The Prophecy

|| Chapter Ten ||

The black wolf tore through the bushes and raced down the path.  

Alpha?  

He heard Matthias call through the mind link and could feel Jasper listening in as well.  

What? 

Everything alright? Do you want us to join you? 

No. 

Alexander ran until his lungs burnt and his legs screamed for relief. He didn’t stop until he reached the waterfall and dove into it, surfacing back in his human form.  

What is she doing to me? 

Love her Alex, give her what she wants  

He could feel his heart stir when she kissed him in the office. The pang of want had followed him as he went about his day. Her laugh had rung through his mind as he attempted to concentrate on the spreadsheets on his screen. He had given up on work then and resigned himself to being unproductive for the day.  

The day? He had been unproductive since she arrived. His human managers had rung constantly for updates on this that and the other and he had snapped at them. His wolf managers had been more understanding, having heard the news through the grapevine. They understood the need for newly mated wolves… 

And when she had slipped off her clothes in the wardrobe, he could almost feel his resolve snap.  

He groaned and dipped his head back in the water before closing his eyes and floating on his back. 

But I can’t give her what she wants, Olivia –  

Olivia understands, Alex… his wolf whined.  

Images of a laughing child running into his mother’s arms played in his mind. His mother had picked him up, swinging him in her arms while her dark hair swung around behind her.  

Slowly the images changed to Bea. Bea fighting the bears with that fierce glint in her eyes. Bea screaming at him as she pushed him away. Bea walking out of the bathroom in the red dress. Bea’s mischievous smile as she walked towards him naked. Bea… 

By the time he returned from his run and swim, Bea was curled in bed. The sheets were wrapped around her as she snuggled against his pillow, her hair spreading out around her. When he approached, he noticed she was wearing his shirt, but she positively swam in it. Sometimes he forgets how tiny she is. The possessive wolf nodded with approval in his head.  

With a sigh, he stripped off and ducked into the bathroom for a quick rinse. He slid on a pair of boxers and settled into bed, pulling Bea close to him. She stiffened in her sleep, but it didn’t take her long to wrap an arm around his waist as she snuggled closer to his chest, settling her nose into the crook of his neck.  

This continued on for the next few days. He would rise before her and leave the bed cold. By the time she settled in for breakfast in the dining room, he would already be buried in his office. They would have lunch together in his office, or hers, occasionally they would have dinner. Then they would settle in for the night, starting the night on opposite ends of the bed but settling into a tangle of limbs as they held each other and drifted to sleep. 

---

The walls shook and Bea rolled her eyes as she heard Alexander roaring in the office next door. Shaking her head, she continued reading and taking notes from the book open on her desk. She had decided she would find out all there is to know about their threat, and she took great pleasure in running her hands across the spines of the aged books in the drawing-room before picking her companion for the day and settling into her office.  

Alexander and Matthias had been gone for 2 nights. The head office in the city had called regarding an urgent matter and given the time it took to travel back and forth the duo had opted to spend the night instead.  

“I DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR THIS BULLSHIT. TAKE IT NEXT DOOR.” She heard Alexander roar again and the door slam. With a sigh, she got up and opened the door to her office. He’d been home 30 minutes and he’s already shouting the house down. 

Two men stepped back from the door bewildered, one of their hands raised into a fist in an interrupted knock. Bea flashed them her brightest smile.  

She invited them into her study and settled back into her desk. Overalls, wellington boots, caps. Farmers.  

“Luna we – “  

“Luna his sheep –“  

“MY SHEEP ARE NOT TO BLAME? IT’S YOUR FENCE!”  

“YOUR SHEEP CHARGED MY FENCE AND ATE MY WHEAT!”  

Bea sat back and raised an eyebrow. “You went to the Alpha because your sheep” she pointed to one “went into his farm” she pointed to the other “and ate his harvest?”  

They stared at her in silence before both attempting to speak at once. Eventually, the one with the sheep spoke up – “Well, usually farming disputes are handled by the Beta but he isn’t here, and the Gamma is with the warriors…”  

Bea tilted her head. Hmm, wonder where Matty’s off to.  

She rubbed her eyes and blinked at the farmers.  

“Alright. Go home, secure the fence as best you can for now. I’ll be in touch with a builder to build a stronger fence.” 

This seemed to satisfy them, and they bowed and turned to leave, bowing at the amused Alpha who was leaning on her doorframe.  

“How long have you been standing there?”  

“A little while.”  

“What, the big bad Alpha too busy to help the lowly farmers?”  

“You try keeping up with 250 packs across the world, Luna, and I’ll handle the farmers.”  

“Pass.” 

She waved him away and tried getting back to her book but when she looked up, he was still there, staring at her. One blink, two. Alexander shook himself and turned away, mumbling under his breath. His office door slammed shut.  

By the time Bea looked up from her book, the sun had set, and her belly rumbled angrily. She had heard Alexander leave his office earlier and she really should have followed. She’s probably missed dinner by now. 

