Alpha's Broken Luna's Heart

Chapter 2

"I have to go," I told Mia, already grabbing my bag.

"What's wrong? You look like you've been wounded."

"The Alpha's attacked." I tried to keep my voice steady. "With my uncle."

Mia's eyes widened. " What—"

But I was already moving, already pushing through the hospital doors towards the emergency room, too oblivious to the dread pooling in my stomach.

Everything passed in a blur. I barely registered the horrific looks from pack members as I informed others. All I could think about was that tone in my uncle's voice. That barely controlled tension.

Uncle Marcus and some other warriors arrived at the hospital. Alpha's condition was worse than I had imagined.

I'd known it the moment I saw him on that gurney, his powerful frame suddenly seeming small and broken. Dr. Pastor, my senior and mentor, had pushed me aside to examine him.

Uncle Marcus asked to save our Alpha at any cost. Uncle Marcus was also the pack's Beta. Second in command to Alpha Derek.

Steven arrived just as we were moving Alpha Derek into the emergency room. He looked at me and I could see fear in his eyes.

Uncle Marcus put his hand on Steven’s shoulder. And right now, both of them were wearing expressions that made my wolf whimper and retreat to the back of my mind.

Dr Pastor was panicked as he said, "The weapons used in the attack—they're laced with silver and wolfsbane, but there's something else. Something I've never seen before."

His voice had dropped to barely a whisper. "Even for an Alpha, Amber... his healing factor isn't working. I don't know if we can save him."

No. No, no, no..

I threw myself into the work, into the familiar ritual of medicine and precision. IV lines. Blood transfusions. Monitoring vitals. Administering antidotes. My wolf howled inside me, desperate and helpless, while my human hands moved with practiced efficiency. I couldn't lose him. I couldn't.

Steven stood in the corner of the observation room, arms crossed, watching through the glass as we fought for his father's life. My uncle was standing beside him, their shared silence heavy with unspoken pain.

Alpha's condition was nowhere stable and we needed to do something. He was teetering on the brink of death.

I used all my powers to heal him and begged the Moon goddess to make him fine.

I knelt beside him, my hands pressed firmly against the deepest gash across his torso. I was no ordinary healer, as a rare omega with the gift of lunar mending, I decided to channel the moon's essence to mend flesh and bone.

But tonight I was using this amount of power for the first time.

"Hold on, Alpha," I whispered, my voice trembling as beads of sweat traced down my pale face. "I won't let you go. Not like this."

My palms glowed with ethereal blue light, threads of energy weaving into Alpha's body like roots seeking soil. I poured everything into it, my vitality, my spirit, the very core of my being. Pain lanced through my veins as if my own life force was being slipped away, but I ignored it. Alpha was a part of my family I had left after my parents death. He couldn't die. I wouldn't allow it.

Minutes stretched into an eternity. My vision blurred, my breaths coming in shallow gasps. My limbs felt like lead, and a cold numbness crept up my arms, but I pushed harder, drawing deeper from reserves I didn't know I had.

The glow intensified, Alpha's wounds beginning to close inch by agonizing inch.

"Just... a little more," I muttered through gritted teeth, her body swaying. Black spots danced at the edges of my sight, and my heartbeat thundered erratically in her ears.

I felt like I was fading, but the thought of stopping was unbearable. What was my life worth if I couldn't save his?

A firm hand clamped down on my shoulder, yanking me back with surprising gentleness.

"Enough, Amber!" growled Dr Pastor.

I didn't want to stop but the blue light flickered and died, leaving me slumped against him, my body limp and drenched in sweat.

I tried to protest, to reach out again, but my arms wouldn't obey. "No... I have to... he's dying," I rasped, my voice barely a whisper as consciousness slipped like sand through my fingers.

"Listen to me, pup," he said softly, his voice carrying the weight of authority honed over centuries. "What you're doing…pouring every drop of yourself into this, it's not healing. It's suicide. The moon's gift isn't infinite. It's tied to your own strength. Push too far, and you'll shatter, leaving nothing for the pack, for yourself. I know you want to save our Alpha. But if you kill yourself in the process, who's left to mend the next wound? Who's left to carry on?"

I shook my head, tears mixing with the sweat on my cheeks. I wanted to argue, to say that family was worth any risk, but exhaustion claimed me fully then, pulling me slowly into darkness.

He sighed, lifting me effortlessly and carrying me toward the chair. “ Rest here for some time. Lara, please help me with the further procedure.” He asked the other healer.

