Chapter 2
1062 Words
Kira
On my arrival there, nothing really looked different. I felt the same. My emotions were spiraling but I kept them under control.
Taking a deep breath and breathing out with a heavy sigh. I braced myself no I was stronger not the weak girl they wanted to know.
I had learned so much, gone through so much and become so much.
Now, the trash they once threw away. Had come to save their Alpha who had rejected me because I was not a full wolf.
It hurts thinking about it, but now I was stronger and that was all that mattered.
The land felt the same as always, nothing new. Cold. Heavy. Watching. Ashford territory has always carried its power through silence and stone.
I walked through and saw everything just like I had seen it years ago. The mountains loomed like judges. The air smelled of dominance and old rules.
The pack sensed me the moment I crossed the border. I felt it in the shift of energy, in the way attention sharpened.
I was not hidden, why would I hide. But I knew that was not welcomed either.
Yet for this purpose, I was to be protected. Immediately I spotted a group of people working towards me. I knew it was them.
The Ashford Council. The closer they came, the more familiar faces I saw. A panic attack ran through me but I didn't give in. I maintained my composure. I maintained my silence.
With just a nod, I followed them to The Familiar territory. Silence engulfed our entire trip. The journey to the main palace was short but filled with terror.
As the council seal traveled with me. It kept teeth from my throat and anger behind polite distance.
Entering the palace, the more memories flooded me.
"Everything looks the same "
I said to myself, hoping that nobody had heard me.
I walked through the halls I once avoided. Not with fear but with fascination inside me.
I didn't lower my eyes. I didn't rush. Every step was timed and aware. Every movement reminded me that I was here by choice.
"All rise to greet the Alpha King Declan"
They announced as we made the entry into the room. I perceived myself because I knew this was going to be extremely emotional for me.
And there he was, I looked at him not knowing what to expect. Not knowing more part of my feelings was going to present itself.
I see Declan for the first time in eight years in the medical wing prepared for him. He's helpless, pathetic and weak
The change is clear. He was really in bad shape, and obviously my help was needed.
At this very moment, I should have been gloating. Finally, the people that hurt me are paying for their deeds. I should be happy that Karma had finally paid him for what he did to me but something else took over. Pity.
It was obvious that the Silverblood had taken whatever dominance had once given him.
His body was weaker. His presence no longer filled the room. His scent was unstable, flickering between strength and he was looking like he was about to collapse.
He deserved this, I told myself but then I couldn't bring myself to enjoy the moment not without the interruption of the mate bond.
I could feel it. The mate bond stirred. I couldn't believe what was happening. Why was it happening in the first place?
This was not possible. Even though it didn't rush back as a whole. It ached. It pulled in broken pieces. It reminded me of pain instead of comfort.
I shut it down immediately. In the same way I had learned to shut down fear.
"Okay, let's look at your body. Tell me where exactly you're feeling the pain and how you're feeling?"
I said as I stepped closer, ignoring whatever the mate bond was doing. His eyes looked weak and from the way he moved his lips.
He barely had any life in him.
"Everywhere hurts"
From the tone of his voice, I knew the degree to which the disease had eaten.
I focused on his body as a subject. As I am cataloging symptoms, I noted tremors and ignored any memory that had popped up.
He looked at me like a man already losing everything. But I had bigger problems, the mate bond was pushing me to actually care for him but I didn't want to.
I didn't soften. I had to set rules for myself immediately. Reminding myself why I had come here.
This was a treatment, not a reconciliation. This was work, not fate. I limited contact to what was required. But nothing even changed. I could still feel my wolf calling out to him and desiring him. I hated it.
I made it clear that emotional access was not part of the cure. I was simply here to do my job and get on with it.
I was clearly observant and noticed that the pack reacted badly to this shift.
They were used to Alphas who commanded space. They were not used to an Alpha who would depend on a hybrid woman for survival.
There the whispers began. I could hear them putting their words together. But that was none of my business, I was simply here to do a job and get on with it
Power moved under the surface. From my tests, Declan’s illness had spread faster than I imagined.
Wolves sensed weakness even when it was hidden. And from the whispers Rivals began to circle. Declan couldn't do anything. He just stayed there weak as ever.
Facing my job I began treatment on him immediately. But I knew it was
not going to be easy. The cure was not complete.
It required repeated exposure. It required genetic matching that only my blood could stabilize. Since I was a hybrid.
The reality had dawned on me. Treating him was not going to be easy. Not only was the mate Bond went to make it hard for me but with every session it would bind us closer by necessity, not desire.
Each day was going to be hard for me. But I had to remind myself why I was here.
It wasn't about healing the past. I was here to control and determine my future.
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