“Aright, alright, I’m going to feed you. Stop it.”  

She slid her notes into the book and shut her laptop, organising her desk slightly. But as she pushed herself away from the desk her head swam, and she gripped the edge. She breathed hard and straightened up, managing to get herself to the door and halfway down the drawing-room before the room started spinning.  

Heat erupted from her abdomen and her back and she felt as though she had stepped into a furnace. Sweat started to bead on her forehead and her breath became ragged. What the f**k is going on… 

Bea made it to the doorway but gripped it as she started swaying. The burning in her body did not subside and she fell to her hands and knees. So… Hot… 

Sweat had begun to drip into her eyes and through her blurry vision, she saw a tall tattooed figure rush towards her. He rubbed his thumbs over her eyes and Jaspers concerned hazel eyes stared into hers. She struggled to inhale but the air seemed to burn her lungs. Her body spasmed and she collapsed, shaking. She could hear Jasper screaming out her name and then calling for Alexander, but he sounded like he was underwater. Or maybe it was her. What is she doing underwater? Hmm, maybe that’s why it’s so hard to breathe… 

Another wave of fire coursed through her body and she growled. Claws extended from her right hand she wildly clawed at her blouse, ripping the fabric and revealing her battle scars from the bears. The 3 stripes stretched from between her breasts down under the waistband of her trousers but where they were just silver scars before, they now burned red and inflamed. She struggled with the button of her trousers, but strong arms encircled her and held her tight.  

“f**k off” she growled.  

“Luna!” 

“Jasper. f**k off.”  

She struggled again trying to divest herself of her trousers.  

“DAMMIT WOLFIE STOP TRYING TO TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF.”  

She strained again but eventually stopped. She felt herself being lifted.  

“Somebody get the pack doctor and Alexander, I’m taking her to her room,” Jasper yelled out.  

By the time Jasper had deposited her into the bed, her scars had turned black and had begun to crack. He tilted her slightly and realised the scars on her back weren’t faring any better. She recoiled from his touch and a spasm rocked through her body once again. Her skin glistened as she sweated profusely.

Footsteps echoed from the hallway and Alexander appeared at the door with Doctor Elliot in tow. He paused at the sight of Bea’s scarred body and he felt his wolf growl. She thrashed wildly on the bed as pain overtook her senses.  

Doctor Elliot pushed past him and dragged Jasper away by his arm. He bent to examine the wounds and all but recoiled at them. Alexander and Jasper watched as he dabbed iodine on some gauze and attempted to clean the wounds, but the skin only cracked further.  

“I don’t understand, these were healed by Crescent Moon’s pack doctor. She said they just sealed up one day and she regained consciousness. There was nothing in her notes about any treatments!” 

Realisation dawned on Alexander’s face. “Doctor – “, he started.  

A blood-curling scream interrupted them as Bea thrashed wildly and finally freed herself of her trousers. Her eyes glazed over and she now curled up into a ball silently sobbing. They could hear whimpers of pain escape her now chapped lips.  

“I don’t know what she needs Alpha I’m sorry” Doctor Elliot bowed his head towards Alexander apologetically, there was fear in his face, and it was evident he was hoping that Alexander was merciful with his inability to help his mate.  

“She needs me,” Alexander whispered.  

As if in a trance he approached Bea. 

“Everybody out. Now.”  

When he heard the door click shut, he moved closer to her. He removed his shirt and pants and swiftly slid into the bed and very gently slid Bea into his arms. Her body stilled and tensed for a moment before relaxing into his embrace. Alexander's grip tightened and he smoothed her hair away from her sweaty forehead, replacing strands of hair with gentle kisses. She whimpered quietly but her breath steadied, and her exhausted body finally succumbed to sleep’s embrace. 

Alexander looked at the tiny figure curled up against him and felt a pang in his chest. So small. So beautiful. So strong.  

When he had watched her this morning speaking to the farmers his heart had swelled with pride. But the more he watched the more his heart ached. A beautiful brunette hunched over that desk again deep in thought, waving him away.  What a familiar scene and one he wasn't expecting to have missed this much. 

She whimpered against him and he tightened his grip, drawing soothing circles on her shoulders. Her wounds had begun to heal again.  

Interesting, he thought. 

When he was at Crescent Moon, he thought it was a coincidence that his kiss had woken her from her coma. And yet now here it is, right before his eyes, his presence was healing her.  

It is our mate bond. Her wolf needs my strength, our strength, to heal the body and the mind.  

Alexander chuckled darkly. So, she needs me to heal. Well, that’s a bother. Does this mean she must be by my side forever? How inconvenient. He rolled his eyes internally, ignoring the longing and the traitorous thoughts in his head that maybe having her close by isn’t such a bad idea.  

Mark her, Alex. Our wolves can become whole and we can heal each other.