After some time we stabilized him. Barely. Dr. Pastor stepped back from the table, his forehead creased with worry.

"He's not out of danger," he said. "The next forty-eight hours will be critical."

I came out of the room and found Steven and Uncle Marcus walking here and there in tension. Others were standing in a corner with worried expressions.

Steven ran towards me instantly as his eyes fell on me.

“ How…how is he? He will be fine, right?” he asked, his eyes held a hint of hope.

My throat was clogged with unshed tears. I tried to speak but my voice didn't escape from my mouth.

“ I've tried my best…” I said finally.

Steven grabbed my palms and looked at me with a panicked expression. “ Tell me how my dad is?”

I shook my head and said, “ He is still in critical condition.”

Steven pulled me close to him and stared into my eyes. “ You're special, aren't you? You can heal him, right? Please Amber…save him.”

Uncle Marcus patted his back and tried to console him.

“I'm so scared…Marcus..” Steven said, his voice heavy and thick with emotions.

I could understand his pain and fear because I had suffered the same pain in the past.

Tears started flowing from my eyes as I sobbed. I could feel my mate's pain and fury. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tightly.

He leaned into my embrace and mumbled to me to save his dad anyhow. Uncle Marcus watched us silently as he stood beside him.

And then, impossibly, the Alpha opened his eyes.

He asked to see his son. Asked to see me. My uncle ushered us into the private recovery room, where machines beeped their steady rhythm and the Alpha lay propped against pillows, his usually bronze skin ashen, his breathing labored.

"Sit down, Amber." Alpha Derek didn't look at me as he spoke, his attention fixed on his son.

I sat. My hands clasped together in my lap to hide their shaking.

"I don't have much time." The Alpha's eyes, still sharp despite his condition, moved between us. "The pack needs stability. Steven, you'll be Alpha within days. You need to take the position, lead our people."

"Dad, don't—" Steven's voice cracked.

"Listen to me." The Alpha's hand shot out with surprising strength, grasping his son's wrist. "You'll need strength. You'll need legitimacy. And you'll need her." His eyes shifted to me.

My heart stuttered.

"It's time," the Alpha said abruptly. "The waiting is over. You'll marry Steven. This week, on the full moon."

His words stopped my breath. "What?"

Now he looked at me, and his eyes were icy. "You heard me. This has gone on long enough. Steven needs to take his place as my heir, and he needs a proper mate by his side to do it. Your moon-touched blood will strengthen our line, will ensure that my grandchildren are powerful beyond measure."

No…no..

His voice was laced with pain. "You should be honored. Not every omega gets to elevate her status this way."

"I'm not an omega," I whispered. "I'm a healer. A doctor. I have a purpose—"

"Your purpose," he cut me off, his voice dropping to something dangerous, "is whatever I say it is. You are a member of my pack, and you will serve the pack's interests. My son is your fated mate, marked by the Moon Goddess herself. This union is inevitable.”

"Dad, you can't be serious—" Steven's face had gone white, his jaw clenched so tight I could hear his teeth grinding.

"I'm deadly serious." The Alpha's gaze hardened. " Marcus, as Beta, you'll ensure this happens. The ceremony will take place as soon as I'm stable enough to attend. Or..." His voice softened, turned resigned. "Before I pass, if it comes to that."

My uncle's hand had landed on my shoulder, heavy and immovable. "Yes, Alpha. It will be done."

It will be done. As if I were a piece of property to be transferred. As if my whole life, my choices, my dreams didn't matter.

" I'm not ready for this?" My voice came out smaller than I wanted.

Alpha Derek smiled, but there was warmth in it. " I know my dear Amber… but some decisions are made in difficult times.”

Ice flooded my veins. "You can't—"

"I can do whatever I want. I'm the Alpha." He said sadly. "I'll leave you two to discuss this. But.."

He paused to take a painful breath. "This wedding will happen. I've waited a year for Steven to come around on his own, to accept the bond naturally. But I'm done waiting. I want your bloodline secured for my legacy. One way or another, he will marry you."

I looked at Steven then, hoping, praying for some sign of support But his eyes, when they met mine, held nothing but cold fury and something darker. Revulsion.

He glared at me and walked out of the room in rage and frustration. I stood frozen by the Alpha's bedside.

I couldn't believe these words escaping from Alpha's mouth. He loved me like his own daughter. He had always treated me with love and care since I was a child. How could he be so cruel to throw me into this?

He wanted me to marry his son, Steven?