold Bianca’s gaze when she turns her head over the guy’s shoulder. She spiles and sends me a wave. I instantly wave back, my heartbeat picking up a notch.
“I thought you’d be feeling down, but I see you’ve managed to make a friend.” I look at Ryan once Bianca turns away. “She’s
nice.
“Yeah. You did terriblethere.”
The match. That was terrible.”
I lower my head. “Bianca said it wasn’t bad.”
“A lie.” Ryan laughs. “But nothing you have to feel bad about. You’re a novice, so it’s anticipated. Still, it’s better you know the truth so you can improve
“You’re right. I was-”
“Emma” I recognize the voice that calls my name and my head moves faster than it’s ever. Will is standing a few feet away from us and my heart jumps to my throat at the sight of him, in well–fitted clothes with the inks smeared across his left arm glowing under the light of the sun.
His next words, however, have my heart slowing and a subtle quiver rafts through me at the mention of him.
“It’s your dad.”
